Romania

Romania is a country in the south-eastern part of Central Europe, in the basin of the Lower Danube. It shares borders with Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Ukraine and Moldova.

Territory – 237.5 thousand square kilometers.

Population - 21.7 million people.

Romanians make up 89.5%. Among minority groups are distinguished Hungarians (6.6%), Gipsy (2.4%), Germans (0.3%), Ukrainians (0.3%), Russians (0.2%), Turks (0.1%), Tatars (0.1%).

Administratively, the country is divided into 41 counties.

Capital is Bucharest (1.9 million people).

In 1859, it was completed the political unification of Romania in a single state.

On May 9, 1877 the Romanian Parliament declared the independence of the country. Because of the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, on December 1, 1918, Transylvania became a part of Romania. Since 1990 this date is celebrated as a national holiday of Romania.

Supreme bodies of state power and administration

1. President

President is elected by popular vote to head five years by universal equal direct suffrage by secret ballot. In December 2009, the president Traian Basescu was elected for a second term.

2. Parliament

Parliament consists of the Senate (upper house) and the Chamber of Deputies (lower house). The term of office of parliamentarians - 4 years. The last elections were held on November 30, 2008. The President of the Senate - M. Dzhoane (Social Democratic Party), the President of the Chamber of Deputies - R. Anastase (Democratic Liberal Party).

3. Government

In September 2010, was approved the new composition of the coalition cabinet, which included representatives of the Democratic Liberal Party, the Democratic Union of Hungarians of Romania and the National Union for the Progress of Romania, headed by the Prime Minister, the Democratic-Liberal E. Bok.

Economy

In the country, as a whole, is completed the process of establishing a market economy.

In 2010, GDP decreased by 1.3% compared with 2009, and amounted to 122 billion euros. Average salary is 355 euros.

Romania's main exports are machinery and equipment, metallurgical production, textiles and garments, transport vehicles, minerals, chemicals and plastics, and furniture. Russia remains as one of the most important partners of Romania, taking the 6th place in its foreign trade by export of energy resources.

Other Information

There are 17 religious denominations. The leading position has the Romanian Orthodox Church. Also, influences have Roman Catholic and Reformed Calvinist Churches.

Romania is a member of the UNO, OSCE, IMF, World Bank, WTO, the EAPC, the Council of Europe, BSEC, CEI. Since April 2004 Romania is a member of NATO and since January 2007 - the EU.

The difference with Moscow in time is 2 hours (back), in the summer time - 1 hour.