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| Photo courtesy of www.info.moldova-travel.com |
The Republic of Moldova is a part of the area known
historically as Basarabia. It is strategically
located at the crossroads between Central, Southeast
and Eastern Europe, and is one of the newly independent
European states (the smallest, in terms of territory,
after Armenia). Situated between the Danube, Prut
and Nistru (formerly spelled Dnestr) rivers, the
Republic of Moldova occupies a territory of 33,700
sq. km/13,000 sq. miles - 350 km from North to
South and 150 km from east to west. It borders
Romania in the west and Ukraine in the east and
south.
Throughout its history Moldova was subject to
frequent invasions and changes. In the course
of the 16th century, it fell under Turkish suzerainty
but its eastern part was annexed by Russia in
1812, after a Russian-Turkish war. Most of this
area remained under Russian control until 1918.
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Soviet control was established in August 1944.
The present borders were implemented in 1947 when
a new Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic was formed
with Romania's cession of the area to the Soviet
Union. With the restoration of the Soviet rule
the republic was subjected to rigorous Russification.
Through systematic ethnic cleansing by Stalin's
regime, Moldova lost an important part of its
native population, receiving, during the last
four decades, hundreds of thousands of Soviet
settlers (mostly Russians). The entire political,
economic and social infrastructure was destroyed
and replaced with Soviet institutions and systems.
Moldova was isolated from Romania, the Cyrillic
script was imposed on the Romanian language and
large-scale immigration of Russians and Ukrainians
was promoted, especially to the industrial centers.
With the fall of the Soviet block, the Moldovan
parliament voted in June 1990 to issue a declaration
of sovereignty, establishing the supremacy of
the Moldovan constitution and legislation throughout
the country. The constitutional prerogatives granted
to the Communist Party which had ensured its leading
position on the political scene were abrogated.
Measures were introduced to promote a market economy.
As in most Soviet republics, full independence
was finally achieved in the aftermath of the failed
coup in Moscow; in Moldova's case independence
was declared on August 27, 1991. Since 1995, Moldova
has been a member of the Council of Europe and
sees its future in increased partnership with
Europe. It also participates in NATO's Partnership
for Peace program. Within the Commonwealth of
Independent States, Moldova maintains economic
and trade cooperation with other former Soviet
republics.
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| Photo courtesy of www.info.moldova-travel.com |
Currently, Moldova has a population of approximately
4,762,000. About 65% of the people are Moldovans.
Large minority groups include Ukrainians (14%),
Russians (13%) and Turks, Jews and Bulgarians
(9%). Chisinau is the capital of the Republic
of Moldova and is a city of 800,000 people.
Moldova's average elevation is 147 m (about 482.3
ft) above sea level, with a maximum height of
429.5 m (about 1410 ft). The climate is continental,
with some modification of conditions by the Black
Sea. Winters are mild, with average daily temperatures
in January between -4 to -7 C (about 23 to 27
F). Summers are quite warm, with average daily
temperatures in July generally exceeding 25°
C (68 F) and daily highs reaching 40° C (104
F) on occasion. Moldova is in the Eastern European
Time Zone (GMT+2 hours).
Fulbright Scholars -- both American and Moldovan
-- have been a crucial resource in the restructuring
and enhancement of higher education in Moldova.
Since the early 1990s Fulbright scholars have
collaborated with colleagues and participated
in lecturing and research projects as well as
curricular and program development in many disciplines
including American literature, law, political
science, medical sciences, TEFL, communications,
economics and business administration. There remain
many challenges facing higher education in Moldova
today. The Fulbright Program is looking to attract
scholars and professionals eager to accept a challenge
and make a lasting contribution to international
higher education.
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| Photo courtesy of www.info.moldova-travel.com |
This Web page is designed to help Americans learn
more about Moldova and what it has to offer Fulbright
participants. All of the sections contain direct
links to additional information. You will find
general information about many aspects of Moldovan
life and culture, as well as material about travel
to and in Moldova.
CIES encourages interested applicants to make
use of the following links to complement research
into potential opportunities available in Moldova.
Please also feel free to contact CIES program
staff if you have additional questions.
Embassy and Consulate of Moldova
www.moldova.org
U.S. Embassy, Chisinau, Moldova
www.usembassy.md
U.S. Department of State
www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5357.htm
CIA - The World Fact Book
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/md.html
Official Web Site of the Republic of Moldova
www.moldova.md
Weather Underground - Republic of Moldova
www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?
