Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Gypsies

2022-01-04T17:39:08Z

XxSearcherOfTruthxX: correct recism against a brotherly european white nation

'''Gypsies''', (''alt. sp.'' Gipsy) also known as 'Romani','Roma'<ref>Donald Kenrick. Historical Dictionary of the Gypsies (Romanies). Scarecrow Press</ref> or 'Sigynnae', 'Sigynnas'<ref>[[Herodotus]], ''Histories'', 5.9</ref>, are an inherently nomadic [[ethnic]] group scattered across Europe and even into the bounds of Asia. They maintain their own distinctive culture regardless of their host cultural groups. Their current population is estimated to be approximately 15 million, but accurate data remains elusive due to their nomadic lifestyle.<ref>http://europeandcis.undp.org/uploads/public/File/rbec_web/vgr/chapter1.1.pdf</ref>

=Etymology=
Our English name of ''Gypsy'' stems from the word ''Egyptian'', as many believed that their darker skin tones indicated an Egyptian origin.

Yet as regarding the origins of name ''Sigynnae'' most commonly coming to the English world through [[Herodotus|Herodotus']] ''Histories'', the English speaker is oft left in doubt concluding that "The Sigynnae were an obscure people of antiquity. They are variously located by ancient authors."<ref>Wikipedia, ''Sigynnae'', 16 January 2021</ref> But a quick panarama of Europe's language groups and there is no doubt as to who these people were. For the vast majority of European language groups maintain variations synonymous with [[Herodotus|Herodotus']] '''Sigynnae''' (Greek:Σιγὐννας, Si-gy-nas)<ref>[[Herodotus]], ''Histories'', 5.9</ref>, a term that 5th century Greeks equated as being synonymous with "hucksters", small trader; which would be most consistent with stereotypical depictions of this cultural group. You will find this view presented below in the section ''Language Group Examples''.

[[Herodotus]] also notes that their name was used in [[Cyprus]] for "spears".<ref>[[Herodotus]], ''Histories'', 5.9</ref> On this point Sir J. L. Myres stated that their must have been a connection between what is known as the "Sigynna Spear" (a thin bladed throwing spear produced amidst the iron-working culture of [[Hallstatt]], Austria) and this cultural group: the implication naturally alludes to an arms trade and an explanation of why the Cyprians used their name such.

==Language Group Examples==
As discussed above regarding '''Sigynnae''', we have collected below is a list of some of the larger language groups with their local spellings and English transliterations (for non-latin text), clearly showing that their name has varied little in Europe from [[Herodotus|Herodotus']] 5th century BC Greek Σιγὐννας ('''Sigynnas''')<ref>[[Herodotus]], ''Histories'', 5.9</ref>. We have emboldened the transliterations / Latin script for easy comparison:

Bulgarian: циганин, '''tsiganin'''; Romanian: '''țigan'''; Serbian: циганин, '''ciganin'''; Macedonian: циган, '''cigan'''; Russian: цыганка, '''tsyganka'''; Ukranian: циганка, '''tsyhanka'''; Albanian: '''cigan'''; Croatian: '''ciganka'''; Czech: '''cikán'''; Slovak: '''cikán'''; Slovenian: '''ciganka'''; Lithuanian: '''čigonas'''; Latvian: '''čigāniete'''; Turkish: '''Çingene'''; German: '''Zigeuner''' (masculine) & '''Zigeunerin''' (feminine); Polish: '''cygański'''; Hungarian: '''cigány'''; Italian: '''zingaro''' (masculine) '''zingara''' (feminine); Danish: '''sigøjner'''; Norwegian: '''sigøyner'''; Swedish: '''zigenare'''; Fresian: '''sigeuner'''; Dutch: '''zigeuner'''; Luxembourgish: '''Zigeinerin'''; Portugese: '''cigano''' (masculine) '''cigana''' (feminine); Esperanto: '''cigano'''.

Clearly the English, French and Spanish speaking worlds have lost the historical connection of what we now call ''Gypsies'', but the majority of these languages have preserved the Sigynnae's history embedded within themselves: thus the ancient Sigynnae are the Gypsies.

=History=
==Origins==
There are some such as Kenrick who claim that the ''Gypsies'' originated from present day [[Rajasthan]]<ref>Donald Kenrick. Historical Dictionary of the Gypsies (Romanies). Scarecrow Press</ref> in [[India]] who fled over 1000 years ago due to Islamic Invasions.<ref>https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2010/08/why-do-the-roma-wander.html</ref>. Yet 5th century BC usage (which has broadly passed to most relevant language groups) and reference to their expansive existence within Europe at that time can not be denied, necessitating that the Gypsies have a much older origin in Europe.

More classically, [[Herodotus]] claimed that the Sigynnae/Gypsies were colonists from [[Medes|Media]] and that they still even in his day wore Median attire. He also understood that they predominantly lived north of the [[Danube|Ister]] but could be found as far as the [[Eneti]] on the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] (regions of modern Venice). This position is more consistent with conventional history.

==Persecution of Gypsies==
Gypsy people have long suffered from prejudice and discrimination; one of the first concrete examples would be the laws passed in [[Moldavia]] and [[Wallachia]] which stated that any Romani on those countries' soil would automatically become a [[slave]].

Discriminatory laws were passed in many other countries as well; in Western [[Europe]] during the 15th century [[Ottoman]] invasion, in [[Argentina]] in 1880, and even the [[USA]] in 1885 passed laws restricting Gypsy immigration.<ref>http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5121/timeline.htm</ref> Forced assimilation, and the abduction of children, was also practiced, in countries such as Norway, where 1500 Romani children were removed by the state from their parents<ref>http://www2.wcc-coe.org/ccdocuments.nsf/index/plen-4.4-en.html</ref> (under the, albeit later, [[Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court]], such actions are classified as attempted [[genocide]]).

Romani also suffered a great deal under the [[Holocaust]]; approximately 1,000,000<ref>http://www.radoc.net:8088/RADOC-3-PORR.htm</ref> of them were killed during it, a sizable fraction, in a period known as the 'Porajmos'. In the [[Bohemia]] region, this [[mass murder]] was so thorough that their culture and language became extinct there.

In the present day, they are often accused of pickpocketing and theft (it was such accusations, made in 1905, that precipitated the Porajmos<ref>Alfred Dillmann. Zigeuner-Buch. Munich: Wildsche (1905)</ref>); this has led to persecution and other [[human rights]] abuses.<ref>http://web.amnesty.org/wire/February2002/Europe_Roma</ref><ref>http://www.socialniprava.info/article1607.html</ref>

Some work has been carried out, however, to encourage integration; in the [[UK]], under the [[Human Rights Act 1998]], for example, the subsidized purchase of greenfield sites is being discussed, to give Romani and other Travellers accommodation.

