Moldova with the capital city Chişinău is located in Europe (Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania). It covers some 33,843 square kilometres (slightly larger than Maryland) with 4,324,000 citizens.

About the flag and history of Moldova

Three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized aurochs head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow; based on the color scheme of the flag of Romania - with which Moldova shares a history and culture - but Moldova's blue band is lighter; the reverse of the flag does not display any coat of arms note: one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Paraguay and Saudi Arabia.

Part of Romania during the interwar period, Moldova was incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although the country has been independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Nistru River supporting a Transnistrian separatist region composed of a Slavic majority population (mostly Ukrainians and Russians), but with a sizeable ethnic Moldovan minority. One of the poorest nations in Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist, Vladimir VORONIN, as its president in 2001. VORONIN served as Moldova's president until he resigned in September 2009, following the opposition''s gain of a narrow majority in July parliamentary elections and the Communist Party''s (PCRM) subsequent inability to attract the three-fifths of parliamentary votes required to elect a president. Four Moldovan opposition parties formed a new coalition, the Alliance for European Integration (AEI), which has acted as Moldova''s governing coalition since. Moldova experienced significant political uncertainty between 2009 and early 2012, holding three general elections and numerous presidential ballots in parliament, all of which failed to secure a president. Following November 2010 parliamentary elections, a reconstituted AEI-coalition consisting of three of the four original AEI parties formed a government, and in March 2012 was finally able to elect an independent as president.

National administrative regions of Moldova

• Balti
• Bender
• Calarasi
• Causeni
• Chisinau
• Dubasari
• Gagauzia
• Moldova (general)
• Raionul Anenii Noi
• Raionul Basarabeasca
• Raionul Briceni
• Raionul Cahul
• Raionul Cantemir
• Raionul Cimislia
• Raionul Criuleni
• Raionul Donduseni
• Raionul Drochia
• Raionul Edinet
• Raionul Falesti
• Raionul Floresti
• Raionul Glodeni
• Raionul Hincesti
• Raionul Ialoveni
• Raionul Leova
• Raionul Nisporeni
• Raionul Ocnita
• Raionul Orhei
• Raionul Rezina
• Raionul Riscani
• Raionul Singerei
• Raionul Soldanesti
• Raionul Soroca
• Raionul Straseni
• Raionul Taraclia
• Raionul Telenesti
• Raionul Ungheni
• Stefan-Voda
• Stinga Nistrului

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