Afghanistan Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and founded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between the British and Russian empires until it won independence from notional British control in 1919. A brief experiment in democracy ended in a 1973 coup and a 1978 Communist counter-coup. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan Communist regime, but withdrew 10 years later under relentless pressure by internationally supported anti-Communist mujahedin rebels. A civil war between mujahedin factions erupted following the 1992 fall of the Communist regime. The Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored movement that emerged in 1994 to end the country's civil war and anarchy, seized Kabul in 1996 and most of the country outside of opposition Northern Alliance strongholds by 1998. Following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and Northern Alliance military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama BIN LADIN. In late 2001, a conference in Bonn, Germany, established a process for political reconstruction that included the adoption of a new constitution in 2003, a presidential election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in 2005. On 9 October 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan. The National Assembly was inaugurated on 19 December 2005. Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran 33 00 N 65 00 E Asia 647,500 sq km 647,500 sq km 0 sq km slightly smaller than Texas 5,529 km China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km 0 km (landlocked) none (landlocked) arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest Amu Darya 258 m Nowshak 7,485 m natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones 12.13% 0.22% 87.65% (2001) 23,860 sq km (1998 est.) damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast to southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of the country; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor) 29,928,987 (July 2005 est.) 44.7% (male 6,842,857/female 6,524,485) 52.9% (male 8,124,077/female 7,713,603) 2.4% (male 353,193/female 370,772) (2005 est.) 17.56 years 17.55 years 17.57 years (2005 est.) 4.77% this rate does not take into consideration the recent war and its continuing impact (2005 est.) 47.02 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 20.75 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 21.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 163.07 deaths/1,000 live births 167.79 deaths/1,000 live births 158.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 42.9 years 42.71 years 43.1 years (2005 est.) 6.75 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.01% (2001 est.) NA NA high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria is a high risk countrywide below 2,000 meters from March through November rabies (2004) Afghan(s) Afghan Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4% Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 19%, other 1% Afghan Persian or Dari (official) 50%, Pashtu (official) 35%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism age 15 and over can read and write 36% 51% 21% (1999 est.) of the estimated 4 million refugees in October 2001, 2.3 million have returned Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Afghanistan Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Afghanestan Afghanestan Republic of Afghanistan Islamic republic Kabul 34 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Daykondi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khowst, Konar, Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Nurestan, Oruzgan, Paktia, Paktika, Panjshir, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, and Zabol 19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs) Independence Day, 19 August (1919) new constitution drafted 14 December 2003 - 4 January 2004; signed 16 January 2004 according to the new constitution, no law should be "contrary to Islam"; the state is obliged to create a prosperous and progressive society based on social justice, protection of human dignity, protection of human rights, realization of democracy, and to ensure national unity and equality among all ethnic groups and tribes; the state shall abide by the UN charter, international treaties, international conventions that Afghanistan signed, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 18 years of age; universal President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; former King ZAHIR Shah holds the honorific, "Father of the Country," and presides symbolically over certain occasions, but lacks any governing authority; the honorific is not hereditary President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government 27 ministers; note - under the new constitution, ministers are appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly the president and two vice presidents are elected by direct vote for a five-year term; if no candidate receives 50% or more of the vote in the first round of voting, the two candidates with the most votes will participate in a second round; a president can only be elected for two terms; election last held 9 October 2004 (next to be held in 2009) Hamid KARZAI elected president; percent of vote - Hamid KARZAI 55.4%, Yunus QANOONI 16.3%, Ustad Mohammad MOHAQQEQ 11.6%, Abdul Rashid DOSTAM 10.0%, Abdul Latif PEDRAM 1.4%, Masooda JALAL 1.2% the bicameral National Assembly consists of the Wolesi Jirga or House of People (no more than 249 seats), directly elected for five-year terms, and the Meshrano Jirga or House of Elders (102 seats, one third elected from provincial councils for four-year terms, one third elected from local district councils for three-year terms - provincial councils elected temporary members to fill these seats until district councils are formed, and one third presidential appointees for five-year terms; the presidential appointees will include two representatives of Kuchis and two representatives of the disabled; half of the presidential appointees will be women) on rare occasions the government may convene a Loya Jirga (Grand Council) on issues of independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity; it can amend the provisions of the constitution and prosecute the president; it is made up of members of the National Assembly and chairpersons of the provincial and district councils last held 18 September 2005; next to be held for the Wolesi Jirga by September 2009; next to be held for the provincial councils to the Meshrano Jirga by September 2008 the single non-transferable vote (SNTV) system used in the election did not make use of politial party slates; most candidantes ran as independents the constitution establishes a nine-member Stera Mahkama or Supreme Court (its nine justices are appointed for 10-year terms by the president with approval of the Wolesi Jirga) and subordinate High Courts and Appeals Courts (note - nine supreme court justices were appointed in the interim in January 2005 pending National Assembly selection of the Constitutionally mandated justices); there is also a Minister of Justice; a separate Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission established by the Bonn Agreement is charged with investigating human rights abuses and war crimes note - includes only political parties approved by the Ministry of Justice: Afghan Millat [Anwarul Haq AHADI]; De Afghanistan De Solay Ghorzang Gond [Shahnawaz TANAI]; De Afghanistan De Solay Mili Islami Gond [Shah Mahmood Polal ZAI]; Harakat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Asif MOHSINEE]; Hezb-e-Aarman-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Iihaj Saraj-u-din ZAFAREE]; Hezb-e-Aazadee Afghanistan [Abdul MALIK]; Hezb-e-Adalat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Kabeer MARZBAN]; Hezb-e-Afghanistan-e-Wahid [Mohammad Wasil RAHEEMEE]; Hezb-e-Afghan Watan Islami Gond [leader NA]; Hezb-e-Congra-e-Mili Afghanistan [Latif PEDRAM]; Hezb-e-Falah-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad ZAREEF]; Hezb-e-Libral-e-Aazadee Khwa-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ajmal SOHAIL]; Hezb-e-Hambastagee Mili Jawanan-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Jamil KARZAI]; Hezb-e-Hamnbatagee-e-Afghanistan [Abdul Khaleq NEMAT]; Hezb-e-Harakat-e-Mili Wahdat-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Nadir AATASH]; Hezb-e-Harak-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ilhaj Said Hssain ANWARY]; Hezb-e-Ifazat Az Uqoq-e-Bashar Wa Inkishaf-e-Afghanistan [Baryalai NASRATEE]; Hezb-e-Istiqlal-e-Afghanistan [Dr. Gh. Farooq NIJZRABEE]; Hezb-e-Jamhoree Khwahan [Sibghatullah SANJAR]; Hezb-e-Kar Wa Tawsiha-e-Afghanistan [Zulfiar OMID]; Hezb-e-Mili Afghanistan [Abdul Rasheed AARYAN]; Hezb-e-Mili Wahdat-e-Aqwam-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Shah KHOGYANEE]; Hezb-e-Nuhzhat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Ahmad Wali MASOUD]; Hezb-e-Paiwand-e-Mili Afghanistan [Said Mansoor NADIRI]; Hezb-e-Rastakhaiz-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Said ZAHIR]; Hezb-e-Refah-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mia Gul WASEEQ]; Hezb-e-Risalat-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Noor Aqa ROEEN]; Hezb-e-Sahadat-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Zubair PAIROZ]; Hezb-e-Sahadat-e-Mili Wa Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Usman SALIGZADA]; Hezb-e-Sulh-e-Mili Islami Aqwam-e-Afghanistan [Abdul Qahir SHARYATEE]; Hezb-e-Sulh Wa Wahdat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Abdul Qadir IMAMEE]; Hezb-e-Tafahum-e-Wa Democracy Afghanistan [Ahamad SHAHEEN]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Karim KHALILI]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ustad Mohammad MOHAQQEQ]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Abdul Rasheed Jalili]; Jamahat-ul-Dahwat ilal Qurhan-wa-Sunat-ul-Afghanistan [Mawlawee Samiullah NAJEEBEE]; Jombesh-e Milli [Abdul Rashid DOSTAM]; Mahaz-e-Mili Islami Afghanistan [Said Ahmad GAILANEE]; Majmah-e-Mili Fahaleen-e-Sulh-e-Afghanistan [Shams ul Haq Noor SHAMS]; Nuhzat-e-Aazadee Wa democracy Afghanistan [Abdul Raqeeb Jawid KUHISTANEE]; Nuhzat-e-Hambastagee Mili Afghanistan [Peer Said Ishaq GAILANEE]; Sazman-e-Islami Afghanistan-e-Jawan [Siad Jawad HUSSAINEE]; Tahreek Wahdat-e-Mili [Sultan Mahmood DHAZI] (30 Sep 2004) Jamiat-e Islami (Society of Islam) [former President Burhanuddin RABBANI]; Ittihad-e Islami (Islamic Union for the Liberation of Afghanistan), [Abdul Rasul SAYYAF]; there are also small monarchist, communist, and democratic groups AsDB, CP, ECO, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer) Ambassador Said Tayeb JAWAD 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] 202-483-6410 [1] 202-483-6488 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York Ambassador Ronald E. NEUMANN The Great Masood Road, Kabul 6180 Kabul Place, Dulles, VA 20189-6180 [00 93] (20) 230-0436 [00 93] (20) 230-1364 three equal vertical bands of black (hoist), red, and green, with a gold emblem centered on the red band; the emblem features a temple-like structure encircled by a wreath on the left and right and by a bold Islamic inscription above Afghanistan's economic outlook has improved significantly since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 because of the infusion of over $4 billion in international assistance, recovery of the agricultural sector and growth of the service sector, and the reestablishment of market institutions. Real GDP growth is estimated to have slowed last fiscal year primarily because adverse weather conditions cut agricultural production, but is expected to rebound over 2005-06 because of foreign donor reconstruction and service sector growth. Despite the progress of the past few years, Afghanistan remains extremely poor, landlocked, and highly dependent on foreign aid, farming, and trade with neighboring countries. It will probably take the remainder of the decade and continuing donor aid and attention to significantly raise Afghanistan's living standards from its current status, among the lowest in the world. Much of the population continues to suffer from shortages of housing, clean water, electricity, medical care, and jobs, but the Afghan government and international donors remain committed to improving access to these basic necessities by prioritizing infrastructure development, education, housing development, jobs programs, and economic reform over the next year. Growing political stability and continued international commitment to Afghan reconstruction create an optimistic outlook for continuing improvements in the Afghan economy in 2006. Expanding poppy cultivation and a growing opium trade may account for one-third of GDP and looms as one of Kabul's most serious policy challenges. $21.5 billion (2004 est.) NA 8% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $800 (2004 est.) 38% 24% 38% data exclude opium production (2005 est.) 15 million (2004 est.) agriculture 80%, industry 10%, services 10% (2004 est.) 40% NA (2005 est.) 53% (2003) NA NA 16.3% (2005 est.) $269 million $561 million, including capital expenditures of $41.7 million NA (FY04-05 budget) opium, wheat, fruits, nuts, wool, mutton, sheepskins, lambskins small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper NA 905 million kWh (2003) 1.042 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 200 million kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 5,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2005) NA (2005) 0 bbl (1 January 2002) 220 million cu m (2001 est.) 220 million cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 49.98 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $471 million (not including illicit exports or reexports) (2005 est.) Pakistan 24%, India 21.3%, US 12.4%, Germany 5.5% (2004) $3.87 billion (2005 est.) Pakistan 25.5%, US 8.7%, India 8.5%, Germany 6.5%, Turkmenistan 5.3%, Kenya 4.7%, South Korea 4.2%, Russia 4.2% (2004) $8 billion in bilateral debt, mostly to Russia; Afghanistan has $500 million in debt to Multilateral Development Banks (2004) international pledges made by more than 60 countries and international financial institutions at the Berlin Donors Conference for Afghan reconstruction in March 2004 reached $8.9 billion for 2004-09 afghani (AFA) afghanis per US dollar - NA (2005), 50 (2004), 50 (2003), 3,000 (2002), 3,000 (2001) in 2002, the afghani was revalued and the currency stabilized at about 50 afghanis to the dollar; before 2002, the market rate varied widely from the official rate 21 March - 20 March 33,100 (2002) 15,000 (2002) very limited telephone and telegraph service telephone service is improving with the licensing of four wireless telephone service providers by 2005; approximately 3 in 10 Afghans own a wireless telephone; telephone main lines remain limited with only 0.1 line per 10 people country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity AM 21, FM 23, shortwave 1 (broadcasts in Pashtu, Afghan Persian (Dari), Urdu, and English) (2003) at least 10 (one government-run central television station in Kabul and regional stations in nine of the 32 provinces; the regional stations operate on a reduced schedule; also, in 1997, there was a station in Mazar-e Sharif reaching four northern Afghanistan provinces) (1998) .af 1,000 (2002) in March 2003 'af' was established as Afghanistan's domain name; Internet access is growing through Internet cafes as well as public "telekiosks" in Kabul that are part of a nationwide network proposed by the Transitional Authority for Internet access (2002) 47 (2004 est.) 10 3 4 2 1 (2005 est.) 36 1 5 17 4 9 (2005 est.) 9 (2005 est.) gas 387 km (2004) 34,789 km 8,231 km 26,558 km (2003) 1,200 km chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT (2004) Kheyrabad, Shir Khan Afghan National Army (includes Afghan Air Force), Afghan Militia Force (AMF) (2005) 22 years of age; inductees are contracted into service for a 4-year term (2005) 22 4,952,812 (2005 est.) 22 2,662,946 (2005 est.) 275,362 (2005 est.) $188.4 million (2004) 2.6% (2004) the UN has been able to repatriate over two million Afghan refugees but several million more continue to reside in Iran and Pakistan in camps and elsewhere, many at their own choosing; Coalition and Pakistani forces continue to patrol remote tribal areas to control the borders and stem organized terrorist and other illegal cross-border activities; regular meetings between Pakistani and Coalition allies aim to resolve periodic claims of boundary encroachments; occasional conflicts over water-sharing arrangements with Amu Darya and Helmand River states 167,000 - 200,000 (mostly Pashtuns and Kuchis displaced in south and west due to drought and instability) (2004) world's largest producer of opium; cultivation of opium poppy reached unprecedented level of 206,700 hectares in 2004; counterdrug efforts largely unsuccessful; potential opium production of 4,950 metric tons; potential heroin production of 582 metric tons if all opium was processed; source of hashish; many narcotics-processing labs throughout the country; drug trade source of instability and some antigovernment groups profit from the trade; 80-90% of the heroin consumed in Europe comes from Afghan opium; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through informal financial networks Akrotiri By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers in total: Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The southernmost and smallest of these is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Western Sovereign Base Area. peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus 34 37 N 32 58 E Middle East 123 sq km includes a salt lake and wetlands about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC 47.4 km Cyprus 47.4 km 56.3 km temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus no indigenous inhabitants approximately 1,300 military personnel are on the base; there are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of military personnel or civilian staff on both Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base, but do not live there English, Greek Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area Akrotiri overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus Episkopi Cantonment; also serves as capital of Dhekelia the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952) Administrator Maj. Gen. Peter Thomas Clayton PEARSON (since 9 May 2003); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defence none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed by the monarch none (overseas territory of the UK) none (overseas territory of the UK) the flag of the UK is used Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Akrotiri. All food and manufactured goods must be imported. Akrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for British Forces on Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit Albania Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven difficult as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidated infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks with links to government officials, and disruptive political opponents. Albania has made incremental progress in its democratic development since first holding multiiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain - particularly in regard to the rule of law. Despite some lingering problems, international observers have judged elections to be largely free and fair since the restoration of political stability following the collapse of pyramid schemes in 1997. In the 2005 general elections, the Democratic Party and its allies won a decisive victory on pledges of reducing crime and corruption, promoting economic growth, and decreasing the size of government. Although Albania's economy continues to grow, the country is still one of the poorest in Europe, hampered by a large informal economy and an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure. Albania has played a largely helpful role in managing inter-ethnic tensions in southeastern Europe, and is continuing to work toward joining NATO and the EU. Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro 41 00 N 20 00 E Europe 28,748 sq km 27,398 sq km 1,350 sq km slightly smaller than Maryland 720 km Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km 362 km 12 nm 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast Adriatic Sea 0 m Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower 21.09% 4.42% 74.49% (2001) 3,400 sq km (1998 est.) destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands none of the selected agreements strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea) 3,563,112 (July 2005 est.) 25.6% (male 476,989/female 434,298) 65.8% (male 1,199,964/female 1,144,886) 8.6% (male 141,559/female 165,416) (2005 est.) 28.52 years 27.95 years 29.1 years (2005 est.) 0.52% (2005 est.) 15.08 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 5.12 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.1 male(s)/female 1.1 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.86 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 21.52 deaths/1,000 live births 21.96 deaths/1,000 live births 21.