=References=
<references/>

[[Category:Ethnicities]]
[[Category:India]]
[[Category:Europe]]

Morocco

2022-01-04T17:25:04Z

XxSearcherOfTruthxX: edit

{{country
|name=المملكة المغربية'' Al-Mamlaka al-Maghribiyya Tagldit n Lmeghrib''
|map=Morocco rel 79.JPG
|map2=Morocco location.png
|flag=Flag of Morocco.png
|arms=Arms of Morocco.png
|capital=Rabat
|government=Constitutional monarchy
|language=Arabic, Italian, English
|king=Mohammed VI
|pm=Abdelillah Benkirane
|area=172,414 sq. mi.
|pop=37,000,000 (2020)
|pop-basis=
|gdp=$115,000,000,000 (2020)
|gdp-year=
|gdp-pc=$3,108 (2020)
|currency=Moroccan dirham
}}
The '''Kingdom of Morocco''' is a country in northwest [[Africa]].

==Geography==
Morocco is bordered by [[Algeria]] to the east and the western [[Sahara]] to the south, with a coastline on both the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. The largest city is [[Casablanca]]. The capital city is [[Rabat]]. Some of the other large cities in Morocco are [[Marrakech]], [[Tanjier]], and Safi.

==People==
Moroccans are predominantly Sunni Muslims of Arab, Berber, or mixed Arab-Berber ancestry. The Arabs brought Islam, along with Arabic language and culture, to the region from the Arabian Peninsula during the Muslim conquests of the 7th century. Today, there remains a Jewish community of approximately 5,000, and a largely expatriate Christian population of 5,000, who enjoy religious freedom and full civil rights. Morocco is also home to a 300-500-person Baha'i community which, in recent years, has been able to worship free from government interference.
[[File:Moroccan soldiers.jpg|left|280px]]
Arabic is Morocco's official language, but French is widely taught and serves as the primary language of commerce and government. Moroccan colloquial Arabic is composed of a unique combination of Arabic, Berber and French dialects. Along with Arabic, about 10 million Moroccans, predominantly in rural areas, also speak one of the three Moroccan Berber dialects (Tarifit, Tashelhit, and Tamazight). Spanish is also used in the northern part of the country. English is rapidly becoming the foreign language of choice among educated youth and is offered in all public schools from the fourth year on.

Most people live west of the Atlas Mountains, a range that insulates the country from the Sahara Desert. Casablanca is the center of commerce and industry and the leading port; Rabat is the seat of government; Tangier is the gateway to Spain and also a major port; "Arab" Fes is the cultural and religious center; and "Berber" Marrakech is a major tourist center.

Education in Morocco is free and compulsory through primary school (age 15). Nevertheless, many children—particularly girls in rural areas—do not attend school. The country's literacy rate reveals sharp gaps in education, both in terms of gender and location; while country-wide literacy rates are estimated at 39% among women and 64% among men, the female literacy rate in rural areas is only 10%.

Morocco is home to 14 public universities. Mohammed V University in Rabat is one of the country's most famous schools, with faculties of law, sciences, liberal arts, and medicine. Karaouine University, in Fes, is a longstanding center for Islamic studies and is the oldest university in the Maghreb. Morocco has one private, English language university, Al-Akhawayn, in Ifrane, founded in 1993 by King Hassan II and King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. The curriculum is based on an American model.
*Population (2007): 33,757,175. (The population of disputed territory Western Sahara is 350,000.)
*Annual growth rate (2007): 1.528%. Birth rate (2007 est.)--21.64 births/1,000 population; death rate (2007 est.)--5.54 deaths/1,000 population.
*Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber 99%.
*Religions: Muslim 99.99%, Jewish population estimated at 4,000 people, Christian population estimated at less than 1,000.
*Languages: Arabic (official), several Berber dialects; French functions as the language of business, government, and diplomacy.
*Education: Years compulsory—9. Literacy (age 15 and over can read and write)--total population 51.7%; female 39.4% (2003 est.).
*Health: Infant mortality rate (2007 est.)--38.85/1,000. Life expectancy at birth (2007 est.)--total population 71.22 yrs., male 68.88 yrs., female 73.67 yrs.
*Work force (2006): 11.25 million.
*Unemployment rate (2006 est.): 7.7%.

Like most of the middle east, the current population in modern Morocco is by [[Arabs]] that have Arabized the [[indigenous]] people, the [[Berbers]] are considered to be the real natives to north [[Africa]].

According to a French study, the average IQ in Morocco is 84, possibly lower.

==Government and Political Conditions==

Morocco was the first nation to recognize the [[United States]], in 1780.

Morocco is divided into 16 administrative regions (further broken into provinces and prefectures); the regions are administered by Walis (governors) appointed by the King.

The Moroccan Constitution provides for a monarchy with a Parliament and an independent judiciary. Ultimate authority rests with the King. The King presides over the Council of Ministers; appoints the prime minister following legislative elections; appoints all members of the government taking into account the prime minister's recommendations; and may, at his discretion, terminate the tenure of any minister, dissolve the Parliament, call for new elections, or rule by decree. The King is the Commander in Chief of the military and holds the title of Amir al-Mou'minin, the country's religious leader.

Since the constitutional reform of 1996, the bicameral legislature consists of a lower chamber called the Chamber of Representatives, which is directly elected, and an upper chamber, the Chamber of Counselors, whose members are indirectly elected through various regional, local, and professional councils. The councils' members themselves are directly elected. Parliament's powers, though limited, were expanded under the 1992 and 1996 constitutional revisions to include budgetary matters, approval authority, and establishment of commissions of inquiry to investigate the government's actions. The lower chamber of Parliament may dissolve the government through a vote of no confidence.

Parliamentary elections were held in November 2002 and were considered largely free, fair, and transparent. At that time, King Mohammed VI formed a government appointing then-Interior Minister Driss Jettou as Prime Minister. Cabinet level positions were drawn from most major parties in the coalition.

Following the 2002 elections, King Mohammed VI highlighted several goals toward which the new government should work: expanded employment opportunities, economic development, meaningful education, and increased housing availability. To meet the King's objectives, the Jettou government embarked on a series of initiatives and reforms, which Jettou laid out in his early days as Prime Minister.

Jettou emphasized that modernization and revitalization of the country's infrastructure (roads, trains, communications, water, etc.) and national economy (support for Moroccan businesses, preparations for competition, modernization of modes of production, etc.), were necessary to further development progress in Morocco.

In order to create employment opportunities, the government is promoting investment in the tourism, industrial, fishing, and service industries, and is ameliorating, restructuring, and modernizing the education system.

