The Moldovan Parliament passed in the first reading the draft law on geographical names.
The document will regulate the procedure of assigning geographical names and renaming geographical objects located within the administrative-territorial limits of Moldova (toponyms, natural elements: hydronyms, geomorphological elements, natural, geological, lithological areas, territories representing biodiversity, as well as anthropic elements: historical, cultural territories) through their identification, standardization, registration, use, protection and control. The purpose of the law is to ensure the standardization, use and protection of geographical names for the development and promotion of the natural, tourist, cultural and historical heritage of Moldova. It is stipulated that geographical names on the territory of the country, such as toponyms, natural elements, historical and cultural areas, will be written in Romanian. In areas traditionally inhabited or with a significant number of people belonging to national minorities, geographical names may also be indicated in the minority languages spoken by the inhabitants of these localities. According to the document, a National Commission on Geographical Names will be established, which will examine applications for geographical names; issue an opinion to the initiator/local public administration authorities/state authorities responsible for geographical names on the case of geographical names; approve geographical names and submit them for registration in the Register of Geographical Names. The draft Law on Geographical Names was developed by the Agency for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre in cooperation with the Norwegian Cartographic Office within the framework of the Maps for Sustainable Development project, with technical assistance provided by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Moldova has not yet had a normative framework regulating the field of geographical names. Since 1990, the Academy of Sciences of Moldova has been dealing with this issue. // 22.03.2024 - InfoMarket.