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 77.24 years 74.6 years 80.15 years (2005 est.) 2.04 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA% NA NA Albanian(s) Albanian Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Serb, Macedonian, Bulgarian) (1989 est.) in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization) Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% percentages are estimates; there are no available current statistics on religious affiliation; all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects age 9 and over can read and write 86.5% 93.3% 79.5% (2003 est.) Republic of Albania Albania Republika e Shqiperise Shqiperia People's Socialist Republic of Albania emerging democracy Tirana 12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Qarku i Beratit, Qarku i Dibres, Qarku i Durresit, Qarku i Elbasanit, Qarku i Fierit, Qarku i Gjirokastres, Qarku i Korces, Qarku i Kukesit, Qarku i Lezhes, Qarku i Shkodres, Qarku i Tiranes, Qarku i Vlores 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire) Independence Day, 28 November (1912) adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998 has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court for its citizens 18 years of age; universal President of the Republic Alfred MOISIU (since 24 July 2002) Prime Minister Sali BERISHA (since 10 September 2005) Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, nominated by the president, and approved by parliament president elected by the People's Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 24 June 2002 (next to be held June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president Alfred MOISIU elected president; People's Assembly vote by number - total votes 116, for 97, against 19 unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (140 seats; 100 are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote for four-year terms) last held 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2009) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PD 56, PS 42, PR 11, PSD 7, LSI 5, other 19 Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term), and multiple appeals and district courts Agrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Nikolle LESI]; Communist Party of Albania or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or PSD [Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality Movement Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIU]; Liberal Union Party or PBL [Arjan STAROVA]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or BNK [Adriatik ALIMADHI]; New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Renewed Democratic Party or PDRN [Dashamir SHEHI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social Democracy Party or PDS [Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]; Union for Human Rights Party or PBDNj [Vangjel DULE] Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania or KSSH [Kastriot MUCO]; Front for Albanian National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Omonia [Jani JANI]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA]; Mjaft Movement [ Erion VELIAJ]; Citizens Advocacy Office [Kreshnik SPAHIU] ACCT (associate), BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Acting Ambassador Kreshink COLLAKU 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 223-4942 [1] (202) 628-7342 Ambassador Marcie B. RIES Rruga Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana U. S. Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510 [355] (4) 247285 [355] (4) 374957 and [355] (4) 232222 red with a black two-headed eagle in the center Lagging behind its Balkan neighbors, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime and to spur economic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by annual remittances from abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from Greece and Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit. Agriculture, which accounts for about one-quarter of GDP, is held back because of frequent drought and the need to modernize equipment, to clarify property rights, and to consolidate small plots of land. Energy shortages and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure contribute to Albania's poor business environment, which make it difficult to attract and sustain foreign investment. The planned construction of a new thermal power plant near Vlore and improved transmission and distribution facilities will help relieve the energy shortages. Also, the government is moving slowly to improve the poor national road and rail network, a long-standing barrier to sustained economic growth. On the positive side: growth was strong in 2003-05 and inflation is not a problem. $18.05 billion Albania has a large gray economy that may be as large as 50 percent of official GDP. (2005 est.) $8.741 billion (2005 est.) 6% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2005 est.) 23.6% 20.5% 55.9% (2005 est.) 1.09 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers) (2004 est.) agriculture 57%, non-agricultural private sector 20%, public sector 23% (2004 est.) 14.4% officially; but may exceed 30% (2004 est.) 25% (2004 est.) NA NA 2.5% (2005 est.) 22.6% of GDP (2005 est.) $1.96 billion $2.377 billion, including capital expenditures of $500 million (2005 est.) wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower 3.1% (2004 est.) 5.68 billion kWh (2004) 6.76 billion kWh (2004) 200 million kWh (2003) 1.08 billion kWh (2004 est.) 2,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) 7,500 bbl/day (2004 est.) 0 bbl/day (2004 est.) 5,500 bbl/day (2004 est.) 185.5 million bbl (1 January 2002) 30 million cu m (2001 est.) 30 million cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 3.316 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $-475 million (2005 est.) $708.8 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) Italy 71.7%, Canada 4.3%, Germany 4.3% (2004) $2.473 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Italy 34.8%, Greece 19.9%, Turkey 7.7%, Germany 5.3% (2004) $1.45 billion (2005 est.) $1.41 billion (2003) ODA: $315 million (top donors were Italy, EU, Germany) (2000 est.) lek (ALL) leke per US dollar - 103.07 (2005), 102.649 (2004), 121.863 (2003), 140.155 (2002), 143.485 (2001) calendar year 255,000 (2003) 1.1 million (2003) despite new investment in fixed lines, the density of main lines remains the lowest in Europe with roughly 8 lines per 100 people; however, cellular telephone use is widespread and generally effective offsetting the shortage of fixed line capacity, mobile phone service has been available since 1996; by 2003 two companies were providing mobile services at a greater density than some of Albania's Balkan neighbors country code - 355; inadequate fixed main lines; adequate cellular connections; international traffic carried by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2003) AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 2 (2001) 3 (plus 58 repeaters) (2001) .al 455 (2004) 30,000 (2003) 11 (2004 est.) 3 3 (2005 est.) 8 1 2 1 4 (2005 est.) 1 (2005 est.) gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2004) 447 km 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2004) 18,000 km 7,020 km 10,980 km (2002) 43 km (2004) 25 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 40,878 GRT/62,676 DWT cargo 24, roll on/roll off 1 2 (Denmark 1, Turkey 1) 1 (2005) Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore General Staff Headquarters, Land Forces Command (Army), Naval Forces Command, Air Defense Command, Logistics Command, Training and Doctrine Command 19 years of age (2004) 19 809,524 (2005 est.) 19 668,526 (2005 est.) 37,407 (2005 est.) $56.5 million (FY02) 1.49% (FY02) the Albanian Government calls for the protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians in neighboring countries, and the peaceful resolution of interethnic disputes; some ethnic Albanian groups in neighboring countries advocate for a "greater Albania," but the idea has little appeal among Albanian nationals; thousands of unemployed Albanians emigrate annually to nearby Italy and other developed countries increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a far lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium and growing cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and expanding in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regional trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens Algeria After more than a century of rule by France, Algerians fought through much of the 1950s to achieve independence in 1962. Algeria's primary political party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), has dominated politics ever since. Many Algerians in the subsequent generation were not satisfied, however, and moved to counter the FLN's centrality in Algerian politics. The surprising first round success of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the December 1991 balloting spurred the Algerian army to intervene and postpone the second round of elections to prevent what the secular elite feared would be an extremist-led government from assuming power. The army began a crack down on the FIS that spurred FIS supporters to begin attacking government targets. The government later allowed elections featuring pro-government and moderate religious-based parties, but did not appease the activists who progressively widened their attacks. The fighting escalated into an insurgency, which saw intense fighting between 1992-98 and which resulted in over 100,000 deaths - many attributed to indiscriminate massacres of villagers by extremists. The government gained the upper hand by the late-1990s and FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded in January 2000. However, small numbers of armed militants persist in confronting government forces and conducting ambushes and occasional attacks on villages. The army placed Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA in the presidency in 1999 in a fraudulent election but claimed neutrality in his 2004 landslide reelection victory. Longstanding problems continue to face BOUTEFLIKA in his second term, including the ethnic minority Berbers' ongoing autonomy campaign, large-scale unemployment, a shortage of housing, unreliable electrical and water supplies, government inefficiencies and corruption, and the continuing - although significantly degraded - activities of extremist militants. Algeria must also diversify its petroleum-based economy, which has yielded a large cash reserve but which has not been used to redress Algeria's many social and infrastructure problems. Algeria assumed a two-year seat on the UN Security Council in January 2004. Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia 28 00 N 3 00 E Africa 2,381,740 sq km 2,381,740 sq km 0 sq km slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas 6,343 km Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km, Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km 998 km 12 nm 32-52 nm arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain Chott Melrhir -40 m Tahat 3,003 m petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc 3.22% 0.25% 96.53% (2001) 5,600 sq km (1998 est.) mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides and floods in rainy season soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands none of the selected agreements second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan) 32,531,853 (July 2005 est.) 29% (male 4,811,086/female 4,626,271) 66.3% (male 10,861,862/female 10,701,459) 4.7% (male 719,460/female 811,715) (2005 est.) 24.36 years 24.18 years 24.53 years (2005 est.) 1.22% (2005 est.) 17.13 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 4.6 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.89 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 31 deaths/1,000 live births 34.83 deaths/1,000 live births 26.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 73 years 71.45 years 74.63 years (2005 est.) 1.92 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.1% ; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.) 9,100 (2003 est.) less than 500 (2003 est.) intermediate bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever cutaneous leishmaniasis is a high risk in some locations (2004) Algerian(s) Algerian Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1% almost all Algerians are Berber in origin, not Arab; the minority who identify themselves as Berber live mostly in the mountainous region of Kabylie east of Algiers; the Berbers are also Muslim but identify with their Berber rather than Arab cultural heritage; Berbers have long agitated, sometimes violently, for autonomy; the government is unlikely to grant autonomy but has offered to begin sponsoring teaching Berber language in schools Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1% Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects age 15 and over can read and write 70% 78.8% 61% (2003 est.) People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Algeria Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Sha'biyah Al Jaza'ir republic Algiers 48 provinces (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanghasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen 5 July 1962 (from France) Revolution Day, 1 November (1954) 19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised 3 November 1988, 23 February 1989, and 28 November 1996 socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials, including several Supreme Court justices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999) Prime Minister Ahmed OUYAHIA (since 9 May 2003) Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 8 April 2004 (next to be held NA April 2009); prime minister appointed by the president Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA reelected president for second term; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA 85%, Ali BENFLIS 6.4%, Abdellah DJABALLAH 5% bicameral Parliament consists of the National People's Assembly or Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (389 seats - changed from 380 seats in the 2002 elections; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Council of Nations (Senate) (144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by the president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote; members serve six-year terms; the constitution requires half the council to be renewed every three years) National People's Assembly - last held 30 May 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); Council of Nations (Senate) - last held 30 December 2003 (next to be held NA 2006) National People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FLN 199, RND 48, Islah 43, MSP 38, PT 21, FNA 8, EnNahda 1, PRA 1, MEN 1, independents 29; Council of Nations - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party NA% Supreme Court or Court Supreme Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI]; Democratic National Rally or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA, chairman]; Islamic Salvation Front or FIS (outlawed April 1992) [Ali BELHADJ and Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR (self-exiled in Germany)]; National Entente Movement or MEN [Ali BOUKHAZNA]; National Liberation Front or FLN [Abdelaziz BELKHADEM, secretary general (also serves as Minister of State and Special Representative of the Head of State)]; National Reform Movement or Islah (formerly MRN) [Abdellah DJABALLAH]; National Renewal Party or PRA [Yacine TERKMANE]; Progressive Republican Party [Khadir DRISS]; Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Said SAADI, secretary general]; Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement [Fatah RABEI]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general (self-exiled in Switzerland)]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL]; Society of Peace Movement or MSP [Boujerra SOLTANI]; Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUN] a law banning political parties based on religion was enacted in March 1997 The Algerian Human Rights League or LADH or LADDH [Yahia Ali ABDENOUR]; SOS Disparus [Nacera DUTOUR]; Somoud [Ali MERABET] ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BIS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer) Ambassador Amine KHERBI 2118 Kalorama Rd NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 265-2800 [1] (202) 667-2174 Ambassador Richard W. ERDMAN 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers B. P. 408, Alger-Gare, 16030 Algiers [213] (21) 691-425/255/186 [213] (21) 69-39-79 two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the two-color boundary; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam (the state religion) The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% of GDP, and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the seventh-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the second-largest gas exporter; it ranks 14th in oil reserves. Sustained high oil prices in recent years, along with macroeconomic policy reforms supported by the IMF, have helped improve Algeria's financial and macroeconomic indicators. Algeria is running substantial trade surpluses and building up record foreign exchange reserves. Real GDP has risen due to higher oil output and increased government spending. The government's continued efforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment outside the energy sector, however, has had little success in reducing high unemployment and improving living standards. Structural reform within the economy moves ahead slowly. $237 billion (2005 est.) $88.86 billion (2005 est.) 7.1% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $7,300 (2005 est.) 10% 59.5% 30.5% (2005 est.) 10.15 million (2005 est.) agriculture 14%, industry 13.4%, construction and public works 10%, trade 14.6%, government 32%, other 16% (2003 est.) 22.5% (2005 est.) 23% (1999 est.) 2.8% 26.8% (1995) 35.3 (1995) 4.7% (2005 est.) 22.8% of GDP (2005 est.) $42.05 billion $30.75 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.8 billion (2005 est.) 14.8% of GDP (2005 est.) wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing 25.5% (2005 est.) 26.99 billion kWh (2003) 24.9 billion kWh (2003) 400 million kWh (2003) 200 million kWh (2003) 1.373 million bbl/day (2005 est.) 232,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 12.46 billion bbl (2005 est.) 80.3 billion cu m (2001 est.) 22.32 billion cu m (2001 est.) 57.98 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 4.739 trillion cu m (2005) $21.83 billion (2005 est.) $49.59 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 22.6%, Italy 17.2%, France 11.4%, Spain 10.1%, Canada 7.5%, Brazil 6.1%, Belgium 4.6% (2004) $22.53 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) France 30.3%, Italy 8.2%, Germany 6.5%, Spain 5.5%, US 5.2%, China 5.1%, Turkey 4.3% (2004) $61.01 billion (2005 est.) $21.54 billion (2005 est.) $122.8 million (2002 est.) Algerian dinar (DZD) Algerian dinars per US dollar - 71.67 (2005), 72.061 (2004), 77.395 (2003), 79.682 (2002), 77.215 (2001) calendar year 2,199,600 (2003) 1,447,310 (2003) telephone density in Algeria is very low, not exceeding five telephones per 100 persons; the number of fixed main lines increased in the last few years to a little more than 2,000,000, but only about two-thirds of these have subscribers; much of the infrastructure is outdated and inefficient good service in north but sparse in south; domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations (20 additional domestic earth stations are planned) country code - 213; submarine cables - 5; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations - 51 (Intelsat, Intersputnik, and Arabsat) (2005) AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999) 46 (plus 216 repeaters) (1995) .dz 897 (2004) 500,000 (2002) 137 (2004 est.) 52 10 27 10 4 1 (2005 est.) 85 2 26 38 19 (2005 est.) 1 (2005 est.) condensate 1,344 km; gas 85,946 km; liquid petroleum gas 2,213 km; oil 6,496 km (2004) 3,973 km 2,888 km 1.435-m gauge (283 km electrified) 1,085 km 1.055-m gauge (2004) 104,000 km 71,656 km 32,344 km (1999) 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 837,676 GRT/929,847 DWT bulk carrier 9, cargo 14, chemical tanker 4, liquefied gas 10, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 9 3 (United Kingdom 3) 1 (2005) Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda People's National Army (ANP; includes Land Forces), Algerian National Navy (MRA), Air Force (QJJ), Territorial Air Defense Force (2005) 19-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (October 2003) 19 8,033,049 (2005 est.) 19 6,590,079 (2005 est.) 374,639 (2005 est.) $2.48 billion (2004) 3.2% (2004) Algeria supports the exiled Sahrawi Polisario Front and rejects Moroccan administration of Western Sahara; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation has accused the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; in an attempt to improve relations after unilaterally imposing a visa requirement on Algerians in the early 1990s, Morocco lifted the requirement in mid-2004 - a gesture not reciprocated by Algeria; Algeria remains concerned about armed bandits operating throughout the Sahel who sometimes destabilize southern Algerian towns; dormant disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km still reflected on its maps of southeastern Algeria and the FLN's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco refugees (country of origin): 165,000 (Western Saharan Sahrawi, mostly living in Algerian-sponsored camps in the southwestern Algerian town of Tindouf) 100,000 - 200,000 (conflict between government forces, Islamic insurgents) (2004) American Samoa Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was "discovered" by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year. Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand 14 20 S 170 00 W Oceania 199 sq km 199 sq km 0 sq km includes Rose Island and Swains Island slightly larger than Washington, DC 0 km 116 km 12 nm 200 nm tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season from November to April, dry season from May to October; little seasonal temperature variation five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island) Pacific Ocean 0 m Lata 966 m pumice, pumicite 10% 15% 75% (2001) NA sq km typhoons common from December to March limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds; strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean 57,881 (July 2005 est.) 35.7% (male 10,705/female 9,956) 61.3% (male 18,351/female 17,125) 3% (male 664/female 1,080) (2005 est.) 22.76 years 22.5 years 23.05 years (2005 est.) -0.11% (2005 est.) 23.13 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 3.33 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -20.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female 1.07 male(s)/female 0.62 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 9.27 deaths/1,000 live births 9.85 deaths/1,000 live births 8.