Parliamentary elections were held in September 2007. Abbas El Fassi was designated to form a new government.

===Principal Government Officials===
*Head of State—King Mohammed VI
*Prime Minister—Abdelillah Benkirane

===Foreign Relations===
[[Image:Rudolf Ernst The letter.jpg|thumb|Rudolf Ernst, The Letter.]]
Morocco is a moderate Arab state which maintains close relations with Europe and the United States. It is a member of the UN and belongs to the Arab League, Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and the Non-Aligned Movement. King Mohammed VI is the chairman of the OIC's Al-Quds Jerusalem Committee. Although not a member of the African Union (formerly the Organization of African Unity—OAU), Morocco remains involved in African diplomacy. It contributes consistently to UN peacekeeping efforts on the continent.

Morocco is active in Maghreb, Arab, and African affairs. It supports the search for peace and moderation in the Middle East. In 1986, then-King Hassan II took the daring step of inviting then-Israeli Prime Minister Peres for talks, becoming only the second Arab leader to host an Israeli leader. Following the September 1993 signing of the Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles, Morocco accelerated its economic ties and political contacts with Israel. In September 1994, Morocco and Israel announced the opening of bilateral liaison offices. These offices were closed in 2000 following sustained Israeli-Palestinian violence, but Moroccan-Israeli diplomatic contacts continue.

Morocco was the first Arab state to condemn Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, and sent troops to help defend Saudi Arabia. Morocco maintains close relations with Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf states, which have provided Morocco with substantial amounts of financial assistance. Morocco has supported efforts to stabilize Iraq following the downfall of Saddam Hussein.

Morocco was among the first Arab and Islamic states to denounce the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States and declare solidarity with the American people in the war against terror. Morocco has seen its own terrorism at home as well. On May 16, 2003, Moroccan suicide bombers simultaneously attacked five sites in Casablanca, killing more than 40 people and wounding over 100. More than a million people subsequently demonstrated to condemn the attacks. In April 2007, a series of suicide bomb attacks occurred in central Casablanca, one taking place near the U.S. consulate general and one near the American Language Center. The bombings demonstrated Morocco's vulnerability to extremists who capitalize on widespread poverty and social exclusion.

The major issue in Morocco's foreign relations is its claim to Western Sahara. As a result of Algeria's continued support for the Polisario Front in the dispute over Western Sahara, relations between Morocco and Algeria have remained strained over the past several decades, although they have full diplomatic relations and there is periodic high-level contact between the two countries.

====Western Sahara====
[[File:402px-BellyDancerMarrakech.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|Moroccan belly dancer ]]
For more than 30 years, Morocco and the independence-seeking Popular Front of the Liberation of Saguia al Hamra and Rio de Oro (Polisario Front) have vied for control of the [[Western Sahara]], a former Spanish territory. Morocco's claim to sovereignty over the Western Sahara is based largely on a historical argument of traditional loyalty of the Sahrawi tribal leaders to the Moroccan sultan as spiritual leader and ruler. The Polisario claims to represent the aspirations of the Western Saharan inhabitants for independence. Algeria claims none of the territory for itself but maintains that Sahrawis should determine the territory's future status.

From 1904 until 1975, Spain occupied the entire territory, which is divided into a northern portion, the Saguia el Hamra, and a southern two-thirds, known as Rio de Oro. In 1969, the Polisario Front was formed to combat the occupation of the territory. In November 1975, King Hassan mobilized 350,000 unarmed Moroccan citizens in what came to be known as the "Green March" into Western Sahara. The march was designed to both demonstrate and strengthen Moroccan claims to the territory. On November 14, Spain, Morocco, and Mauritania announced a tripartite agreement for an interim administration under which Spain agreed to share administrative authority with Morocco and Mauritania, leaving aside the question of sovereignty. With the establishment of a Moroccan and Mauritanian presence throughout the territory, however, Spain's role in the administration of the Western Sahara ceased.

After a period of hostilities, Mauritania withdrew from the territory in 1979 and signed a peace treaty with the Polisario, relinquishing all claims to the territory. Moroccan troops occupied the region vacated by Mauritania and later proclaimed the territory reintegrated into Morocco. Morocco subsequently built a fortified berm around three-fourths of Western Sahara and has de facto administrative control over 80% of the territory.

At the OAU (now African Union) summit in June 1981, King Hassan announced his willingness to hold a referendum in the Western Sahara. Subsequent meetings of an OAU Implementation Committee proposed a cease-fire, a UN peacekeeping force, and an interim administration to assist with an OAU-UN-supervised referendum on the issue of independence or annexation. In 1984, the OAU seated a delegation of the Sahara Democratic Arab Republic (SDAR), the shadow government of the Polisario. Morocco subsequently withdrew from the OAU.

In 1988, Moroccan and Polisario representatives agreed on a joint UN/OAU settlement proposal for a referendum, but due to disagreements it never took place. In 1991, the UN brokered a cease-fire and settlement plan, and established the United Nations Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara (known by its French acronym, MINURSO), which deployed a roughly 200-person monitoring force to the territory.

The UN continues to explore with the parties ways of arriving at a mutually agreed political settlement and to promote confidence-building measures between the parties in the interim. In 2003, former Secretary of State James Baker, working as UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's Personal Envoy, put forward a peace plan calling for a referendum on issues of autonomy or integration with Morocco. While the Polisario Front and the Algerian Government accepted the plan, Morocco rejected it. After a seven-year effort to assist the parties in coming to an agreement, James Baker resigned as Personal Envoy in June 2004. In August of the same year, Kofi Annan appointed Alvaro de Soto Special Representative for the Western Sahara, to continue Baker's work. Special Representative de Soto left MINURSO in May 2005, and was replaced in July 2005 by Peter van Walsum of the Netherlands.

The Western Sahara dispute remains the primary impediment to regional integration and development goals. The parties were able to set aside some of their differences when, in August 2004, U.S. Senator Richard Lugar led a mission to the region that resulted in the release of 404 Moroccan prisoners of war who had long been held by the Polisario. Today, approximately 90,000 Sahrawi refugees live in camps around Tindouf, Algeria. The exact number of refugees living in these camps is not known since there has never been a reliable census of the population. Several thousand Sahrawis also live in the Moroccan-controlled area of Western Sahara among a large number of Moroccan settlers. Morocco considers the Western Sahara part of its national territory, while Polisario insists on the right of the people of the Western Sahara to self-determination. Algeria supports self-determination of the Sahrawis. The issue remains a major stumbling block to Moroccan-Algerian relations and regional integration.

