National Flag
Three
equal vertical stripes red, yellow, and blue (near to the staff). In
December 1989 the emblem on the yellow stripe was removed. The
tricolour flag was adopted for the first time as national flag during
the 1848 Revolution in Wallachia.
Area: 238,391 sq km (91,843
sq miles).
Population: 22,526,096 thounsand
inhabitants in 1998
Form of
Government:
Republic
National
Day: December
1 was adopted as National Day in 1990, being the day of celebration of
the Great Assembly of Alba Iulia which voted for the union of
Transylvania with Romania and which symbolise the union of all
Romanians within a single state and the achievement of the unity of
Romanian national state.
Legal
HOLIDAYS:
1 and 2 January (The New Year),
Easter Monday, May Day, 1 December, 25 and 26 December (Christmas).
Official LANGUAGE:
The
Romanian language, which is the mother tongue of around 90% of the
country's population. The easternmost representative of the family of
Romance languages, Romanian descends directly from the Latin. The
citizens belonging to ethnic minorities may freely use their mother
tongue in schools, administration, justice, the media, culture.
Foreign
LANGUAGES:
The
main foreign language used in Romania are: English, French, German.
From the mid-19th century to the 1960s, the main foreign language used
in Romania was French, to a certain extend, German.
Standard time:
East
European zone lime (GMT + 2 hours). As of 1979, from the last Sunday in
March to the last Sunday in September, Daylight Saving Time (GMT + 3
hours). Romania lies in the same time zone with the Republic of
Moldova, Finland, Greece, Israel, Egypt and the Republic of South
Africa.
CURRENCY:
1 leu (plural - lei) = 100 bani
(singular ban). The dormestic convertibility of the leu was introduced
in November 1991.
Internet
domain countru code: ro
Country code: 0040
Airports:
Bucharest-Otopeni,
Constanta-Mihail Kogalniceanu, Suceava, Arad, Timisoara (all for
international traffic as well), Bacau, Baia Mare, Bucharest-Baneasa,
Caransebes, Cluj, Craiova, Deva, Iasi, Oradea, Satu-Mare, Targu Mures,
Tulcea.
Passport:
All foreign visitors to the
Romania must possess a passport valid at least the next 3 months.VISA REQUIREMENTS : No
visa required for EU states.Information about visa
requirements by Romanian Ministry of Foreign affairs can be found on: www.mae.ro
INTERNATIONAL
MEMBERSHIP:
Romania
has diplomatic and consular relations with 164 states and is a member
of UNO, IAEA, IBRD, FAO, IFAD, GATT, ICAO, ILO, IMO, WMO, WIPO, WHO,
UNIDO, ITU, UNESCO, UPU. In 1993 Romania becomes EEC and EFTA associate
member, and the 32nd Council of Europe member. On 26 January 1994
Romania was the first Eastern European state to sign in Brussels NATO's
"Partnership for Peace". In 1st January 2007 Romania became EU member.
BUCHAREST -
CAPITAL:
Bucharest
municipality (divided into 6 administrative districts) with a
population of 2,032,000 (1998). Situated in the south of the country,
in the Romanian Plain (alt 85 m), the city dates from the 14th century
and is recorded in writing for the first time in 1459 as residence of
Prince Vlad Tepes. Capital of Wallachia in the 17th-19th centuries,
then of Romania since 1862.
Bucharest,
the most popullous and most important town of Romania, the principal
political, administrative, economic, financial, banking, educational,
scientific and cultural centre of the country. Located in S-SE Romania,
at an altitude of 60-90 m, on the Dâmbovita and Colentina
rivers,
at 44°25'50" Latitude North and 26°06'50" Longitude
East, at
about the same latitude as Belgrade, Geneva, Bordeaux, Minneapolis, and
the same longitude as Helisinki and Johannesburg. The town has an area
of 228 sq. km. and a population of 2,021,000 (on 01.01.1998),
accounting for 9% of the total population and for 15% of the urban one.
In terms of population size, Bucharest ranks third in the region after
Athens and Istambul.
The
climate is one of extremes, with hot summers (July average temperature,
23° C / 73° F) and cold winters (January average,
-3° C /
27° F). Rainfall is low, averaging 585 mm (23 in) annually, and
comes mainly in summer.