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 75.84 years 72.27 years 79.62 years (2005 est.) 3.25 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA NA NA American Samoan(s) American Samoan native Pacific islander 92.9%, Asian 2.9%, white 1.2%, mixed 2.8%, other 0.2% (2000 census) Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30% Samoan 90.6% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 2.9%, Tongan 2.4%, other Pacific islander 2.1%, other 2% most people are bilingual (2000 census) age 15 and over can read and write 97% 98% 97% (1980 est.) Territory of American Samoa American Samoa AS unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior NA Pago Pago none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three districts and two islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western none (territory of the US) Flag Day, 17 April (1900) ratified 2 June 1966, effective 1 July 1967 NA 18 years of age; universal President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003) cabinet made up of 12 department directors US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 2 and 16 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008) Togiola TULAFONO elected governor; percent of vote - Togiola TULAFONO 55.7%, Afoa Moega LUTU 44.3% bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House of Representatives (21 seats - 20 of which are elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs and serve four-year terms) House of Representatives - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006); Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008) House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - independents 18 American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA (Democrat) reelected as delegate High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior) Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO] NA Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC, UPU none (territory of the US) none (territory of the US) blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the outer side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a staff and a war club This is a traditional Polynesian economy in which more than 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa conducts most of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. Transfers from the US Government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well-being. Attempts by the government to develop a larger and broader economy are restrained by Samoa's remote location, its limited transportation, and its devastating hurricanes. Tourism is a promising developing sector. $500 million (2000 est.) NA NA purchasing power parity - $8,000 (2000 est.) NA% NA% NA% 14,000 (1996) tuna canneries 34%, government 33%, other 33% (1990) 6% (2000) NA NA% NA% NA% $121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants) $127 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY96/97) bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts NA% 130 million kWh (2003) 120.9 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 4,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $10 million (2004 est.) Samoa 39.8%, Australia 19.9%, Japan 15.1%, New Zealand 10.5% (2004) $105 million (2004 est.) Japan 31.4%, New Zealand 27.9%, Germany 17.1%, Australia 8.9% (2004) $NA important financial support from the US, more than $40 million in 1994 US dollar (USD) the US dollar is used 1 October - 30 September 15,000 (2001) 2,377 (1999) NA good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular telephone services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station country code - 1-684; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat-Pacific Ocean) (2005) AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2004) 1; note - one cable TV station (2004) .as 3 (2004 est.) 2 1 1 (2005 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 185 km 185 km 0 km (2004) Pago Pago defense is the responsibility of the US none Andorra For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique co-principality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from 1607 onward, the French chief of state and the Spanish bishop of Urgel). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular heads of state retained, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes. Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain 42 30 N 1 30 E Europe 468 sq km 468 sq km 0 sq km 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC 120.3 km France 56.6 km, Spain 63.7 km 0 km (landlocked) none (landlocked) temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys Riu Runer 840 m Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead 2.22% 0% 97.78% (2001) NA sq km avalanches deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal Hazardous Wastes none of the selected agreements landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees 70,549 (July 2005 est.) 14.8% (male 5,471/female 4,995) 71.5% (male 26,463/female 23,977) 13.7% (male 4,780/female 4,863) (2005 est.) 40.34 years 40.63 years 40.02 years (2005 est.) 0.95% (2005 est.) 9 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 6.07 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 6.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.07 male(s)/female 1.1 male(s)/female 1.1 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 4.05 deaths/1,000 live births 4.38 deaths/1,000 live births 3.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 83.51 years 80.6 years 86.6 years (2005 est.) 1.29 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA% NA NA Andorran(s) Andorran Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6% (1998) Roman Catholic (predominant) Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese NA 100% NA% NA% Principality of Andorra Andorra Principat d'Andorra Andorra parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its chiefs of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented locally by coprinces' representatives Andorra la Vella 7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Escaldes-Engordany, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria 1278 (was formed under the joint suzerainty of the French count of Foix and the Spanish bishop of Urgel) Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278) Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 4 May 1993 based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Philippe MASSONI (since 26 July 2002); Spanish Coprince Bishop Joan Enric VIVES i SICILIA (since 12 May 2003), represented by Nemesi MARQUES i OSTE (since NA) Executive Council President Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA (since 27 May 2005) Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive Council president Executive Council president elected by the General Council and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year term; election last held 4 March 2001 (next to be held April-May 2005) Marc FORNE MOLNE elected executive council president; percent of General Council vote - NA% unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14 to represent each of the 7 parishes; members serve four-year terms) last held 24 April 2005 (next to be held March-April 2009) percent of vote by party - PLA 41.2%, PS 38.1%, CDA 11%, other 9.7%; seats by party - PLA 14, PS 12, CDA 2 Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal de Corts; Supreme Court of Justice of Andorra or Tribunal Superior de Justicia d'Andorra; Supreme Council of Justice or Consell Superior de la Justicia; Fiscal Ministry or Ministeri Fiscal; Constitutional Tribunal or Tribunal Constitucional Andorran Democratic Center Party or CDA (formerly Democratic Party or PD) [leader NA]; Liberal Party of Andorra or PLA (formerly Liberal Union or UL) [Albert PINTAT]; Social Democratic Party or PS (formerly part of National Democratic Group or AND) [Mariona GONZALEZ REOLIT] NA ACCT (associate), CE, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTO (observer) Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jelena V. PIA-COMELLA 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017 [1] (212) 750-8064 [1] (212) 750-6630 the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US Ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: [34] (93) 280-2227; FAX: [34] (93) 280-6175 three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat of arms features a quartered shield; similar to the flags of Chad and Romania, which do not have a national coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, which does bear a national emblem Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 9 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its "tax haven" status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is limited - only 2% of the land is arable - and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products. $1.9 billion (2003 est.) NA 2% (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $26,800 (2003 est.) NA% NA% NA% 33,000 (2001 est.) agriculture 1%, industry 21%, services 78% (2000 est.) 0% (1996 est.) NA NA% NA% 4.3% (2000) $385 million $342 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1997) small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber, banking NA% NA kWh NA kWh 0 kWh (2002) NA kWh; note - most electricity supplied by Spain and France; Andorra generates a small amount of hydropower $58 million f.o.b. (1998) Spain 58%, France 34% (2004) $1.077 billion (1998) Spain 48%, France 35%, US 2.3% (2004) $NA none euro (EUR) euros per US dollar - 0.79697 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001) calendar year 35,000 (2001) 23,500 (2001) NA modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges country code - 376; landline circuits to France and Spain AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998) 0 (1997) .ad 4,144 (2004) 24,500 (2001) 0 (2004 est.) 269 km 198 km 71 km 1 no regular military forces, Police Service of Andorra defense is the responsibility of France and Spain none Angola Angola is slowly rebuilding its country after the end of a 27-year civil war in 2002. Fighting between the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, followed independence from Portugal in 1975. Peace seemed imminent in 1992 when Angola held national elections, but UNITA renewed fighting after being beaten by the MPLA at the polls. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million people displaced - in the quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in 2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and strengthened the MPLA's hold on power. DOS SANTOS has pledged to hold legislative elections in 2006. Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo 12 30 S 18 30 E Africa 1,246,700 sq km 1,246,700 sq km 0 sq km slightly less than twice the size of Texas 5,198 km Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province), Republic of the Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km 1,600 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April) narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau Atlantic Ocean 0 m Morro de Moco 2,620 m petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium 2.41% 0.24% 97.35% (2001) 750 sq km (1998 est.) locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution none of the selected agreements the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo 11,190,786 (July 2005 est.) 43.4% (male 2,454,209/female 2,407,083) 53.7% (male 3,059,339/female 2,955,060) 2.8% (male 139,961/female 175,134) (2005 est.) 18.12 years 18.12 years 18.11 years (2005 est.) 1.9% (2005 est.) 44.64 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 25.9 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.8 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 191.19 deaths/1,000 live births 203.68 deaths/1,000 live births 178.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 38.43 years 37.28 years 39.64 years (2005 est.) 6.27 children born/woman (2005 est.) 3.9% (2003 est.) 240,000 (2003 est.) 21,000 (2003 est.) very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever malaria, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are high risks in some locations meningococcal meningitis schistosomiasis (2004) Angolan(s) Angolan Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22% indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.) Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages age 15 and over can read and write 66.8% 82.1% 53.8% (2001 est.) Republic of Angola Angola Republica de Angola Angola People's Republic of Angola republic, nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential system Luanda 18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire 11 November 1975 (from Portugal) Independence Day, 11 November (1975) 11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992; note - new constitution has not yet been approved based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets 18 years of age; universal President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Fernando de Piedade Dias DOS SANTOS was appointed Prime Minister on 6 December 2002, but this is not a position of real power Council of Ministers appointed by the president president elected by universal ballot for a five-year term; President DOS SANTOS originally elected (in 1979) without opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held September 2006) DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI 40.1%, making a run-off election necessary; the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) repudiated the results of the first election; the civil war resumed unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms) last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held September 2006) percent of vote by party - MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%, others 12%; seats by party - MPLA 129, UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD 3, others 7 Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao (judges are appointed by the president) Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA]; National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [disputed leadership: Lucas NGONDA, Holden ROBERTO]; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Isaias SAMAKUVA], largest opposition party has engaged in years of armed resistance; Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS], ruling party in power since 1975; Social Renewal Party or PRS [disputed leadership: Eduardo KUANGANA, Antonio MUACHICUNGO] about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections but only won a few seats and have little influence in the National Assembly Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC [N'zita Henriques TIAGO, Antonio Bento BEMBE] FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra DIAKIDI 2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 785-1156 [1] (202) 785-1258 consulate(s) general: Houston and New York Ambassador Cynthia EFFIRD number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of Luanda), Luanda international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda; pouch: American Embassy Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550 [244] (2) 445-481, 447-028, 446-224 [244] (2) 446-924 two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle) Angola's high growth rate is driven by its oil sector, but record oil prices and rising petroleum production have occurred without improved performance in other parts of the economy. Oil production and its supporting activities, contribute about 45% to GDP and more than half of exports, and much of the country's infrastructure is still damaged or undeveloped from the 22 year-long civil war. Remnants of the conflict such as widespread land mines still mar the countryside even though an apparently durable peace has been established after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI in February 2002. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 85% of the population, but much of the country's food must still be imported. In 2005, the government started using a $2 billion line of credit from China to rebuild Angola's public infrastructure, and several large-scale projects are scheduled for completion by 2006. The central bank in 2003 implemented an exchange rate stabilization program using foreign exchange reserves to buy kwanzas out of circulation, a policy that was more sustainable in 2005 because of strong oil export earnings, and has significantly reduced inflation. Consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to about 18% in 2005, but the stabilization policy places pressure on international net liquidity. To fully take advantage of its rich national resources - gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits - Angola will need to continue reforming government policies and to reduce corruption. The government has made sufficient progress on reforms recommended by the IMF, such as promoting greater transparency in government spending, and continues to be without a formal monitoring agreement with the institution. Increased oil production supported 12% growth in 2004 and 14% growth in 2005. $27.66 billion (2005 est.) $24.13 billion (2005 est.) 14.1% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,500 (2005 est.) 8% 67% 25% (2001 est.) 5.58 million (2005 est.) agriculture 85%, industry and services 15% (2003 est.) extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (2001 est.) 70% (2003 est.) NA NA 17.7% (2005 est.) 30.6% of GDP (2005 est.) $8.5 billion $10 billion, including capital expenditures of $963 million (2005 est.) 40.9% of GDP (2005 est.) bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing; food processing; brewing; tobacco products; sugar; textiles, ship repair 1% (2000) 1.916 billion kWh (2003) 1.782 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 1.6 million bbl/day (2005 est.) 46,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 25 billion bbl (2005 est.) 530 million cu m (2001 est.) 530 million cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 79.57 billion cu m (2005) $4.484 billion (2005 est.) $26.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 37.7%, China 35.6%, Taiwan 6.7%, France 6.4% (2004) $8.165 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) South Korea 28.3%, Portugal 13.1%, US 9.3%, South Africa 7.4%, Brazil 5.6%, Japan 4.8%, France 4.4% (2004) $2.425 billion (2005 est.) $9.879 billion (2005 est.) $383.5 million (1999) kwanza (AOA) kwanza per US dollar - 88.6 (2005), 83.541 (2004), 74.606 (2003), 43.53 (2002), 22.058 (2001) calendar year 96,300 (2003) 130,000 (2002) telephone service limited mostly to government and business use; HF radiotelephone used extensively for military links limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter country code - 244; satellite earth stations - 29; fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia (2005) AM 21, FM 6, shortwave 7 (2000) 6 (2000) .ao 17 (2003) 41,000 (2002) 243 (2004 est.) 31 5 8 12 5 1 (2005 est.) 212 2 5 30 95 80 (2005 est.) gas 214 km; liquid natural gas 14 km; liquid petroleum gas 30 km; oil 837 km; refined products 56 km (2004) 2,761 km 2,638 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2004) 51,429 km 5,349 km 46,080 km (2001) 1,300 km (2004) 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 26,123 GRT/42,879 DWT cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1 4 (2005) Cabinda, Luanda, Soyo Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Air and Air Defense Forces (FANA) 17 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years plus time for training (2001) 17 2,423,221 (2005 est.) 17 1,174,548 (2005 est.) 121,254 (2005 est.) $183.58 million (2004) 10.6% (2004) 90,000 Angolan refugees were repatriated by 2004, the remaining refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia are expected to return in 2005; many Cabinda exclave secessionists have sought shelter in neighboring states 40,000-60,000 (27-year civil war ending in 2002; 4 million IDPs already have returned) (2004) used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states Anguilla Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was incorporated into a single British dependency, along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980, with Anguilla becoming a separate British dependency. Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico 18 15 N 63 10 W Central America and the Caribbean 102 sq km 102 sq km 0 sq km about half the size of Washington, DC 0 km 61 km 3 nm 200 nm tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone Caribbean Sea 0 m Crocus Hill 65 m salt, fish, lobster 0% 0% 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds) (2001) NA frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October) supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles 13,254 (July 2005 est.) 23.2% (male 1,561/female 1,517) 69.9% (male 4,767/female 4,501) 6.9% (male 405/female 503) (2005 est.) 30.76 years 30.81 years 30.7 years (2005 est.) 1.77% (2005 est.) 14.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 5.43 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 8.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 0.8 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 21.03 deaths/1,000 live births 27.59 deaths/1,000 live births 14.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 77.11 years 74.18 years 80.12 years (2005 est.) 1.73 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA NA NA Anguillan(s) Anguillan black (predominant) 90.1%, mixed, mulatto 4.6%, white 3.7%, other 1.6% (2001 Census) Anglican 29%, Methodist 23.9%, other Protestant 30.2%, Roman Catholic 5.7%, other Christian 1.7%, other 5.2%, none or unspecified 4.3% (2001 Census) English (official) age 12 and over can read and write 95% 95% 95% (1984 est.) none Anguilla overseas territory of the UK NA The Valley none (overseas territory of the UK) none (overseas territory of the UK) Anguilla Day, 30 May Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990 based on English common law 18 years of age; universal Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Alan Eden HUCKLE (since 28 May 2004) Chief Minister Osbourne FLEMING (since 3 March 2000) Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the elected members of the House of Assembly none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats total, 7 elected by direct popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed; members serve five-year terms) last held 21 February 2005 (next to be held 2010) percent of vote by party - AUF 38.9%, ANSA 19.2%, AUM 19.4%, APP 9.5 %, independents 13%; seats by party - AUF 4, ANSA 2, AUM 1 High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court) Anguilla United Movement or AUM [Hubert HUGHES]; The Anguilla United Front or AUF [Osbourne FLEMING, Victor BANKS], a coalition of the Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP and the Anguilla National Alliance or ANA; Anguilla Progressive Party or APP [Roy ROGERS]; Anguilla Strategic Alternative or ANSA [Edison BAIRD] NA Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS (associate), UPU none (overseas territory of the UK) none (overseas territory of the UK) blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design on a white background with blue wavy water below Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. Increased activity in the tourism industry, which has spurred the growth of the construction sector, has contributed to economic growth. Anguillan officials have put substantial effort into developing the offshore financial sector, which is small, but growing. In the medium term, prospects for the economy will depend largely on the tourism sector and, therefore, on revived income growth in the industrialized nations as well as on favorable weather conditions. $112 million (2002 est.) NA 2.8% (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $7,500 (2002 est.) 4% 18% 78% (2002 est.) 6,049 (2001) agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%, manufacturing 3%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, commerce 36%, services 29% (2000 est.) 8% (2002) 23% (2002) NA NA 2.3% $22.8 million $22.