The United States has consistently encouraged the parties to work with the United Nations, and with each other, in a spirit of flexibility and compromise, to find a mutually acceptable settlement. In this regard, the U.S. has welcomed Morocco's recent introduction of an autonomy initiative, is encouraged that it has spurred discussion, and believes that it has created an opportunity for Morocco and the Polisario to come to an agreement on this long-simmering problem. The United Nations Security Council resolution, which provides MINURSO its mandate, has been renewed for six-month intervals since its inception and is expected to be approved for a subsequent extension in October 2007. The U.S. has raised with the UN our support for direct negotiations without preconditions, as called for in the resolution, and in June and August 2007 the Moroccans and the Polisario, with Algeria and Mauritania participating as interested neighbor states, met for two rounds of talks in Manhasset, New York, mediated by Peter van Walsum. A third round of negotiations is tentatively planned for November 2007 in Switzerland.

==Economy==
Macroeconomic stability, coupled with low inflation and relatively slow economic growth, has characterized the Moroccan economy over the past several years. The government continues to pursue reform, liberalization, and modernization aimed at stimulating growth and creating jobs. Employment, however, remains overly dependent on the agriculture sector, which is extremely vulnerable to inconsistent rainfall. Morocco's primary economic challenge is to accelerate growth in order to reduce high levels of unemployment and underemployment. While overall unemployment stands at 7.7%, this figure masks significantly higher urban unemployment, as high as 33% among urban youths.

Through a foreign exchange rate anchor and well-managed monetary policy, Morocco has held inflation rates to industrial country levels over the past decade; inflation between 1999 and 2004 remained at 1.5% and fell to 1% in 2005. Despite criticism among exporters that the dirham has become badly overvalued, the country maintains a current account surplus. Foreign exchange reserves are strong, with over $16 billion in reserves, the equivalent of 11 months of imports at the end of 2005. The combination of strong foreign exchange reserves and active external debt management gives Morocco ample capacity to service its debt. Current external debt stands at about $17.9 billion.

Economic growth has been hampered by an over-reliance on the agriculture sector. Agriculture production is extremely susceptible to rainfall levels and ranges from 15% to 20% of GDP. Given that almost 40% of Morocco's population depends directly on agriculture, droughts have a severe negative effect on the economy.

The current government is continuing a series of structural reforms begun in recent years. The most promising reforms have been in the labor market and financial sectors, and privatization has accelerated the sale of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) licenses in recent years. Morocco also has liberalized rules for oil and gas exploration and has granted concessions for many public services in major cities. The tender process in Morocco is becoming increasingly transparent. Many believe, however, that the process of economic reform must be accelerated in order to reduce urban unemployment.

In January 2006, the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the United States and Morocco went into effect. The FTA represents an important step towards President Bush's vision of a Middle East Free Trade Area and is the first in Africa. The U.S.-Morocco FTA eliminated tariffs on 95% of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products with all remaining tariffs to be eliminated within nine years. The negotiations produced a comprehensive agreement covering not only market access but also intellectual property rights protection, transparency in government procurement, investments, services, and e-commerce. The FTA provides new trade and investment opportunities for both countries and will encourage economic reforms and liberalization already underway.
*GDP (2006): $56.72 billion.
*GDP growth rate (2006 est.): 6.7%
*Per capita GDP (PPP, 2006): $4,400.
*Natural resources: Phosphates, fish, manganese, lead, silver, and copper.
*Agriculture: Products—barley, citrus fruits, vegetables, olives, livestock, and fishing.
*Industry: Types—phosphate mining, manufacturing and handicrafts, construction and public works, energy. Sector Information as % GDP (2006): Agriculture 13.3%, industry 31.2%, services 55.5%.
*Monetary unit: Moroccan dirham.
*Trade: Exports--$11.72 billion (2006). Major partners—EU 71.5%, India 4.1%, U.S. 2.6%, and Brazil 2.4%. Imports-- $21.22 billion (2006). Major partners—EU 52.1%, Saudi Arabia 4.8%, Russia 6.7%, China 5.2%, U.S. 3.4%.
*Budget: Revenues, $15.85 billion; expenditures, $20.39 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.19 billion. (2006 est.). *External debt: $17.9 billion (2006 est.).

==History==
Morocco's strategic location has shaped its history. Beginning with the Phoenicians, many foreigners were drawn to this area. Romans, Visigoths, Vandals and Byzantine Greeks ruled successively. Arab forces began occupying Morocco in the seventh century A.D., bringing their civilization and Islam. The Alaouite dynasty, which has ruled Morocco since 1649, claims descent from the Prophet Muhammad.

Morocco's location and resources led to early competition among European powers in Africa, beginning with successful Portuguese efforts to control the Atlantic coast in the 15th century. France showed a strong interest in Morocco as early as 1830. Following recognition by the United Kingdom in 1904 of France's "sphere of influence" in Morocco, the Algeciras Conference (1906) formalized France's "special position" and entrusted policing of Morocco to France and Spain jointly. The Treaty of Fes (1912) made Morocco a protectorate of France. By the same treaty, Spain assumed the role of protecting power over the northern and southern (Saharan) zones.

Nationalist political parties, which took shape under the French protectorate, began a strong campaign for independence after World War II. Declarations such as the Atlantic Charter (a joint U.S.-British statement set forth, among other things, the right of all people to choose the form of government under which they live), served as a base for the independence movement. A manifesto of the Istiqlal (Independence) Party in 1944 was one of the earliest public demands for independence. That party subsequently provided most of the leadership for the nationalist movement and remains a dominant political force.

In 1953, France exiled the highly respected Sultan Mohammed V and replaced him with the unpopular Mohammed Ben Aarafa. Ben Aarafa's reign was widely perceived as illegitimate, and sparked active opposition to French rule. France allowed Mohammed V to return in 1955, and by 1956, Morocco had regained its independence.

In the year 2006, Moroccans celebrated their 50th year of independence from France. After gaining independence on March 2, 1956, Morocco regained control over certain Spanish-ruled areas through agreements with Spain in 1956 and 1958. The internationalized city of Tangier was reintegrated with the signing of the Tangier Protocol on October 29, 1956. The Spanish enclave of Ifni in the south became part of Morocco in 1969. Spain, however, retains control over the small coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in the north.

During the 1990s, King Hassan made great strides toward economic and political liberalization. King Hassan died on July 23, 1999, and was succeeded by his son, Mohammed VI, who pledged to continue these reforms. Under Mohammed VI, the Moroccan Government has undertaken a number of economic, political, and social reforms, including the 2003 Moudawana, a reform of the family status code, and the 2006 Equity and Reconciliation Commission, which investigated allegations of human rights abuse from 1956 to 1999.

