Belarus and Moldova : country studies

294 Pages·1995·23.5 MB·English

by  Fedor, Helen, 1957-

area handbook series
Belarus and Moldova
country studies

Belarus and Moldova
country studies
Federal Research Division
Library of Congress
Edited by
Helen Fedor
Research Completed
May 1995
On the cover: St. George, patron saint ofBelarus, and
antique Moldovan rug
First Edition, First Printing, 1995.
LibraryofCongress Cataloging-in-PublicationData
Belarus and Moldova : country studies / Federal Researc—h
Division, Library ofCongress edited by Helen Fedor.
;
1st ed. —
p. cm. (Area handbook series, ISSN 1057-5294)
(DAPam; 550-112)
"Research completed May 1995."
Includes bibliographical references (pp. 207-223) and
index.
ISBN 0-8444-0849-2 (he : alk. paper)
Copy 3 Z663.275 .B45 1995
1. Belarus. 2. Moldova. I. Fedor, Helen, 1957- . II.
Library of Congress. Federal Research Division. III.
Series. IV. Series: DAPam 550-112.
;
DK507.23.B45 1995 95-45993
947'.65—dc20 CIP
Headquarters, Department ofthe Army
DAPam 550-112
ForsalebytheSuperintendentofDocuments,U.S.GovernmentPrintingOffice
Washington,D.C. 20402
Foreword
This volume is one in a continuing series ofbooks prepared
by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress
under the Country Studies/Area Handbook Program spon-
sored by the DepartmentoftheArmy. The lasttwo pages ofthis
book list the other published studies.
Mostbooks in the series dealwith a particular foreign coun-
try, describing and analyzing its political, economic, social, and
national security systems and institutions, and examining the
interrelationships of those systems and the ways they are
shaped by cultural factors. Each studyis written by a multidisci-
plinary team ofsocial scientists. The authors seek to provide a
basic understanding of the observed society, striving for a
dynamic rather than a static portrayal. Particular attention is
devoted to the people who make up the society, their origins,
dominant beliefs and values, their common interests and the
issues onwhich they are divided, the nature and extent oftheir
involvement with national institutions, and their attitudes
toward each other and toward their social system and political
order.
The books represent the analysis ofthe authors and should
not be construed as an expression ofan official United States
government position, policy, or decision. The authors have
sought to adhere to accepted standards ofscholarly objectivity.
Corrections, additions, and suggestions for changes from read-
ers will be welcomed for use in future editions.
Louis R. Mortimer
Chief
Federal Research Division
Library ofCongress
Washington, DC 20540-5220
iii

Acknowledgments
The authors are indebted to numerous individuals and orga-
nizationswho gave their time, research materials, and expertise
on affairs in Belarus and Moldova to provide data, perspective,
and material supportfor thisvolume.
The collection of accurate and current information was
assisted greatly by the contributions of Stephen R. Burant of
the United States Department of State, Professor Thomas E.
Bird ofQueens College, Valery Kurdzyukou ofthe Embassy of
the Republic ofBelarus, A.James Firth of the United States
Department ofAgriculture,John Mumford ofThe Washington
Group, Eugene Fishel of the United States Department of
State, Professor Paul E. Michelson ofHuntington College, Pro-
fessor Ernest H. Latham,Jr., ofthe American-Romanian Acad-
emy, Carmen Kosik, Raymond Milefsky of the Defense
Mapping Agency, and Iurie Leanca of the Embassy of the
Republic ofMoldova. The authors also acknowledge the gener-
osity ofall the individualswho allowed their photographs to be
used in this study.
Thanks also go to Ralph K. Benesch, who oversees the Coun-
try Studies/Area Handbook Program for the Department of
the Army. In addition, the authors appreciate the advice and
guidance ofSandraW. Meditz, Federal Research Division coor-
dinator ofthe handbook series. Special thanks go to Marilyn L.
Majeska, who supervised editing; Andrea T. Merrill, who per-
formed the prepublication editorial review and managed pro-
duction; David P. Cabitto, who designed the book cover and
the illustrations on the title page of both chapters, provided
graphics support, and, together with Thomas D. Hall and the
firm ofMaryland Mapping and Graphics, prepared the maps;
Ihor Y Gawdiak, who provided historical background informa-
tion; and Glenn E. Curtis, who critiqued the text. The follow-
ing individuals are gratefully acknowledged as well: Vincent
Ercolano andJanet Willen, who edited the chapters; Barbara
Edgerton and Izella Watson, who did the word processing;
Francine Cronshaw, who compiled the index; and David P.
Cabitto, Stephen C. Cranton, andJanie L. Gilchrist, who pre-
pared the camera-ready copy.