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.) small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising tourism, boat building, offshore financial services 3.1% (1997 est.) NA 42.6 million kWh $2.6 million (1999) UK, US, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin (2004) $80.9 million (1999) US, Puerto Rico, UK (2004) $8.8 million (1998) $9 million (2004 est.) East Caribbean dollar (XCD) East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - NA (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001) fixed rate since 1976 1 April - 31 March 6,200 (2002) 1,800 (2002) NA modern internal telephone system country code - 1-264; microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2004) 1 (1997) .ai 3,000 (2002) 3 (2004 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 2 2 (2005 est.) 105 km 65 km 40 km (2002) Blowing Point, Road Bay defense is the responsibility of the UK none transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe Antarctica Speculation over the existence of a "southern land" was not confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American commercial operators and British and Russian national expeditions began exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south of the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established that Antarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands. Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20th century. Following World War II, there was an upsurge in scientific research on the continent. A number of countries have set up year-round research stations on Antarctica. Seven have made territorial claims, but not all countries recognize these claims. In order to form a legal framework for the activities of nations on the continent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither denies nor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in 1959, it entered into force in 1961. continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle 90 00 S 0 00 E Antarctic Region 14 million sq km 14 million sq km (280,000 sq km ice-free, 13.72 million sq km ice-covered) (est.) fifth-largest continent, following Asia, Africa, North America, and South America, but larger than Australia and the subcontinent of Europe slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US 0 km see entry on Disputes - international 17,968 km Australia, Chile, and Argentina claim Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rights or similar over 200 nm extensions seaward from their continental claims, but like the claims themselves, these zones are not accepted by other countries; 20 of 27 Antarctic consultative nations have made no claims to Antarctic territory (although Russia and the US have reserved the right to do so) and do not recognize the claims of the other nations; also see the Disputes - international entry severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to nearly 5,000 meters; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,555 m the lowest known land point in Antarctica is hidden in the Bentley Subglacial Trench; at its surface is the deepest ice yet discovered and the world's lowest elevation not under seawater Vinson Massif 4,897 m iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small uncommercial quantities; none presently exploited; krill, finfish, and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries 0% 0% 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%) (2001) 0 sq km katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise along the coast; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak; large icebergs may calve from ice shelf in 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the antarctic ozone hole was the largest on record, covering 27 million square kilometers; researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet light passing through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an antarctic fish lacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion earlier was shown to harm one-celled antarctic marine plants; in 2002, significant areas of ice shelves disintegrated in response to regional warming the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driest continent; during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period; mostly uninhabitable no indigenous inhabitants, but there are both permanent and summer-only staffed research stations 26 nations, all signatory to the Antarctic Treaty, operate seasonal (summer) and year-round research stations on the continent and in its surrounding oceans; the population of persons doing and supporting science on the continent and its nearby islands south of 60 degrees south latitude (the region covered by the Antarctic Treaty) varies from approximately 4,000 in summer to 1,000 in winter; in addition, approximately 1,000 personnel including ship's crew and scientists doing onboard research are present in the waters of the treaty region; summer (January) population - 3,687 total; Argentina 302, Australia 201, Belgium 13, Brazil 80, Bulgaria 16, Chile 352, China 70, Finland 11, France 100, Germany 51, India 60, Italy 106, Japan 136, South Korea 14, Netherlands 10, NZ 60, Norway 40, Peru 28, Poland 70, Russia 254, South Africa 80, Spain 43, Sweden 20, UK 192, US 1,378 (1998-99); winter (July) population - 964 total; Argentina 165, Australia 75, Brazil 12, Chile 129, China 33, France 33, Germany 9, India 25, Japan 40, South Korea 14, NZ 10, Poland 20, Russia 102, South Africa 10, UK 39, US 248 (1998-99); research stations operated within the Antarctic Treaty area (south of 60 degrees south) by members of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP): year-round stations - 38 total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1, Chile 4, China 2, France 1, Germany 1, India 1, Japan 1, South Korea 1, NZ 1, Poland 1, Russia 6, South Africa 1, Ukraine 1, UK 2, US 3, Uruguay 1, Italy and France jointly 1 (2005); summer-only stations - 34 total; Argentina 8, Australia 2, Bulgaria 1, Chile 5, Ecuador 1, Finland 1, Germany 2, Italy 1, Japan 3, Norway 2, Peru 1, Russia 2, South Africa 1, Spain 2, Sweden 1, UK 1 (2004-2005); in addition, during the austral summer some nations have numerous occupied locations such as tent camps, summer-long temporary facilities, and mobile traverses in support of research none Antarctica Antarctic Treaty Summary - the Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica; the 27th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in Cape Town, South Africa in May-June 2004; at these periodic meetings, decisions are made by consensus (not by vote) of all consultative member nations; at the end of 2003, there were 45 treaty member nations: 28 consultative and 17 non-consultative; consultative (decision-making) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 21 non-claimant nations; the US and Russia have reserved the right to make claims; the US does not recognize the claims of others; Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations; decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; the year in parentheses indicates when an acceding nation was accepted as a consultative member, while no date indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory; claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1983), Bulgaria (1998) China (1985), Ecuador (1990), Finland (1989), Germany (1981), India (1983), Italy (1987), Japan, South Korea (1989), Netherlands (1990), Peru (1989), Poland (1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1988), Sweden (1988), Ukraine (1992), Uruguay (1985), and the US; non-consultative members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1993), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1993), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1995), and Venezuela (1999); Article 1 - area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose; Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue; Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel, cooperation with the UN and other international agencies; Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force; Article 5 - prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes; Article 6 - includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south and reserves high seas rights; Article 7 - treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all expeditions and of the introduction of military personnel must be given; Article 8 - allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own states; Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings take place among member nations; Article 10 - treaty states will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11 - disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13, 14 - deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations; other agreements - some 200 recommendations adopted at treaty consultative meetings and ratified by governments include - Agreed Measures for Fauna and Flora (1964) which were later incorporated into the Environmental Protocol; Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980); a mineral resources agreement was signed in 1988 but remains unratified; the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed 4 October 1991 and entered into force 14 January 1998; this agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment through five specific annexes: 1) environmental impact assessment, 2) conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora, 3) waste disposal and waste management, 4) prevention of marine pollution, and 5) area protection and management; it prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research; a permanent Antarctic Treaty Secretariat was established in 2004 in Buenos Aires, Argentina Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations; decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; US law, including certain criminal offenses by or against US nationals, such as murder, may apply extra-territorially; some US laws directly apply to Antarctica; for example, the Antarctic Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. section 2401 et seq., provides civil and criminal penalties for the following activities, unless authorized by regulation of statute: the taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction of nonindigenous plants and animals; entry into specially protected areas; the discharge or disposal of pollutants; and the importation into the US of certain items from Antarctica; violation of the Antarctic Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and one year in prison; the National Science Foundation and Department of Justice share enforcement responsibilities; Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, as amended in 1996, requires expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans, Room 5805, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, which reports such plans to other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty; for more information, contact Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone: (703) 292-8030, or visit their website at www.nsf.gov; more generally, access to the Antarctic Treaty area, that is to all areas between 60 and 90 degrees latitude South, is subject to a number of relevant legal instruments and authorization procedures adopted by the states party to the Antarctic Treaty. Fishing off the coast and tourism, both based abroad, account for the limited economic activity. Antarctic fisheries in 2000-01 (1 July-30 June) reported landing 112,934 metric tons. Unregulated fishing, particularly of Patagonian toothfish, is a serious problem. The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources determines the recommended catch limits for marine species. A total of 13,571 tourists visited in the 2002-03 antarctic summer, up from the 11,588 visitors the previous year. Nearly all of them were passengers on commercial (nongovernmental) ships and several yachts that make trips during the summer. Most tourist trips last approximately two weeks. 0 information for US bases only (2001) local systems at some research stations NA country code - 672; via satellite (mobile Inmarsat and Iridium system) from some research stations AM NA, FM 2, shortwave 1 information for US bases only (2002) 1 (cable system with six channels; American Forces Antarctic Network-McMurdo) information for US bases only (2002) .aq 0 there are no developed public access airports or landing facilities; 30 stations, operated by 16 national governments party to the Antarctic Treaty, have restricted aircraft landing facilities for either helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft; commercial enterprises operate two additional aircraft landing facilities; helicopter pads are available at 27 stations; runways at 15 locations are gravel, sea-ice, blue-ice, or compacted snow suitable for landing wheeled, fixed-wing aircraft; of these, one is greater than 3 km in length, six are between 2 km and 3 km in length, three are between 1 km and 2 km in length, three are less than 1 km in length, and two are of unknown length; snow surface skiways, limited to use by ski-equipped, fixed-wing aircraft, are available at another 15 locations; of these, four are greater than 3 km in length, three are between 2 km and 3 km in length, two are between 1 km and 2 km in length, two are less than 1 km in length, and four are of unknown length; aircraft landing facilities generally subject to severe restrictions and limitations resulting from extreme seasonal and geographic conditions; aircraft landing facilities do not meet ICAO standards; advance approval from the respective governmental or nongovernmental operating organization required for using their facilities; landed aircraft are subject to inspection in accordance with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty; guidelines for the operation of aircraft near concentrations of birds in Antarctica were adopted in 2004; relevant legal instruments and authorization procedures adopted by states party to the Antarctic Treaty regulating access to the Antarctic Treaty area, that is to all areas between 60 and 90 degrees of latitude South, have to be complied with (see information under "Legal System"); an Antarctic Flight Information Manual (AFIM) providing up-to-date details of Antarctic air facilities and procedures is maintained and published by the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (2004 est.) 20 6 3 1 4 6 (2005 est.) 27 stations have restricted helicopter landing facilities (helipads) (2005 est.) there are no developed ports and harbors in Antarctica; most coastal stations have offshore anchorages, and supplies are transferred from ship to shore by small boats, barges, and helicopters; a few stations have a basic wharf facility; US coastal stations include McMurdo (77 51 S, 166 40 E), Palmer (64 43 S, 64 03 W); government use only except by permit (see Permit Office under "Legal System"); all ships at port are subject to inspection in accordance with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty; offshore anchorage is sparse and intermittent; relevant legal instruments and authorization procedures adopted by the states party to the Antarctic Treaty regulating access to the Antarctic Treaty area, to all areas between 60 and 90 degrees of latitude South, have to be complied with (see "Legal System") (2004) the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes Antarctic Treaty freezes claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary in Government type entry); Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and UK claim land and maritime sectors (some overlapping) for a large portion of the continent; the US and many other states do not recognize these territorial claims and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia reserve the right to do so); no claims have been made in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west; several states with territorial claims in Antarctica have expressed their intention to submit data to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf to extend their continental shelf claims to adjoining undersea ridges Antigua and Barbuda The Siboney were the first to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak and Carib Indians populated the islands when Columbus landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early settlements by the Spanish and French were succeeded by the English who formed a colony in 1667. Slavery, established to run the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico 17 03 N 61 48 W Central America and the Caribbean 442.6 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km) 442.6 sq km 0 sq km includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC 0 km 153 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas Caribbean Sea 0 m Boggy Peak 402 m NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism 18.18% 4.55% 77.27% (2001) NA hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts water management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling none of the selected agreements Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a very large western harbor 68,722 (July 2005 est.) 27.9% (male 9,767/female 9,427) 68% (male 23,466/female 23,250) 4.1% (male 1,085/female 1,727) (2005 est.) 29.67 years 29.19 years 30.15 years (2005 est.) 0.57% (2005 est.) 17.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -6.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.63 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 19.46 deaths/1,000 live births 23.43 deaths/1,000 live births 15.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 71.9 years 69.53 years 74.38 years (2005 est.) 2.26 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA NA NA Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s) Antiguan, Barbudan black, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian Christian, (predominantly Anglican with other Protestant, and some Roman Catholic) English (official), local dialects age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling 89% 90% 88% (1960 est.) none Antigua and Barbuda constitutional monarchy with UK-style parliament Saint John's (Antigua) 6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip 1 November 1981 (from UK) Independence Day (National Day), 1 November (1981) 1 November 1981 based on English common law 18 years of age; universal Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir James B. CARLISLE (since 10 June 1993) Prime Minister Winston Baldwin SPENCER (since 24 March 2004) Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general chosen by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (17-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of Representatives (17 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms) House of Representatives - last held 23 March 2004 (next to be held NA 2009) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ALP 4, UPP 13 Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction) Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester Bryant BIRD]; Barbuda People's Movement or BPM [Thomas H. FRANK]; United Progressive Party or UPP [Baldwin SPENCER] (a coalition of three opposition parties - United National Democratic Party or UNDP, Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement or ACLM, and Progressive Labor Movement or PLM) Antigua Trades and Labor Union or ATLU [William ROBINSON]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Hugh MARSHALL] ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Ambassador Lionel A. HURST 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 [1] (202) 362-5122 [1] (202) 362-5225 consulate(s) general: Miami the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda (embassy closed 30 June 1994); the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda red, with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow rising sun in the black band Tourism continues to dominate the economy, accounting for more than half of GDP. Weak tourist arrival numbers since early 2000 have slowed the economy, however, and pressed the government into a tight fiscal corner. The dual-island nation's agricultural production is focused on the domestic market and constrained by a limited water supply and a labor shortage stemming from the lure of higher wages in tourism and construction. Manufacturing comprises enclave-type assembly for export with major products being bedding, handicrafts, and electronic components. Prospects for economic growth in the medium term will continue to depend on income growth in the industrialized world, especially in the US, which accounts for slightly more than one-third of tourist arrivals. $750 million (2002 est.) NA 3% (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $11,000 (2002 est.) 3.9% 19.2% 76.8% (2002) 30,000 agriculture 7%, industry 11%, services 82% (1983) 11% (2001 est.) NA NA NA 0.4% (2000 est.) $123.7 million $145.9 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.) cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances) 6% (1997 est.) 100 million kWh (2003) 93 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 3,600 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $214 million (2004 est.) Poland 47.8%, UK 24.6%, Germany 8.7% (2004) $735 million (2004 est.) China 19.5%, US 18.7%, Singapore 14.8%, Poland 8.