==References==
*[http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/africa/morocco]
*[http://i-cias.com/morocco/]
*[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mo.html]

==See also==

*[[World History Lecture Six]]
*[[World History Lecture Thirteen]]

{{African Countries}}
[[Category:Muslim-Majority Countries]]
[[Category:Morocco]]

Maia Sandu

2022-01-04T17:19:33Z

XxSearcherOfTruthxX: create

'''Maia Sandu''' is the current (2019-) president of [[Moldova]]. She defeated pro-Russian Igor Dodon in the 2019 presidential elections. She supports unification with [[Romania]] (of Moldovia), has Romanian citizenship and said from Romanian Captain and Marshal [[Ion Antonescu]] that he was "a historical figure about whom we may say both good and bad things", triggering negative reactions of complain from the Jewish community of the country.

[[Category:Moldova]]

Greater Romania

2022-01-04T17:15:34Z

XxSearcherOfTruthxX: creation

'''Greater Romania''' (''România Mare'' in [[Romanian]]) refers to an irredentist concept according to which [[Romania]] has the right to own the territory of the [[Moldova|Republic of Moldova]] but also parts of [[Ukraine|the Ukraine]] (namely, Budjak, Northern Bessarabia, Herța and Northern Bukovina) and of the [[Bulgaria|Bulgars]] (Southern Dobruja, ''Cadrilaterul''). Mostly a historical project achieved in 1918, some in Romania ask for the return of this nation to the described borders.

==Sources==
* [https://books.google.com/books?&id=j1ytAgAAQBAJ A Concise History of Romania]
* [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1478-0542.2005.00157.x Re-Writing the History of Romania after the Fall of Communism]

[[Category:Romania|Greater]]

Moldova

2022-01-04T17:10:27Z

XxSearcherOfTruthxX: fix

{{Country
|name =''Republica Moldova''
|map =Moldova rel01.jpg
|map2 =Moldova location.png
|flag =Flag of Moldova.png
|arms =Arms of Moldova.png
|capital =Chisinau
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|language =Romanian
|king =
|queen =
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|governor general=
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|president =Maia Sandu
|president-raw =
|chancellor =
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|pm =Natalia Gavrilița
|pm-raw =
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|area =13,000 sq. mi.
|pop =4,033,333 (2020)
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|gdp =$4.4 billion
|gdp-year =2007
|gdp-pc =$1,298
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The '''Republic of Moldova''' is a country in eastern [[Europe]] and a former member of the [[Soviet Union]]. Its capital is [[Chişinău]]. It has close historical connections with neighbouring [[Romania]], and the language is a Romanian dialect.

==Geography==
An essentially-land-locked country west of the [[Ukraine]], Moldova's only natural outlets to the Black Sea are the Dniester and Prut Rivers.
*Area: 33,843 km2. (13,000 sq. mi.); slightly larger than Maryland.
*Cities: Capital—Chisinau.
*Terrain: Rolling steppe, gradual slope south toward the Black Sea.
*Climate: Moderate winters, warm summers.
*Time Zone: GMT+2

==People==
Ethnic groups represented in Moldova include Moldovan/Romanian, Ukrainian, Russian, [[Gagauz]], and Bulgarian. Romanian (officially known as Moldovan) is the official language; Russian, Ukrainian, and Gagauz also are spoken. The great majority of Moldova's population is Christian Orthodox—90% of the population nominally belongs to one of the two main Orthodox denominations. The Moldovan Orthodox Church, an autonomous diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church and loyal to the Patriarch of Moscow, has 1,194 parishes; the Bessarabian Orthodox Church, affiliated with the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate in Bucharest, has 124 parishes. In addition, followers of the Old Rite Russian Orthodox Church (Old Believers) make up approximately 3.6% of the population.
*Nationality: Noun—Moldovan(s). Adjective—Moldovan.
*Population (January 1, 2008): 4.1 million, including the estimated Transnistrian population of 533,000. An estimated 750,000 to 1,000,000 work outside the country.
*Population growth rate (2007): -0.3%.
*Ethnic groups (2004 census): Moldovan (83.7%), Ukrainian (6.6%), Russian (1.7%), Gagauz (4.5%), Bulgarian (1.7%), Romanian (1.4%), other (0.4%).
*Main religions: Christian Orthodox (93.3%), Baptist (1%), Adventist, Roman Catholic, Jewish.
*Languages: Romanian (officially known as Moldovan), Russian, Ukrainian, Gagauz.
*Education: Literacy—96%.
*Health: Infant mortality rate—12/1,000. Life expectancy-68.4 years.
*Work force (1.3 million): Agriculture—41%; industry—12%; other—47%.

==Government and Political Conditions==
In 2000, Parliament passed a decree making Moldova a parliamentary republic, with the president elected by Parliament instead of by popular vote. Widespread popular dissatisfaction with previous governments and economic hardship led to a surprise at the polls in February 2001. In elections certified by international observers as free and fair, slightly over half of Moldova's voters cast their ballots for the Communist Party. Under the rules of Moldova's proportional representation system, the Communist faction, which in the previous Parliament consisted of 40 of Parliament's 101 seats, jumped to 71—a clear majority. The Parliament then elected the leader of the Communist faction, Vladimir Voronin, to be president.

President Voronin's first term was marked by up and down relations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Politically, the government was committed to the reduction of poverty by allocating more resources to social safety net items such as health, education, and increasing pensions and salaries. Voronin proceeded with former President Lucinschi's plans to privatize several important state-owned industries and even on occasion broke with his own party over important issues. Under President Voronin, relations with the United States have remained strong. From January to April 2002, large demonstrations took place in opposition to several controversial government proposals, including expanded use of the Russian language in schools and its designation as an official language. While the demonstrations were sometimes tense, the government did not use force and ultimately agreed to Council of Europe (CoE) mediation.

In March 2005 parliamentary elections, the Communist Party received 46.1% of the vote, or 56 seats in the 101-member Parliament—more than enough for the 51-vote minimum required to form a government, but short of the 61 votes necessary to elect a president. However, President Voronin was re-elected with support from the Christian Democratic People's Party and from the Democratic and Social Liberal party factions, after Voronin promised to deliver on needed reforms and Euro-Atlantic integration for the country. These defections broke apart the opposition unity of the pre-election Moldovan Democratic Bloc, led by Our Moldova Alliance (AMN) faction leader and former Chisinau Mayor Serafim Urechean.

