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| Conventional Long Form: | none |
| Conventional Short Form: | Romania |
| Location: | Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine |
| Capital City: | Bucharest |
| Government Type: | Republic |
| Population: | 22,364,022 (July 2001 est.) |
| Area [sq.km]: | 237,500 (slightly smaller than Oregon) |
| Currency: | leu (ROL) |
| Languages: | Romanian, Hungarian, German |
| National Holiday: | Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918) |
| Background: | Soviet occupation following World War II led to the formation of a communist "peoples republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of President Nicolae CEAUSESCU became increasingly draconian through the 1980s. He was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Much economic restructuring remains to be carried out before Romania can achieve its hope of joining the EU. |