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.7% (2004) $231 million (1999) $2.3 million (1995) East Caribbean dollar (XCD) East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - NA (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001) fixed rate since 1976 1 April - 31 March 38,000 (2002) 38,200 (2002) NA good automatic telephone system country code - 1-268; 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station - 2; tropospheric scatter to Saba (Netherlands Antilles) and Guadeloupe (2005) AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) 2 (1997) .ag 1,665 (2003) 10,000 (2002) 3 (2004 est.) 2 1 1 (2005 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 1,165 km 384 km 781 km (2002) 980 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,873,626 GRT/7,683,143 DWT bulk carrier 33, cargo 630, chemical tanker 9, container 272, liquefied gas 9, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 8, roll on/roll off 17, vehicle carrier 1 923 (Australia 2, Bangladesh 4, Belgium 4, Colombia 2, Denmark 8, Estonia 2, Germany 849, Iceland 5, Latvia 5, Lebanon 2, Lithuania 1, Netherlands 11, Norway 3, Philippines 1, Russia 1, Slovenia 5, Sweden 1, Switzerland 5, Turkey 4, United Kingdom 1, United States 7) (2005) Saint John's Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force: Infantry, Coast Guard (2004) 18 years of age (est.); no conscript military service (2001) NA NA none considered a minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; more significant as an offshore financial center Arctic Ocean The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and the recently delimited Southern Ocean). The Northwest Passage (US and Canada) and Northern Sea Route (Norway and Russia) are two important seasonal waterways. A sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes circumscribes the Arctic Ocean. body of water between Europe, Asia, and North America, mostly north of the Arctic Circle 90 00 N 0 00 E Arctic Region 14.056 million sq km includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, Northwest Passage, and other tributary water bodies slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US 45,389 km polar climate characterized by persistent cold and relatively narrow annual temperature ranges; winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack that, on average, is about 3 meters thick, although pressure ridges may be three times that thickness; clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyral Stream, but nearly straight-line movement from the New Siberian Islands (Russia) to Denmark Strait (between Greenland and Iceland); the icepack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling landmasses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonosov Ridge) Fram Basin -4,665 m sea level 0 m sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales) ice islands occasionally break away from northern Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenland and extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtually ice locked from October to June; ships subject to superstructure icing from October to May endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic location between North America and Russia; shortest marine link between the extremes of eastern and western Russia; floating research stations operated by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean; snow cover lasts about 10 months Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals. Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US) sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways some maritime disputes (see littoral states) Argentina Following independence from Spain in 1816, Argentina experienced periods of internal political conflict between conservatives and liberals and between civilian and military factions. After World War II, a long period of Peronist authoritarian rule and interference in subsequent governments was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983, and has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent public protests and the resignation of several interim presidents. Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay 34 00 S 64 00 W South America 2,766,890 sq km 2,736,690 sq km 30,200 sq km slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US 9,665 km Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile 5,150 km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km 4,989 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border Laguna del Carbon -105 m Cerro Aconcagua 6,960 m fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium 12.31% 0.48% 87.21% (2001) 15,610 sq km (1998 est.) San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the pampas and northeast; heavy flooding environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution Argentina is a world leader in setting voluntary greenhouse gas targets Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling Marine Life Conservation second-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategic location relative to sea lanes between the South Atlantic and the South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage); Cerro Aconcagua is South America's tallest mountain, while Laguna del Carbon is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere 39,537,943 (July 2005 est.) 25.6% (male 5,170,721/female 4,938,171) 63.9% (male 12,626,711/female 12,627,026) 10.6% (male 1,712,117/female 2,463,197) (2005 est.) 29.42 years 28.52 years 30.4 years (2005 est.) 0.98% (2005 est.) 16.9 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 7.56 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.7 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 15.18 deaths/1,000 live births 17.07 deaths/1,000 live births 13.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 75.91 years 72.17 years 79.85 years (2005 est.) 2.19 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.7% (2001 est.) 130,000 (2001 est.) 1,500 (2003 est.) Argentine(s) Argentine white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry), Amerindian, or other non-white groups 3% nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4% Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French age 15 and over can read and write 97.1% 97.1% 97.1% (2003 est.) Argentine Republic Argentina Republica Argentina Argentina republic Buenos Aires 23 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), and 1 autonomous city* (distrito federal); Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Capital Federal*, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Cordoba, Corrientes, Entre Rios, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquen, Rio Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego - Antartida e Islas del Atlantico Sur, Tucuman the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica 9 July 1816 (from Spain) Revolution Day, 25 May (1810) 1 May 1853; revised August 1994 mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal and compulsory President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May 2003); Vice President Daniel SCIOLI (since 25 May 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May 2003); Vice President Daniel SCIOLI (since 25 May 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government Cabinet appointed by the president president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 27 April 2003 (next election to be held NA 2007) results of the presidential election of 27 April 2003: Carlos Saul MENEM 24.3%, Nestor KIRCHNER 22%, Ricardo Lopez MURPHY 16.4%, Adolfo Rodriguez SAA 14.4%, Elisa CARRIO 14.2%, other 8.7%; the subsequent runoff election slated for 25 May 2003 was awarded to KIRCHNER by default after MENEM withdrew his candidacy on the eve of the election bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate (72 seats; members are elected by direct vote; presently one-third of the members elected every two years to a six-year term) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; members are elected by direct vote; one-half of the members elected every two years to a four-year term) Senate - last held 23 October 2005 (next to be held NA 2007); Chamber of Deputies - last held last held 23 October 2005 (next to be held NA 2007) Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - FV 45.1%, FJ 17.2%, UCR 7.5%, other 30.2%; seats by bloc or party - FV 14, FJ 3, UCR 2, other 5; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - FV 29.9%, UCR 8.9%, ARI 7.2%, PJ 6.7%, PRO 6.2%, FJ 3.9%, other 37.2%; seats by bloc or party - FV 50, UCR 10, ARI 8, PJ 9, PRO 9, FJ 7, other 34 Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (the nine Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president with approval by the Senate) Alternative for a Republic of Equals or ARI [Elisa CARRIO]; Front for Victory or FV [Nestor KIRCHNER]; Interbloque Federal or IF (a broad coalition of approximately 12 parties including RECREAR) [leader NA]; Justicialist Party or PJ (Peronist umbrella political organization) [leader NA]; Justicialist Front or FJ [Eduardo DUHALDE]; Radical Civic Union or UCR [Roberto IGLESIAS]; Republican Initiative Alliance or PRO (including Federal Recreate Movement or RECREAR [Ricardo LOPEZ MURPHY] and Commitment for Change or CPC [Mauricio MACRI]); Socialist Party or PS [Ruben GIUSTINIANI]; Union For All [Patricia BULLRICH]; several provincial parties Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA); Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association); business organizations; Central of Argentine Workers or CTA (a radical union for employed and unemployed workers); General Confederation of Labor or CGT (Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization); Peronist-dominated labor movement; Piquetero groups (popular protest organizations that can be either pro or anti-government); Roman Catholic Church; students ABEDA, AfDB, Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CSN, FAO, G-6, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC Ambassador Jose Octavio BORDON 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 238-6400 [1] (202) 332-3171 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York Ambassador Lino GUTIERREZ Avenida Colombia 4300, C1425GMN Buenos Aires international mail: use street address; APO address: Unit 4334, APO AA 34034 [54] (11) 5777-4533 [54] (11) 5777-4240 three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face known as the Sun of May Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Over the past decade, however, the country has suffered problems of inflation, external debt, capital flight, and budget deficits. Growth in 2000 was a negative 0.8%, as both domestic and foreign investors remained skeptical of the government's ability to pay debts and maintain the peso's fixed exchange rate with the US dollar. The economic situation worsened in 2001 with the widening of spreads on Argentine bonds, massive withdrawals from the banks, and a further decline in consumer and investor confidence. Government efforts to achieve a "zero deficit," to stabilize the banking system, and to restore economic growth proved inadequate in the face of the mounting economic problems. The peso's peg to the dollar was abandoned in January 2002, and the peso was floated in February; the exchange rate plunged and real GDP fell by 10.9% in 2002, but by mid-year the economy had stabilized, albeit at a lower level. GDP expanded by about 8% per year from 2003 to 2005. Growth is being led by a revival in domestic demand, solid exports, and favorable external conditions. The government boosted spending ahead of the October 2005 midterm congressional elections, but strong revenue performance will allow Argentina to exceed its primary budget surplus target for this year of 3.2 percent of GDP. Inflation has been rising steadily and is expected to reach 11.8 percent this year. $537.2 billion (2005 est.) $182 billion (2005 est.) 8.2% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $13,600 (2005 est.) 10.5% 35.8% 53.7% (2004 est.) 15.34 million (2005 est.) agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% 11.1% (September 2005) 38.5% (June 2005) NA% NA% 52.2 (2001) 11.8% (2005 est.) 21.4% of GDP (2005 est.) $42.63 billion $39.98 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 69.7% of GDP (June 2005) sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat; livestock food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel 7.5% (2005 est.) 83.29 billion kWh (2003) 83.31 billion kWh (2003) 2.443 billion kWh (2003) 8.3 billion kWh (2003) 745,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) 450,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 2.95 billion bbl (2005 est.) 37.15 billion cu m (2001 est.) 31.1 billion cu m (2001 est.) 6.05 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 768 billion cu m (2005) $1.908 billion (2005 est.) $40 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Brazil 15.4%, Chile 10.4%, US 10.2%, China 8.7%, Spain 4.4% (2004) $28.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Brazil 36.2%, US 16.6%, Germany 5.7%, China 4.3% (2004) $26.37 billion (2005 est.) $119 billion (June 2005 est.) $10 billion (2001 est.) Argentine peso (ARS) Argentine pesos per US dollar - 2.88 (2005), 2.9233 (2004), 2.9006 (2003), 3.0633 (2002), 0.9995 (2001) calendar year 8,009,400 (2002) 6.5 million (2002) by opening the telecommunications market to competition and foreign investment with the "Telecommunications Liberalization Plan of 1998," Argentina encouraged the growth of modern telecommunication technology; fiber-optic cable trunk lines are being installed between all major cities; the major networks are entirely digital and the availability of telephone service is being improved; however, telephone density is presently minimal, and making telephone service universally available will take time microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domestic satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network; more than 110,000 pay telephones are installed and mobile telephone use is rapidly expanding country code - 54; satellite earth stations - 112; Atlantis II and Unisur submarine cables; two international gateways near Buenos Aires (2005) AM 260 (including 10 inactive stations), FM NA (probably more than 1,000, mostly unlicensed), shortwave 6 (1998) 42 (plus 444 repeaters) (1997) .ar 742,358 (2003) 4.1 million (2002) 1,334 (2004 est.) 144 4 26 62 44 8 (2005 est.) 1,189 2 2 50 569 566 (2005 est.) gas 27,166 km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 3,668 km; refined products 2,945 km; unknown (oil/water) 13 km (2004) 34,091 km (167 km electrified) 20,594 km 1.676-m gauge (141 km electrified) 2,885 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified) 10,375 km 1.000-m gauge; 237 km 0.750-m gauge (2004) 215,471 km 63,348 km (including 734 km of expressways) 152,123 km (1999) 11,000 km (2004) 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 149,007 GRT/212,620 DWT bulk carrier 2, cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 7, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1 2 (Chile 1, Uruguay 1) 23 (2005) Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Punta Colorada, Rosario, San Lorenzo-San Martin, San Nicolas Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic (includes Naval Aviation and Marines), Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Argentina, FAA) 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001) 18 8,981,886 (2005 est.) 18 7,316,038 (2005 est.) 344,575 (2005 est.) $4.3 billion (FY99) 1.3% (FY00) the Argentine military is a well-organized force constrained by the country's prolonged economic hardship; the country has recently experienced a strong recovery, and the military is now implementing "Plan 2000," aimed at making the ground forces lighter and more responsive (2005) Argentina claims the UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in its constitution; it briefly occupied the Falklands in 1982, but in 1995 agreed no longer to seek settlement by force; territorial claim in Antarctica partially overlaps UK and Chilean claims (see Antarctic disputes); unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations; uncontested dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question used as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe and the US; some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; domestic consumption of drugs in urban centers is increasing Armenia Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy, over the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. It was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. Turkey imposed an economic blockade on Armenia and closed the common border because of the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas. Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey 40 00 N 45 00 E Asia 29,800 sq km 28,400 sq km 1,400 sq km slightly smaller than Maryland 1,254 km Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km 0 km (landlocked) none (landlocked) highland continental, hot summers, cold winters Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley Debed River 400 m Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina 17.55% 2.3% 80.15% (2001) 2,870 sq km (1998 est.) occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisis of the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a seismically active zone Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range 2,982,904 (July 2005 est.) 21.6% (male 339,453/female 305,214) 67.5% (male 938,734/female 1,074,240) 10.9% (male 131,519/female 193,744) (2005 est.) 30.07 years 27.45 years 32.84 years (2005 est.) -0.25% (2005 est.) 11.76 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 8.16 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -6.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.17 male(s)/female 1.11 male(s)/female 0.87 male(s)/female 0.68 male(s)/female 0.9 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 23.28 deaths/1,000 live births 28.51 deaths/1,000 live births 17.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 71.55 years 67.97 years 75.75 years (2005 est.) 1.32 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.1% (2003 est.) 2,600 (2003 est.) less than 200 (2003 est.) Armenian(s) Armenian Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001 census) Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3% Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census) age 15 and over can read and write 98.6% 99.4% 98% (2003 est.) Republic of Armenia Armenia Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun Hayastan Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic republic Yerevan 11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan 21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) Independence Day, 21 September (1991) adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995; amendments adopted through a nationwide referendum 27 November 2005 based on civil law system 18 years of age; universal President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998) Prime Minister Andranik MARGARYAN (since 12 May 2000) Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 19 February and 5 March 2003 (next to be held NA 2008); prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed with the majority support of the National Assembly; the prime minister and Council of Ministers must resign if the National Assembly refuses to accept their program Robert KOCHARIAN reelected president; percent of vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 67.5%, Stepan DEMIRCHYAN 32.5% unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; 90 members elected by party list, 41 by direct vote) last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held in the spring of 2007) percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.5%, Justice Bloc 13.6%, Rule of Law 12.3%, ARF (Dashnak) 11.4%, National Unity Party 8.8%, United Labor Party 5.7%; seats by party - Republican Party 23, Justice Bloc 14, Rule of Law 12, ARF (Dashnak) 11, National Unity 9, United Labor 6; note - seats by party change frequently as deputies switch parties or announce themselves independent Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals Court) Agro-Industrial Party [Vladimir BADALYAN]; Armenia Party [Myasnik MALKHASYAN]; Armenian National Movement or ANM [Alex ARZUMANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Ramkavar Liberal Party or HRAK [Harutyun MIRZAKHANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Vahan HOVHANISSIAN]; Democratic Party [Aram SARKISYAN]; Justice Bloc (comprised of the Democratic Party, National Democratic Party, National Democratic Union, the People's Party, and the Republic Party) [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; National Democratic Party [Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National Revival Party [Albert BAZEYAN]; National Unity Party [Artashes GEGAMIAN, chairman]; People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic Party [Aram SARKISYAN, chairman]; Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARKARYAN]; Rule of Law Party [Artur BAGHDASARYAN, chairman]; Union of Constitutional Rights [Hrant KHACHATURYAN]; United Labor Party [Gurgen ARSENYAN] Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN] ACCT (observer), AsDB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Tatoul MARKARIAN 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 319-1976 [1] (202) 319-2982 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles Ambassador John M. EVANS 1 American Ave., Yerevan 375082 American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, 7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020 [374](10) 464-700 [374](10) 464-742 three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy. Since the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. The agricultural sector has long-term needs for more investment and updated technology. The privatization of industry has been at a slower pace, but has been given renewed emphasis by the current administration. Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral deposits (copper, gold, bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally directed economic system of the former Soviet Union contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian Government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic liberalization program that resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-2005. Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003. Armenia also has managed to slash inflation, stabilize the local currency (the dram), and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. Armenia's unemployment rate, however, remains high, despite strong economic growth. The chronic energy shortages Armenia suffered in the early and mid-1990s have been offset by the energy supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Armenia is now a net energy exporter, although it does not have sufficient generating capacity to replace Metsamor, which is under international pressure to close. The electricity distribution system was privatized in 2002. Armenia's severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by international aid, remittances from Armenians working abroad, and foreign direct investment. Economic ties with Russia remain close, especially in the energy sector. The government made some improvements in tax and customs administration in 2005, but anti-corruption measures will be more difficult to implement. Investment in the construction and industrial sectors is expected to continue in 2006 and will help to ensure annual average real GDP growth of about 7.5%. $15.27 billion (2005 est.) $3.426 billion (2005 est.) 8% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $5,100 (2005 est.) 24.9% 34.6% 40.5% (2004 est.) 1.2 million (2004) agriculture 45%, industry 25%, services 30% (2002 est.) 30% (2003 est.) 43% (2003 est.) 2.3% 46.2% (1999) 37.9 (1998) 2.4% (2005 est.) 23% of GDP (2005 est.) $786.1 million $930.7 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock diamond-processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry manufacturing, software development, food processing, brandy 15% (2002 est.) 4.954 billion kWh (2003) 4.42 billion kWh (2003) 650 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to Georgia; includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2003) 463 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from Iran (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 40,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 1.4 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 1.4 billion cu m (2001 est.) $-237.7 million (2005 est.) $800 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) Belgium 18%, Israel 15.3%, Germany 13.3%, Russia 12.5%, US 8.1%, Netherlands 7.2%, Iran 5.5%, Georgia 4.3%, UAE 4% (2004) $1.5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Russia 11.3%, Belgium 10.1%, Israel 8.4%, US 7.6%, Iran 7.1%, UAE 6.1%, Ukraine 5.9%, Italy 5.5%, Germany 5.2%, Georgia 4.6%, France 4.5% (2004) $625.6 million (2005 est.) $1.868 billion (31 December 2004) ODA $170 million (2000) dram (AMD) drams per US dollar - 445 (2005), 533.45 (2004), 578.76 (2003), 573.35 (2002), 555.08 (2001) calendar year 562,600 (2003) 114,400 (2003) system inadequate; now 90% privately owned and undergoing modernization and expansion the majority of subscribers and the most modern equipment are in Yerevan (this includes paging and mobile cellular service) country code - 374; Yerevan is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable through Iran; additional international service is available by microwave radio relay and landline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and through the Moscow international switch and by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 3 (2005) AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998) 3 (plus an unknown number of repeaters); (1998) .am 2,206 (2004) 150,000 (2003) 16 (2004 est.) 11 2 2 4 3 (2005 est.) 5 2 2 1 (2005 est.) gas 1,871 km (2004) 845 km 845 km 1.520-m gauge (828 km electrified) some lines are out of service (2004) 7,633 km 7,633 km (includes 1,561 km of expressways) (2003) Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force 18-27 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (May 2004) 18 722,836 (2005 est.) 18 551,938 (2005 est.) 31,774 (2005 est.) $135 million (FY01) 6.5% (FY01) Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh and since the early 1990s, has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan - Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate dispute; over 800,000 mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about 230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in Azerbaijan into Armenia; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave; border with Turkey remains closed over Nagorno-Karabakh dispute; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy; tens of thousands of Armenians emigrate, primarily to Russia, to seek employment refugees (country of origin): 236,306 (Azerbaijan) 50,000 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2004) illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domestic consumption; used as a transit point for illicit drugs - mostly opium and hashish - moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe Aruba Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990. Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela 12 30 N 69 58 W Central America and the Caribbean 193 sq km 193 sq km 0 sq km slightly larger than Washington, DC 0 km 68.5 km 12 nm tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation flat with a few hills; scant vegetation Caribbean Sea 0 m Mount Jamanota 188 m NEGL; white sandy beaches 10.53% (including aloe 0.01%) 0% 89.47% (2001) 0.01 sq km (1998 est.) lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt NA a flat, riverless island renowned for its white sand beaches; its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean; the temperature is almost constant at about 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit) 71,566 (July 2005 est.) 19.9% (male 7,308/female 6,960) 68.2% (male 23,736/female 25,068) 11.9% (male 3,486/female 5,008) (2005 est.) 38 years 36.07 years 39.7 years (2005 est.) 0.47% (2005 est.) 11.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 6.57 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.7 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 5.89 deaths/1,000 live births 6.71 deaths/1,000 live births 5.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 79.14 years 75.8 years 82.65 years (2005 est.) 1.79 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA NA NA Aruban(s) Aruban; Dutch mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80% Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish 97% NA% NA% none Aruba part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs parliamentary democracy Oranjestad none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) Flag Day, 18 March 1 January 1986 based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence 18 years of age; universal Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004) Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30 October 2001) Council of Ministers (elected by the Staten) the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed for a six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by the Staten for four-year terms; election last held 28 September 2001 (next to be held by December 2005) Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held 23 September 2005 (next to be held by NA 2009) percent of vote by party - MEP 43%, AVP 32%, MPA 7%, RED 7%, PDR 6%, OLA 4%, PPA 2%; seats by party - MEP 11, AVP 8, MPA 1, RED 1 Common Court of Justice of Aruba (judges are appointed by the monarch) Aliansa/Aruban Social Movement or MSA [Robert WEVER]; Aruban Liberal Organization or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic Movement or MPA [Monica ARENDS-KOCK]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Mike EMAN]; People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; Real Democracy or PDR [Andin BIKKER]; RED [Rudy LAMPE]; Workers Political Platform or PTT [Gregorio WOLFF] NA ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WMO, WToO (associate) none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr. Henry Baarh, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Netherlands Antilles is accredited to Aruba blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy, with offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and exceptionally low unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years. Tourist arrivals declined in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. The government now must deal with a budget deficit and a negative trade balance. $1.94 billion (2002 est.) NA -1.5% (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $28,000 (2002 est.) NA% NA% NA% 41,500 (1997 est.) most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining 0.6% (2003 est.) NA NA NA 3.2% (2002 est.) $135.8 million $147 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000) aloes; livestock; fish tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining NA% 770 million kWh (2003) 716.1 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 2,363 bbl/day (2003) 6,500 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $80 million f.o.b. (including oil reexports) (2004 est.) Netherlands 28.5%, Panama 17.4%, Venezuela 14.7%, Netherlands Antilles 11.2%, Colombia 10.7%, US 10.4% (2004) $875 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) US 55.5%, Netherlands 14.1%, Venezuela 3.3% (2004) $285 million (1996) $26 million (1995); note - the Netherlands provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba and Suriname in 1996 Aruban guilder/florin (AWG) Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - NA (2005), 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001) calendar year 37,100 (2002) 53,000 (2001) modern fully automatic telecommunications system increased competition through privatization; 3 wireless service providers are now licensed country code - 297; 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004) 1 (1997) .aw 923 (2001) 24,000 (2002) 1 (2004 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Dutch Navy and Marines, Coast Guard defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands none transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity Ashmore and Cartier Islands These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983, it became a National Nature Reserve. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, is now a marine reserve. Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor island 12 14 S 123 05 E Southeast Asia 5 sq km 5 sq km 0 sq km includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC 0 km 74.1 km 12 nm 12 nm 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation 200 nm tropical low with sand and coral Indian Ocean 0 m unnamed location 3 m fish 0% 0% 100% (all grass and sand) (2001) 0 sq km (1998 est.) surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards NA Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983 no indigenous inhabitants Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island (July 2005 est.) the landing of illegal immigrants from Indonesia's Rote Island has become an ongoing problem Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands Ashmore and Cartier Islands territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply none (territory of Australia) none (territory of Australia) the flag of Australia is used no economic activity none; offshore anchorage only defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia closed the surrounding waters to Indonesian traditional fishing and created a national park in the region while continuing to prospect for hydrocarbons in the vicinity Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than the Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean). The Kiel Canal (Germany), Oresund (Denmark-Sweden), Bosporus (Turkey), Strait of Gibraltar (Morocco-Spain), and the Saint Lawrence Seaway (Canada-US) are important strategic access waterways. The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth world ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Atlantic Ocean south of 60 degrees south. body of water between Africa, Europe, the Southern Ocean, and the Western Hemisphere 0 00 N 25 00 W Political Map of the World 76.762 million sq km includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, part of the Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Labrador Sea, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, almost all of the Scotia Sea, and other tributary water bodies slightly less than 6.5 times the size of the US 111,866 km tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent from August to November surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and coastal portions of the Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm-water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the northern Atlantic, counterclockwise warm-water gyre in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin Milwaukee Deep in the Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m sea level 0 m oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious stones icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have been spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic from October to May; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May to September; hurricanes (May to December) endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is hastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing to international disputes; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea major chokepoints include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include the Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's most heavily trafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Other economic activity includes the exploitation of natural resources, e.g., fishing, dredging of aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and production of crude oil and natural gas (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea). Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco), Colon (Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille (France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal (Canada), Naples (Italy), New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran (Algeria), Oslo (Norway), Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Stockholm (Sweden) Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways; significant domestic commercial and recreational use of Intracoastal Waterway on central and south Atlantic seaboard and Gulf of Mexico coast of US some maritime disputes (see littoral states) Australia Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession in the name of Great Britain. Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop its agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. In recent decades, Australia has transformed itself into an internationally competitive, advanced market economy. It boasted one of the OECD's fastest growing economies during the 1990's, a performance due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980's. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef. Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean 27 00 S 133 00 E Oceania 7,686,850 sq km 7,617,930 sq km 68,920 sq km includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states 0 km 25,760 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast Lake Eyre -15 m Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum 6.55% (includes about 27 million hectares of cultivated grassland) 0.04% 93.41% (2001) 24,000 sq km (1998 est.) cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; the invigorating tropical sea breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor" affects the city of Perth on the west coast, and is one of the most consistent winds in the world 20,090,437 (July 2005 est.) 19.8% (male 2,038,809/female 1,943,563) 67.2% (male 6,815,600/female 6,695,189) 12.9% (male 1,145,274/female 1,452,002) (2005 est.) 36.56 years 35.74 years 37.4 years (2005 est.) 0.87% (2005 est.) 12.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 7.44 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 3.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.79 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births 5.08 deaths/1,000 live births 4.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 80.39 years 77.52 years 83.4 years (2005 est.) 1.76 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.1% (2003 est.) 14,000 (2003 est.) less than 200 (2003 est.) Australian(s) Australian Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1% Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (2001 Census) English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census) age 15 and over can read and write 100% 100% 100% (1980 est.) Commonwealth of Australia Australia democratic, federal-state system recognizing the British monarch as sovereign Canberra 6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island, Macquarie Island 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies) Australia Day, 26 January (1788) 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901 based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Michael JEFFERY (since 11 August 2003) Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11 March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister Mark VAILE (since 6 July 2005) Prime Minister nominates, from among members of Parliament, candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the Governor General to serve as government ministers none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general government coalition - Liberal Party and National Party bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats - 12 from each of the six states and two from each of the two mainland territories; one-half of state members are elected every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms while all territory members are elected every three years) and the House of Representatives (150 seats; members elected by popular preferential voting to serve terms of up to three-years; no state can have fewer than five representatives) Senate - last held 9 October 2004 (next to be held no later than June 2008); House of Representatives - last held 9 October 2004 (next to be called no later than November 2007) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party (for session beginning on 1 July 2005) - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 39, Australian Labor Party 28, Democrats 4, Australian Greens 4, Family First Party 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 87, Australian Labor Party 60, independents 3 High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general) Australian Democrats [Lyn ALLISON]; Australian Labor Party [Kim BEAZLEY]; Australian Progressive Alliance [Meg LEES]; Australian Greens [Bob BROWN]; Liberal Party [John Winston HOWARD]; The Nationals [Mark VAILE]; One Nation Party [Len HARRIS]; Family First Party [Steve FIELDING] ANZUS, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Paris Club, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMIS, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC Ambassador Michael J. THAWLEY 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 [1] (202) 797-3000 [1] (202) 797-3168 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco William A. STANTON, Charge d'Affaires ad interim Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 APO AP 96549 [61] (02) 6214-5600 [61] (02) 6214-5970 consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, Sydney blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant known as the Commonwealth Star, representing the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901; the star depicts one point for each of the six original states and one representing all of Australia's internal and external territories; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four larger, seven-pointed stars Australia has an enviable Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP on par with the four dominant West European economies. Rising output in the domestic economy, robust business and consumer confidence, and rising exports of raw materials and agricultural products are fueling the economy. Australia's emphasis on reforms, low inflation, and growing ties with China are other key factors behind the economy's strength. The impact of drought, weak foreign demand, and strong import demand pushed the trade deficit up from $8 billion in 2002, to $18 billion in 2003, $13 billion in 2004, and $16 billion in 2005. Housing prices probably peaked in 2005, diminishing the prospect that interest rates would be raised to prevent a speculative bubble. Conservative fiscal policies have kept Australia's budget in surplus from 2002 to 2005. $642.7 billion (2005 est.) $649.9 billion (2005 est.) 2.7% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $32,000 (2005 est.) 4% 26.4% 69.6% (2004 est.) 10.42 million (2005 est.) agriculture 3.7%, industry 26.4%, services 70% (2004 est.) 5.2% (2005 est.) NA 2% 25.4% (1994) 35.2 (1994) 2.7% (2005 est.) 24.8% of GDP (2005 est.) $249.8 billion $240.2 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 16.2% of GDP (2005 est.) wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel 1.6% (2005 est.) 215.8 billion kWh (2003) 200.7 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 530,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) 875,600 bbl/day (2003 est.) 523,400 bbl/day (2001) 530,800 bbl/day (2001) 3.664 billion bbl (1 January 2002) 33.08 billion cu m (2001 est.) 23.33 billion cu m (2001 est.) 9.744 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 2.407 trillion cu m (1 January 2002) $-41.1 billion (2005 est.) $103 billion (2005 est.) Japan 18.7%, China 9.2%, US 8.1%, South Korea 7.8%, New Zealand 7.4%, India 4.6%, UK 4.2% (2004) $119.6 billion (2005 est.) US 14.8%, China 12.7%, Japan 11.8%, Germany 5.8%, Singapore 4.4%, UK 4.1% (2004) $39.03 billion (2005 est.) $509.6 billion (30 June 2005 est.) ODA, $894 million (FY99/00) Australian dollar (AUD) Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.31 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001) 1 July - 30 June 10.815 million (2003) 14.347 million (2003) excellent domestic and international service domestic satellite system; much use of radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile cellular telephones country code - 61; submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; satellite earth stations - 19 (10 Intelsat - 4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean, 2 