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LOCATION :
Balkan state on the lower Danube
River, mostly fertile rolling plains.
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES :
Communist coup in
1947 with Russian support. One of the Communist bloc's most
oppressive and cruel regimes. Revolution of 1989-1990 overthrew that
regime, but former Communists still play a large role in government.
There is a revival of anti-minority nationalism against Hungarians
and Gypsies. Romania aspires to EU membership by 2007. Under
communism, manipulation and control of the churches was oppressive,
with severe persecution for those who refused to submit. A proposed
bill on religious freedom contained policies as strict as any in the
former Soviet Union, but this was withdrawn. Only 15 religious
groups are officially recognized, others can only operate as
associations. minority groups find that most persecution comes from
the Orthodox Church rather that the government itself. Bucharest is the capital and the
population 22,326,502 (in year 2000), Romanian 85.1%, Roma
(Gypsy) 5.4%, Turkic 0.8%, German 0.5% and other 1.1%. Official language is
Romanian.
People Groups :
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