query=moldova
Soros Foundation - Moldova
www.soros.md
Country Reports - Moldova
www.countryreports.org/country.asp?countryid=163&
countryName=Moldova
Moldova - Film Studios
www.welcome-moldova.com/articles/moldova_film.shtml
Banking
www.universalbank.md
Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova
www.constcourt.md/
United Nations, Moldova
www.un.md
Independent Journalism Center
www.ijc.md/en/
Moldova Today
www.einnews.com/moldova
Lonely Planet
www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/moldova/
Moldova
www.turism.md
U.S. Customs
www.customs.gov
Travel Document Systems
www.traveldocs.com
Travel Moldova
www.info.moldova-travel.com
Lemus Travel Management and Business Assistance
www.logisticsmoldova.com
World Travel Guide - Moldova
www.travel-guide.com/data/mda/mda.asp
Free International University of Moldova
www.ulim.md/h/engleza/
European University - Moldova
http://euro-uni.de/
Moldova State University - School of Law
www.iatp.md/usmlaw/
Moldova State University
www.iatp.md
Technical University of Moldova
www.utm.md
Academy of Economic Studies from Moldova
www.ase.md
State Pedagogical University "Ion Creanga"
www.cnaa.acad.md/en/institutions/ups/
African American History Month
Seminar "African American History: Influence
on the Past, Present and Future of US Society"
February 22, 2003
Chisinau, Moldova
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To celebrate African American History Month and
to promote interracial and interethnic tolerance
and understanding, the US Embassy Alumni Resource
Center and the American Studies Center in Chisinau
collaborated to organize a seminar on the topic
of African American history and its influence on
US society. Public Affairs Officer Aleisha Woodward
opened the event with remarks emphasizing African
Americans' rich heritage, their invaluable contributions
to US society, and the significance of Black History
Month. The seminar that followed consisted of two
sessions, one focusing on socio-political aspects
of African American history, the other on cultural
aspects.
In the session on social issues, Professor Albert
Ringelstein, a US Fulbright Scholar, gave a presentation
on civil rights cases in education, focusing on
such central cases as Plessy vs. Ferguson and
Brown vs. the Board of Education to highlight
the historical evolution of African Americans'
rights to equal opportunities in education. Participants
learned about racism and segregation, and the
foundation of what was later called "affirmative
action" in US educational institutions. A
presentation by Jane Miller, Senior English Fellow,
addressed the same key question of rights - the
evolution of affirmative action and its current
state with regard to college admissions. Sergeant
Ronald Thomas from the US Army followed with a
presentation entitled "Tuskegee Airman,"
which highlighted the difficult position of African
Americans during the Second World War, when they
faced "racism on the ground and Germans in
the air." Thomas noted that the Civil Rights
movement was strengthened by the many African
Americans who were involved directly in army operations
during the Second World War, who would not tolerate
racism and discrimination when the war was over.
The second part of the seminar focused on cultural
impacts on US society, with presenters who focused
on literature and music. US Fulbright Scholar
Dr. Satyam Moorty discussed the Harlem Renaissance,
with its popular and versatile poets such as Langston
Hughes, Countee Cullen, Nella Larsen and Jean
Toomer. Natalia Alhazov (Fulbright) discussed
more recent African American poets and their influence
on American literature. The last presentation,
given by Peace Corps Volunteer Jason Cheek, was
entitled "Red Hot and Cool: Jazz Music."
Cheek showed several video clips with jazz music
and pictures from the 1920's, and discussed the
history of jazz, from its birth around 1895 through
its evolution and its spread through the cities
of New Orleans, Chicago and New York.
1. Nicolaie Objelean (CI)
2. Natalia Sirghi (RSEP)
3. Dorina Virtan (Ugrad)
4. Alina Pavlenco (FLEX)
5. Victoria Tataru (FLEX)
6. Laurentiu Hadirca (FLEX)
7. Natalia Alhazov (Fulbright)
8. Valentina Singhirei (Fulbright)
9. Aleisha Woodword, PAO
10. Jason Cheek, Peace Corps volunteer
11. Albert Ringelstein, Fulbright Fellow
12. Ronald Thomas, US European Command
13. Jane Miller, English Language Fellow
14. Satyam Moorty, Fulbright Fellow
15. Oxana Abramova, Pushkin Lyreum
16. Gheorghe Grosu, American Studies Center
17. Elena Crestianicov, American Studies Center
18. Ion Boston, American Studies Center
19. Petru Chiperi, American Studies Center
20. Denis Rusu, American Studies Center
21. Cristina Cracan, American Studies
22. Elena Corjan, American Studies
23. Ecaterina Borza, Challenge for a New Generation
24. Natalia Cristeva, Moldova State University
25. Cristina Blanaru, Moldova State University
26. Irina Ivanov-Gincu, Moldova State University
27. Victoria Rotaru, Moldova State University
28. Ludmila Dulgher, Moldova State University
29. Larisa Bucur, Moldova State University
30. Marcela Calchei, Moldova State University
31. Carolina Portarescu, Moldova State University
32. Ludmila Chimacovschi, ASEM
33. Natalia Hioara, ASEM
34. Natalia Ilies, ASEM
35. Svetlana Butuc, ASEM
36. Ema Matreniuc, Institute of Continuing Education
37. Ludmila Costiucevschi, Humanitarian University
38. Olimpia Caracas, Pedagogical State University
39. Alexei Chirdeachin, Agricultural University
40. Ion Nimerencu, ARC
41. Nanu Cezara, ARC
Written by Cezara Nanu, Director of the Alumni
Resource Center, Chisinau Moldova.
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