Nationwide local elections in June 2007 showed improvement over nationwide parliamentary elections in 2005, with better access to the media for opposition candidates, and greater evidence of impartiality by the Central Election Commission. While the voting itself generally met international standards, the government's behavior in the campaign period—including bias in state media and misuse of administrative resources—remained a concern. The Communist Party suffered a significant setback, losing the high-profile Chisinau mayoral election and control of numerous local councils to opposition party coalitions. Elections in the semi-autonomous region of Gagauzia were held in December 2006; Mikhail Formuzal, a longtime opponent of President Voronin, was elected "Bashkan" (Governor). Parliamentary elections are scheduled for 2009 and the new Parliament will elect the next President of Moldova. In addition to state-sponsored media, there are several independent newspapers, radio and television stations, and news services. The independent media organizations, along with some that are affiliated with political parties, often criticize government policies. In August 2004, Teleradio Moldova (TRM) was officially transformed from a state-owned company into a public broadcaster. However, journalists and civil society representatives, who claimed the process was nontransparent and meant to stack the new TRM staff with those favorable to the government, met this move with large protests. In February 2007, a controversial privatization process shut down the popular, pro-opposition Chisinau radio station Antena C, and installed new, pro-Government management. The U.S. Ambassador, the OSCE and western diplomatic missions condemned the developments, which seemed to run counter to the Moldovan Broadcasting Code and risked silencing political opposition. Peaceful assembly is allowed, though permits for demonstrations must be obtained; private organizations, including political parties, are required to register with the government. Moldova enacted a new law on religion in July 2007. The new law, while noting the special status of the Moldovan Orthodox Church in Moldovan history and culture, simplifies registration procedures and allows religious groups more access to public places.

In February 2005, Brussels and Chisinau agreed on an EU-Moldova Action Plan, a "roadmap" of reforms to strengthen the democratic and economic situation of the country and facilitate its Euro-Atlantic integration. Although Moldova has made some progress toward laying the structural and legislative foundation for reform, the EU has emphasized that more implementation is needed.

====Transnistria====
[[File:Flag of Transnistria.png|thumb|Flag of Transnistria]]
The population of the Moldovan region of [[Transnistria]] is approximately 40% Romanian/Moldovan, 28% Ukrainian, and 23% Russian. Separatist forces maintain control of the Transnistrian region, which lies along the Ukrainian border. Moldova has tried to meet the Russian minority's demands by offering the region rather broad cultural and political autonomy. The dispute has strained Moldova's relations with Russia. The July 1992 cease-fire agreement established a tripartite peacekeeping force comprised of Moldovan, Russian, and Transnistrian units.

Negotiations to resolve the conflict continue, and the cease-fire is still in effect. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is trying to facilitate a negotiated settlement and has had an observer mission in place for several years. In July 2002, OSCE, Russian, and Ukrainian mediators approved a document setting forth a blueprint for reuniting Moldova under a federal system. Over the next year and a half, the settlement talks alternated between periods of forward momentum and periods of no progress. In February 2003, the U.S. and EU imposed visa restrictions against the Transnistrian leadership. In April 2003, the Moldovan Government and the Transnistrian authorities agreed to establish a joint commission to draft a constitution for a reintegrated state. However, fundamental disagreements over the division of powers remained, and a settlement proved elusive.

President Voronin decided not to sign a Russian-brokered settlement with Transnistria in November 2003; the proposal—seen by many as pro-Transnistrian - sparked opposition protests. During the summer of 2004, the Transnistrian separatists forcibly closed several Romanian language Latin-script schools in the region, for which the regime was subject to international condemnation. In 2005, Tiraspol prevented several farmers on the right bank of the Nistru River from working their fields on the left bank, within Transnistria's "borders." The OSCE Mission to Moldova eventually mediated solutions to these crises.

After a 15-month pause, the sides met for a renewed round of settlement negotiations in October 2005. Mediators from Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE joined the Moldovan and Transnistrian representatives at the talks. In addition, the U.S. and EU joined the talks as observers. However, subsequent "5+2" negotiations have made little progress on a settlement or on withdrawal of Russian forces from Moldova: Russia still has weapons and munitions of the Operational Group of Russian Forces (formerly the Russian 14th Army) stationed in Transnistria, although it pledged to remove them under a timetable established at the 1999 OSCE Ministerial - the so-called "Istanbul Accords." However, there has been no progress on Russian withdrawals since early 2004.

In response to Moldova's call for international monitoring of the border, in December 2005 the EU dispatched a Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) to help stem the flow of illegal trade between Ukraine and Moldova. In March 2006, Ukraine and Moldova began implementing a 2003 customs agreement, under which Transnistrian companies seeking to engage in cross-border trade must register in Chisinau. Despite the protests of the Smirnov regime, all major Transnistrian businesses have subsequently registered. In what is seen as a response to the new customs procedures, the Smirnov regime boycotted the 5+2 talks in March 2006. The talks have been stalled ever since. In September 2006, the Transnistrian regime held an "independence referendum." Despite the fact that the Smirnov regime claimed that the referendum demonstrated overwhelming support for independence, the vote was not monitored by any western organizations, and no country recognized the referendum or the independence of Transnistria.

===Principal Government Officials===
*President—Nicolae Timofti
*Prime Minister—Chiril Gaburici
*President of Parliament—Marian Lupu
*Foreign Minister—Andrei Stratan
*Ambassador to the United States-Nicolae Chirtoaca
*Ambassador to the United Nations-Alexei Tulbure

===Foreign Relations===
Moldova's Parliament approved the country's membership in the Commonwealth of Independent States and a CIS charter on economic union in April 1994.

In 1995, the country became the first former Soviet republic admitted to the Council of Europe. In addition to its membership in NATO's Partnership for Peace, Moldova also belongs to the United Nations, the OSCE, the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Moldova is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

In 1998, Moldova contributed to the founding of GUAM, a regional cooperative agreement made up of Georgia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan, in addition to Moldova. Although the agreement initially included a declaration of mutual defense, Moldova has since declared its disinterest in participating in any GUAM-based mutual defense initiative. Moldova has been involved in information exchange, trade and transportation, border control, and energy projects issues within this regional agreement. In 2006, the organization's members voted to change the name to the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM.

The past two years have seen significant developments in Moldova's relations with the West. In 2005, the European Union appointed a Special Representative for Moldova and the negotiations to resolve the Transnistrian conflict and the Delegation of the European Commission opened an office in Chisinau, In December 2005, Moldova welcomed an EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) along its Ukrainian border to crack down on smuggling, strengthen customs procedures and facilitate cross-border cooperation. In accordance with a 2005 Action Plan with the EU, Moldova has begun to harmonize Moldova's laws with those of the EU. As part of this, in late 2005, Moldova enacted its "Guillotine" laws, which slashed unnecessary business regulations, established a framework for relations between the private sector and government and created a mechanism to review the suitability of draft legislation.

