In 1995, the country became the first New Independent State[?] admitted to the Council of Europe. In addition to its membership in NATO's Partnership for Peace[?], Moldova also belongs to the United Nations, the OSCE, the North Atlantic Cooperation Council[?], the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
In 1998, Moldova contributed to the founding of GUAM[?], a regional cooperative agreement made up of Georgia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan, in addition to Moldova. In 1999, Uzbekistan also joined the group, renamed GUUAM[?]. Although the agreement initially included a declaration of mutual defense, Moldova has since declared its disinterest in participating in any GUUAM-based mutual defense initiative.
As noted, Moldova has sought a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Transnistria region by working with Romania, Ukraine, and Russia, by calling for international mediation, and by cooperating with the OSCE and UN fact-finding and observer missions.
Disputes - international: separatist Transnistria region, comprising the area between the Nistru (Dniester) River[?] and Ukraine, has its own de facto government, dominated by Moldovan Slavs
Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe and possibly the United States
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