Romania
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry name - conventional long form : none
Country name - conventional short form : Romania
Country name - local long form : none
Country name - local short form : Romania
Government type : republic
Capital - name : Bucharest
Capital - time difference : UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)
Population : 22,246,862 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Romanian(s)
Nationality - adjective : Romanian
Languages : Romanian 91% (official), Hungarian 6.7%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 1.2%
Currency (code) : "new" leu (RON) was introduced in 2005; "old" leu (ROL) was phased out in 2006; note - because of currency revaluation, 10,000 ROL = 1 RON
Currency code : ROL
Romania is located Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine. The climate is temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms. The terrain is central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.
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