In the atmosphere of heightened international sensitivity to terrorism following the events of September 11, 2001, Moldova has been a supporter of American efforts to increase international cooperation in combating terrorism. Moldova has sent demining units and peacekeepers to participate in post-conflict humanitarian assistance in Iraq. In March 2011, The Moldovan Orthodox Church resisted efforts from the European Union attempting to force Moldova to accept homosexuality.

==Defense==
Moldova has accepted all relevant arms control obligations of the former Soviet Union. On October 30, 1992, Moldova ratified the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty, which establishes comprehensive limits on key categories of conventional military equipment and provides for the destruction of weapons in excess of those limits. It acceded to the provisions of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in October 1994 and to the Biological Weapons Convention in December 2004. It does not have nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons. Moldova joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Partnership for Peace on March 16, 1994. Due to Moldova's constitutional neutrality, it is not a participant in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS—a group of 12 former Soviet republics) Collective Security Agreement.

==Economy==
Moldova remains the poorest country in Europe. It is landlocked, bounded by Ukraine on the east and Romania to the west. It is the second smallest of the former Soviet republics and the most densely populated. Industry accounts for less than 15% of its labor force, while agriculture's share is more than 40%.

Moldova's proximity to the Black Sea gives it a mild and sunny climate. This makes the area ideal for agriculture and food processing, which accounts for one third of the country's GDP. The fertile soil supports wheat, corn, barley, tobacco, sugar beets, and soybeans. Beef and dairy cattle are raised, and beekeeping is widespread. Moldova's best-known product comes from its extensive and well-developed vineyards concentrated in the central and southern regions. In addition to world-class wine, Moldova produces liqueurs and champagne. It is also known for its sunflower seeds, walnuts, apples, and other fruits.
*GDP (2007): $4.4 billion.
*GDP growth rate (2007): 4.0%.
*Per capita GDP (2007 estimate): $1,298.
*Natural resources: Lignite, phosphates, gypsum, arable land, and limestone.
*Agriculture: Products—vegetables, fruits, wine and spirits, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, meat, milk, eggs, tobacco, walnuts.
*Industry: Types—processed foods and beverages, including wine and refined sugar; processed fruit and vegetable products, including vegetable oil; dairy and meat products; tobacco items; metal processing and production of machinery; textiles and clothing, shoes; furniture.
*Trade (2006): Exports--$1,051.6 million (of which 50% go to countries outside the former Soviet Union): foodstuffs, wine, textiles, clothing, footwear and machinery. Major markets—Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Italy, Belarus, Germany. Imports--$2,693.2 million (of which 60% come from countries outside the former Soviet Union): gas, oil, coal, steel, machinery and equipment, chemical products, textiles, foodstuffs, automobiles, and other consumer durables. Major suppliers—Ukraine, Russia, Romania, Germany, Italy. Currency: Moldovan Leu (plural Lei).
*Exchange rate: Leu/US$ (2006): average 13.13; 12.91 (end of year); 12.60 (average in 2005); 12.33 (average in 2004); 13.94 (average in 2003).

Like many other former Soviet republics, Moldova has experienced economic difficulties. Since its economy was highly dependent on the rest of the former Soviet Union for energy and raw materials, the breakdown in trade following the breakup of the Soviet Union had a serious effect, exacerbated at times by drought and civil conflict. The Russian ruble devaluation of 1998 had a deleterious effect on Moldova's economy, but economic growth has been steady since 2000.

Moldova has made progress in economic reform since independence. The government has liberalized most prices and has phased out subsidies on most basic consumer goods. A program begun in March 1993 has privatized 80% of all housing units and nearly 2,000 small, medium, and large enterprises. Other successes include the privatization of nearly all of Moldova's agricultural land from state to private ownership, as a result of an American assistance program, "Pamint" ("land"), completed in 2000. A stock market opened in June 1995.

Following the economic difficulties caused by the Russian currency crisis of 1998, inflation dropped to 5.2% in 2002, the lowest level since Moldova's independence. However, inflation spiked again to 11.6% in 2003 and never fell below 11% over the following years, rising as high as 12.7% in 2006. In 2006, Moldova faced twin external shocks - a two-fold increase in gas prices and a politically-motivated Russian ban on Moldovan wine imports, a key export item. While relatively stable in recent years, in 2007 the local currency appreciated because of a weakening U.S. dollar and pressure from record remittances from Moldovans working abroad. Reforms to the National Bank of Moldova in 2006 changed the central bank's policy priority from currency stability to price stability (fighting inflation). The National Bank of Moldova has the difficult task of sterilizing the money supply to contain stubbornly high inflation.

Moldova continues to make progress toward developing a viable free-market economy. The economy grew by an average 7% from 2000 to 2005 after years of recession since independence. External shocks in 2006 slashed economic growth to just 4%. After a budget surplus of 1.6% of GDP in 2005, the country had a slight deficit of 0.3% of GDP in 2006 despite better than anticipated revenue performance and prudent spending. The Moldovan economy continues to depend greatly on remittances sent from Moldovans working abroad. These inflows have increased to an estimated $1.2 billion a year.

Privatization results in recent years were not significant. Total proceeds in 2006 amounted to $12.4 million. Several smaller companies, two land plots in Chisinau and a large hotel were privatized in 2006. The government postponed indefinitely the privatization of large state enterprises in the power, telecommunications and agribusiness sectors. In 2007, Parliament passed a new law, introducing new approaches to privatizing and managing state-owned assets (including public-private partnerships), giving priority to economic efficiency. As the European Union expanded to Moldova's border, 2006 saw record high inflows of foreign direct investment. However, cumulative FDI since independence is only $1.28 billion, far below the country's needs. Sporadic and ineffective enforcement of the law, economic and political uncertainty, and government interference continue to discourage FDI inflows.

Spurred by soaring consumption and higher energy prices, imports have been growing more rapidly than exports. This was most prominent in 2006 when Moldova's trade deficit worsened as higher-priced energy imports surpassed exports, which were stunted by Russia's ban on Moldovan wine and agricultural products. Moldova traditionally exported between 70-80% of its wine production to Russia. The country lacks diversification in terms of sector development and export markets. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank resumed lending to Moldova in July 2002, and then suspended lending again in July 2003. In early 2006, Moldova reached agreement with the Paris Club on rescheduling of Moldova's foreign debt. In addition, in the spring of 2006, the IMF reached an agreement with the Moldovan Government for a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility designed to bolster foreign reserves against external shocks with a 3-year, $175 million program that includes a new IMF loan to the National Bank of Moldova.

Moldova continues to be subject to Russian economic pressure. In 2005, Russia enacted a ban on Moldovan agricultural products and in 2006, it banned imports of Moldovan wines. The wine ban has been particularly painful because, prior to the ban, Moldovan wines accounted for a third of the country's exports and 80% of wine exports went to Russia. Although Russian President Putin announced an end to the wine ban in November 2006, Russia had still not resumed importing Moldovan wine as of September 2007. In January 2006, Russian energy giant Gazprom temporarily cut off natural gas deliveries to Ukraine and Moldova - which is almost completely dependent on its neighbors for energy - and subsequently doubled the price of gas to Moldova. The impact has been substantial: Moldova's exports to Russia declined by 47.6% in 2006 and total exports dropped 3.6%, further contributing to a widening trade deficit (47% of GDP). In the first half of 2007, the country's trade deficit was already more than $1 billion (compared with $1.6 billion for all of 2006).

Moldova suffered from a severe drought during much of 2007 which caused hundreds of millions of dollars in agriculture sector losses and prompted concerns about food availability. In response to a request for assistance from the Government of Moldova, the United States provided $350,000 worth of seed to drought ravaged farmers in time for fall planting.

==History==
The Republic of Moldova occupies most of what has been known as Bessarabia. Moldova's location has made it a historic passageway between Asia and southern Europe, as well as the victim of frequent warfare. Greeks, Romans, Huns, and Bulgars invaded the area, which in the 13th century became part of the Mongol empire. An independent Moldovan state emerged briefly in the 14th century under celebrated leader Stefan the Great but subsequently fell under Ottoman Turkish rule in the 16th century.

After the Russo-Turkish War of 1806–12, the eastern half of Moldova (Bessarabia) between the Prut and the Dniester Rivers was ceded to Russia, while Romanian Moldavia (west of the Prut) remained with the Turks. Romania, which gained independence in 1878, took control of Russian-ruled Bessarabia in 1918. The Soviet Union never recognized the action and created an autonomous Moldavian republic on the east side of the Dniester River in 1924.

In 1940, Romania was forced to cede Bessarabia to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.), which established the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic by merging the autonomous republic east of the Dniester and the annexed Bessarabian portion. Stalin also stripped the three southern counties along the Black Sea coast from Moldova and incorporated them in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Romania sought to regain Bessarabia by joining with Germany in the 1941 attack on the Soviet Union. On June 22, 1941, German and Romanian troops crossed the border and deportations of the Jews from Bessarabia began immediately. By September 1941, most of the Jews of Bessarabia and Bukovina had been transported in convoys and force marched to concentration camps in Transnistria. About 185,000 Jews were in the Transnistria area in concentration camps by 1942 in abysmal conditions. Very few were left alive in these camps when the Soviets reoccupied Bessarabia in 1944.

In September 1990, the Supreme Soviet elected Mircea Snegur as President of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova. A former Communist Party official, he endorsed independence from the Soviet Union and actively sought Western recognition. On May 23, 1991, the Supreme Soviet renamed itself the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, which subsequently declared its independence from the U.S.S.R.

In August 1991, Moldova's transition to democracy initially had been impeded by an ineffective Parliament, the lack of a new constitution, a separatist movement led by the Gagauz (Christian Turkic) minority in the south, and unrest in the Transnistria region on the left bank of the Nistru/Dniester River, where a separatist movement declared a "Transdniester Moldovan Republic" in September 1990. The Russian 14th Army intervened to stem widespread violence and support the Transnistrian regime which is led by supporters of the 1991 coup attempt in Moscow. In 1992, the government negotiated a cease-fire arrangement with Russian and Transnistrian officials, although tensions continue, and negotiations are ongoing. In February 1994, new legislative elections were held, and the ineffective Parliament that had been elected in 1990 to a 5-year term was replaced. A new constitution was adopted in July 1994. The conflict with the Gagauz minority was defused by the granting of local autonomy in 1994.

{{Copyright Details (US Government)}}

Source = [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5357.htm]

[[Category:Moldova]]
[[Category:European Countries]]
[[Category:Former Soviet Countries]]
[[Category:Landlocked Countries]]
[[Category:Christian-Majority Countries]]

Transnistria

2022-01-04T17:07:31Z

XxSearcherOfTruthxX: expansion

{{Country
|name =Transnistria
|map =
|flag =Flag of Transnistria.png
|arms =Arms of Transnistria.png
|capital =Tiraspol
|capital-raw =
|government =Republic
|government-raw =
|language =[[Russian]], [[Romanian]]
|king =
|queen =
|monarch-raw =
|president =Yevgeny Shevchuk
|president-raw =
|chancellor =
|chancellor-raw =
|pm =Tatiana Turanskaya
|pm-raw =
|area =1,607 sq mi
|pop =505,153
|pop-basis =2014
|gdp =
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}}
'''Transnistria''', officially the ''Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic'' (PMR), (also known as Transdnistria), is a self-proclaimed independent unrecognized republic occupying the territory of [[Moldova]] east of the River Dnister. The "republic" takes the form of a long and narrow strip of land (over 250 miles in length) sandwiched between the rest of [[Moldova]] and [[Ukraine]]. It has an area of 1,607 square miles (4,163 km2) and a population of 555,000 (2005 est). The capital city is [[Tiraspol]]. Transnistria declared its independence of Moldova in 1990 and was able to secure separation thanks to the presence on its territory of the Soviet 14th Army.

Transnistria is notorious for its quasi-criminal governance of its own population. In this "country", ethnic Romanians (officially known as "Moldovans") are discriminated against, and the seven only remaining schools in Transnistria teaching the Romanian language suffer constant harassment by the Russian-backed Government of Transnistria. There have also been reports of Romanians having been beaten on the street or fired from their jobs for having been "caught" speaking Romanian in the city of Tighina (occupational name of this city being Bender). Reports against mistreating of the Ukrainian population also exist, as seemingly the Transnistrian Government forces the parents of newborn ethnic Ukrainian babies to Russify their surnames or else.

Transnistria is ruled by the ethnic Russian elite of the "country", despite this elite only forming around 17% (often inflated to 33% or above by the Transnistrian Government) in comparison to the 31% Ukrainian and 52% Romanian population of Transnistria. Transnistria is characterized by an unconditional support to the state of Russia, as this purported state is enterally dependent on it, be it through gas, economic support, or military back-up.

As of today, negotiations between the Transnistrian authorities and the legal Moldovan government (leader of which is Maia Sandu, often described as ''salvatoră al Moldovei'') continue to restore historical right and enforce international law and human rights on the territories occupied by the Transnistrian Government, however without the extinguishing of Russian support to this entity these negotations will lead to nowhere as they have so far ever since 1991.

[[Category:Moldova|Province]]
[[Category:Unrecognised States]]