Inmarsat - Indian and Pacific Ocean regions, 2 Globalstar, 5 other) (2005) AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998) 104 (1997) .au 2,847,763 (2003) 9.472 million (2002) 448 (2004 est.) 308 10 12 133 140 13 (2005 est.) 142 18 110 14 (2005 est.) 1 (2005 est.) condensate/gas 492 km; gas 28,680 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km; oil 4,773 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2004) 54,439 km (3859 km electrified) 5,434 km 1.600-m gauge 34,110 km 1.435-m gauge (1,397 km electrified) 14,895 km 1.067-m gauge (2,462 km electrified) 213 km dual gauge (2004) 811,601 km 316,524 km 495,077 km (2002) 2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling river systems) (2004) 55 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,531,461 GRT/1,999,409 DWT bulk carrier 16, cargo 7, chemical tanker 3, container 1, liquefied gas 4, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 5 16 (France 1, Germany 3, Japan 1, Philippines 1, Saudi Arabia 1, United Kingdom 2, United States 7) 35 (2005) Brisbane, Dampier, Fremantle, Gladstone, Hay Point, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Hedland, Port Kembla, Port Walcott, Sydney Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations Command 16 years of age for voluntary service (2001) 16 4,943,676 (2005 est.) 16 4,092,717 (2005 est.) 142,158 (2005 est.) $16.65 billion (2004) 2.7% (2004) East Timor and Australia continue to meet but disagree over how to delimit a permanent maritime boundary and share unexploited petroleum resources that fall outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty; East Timor dispute hampers creation of a revised maritime boundary with Indonesia (see also Ashmore and Cartier Islands dispute); regional states express concern over Australia's 2004 declaration of a 1,000-nautical mile-wide maritime indentification zone; Australia asserts land and maritime claims to Antarctica (see Antarctica); in 2004 Australia submitted claims to UNCLOS to extend its continental margin from both its mainland and Antarctic claims Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate Austria Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal. Following the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995, some Austrians have called into question this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia 47 20 N 13 20 E Europe 83,870 sq km 82,444 sq km 1,426 sq km slightly smaller than Maine 2,562 km Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330 km, Switzerland 164 km 0 km (landlocked) none (landlocked) temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping Neusiedler See 115 m Grossglockner 3,798 m oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower 16.91% 0.86% 82.23% (2001) 457 sq km (2000 est.) landslides; avalanches; earthquakes some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling none of the selected agreements landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere 8,184,691 (July 2005 est.) 15.6% (male 656,058/female 624,574) 67.8% (male 2,790,673/female 2,756,612) 16.6% (male 543,626/female 813,148) (2005 est.) 40.44 years 39.3 years 41.61 years (2005 est.) 0.11% (2005 est.) 8.81 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 9.7 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.67 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 4.66 deaths/1,000 live births 5.74 deaths/1,000 live births 3.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 78.92 years 76.03 years 81.96 years (2005 est.) 1.36 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.3% (2003 est.) 10,000 (2003 est.) less than 100 (2003 est.) Austrian(s) Austrian Austrians 91.1%, former Yugoslavs 4% (includes Croatians, Slovenes, Serbs, and Bosniaks), Turks 1.6%, German 0.9%, other or unspecified 2.4% (2001 census) Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 2%, none 12% (2001 census) German (official nationwide), Slovene (official in Carinthia), Croatian (official in Burgenland), Hungarian (official in Burgenland) age 15 and over can read and write 98% NA% NA% Republic of Austria Austria Republik Oesterreich Oesterreich federal republic Vienna 9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna) 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed) National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the State Treaty restoring national sovereignty and the end of occupation and the passage of the law on permanent neutrality 1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945) civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential elections President Heinz FISCHER (since 8 July 2004) Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (OeVP)(since 4 February 2000); Vice Chancellor Hubert GORBACH (since 21 October 2003) Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor president elected by direct popular vote for a six-year term; presidential election last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held April 2010); chancellor traditionally chosen by the president from the plurality party in the National Council; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor Heinz FISCHER elected president; percent of vote - Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) 52.4%, Benita FERRERO-WALDNER (OeVP) 47.6% government coalition - OeVP and FPOe bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 members; members represent each of the states on the basis of population, but with each state having at least three representatives; members serve a five- or six-year term) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) National Council - last held 24 November 2002 (next to be held in the fall of 2006) National Council - percent of vote by party - OeVP 42.3%, SPOe 36.5%, FPOe 10.0%, Greens 9.5%; seats by party - OeVP 79, SPOe 69, FPOe 18, Greens 17; seating as of May 2005 after split within the Freedom Party: OeVP 79, SPOe 69, Greens 17, BZOe 11, FPOe 7 Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Joerg HAIDER]; Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wolfgang SCHUESSEL]; Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]; Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Alfred GUSENBAUER]; The Greens [Alexander VAN DER BELLEN] Austrian Trade Union Federation (nominally independent but primarily Socialist) or OeGB; Federal Economic Chamber; OeVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists or VOeI; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action; three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, and farmers and other non-government organizations in the areas of environment and human rights ACCT (observer), AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC Ambassador Eva NOWOTNY 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035 [1] (202) 895-6700 [1] (202) 895-6750 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York Ambassador Susan R. McCAW Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna use embassy street address [43] (1) 31339 [43] (1) 3100682 three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's. The economy features up-to-date industrial and agricultural sectors. Timber is a key industry, 47% of the land area being forested. Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria's access to the single European market and proximity to the new EU economies. Slow growth in Europe has held the economy to 0.7% growth in 2001, 1.4% in 2002, 0.8% in 2003, and 1.9% in 2004 and 2005. To meet increased competition from both EU and Central European countries, particularly the new EU members, Austria will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy, continue to deregulate the service sector, and encourage much greater participation in the labor market by its aging population. The aging phenomenon, together with already high health and pension costs, poses fundamental problems in tax and welfare policies. $269.4 billion (2005 est.) $302.7 billion (2005 est.) 1.9% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $32,900 (2005 est.) 2.3% 30.8% 66.9% (2004 est.) 3.49 million (2005 est.) agriculture and forestry 4%, industry and crafts 29%, services 67% (2001 est.) 5.1% (2005 est.) 3.9% (1999) 2.5% 22.5% (1995) 30 (1997) 2.3% (2005 est.) 21.1% of GDP (2005 est.) $148.6 billion $154.5 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 64.5% of GDP (2005 est.) grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism 3.2% (2005 est.) 55.75 billion kWh (2003) 57.45 billion kWh (2003) 13.4 billion kWh (2003) 19 billion kWh (2003) 25,650 bbl/day (2003) 286,200 bbl/day (2003 est.) 35,470 bbl/day (2001) 262,000 bbl/day (2001) 85.69 million bbl (1 January 2002) 1.731 billion cu m (2001 est.) 7.81 billion cu m (2001 est.) 403 million cu m (2001 est.) 6.033 billion cu m (2001 est.) 24.9 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $1.755 billion (2005 est.) $122.5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Germany 32%, Italy 8.9%, US 6%, Switzerland 4.8%, France 4.2%, UK 4.2% (2004) $118.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Germany 46.3%, Italy 6.8%, Switzerland 4.3% (2004) $12.19 billion (2004 est.) $510.6 billion (30 June 2005 est.) ODA, $520 million (2002) euro (EUR) on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by the financial institutions of member countries; as of 1 January 2002, the euro became the only legal tender in EMU member countries, including Austria euros per US dollar - 0.79697 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001) calendar year 3.881 million (2003) 7,094,500 (2003) highly developed and efficient there are 48 main lines for every 100 persons; the fiber optic net is very extensive; all telephone applications and Internet services are available country code - 43; satellite earth stations - 15; in addition, there are about 600 VSAT (very small aperture terminals) (2005) AM 2, FM 65 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (2001) 10 (plus more than 1,000 repeaters) (2001) .at 387,006 (2004) 3.73 million (2003) 55 (2004 est.) 24 1 5 1 3 14 (2005 est.) 31 1 3 27 (2005 est.) 1 (2005 est.) gas 2,722 km; oil 663 km; refined products 149 km (2004) 6,021 km (3,552 km electrified) 5,565 km 1.435-m gauge (3,430 km electrified) 34 km 1.000-m gauge (28 km electrified); 422 km 0.760-m gauge (94 km electrified) (2004) 133,718 km 133,718 km (including 1,677 km of expressways) (2003) 358 km (2003) 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 29,624 GRT/37,425 DWT cargo 6, container 2 2 (Netherlands 2) 19 (2005) Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK) 18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for voluntary service; from 2007, at the earliest, compulsory military service obligation will be reduced from 8 months to 6 (2005) 18 1,914,800 (2005 est.) 18 1,550,441 (2005 est.) 48,967 (2005 est.) $1.497 billion (FY01/02) 0.9% (2004) none transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe Azerbaijan Azerbaijan - a nation with a Turkic and majority-Muslim population - regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost 16% of its territory and must support some 571,000 internally displaced persons as a result of the conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous and the promise of widespread wealth from Azerbaijan's undeveloped petroleum resources remains largely unfulfilled. Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range 40 30 N 47 30 E Asia 86,600 sq km 86,100 sq km 500 sq km includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991 slightly smaller than Maine 2,013 km Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km 0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.) none (landlocked) dry, semiarid steppe large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea Caspian Sea -28 m Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina 19.63% 2.71% 77.66% (2001) 14,550 sq km (1998 est.) droughts local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil spills, from the use of DDT as a pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands none of the selected agreements both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked 7,911,974 (July 2005 est.) 26.4% (male 1,063,731/female 1,028,684) 65.7% (male 2,533,762/female 2,665,381) 7.8% (male 245,758/female 374,658) (2005 est.) 27.53 years 26.09 years 29 years (2005 est.) 0.59% (2005 est.) 20.4 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 9.86 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -4.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.66 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 81.74 deaths/1,000 live births 83.58 deaths/1,000 live births 79.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 63.35 years 59.24 years 67.66 years (2005 est.) 2.44 children born/woman (2005 est.) less than 0.1% (2003 est.) 1,400 (2003 est.) less than 100 (2001 est.) Azerbaijani(s) Azerbaijani Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.9% (1999 census) almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.) religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower Azerbaijani (Azeri) 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.) age 15 and over can read and write 98.8% 99.5% 98.2% (1999 est.) Republic of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Azarbaycan Respublikasi none Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic republic Baku (Baki) 59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities* (saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic** (muxtar respublika) Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Astara Rayonu, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Susa Rayonu, Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimli Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu Ali Bayramli Sahari, Baki Sahari, Ganca Sahari, Lankaran Sahari, Mingacevir Sahari, Naftalan Sahari, Saki Sahari, Sumqayit Sahari, Susa Sahari, Xankandi Sahari, Yevlax Sahari Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi 30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, 28 May (1918) adopted 12 November 1995 based on civil law system 18 years of age; universal President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003) Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 4 November 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Abbas ABBASOV (since 10 November 2003) Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly president elected by popular vote to a five-year term; election last held 15 October 2003 (next to be held October 2008); prime minister and first deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly Ilham ALIYEV elected president; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV 76.8%, Isa GAMBAR 14% unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held 6 November 2005 (next to be held November 2010) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NAP 58, independents 42, Azadliq 8, CSP 2, YES 2, Motherland 2, other parties with single seats 7, undetermined 4 Supreme Court Azerbaijan Popular Front or APF [Ali KARIMLI, leader of "Reform" faction; Mirmahmud MIRALI-OGLU, leader of "Classic" faction]; Civic Solidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLY]; Civic Union Party [Ayaz MUTALIBOV]; Communist Party of Azerbaijan or CPA [Ramiz AHMADOV]; Compatriot Party [Mais SAFARLI]; Democratic Party for Azerbaijan or DPA [Rasul QULIYEV, chairman]; Justice Party [Ilyas ISMAILOV]; Liberal Party of Azerbaijan [Lala Shovkat HACIYEVA]; Musavat [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; New Azerbaijan Party or NAP [vacant]; Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan or PNIA [Etibar MAMMADLI, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan or SDP [Araz ALIZADE and Ayaz MUTALIBOV] opposition parties regularly factionalize and form new parties Sadval, Lezgin movement; self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movement; Union of Pro-Azerbaijani Forces (UPAF) AsDB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer) Ambassador Hafiz PASHAYEV 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 337-3500 [1] (202) 337-5911 Ambassador Reno L. HARNISH III 83 Azadlyg Prospecti, Baku AZ1007 American Embassy Baku, Department of State, 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050 [9] (9412) 4980-335 through 337 [9] (9412) 4983-755 three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band Azerbaijan's number one export is oil. Azerbaijan's oil production declined through 1997 but has registered an increase every year since. Negotiation of production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) with foreign firms, which have thus far committed $60 billion to long-term oilfield development, should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. Oil production under the first of these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company, began in November 1997. A consortium of Western oil companies is scheduled to begin pumping 1 million barrels a day from a large offshore field in early 2006, through a $4 billion pipeline it built from Baku to Turkey's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. Economists estimate that by 2010 revenues from this project will double the country's current GDP. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the former Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and structures are slowly being replaced. Several other obstacles impede Armenia's economic progress: the need for stepped up foreign investment in the non-energy sector, the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and the pervasive corruption. Trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance while trade is building with Turkey and the nations of Europe. Long-term prospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of new pipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability to manage its oil wealth. $36.53 billion (2005 est.) $10.81 billion (2005 est.) 18.3% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2005 est.) 14.1% 45.7% 40.2% (2002 est.) 5.45 million (2005 est.) agriculture and forestry 41%, industry 7%, services 52% (2001) 1.2% (official rate) (2005 est.) 49% (2002 est.) 2.8% 27.8% (1995) 36.5 (2001) 12% (2005 est.) 57.4% of GDP (2005 est.) $3.18 billion $2.986 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 13.9% of GDP (2005 est.) cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles 25% (2005 est.) 20 billion kWh (2003) 20.25 billion kWh (2003) 700 million kWh (2003) 2.35 billion kWh (2003) 477,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) 123,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 589 million bbl (1 January 2002) 5.72 billion cu m (2001 est.) 6.72 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 1 billion cu m (2001 est.) 62.3 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $-1.53 billion (2005 est.) $6.117 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Italy 26.6%, Czech Republic 11.9%, Germany 8.1%, Indonesia 6.4%, Romania 6.2%, Georgia 6%, Russia 5.3%, Turkey 5.2%, France 4.1% (2004) $4.656 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Russia 16.1%, UK 12.5%, Turkey 10.5%, Germany 7.8%, Ukraine 5.6%, Netherlands 4.9%, US 4.1%, Italy 4% (2004) $1.2 billion (2005 est.) $2.253 billion (2005 est.) ODA, $140 million (2000 est.) Azerbaijani manat (AZM) Azerbaijani manats per US dollar - 4,794.15 (2005), 4,913.48 (2004), 4,910.73 (2003), 4,860.82 (2002), 4,656.58 (2001) calendar year 923,800 (2002) 870,000 (2002) inadequate; requires considerable expansion and modernization; teledensity of 10 main lines per 100 persons is low (2002) the majority of telephones are in Baku and other industrial centers - about 700 villages still without public telephone service; satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its exclave of Naxcivan country code - 994; the old Soviet system of cable and microwave is still serviceable; satellite earth stations - 2 (2005) AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998) 2 (1997) .az 586 (2004) 300,000 (2002) 50 (2004 est.) 27 2 6 15 3 1 (2005 est.) 19 3 15 (2005 est.) 2 (2005 est.) gas 4,451 km; oil 1,518 km (2004) 2,957 km 2,957 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2004) 27,016 km 12,698 km (including 128 km of expressways) 14,318 km (2003) 81 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 253,004 GRT/318,922 DWT cargo 26, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 41, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 2 3 (2005) Baku (Baki) Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; law passed December 2001 raises maximum conscription age from 28 to 35 (December 2001) 18 1,961,973 (2005 est.) 18 1,314,955 (2005 est.) 82,358 (2005 est.) $121 million (FY99) 2.6% (FY99) Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh and since the early 1990s has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan - Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate dispute; over 800,000 mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about 230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in Azerbaijan into Armenia; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratify Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on an even one-fifth allocation and challenges Azerbaijan's hydrocarbon exploration in disputed waters; bilateral talks continue with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian; Azerbaijan and Georgia cannot resolve the alignment of their boundary at certain crossing areas 571,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2004) limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; small government eradication program; transit point for Southwest Asian opiates bound for Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe Bahrain Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed itself into an international banking center. The amir, installed in 1999, has pushed economic and political reforms and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In February 2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the National Action Charter - the centerpiece of the amir's political liberalization program. In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa proclaimed himself king. In October 2002, Bahrainis elected members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicameral legislature, the National Assembly. Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia 26 00 N 50 33 E Middle East 665 sq km 665 sq km 0 sq km 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC 0 km 161 km 12 nm 24 nm extending to boundaries to be determined arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment Persian Gulf 0 m Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls 2.82% 5.63% 91.55% (2001) 50 sq km (1998 est.) periodic droughts; dust storms desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources, groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands none of the selected agreements close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf, through which much of the Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean 688,345 includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2005 est.) 27.8% (male 96,807/female 94,863) 68.7% (male 275,792/female 197,424) 3.4% (male 12,078/female 11,381) (2005 est.) 29.19 years 32.16 years 25.54 years (2005 est.) 1.51% (2005 est.) 18.1 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 4.08 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.4 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.27 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 17.27 deaths/1,000 live births 20.17 deaths/1,000 live births 14.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 74.23 years 71.76 years 76.78 years (2005 est.) 2.63 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.2% (2001 est.) less than 600 (2003 est.) less than 200 (2003 est.) Bahraini(s) Bahraini Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census) Muslim (Shi'a and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census) Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu age 15 and over can read and write 89.1% 91.9% 85% (2003 est.) Kingdom of Bahrain Bahrain Mamlakat al Bahrayn Al Bahrayn Dilmun constitutional hereditary monarchy Manama 12 municipalities (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah all municipalities administered from Manama 15 August 1971 (from UK) National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 is the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 is the date of independence from British protection new constitution 14 February 2002 based on Islamic law and English common law 18 years of age; universal King HAMAD bin Isa al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch, born 21 October 1969) Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman al-Khalifa (since NA 1971) Cabinet appointed by the monarch none; the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch bicameral Parliament consists of Shura Council (40 members appointed by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members directly elected to serve four-year terms) House of Deputies - last held 31 October 2002 (next election to be held in 2006) House of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10 first elections since 7 December 1973; unicameral National Assembly dissolved 26 August 1975; National Action Charter created bicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum 14 February 2001; first legislative session of Parliament held on 25 December 2002 High Civil Appeals Court political parties prohibited but politically oriented societies are allowed Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 1994-97 and have recently engaged in peaceful protests and marches, demanding the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Nasir al-BALUSHI 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 342-1111 [1] (202) 362-2192 consulate(s) general: New York Ambassador William T. MONROE Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama [973] 1724-2700 [973] 1727-0547 (consular) red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states, with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam Petroleum production and refining account for about 60% of Bahrain's export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made from refining imported crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems. In September 2004 Bahrain signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States - the first such agreement undertaken by a Gulf state. Both countries must ratify the FTA before it is enforced. $14.08 billion (2005 est.) $11.58 billion (2005 est.) 5.9% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $20,500 (2005 est.) 0.6% 42.5% 56.9% (2005 est.) 380,000 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2005 est.) agriculture 1%, industry, commerce, and services 79%, government 20% (1997 est.) 15% (1998 est.) NA NA NA 2.7% (2005 est.) 14.7% of GDP (2005 est.) $4.662 billion $3.447 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (2005 est.) 51.5% of GDP (2005 est.) fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism 2% (2000 est.) 7.345 billion kWh (2003) 6.83 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 188,300 bbl/day (2005 est.) 26,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 124 million bbl (2005 est.) 32.7 billion cu m (2002 est.) 32.7 billion cu m (2002 est.) 0 cu m (2002 est.) 0 cu m (2002 est.) 46 billion cu m (2005) $1.569 billion (2005 est.) $11.17 billion (2005 est.) Saudi Arabia 3%, US 2.9%, UAE 2.2% (2004) $7.83 billion (2005 est.) Saudi Arabia 32.4%, Japan 7.3%, Germany 6.1%, US 5.6%, UK 5.4%, France 4.8% (2004) $2.433 billion (2005 est.) $6.831 billion (2005 est.) $150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from each of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait (2002) Bahraini dinar (BHD) Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.38 (2005), 0.376 (2004), 0.376 (2003), 0.376 (2002), 0.376 (2001) calendar year 185,800 (2003) 443,100 (2003) modern system modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones country code - 973; tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 1 (1997) AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998) 4 (1997) .bh 1,334 (2003) 195,700 (2003) 4 (2004 est.) 3 2 1 (2005 est.) 1 (2005 est.) gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2004) 3,498 km 2,768 km 730 km (2003) 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 219,083 GRT/312,638 DWT bulk carrier 3, cargo 2, container 2, petroleum tanker 1 2 (Kuwait 2) (2005) Mina' Salman, Sitrah Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Navy, Air Force, National Guard 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001) 18 202,126 (2005 est.) 18 161,372 (2005 est.) 6,013 (2005 est.) $628.9 million (2004) 6.3% (2004) none Baker Island The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby Howland Island - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle of the west coast. Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia 0 13 N 176 28 W Oceania 1.4 sq km 1.4 sq km 0 sq km about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC 0 km 4.8 km 12 nm 200 nm equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef Pacific Ocean 0 m unnamed location 8 m guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife 0% 0% 100% (2001) 0 sq km (1998 est.) the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard no natural fresh water resources treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife uninhabited American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and remnants of structures from early settlement are located near the middle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service (2005 est.) none Baker Island unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system the laws of the US, where applicable, apply the flag of the US is used no economic activity 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with vegetation and unusable (2004 est.) none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area along the middle of the west coast there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard none Bangladesh Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan. About a third of this extremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic development. Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India 24 00 N 90 00 E Asia 144,000 sq km 133,910 sq km 10,090 sq km slightly smaller than Iowa 4,246 km Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km 580 km 12 nm 18 nm 200 nm up to the outer limits of the continental margin tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October) mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast Indian Ocean 0 m Keokradong 1,230 m natural gas, arable land, timber, coal 62.11% 3.07% 34.82% (2001) 38,440 sq km (1998 est.) droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands none of the selected agreements most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowing from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal 144,319,628 (July 2005 est.) 33.1% (male 24,590,207/female 23,162,420) 63.5% (male 46,764,824/female 44,868,733) 3.4% (male 2,650,683/female 2,282,761) (2005 est.) 21.87 years 21.88 years 21.85 years (2005 est.) 2.09% (2005 est.) 30.01 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -0.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.16 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 62.6 deaths/1,000 live births 63.65 deaths/1,000 live births 61.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 62.08 years 62.13 years 62.02 years (2005 est.) 3.13 children born/woman (2005 est.) less than 0.1% (2001 est.) 13,000 (2001 est.) 650 (2001 est.) high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations leptospirosis rabies (2004) Bangladeshi(s) Bangladeshi Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims (1998) Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998) Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English age 15 and over can read and write 43.1% 53.9% 31.8% (2003 est.) People's Republic of Bangladesh Bangladesh East Pakistan parliamentary democracy Dhaka 6 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet 16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh Independence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972; suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986; amended many times based on English common law 18 years of age; universal President Iajuddin AHMED (since 6 September 2002); note - the president's duties are normally ceremonial, but with the 13th amendment to the constitution ("Caretaker Government Amendment"), the president's role becomes significant at times when Parliament is dissolved and a caretaker government is installed - at presidential direction - to supervise the elections Prime Minister Khaleda ZIA (since 10 October 2001) Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president president elected by National Parliament for a five-year term; election scheduled for 16 September 2002 was not held since Iajuddin AHMED was the only presidential candidate; he was sworn in on 6 September 2002 (next election to be held by NA 2007); following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually appointed prime minister by the president Iajuddin AHMED declared by the Election Commission elected unopposed as president; percent of National Parliament vote - NA unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad; 300 seats elected by popular vote from single territorial constituencies (the constitutional amendment reserving 30 seats for women over and above the 300 regular parliament seats expired in May 2001); members serve five-year terms last held 1 October 2001 (next to be held no later than January 2007) percent of vote by party - BNP and alliance partners 41%, AL 40%; seats by party - BNP 193, AL 58, JI 17, JP (Ershad faction) 14, IOJ 2, JP (Manzur) 4, other 8; note - the election of October 2001 brought a majority BNP government aligned with three other smaller parties - Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Oikya Jote, and Jatiya Party (Manzur) Supreme Court (the chief justices and other judges are appointed by the president) Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]; Bangladesh Communist Party or BCP [Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Khaleda ZIA]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Mufti Fazlul Haq AMINI]; Jamaat-e-Islami or JI [Motiur Rahman NIZAMI]; Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]; Jatiya Party (Manzur faction) [Naziur Rahman MANZUR] NA AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Shamsher Mobin CHOWDHURY 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 244-0183 [1] (202) 244-5366 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York Charge d'Affaires Ms. Judith Chammas Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212 G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000 [880] (2) 885-5500 [880] (2) 882-3744 green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; the red sun of freedom represents the blood shed to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush countryside, and secondarily, the traditional color of Islam Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains a poor, overpopulated, and ill-governed nation. Although half of GDP is generated through the service sector, nearly two-thirds of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as the single-most-important product. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-owned enterprises, inadequate port facilities, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploiting energy resources (natural gas), insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Economic reform is stalled in many instances by political infighting and corruption at all levels of government. Progress also has been blocked by opposition from the bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other vested interest groups. The BNP government, led by Prime Minister Khaleda ZIA, has the parliamentary strength to push through needed reforms, but the party's political will to do so has been lacking in key areas. One encouraging note: growth has been a steady 5% for the past several years. $299.9 billion (2005 est.) $64.85 billion (2005 est.) 5.2% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2005 est.) 20.5% 26.7% 52.8% (2004 est.) 66.6 million extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances estimated at $1.71 billion in 1998-99 (2005 est.) agriculture 63%, industry 11%, services 26% (FY95/96) 2.5% (includes underemployment) (2005 est.) 45% (2004 est.) 3.9% 28.6% (1995-96 est.) 31.8 (2000) 6.7% (2005 est.) 24.6% of GDP (2005 est.) $5.993 billion $8.598 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 46.1% of GDP (2005 est.) rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint, cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar 6.7% (2005 est.) 17.42 billion kWh (2003) 16.2 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 6,825 bbl/day (2003) 84,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 28.45 million bbl (1 January 2002) 9.9 billion cu m (2001 est.) 9.9 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 150.3 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $-591 million (2005 est.) $9.372 billion (2005 est.) US 22.4%, Germany 14.5%, UK 11.2%, France 6.9%, Italy 4% (2004) $12.97 billion (2005 est.) India 15.1%, China 12.5%, Singapore 7.5%, Kuwait 5.5%, Japan 5.3%, Hong Kong 4.5% (2004) $3.45 billion (2005 est.) $21.25 billion (2005 est.) $1.575 billion (2000 est.) taka (BDT) taka per US dollar - 64.26 (2005), 59.513 (2004), 58.15 (2003), 57.888 (2002), 55.807 (2001) 1 July - 30 June 740,000 (2003) 1.365 million (2003) totally inadequate for a modern country modernizing; introducing digital systems; trunk systems include VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and some fiber-optic cable in cities country code - 880; satellite earth stations - 6; international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries (2005) AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2 (1999) 15 (1999) .bd 1 (2003) 243,000 (2003) 16 (2004 est.) 15 1 4 4 1 5 (2005 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) gas 2,012 km (2004) 2,706 km 884 km 1.676-m gauge 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2004) 239,226 km 22,726 km 216,500 km (2003) 8,372 km includes 2,575 km main cargo routes (2004) 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 319,897 GRT/440,575 DWT bulk carrier 2, cargo 28, container 6, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 4 10 (China 1, Singapore 9) 14 (2005) Chittagong, Mongla Port Army, Navy, Air Force 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2005) 18 35,170,019 (2005 est.) 18 26,841,255 (2005 est.) $995.3 million (2004) 1.8% (2004) discussions with India remain stalled to delimit a small section of river boundary, exchange 162 miniscule enclaves in both countries, allocate divided villages, and stop illegal cross-border trade, migration, violence, and transit of terrorists through the porous border; Bangladesh protests India's attempts to fence off high-traffic sections of the porous boundary; a joint Bangladesh-India boundary inspection in 2005 revealed 92 pillars are missing; dispute with India over New Moore/South Talpatty/Purbasha Island in the Bay of Bengal deters maritime boundary delimitation; Burmese Muslim refugees strain Bangladesh's meager resources 61,000 (land conflicts, religious persecution) (2004) transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries Barbados The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Slaves worked the sugar plantations established on the island until 1834 when slavery was abolished. The economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. The gradual introduction of social and political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to complete independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance. Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela 13 10 N 59 32 W Central America and the Caribbean 431 sq km 431 sq km 0 sq km 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC 0 km 97 km 12 nm 200 nm tropical; rainy season (June to October) relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region Atlantic Ocean 0 m Mount Hillaby 336 m petroleum, fish, natural gas 37.21% 2.33% 60.46% (2001) 10 sq km (1998 est.) infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution none of the selected agreements easternmost Caribbean island 279,254 (July 2005 est.) 20.6% (male 28,813/female 28,634) 70.6% (male 96,590/female 100,622) 8.8% (male 9,432/female 15,163) (2005 est.) 34.15 years 32.99 years 35.28 years (2005 est.) 0.33% (2005 est.) 12.83 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 9.17 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.01 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 0.62 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 12.5 deaths/1,000 live births 14.14 deaths/1,000 live births 10.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 72.59 years 70.6 years 74.6 years (2005 est.) 1.65 children born/woman (2005 est.) 1.5% (2003 est.) 2,500 (2003 est.) less than 200 (2003 est.) Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial) Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial) black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed 6% Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12% English age 15 and over has ever attended school 99.7% 99.7% 99.7% (2002 est.) none Barbados parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within the Commonwealth Bridgetown 11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas; note - the city of Bridgetown may be given parish status 30 November 1966 (from UK) Independence Day, 30 November (1966) 30 November 1966 English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts 18 years of age; universal Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS (since 1 June 1996) Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 7 September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 26 May 2003) Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly (30 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) House of Assembly - last held 21 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2008) House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - BLP 23, DLP 7 Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Services) Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Party or DLP [Clyde Mascoll] Barbados Workers Union [Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union [David COMMISSIONG]; People's Progressive Movement [Eric SEALY]; Worker's Party of Barbados [Dr. George BELLE] ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Ambassador Michael Ian KING 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 939-9200 [1] (202) 332-7467 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York consulate(s): Los Angeles Ambassador Mary E. KRAMER Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown; (courier) ALICO Building-Cheapside, Bridgetown P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; CMR 1014, APO AA 34055 [1] (246) 436-4950 [1] (246) 429-5246, 429-3379 three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident) Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but production in recent years has diversified into light industry and tourism. Offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners. The government continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, to encourage direct foreign investment, and to privatize remaining state-owned enterprises. The economy contracted in 2002-03 mainly due to a decline in tourism. Growth was positive in 2005, as economic conditions in the US and Europe moderately improved. $4.831 billion (2005 est.) $3.051 billion (2005 est.) 2.5% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $17,300 (2005 est.) 6% 16% 78% (2000 est.) 128,500 (2001 est.) agriculture 10%, industry 15%, services 75% (1996 est.) 10.7% (2003 est.) NA NA NA -0.5% (2003 est.) $847 million (including grants) $886 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.) sugarcane, vegetables, cotton tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export -3.2% (2000 est.) 819 million kWh (2003) 761.7 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 1,000 bbl/day (2003) 10,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 1.254 million bbl (1 January 2002) 29.17 million cu m (2001 est.) 29.17 million cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 70.79 million cu m (1 January 2002) $209 million (2004 est.) US 20.6%, UK 14.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.9%, Saint Lucia 6.9%, Jamaica 6.6%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5.1% (2004) $1.476 billion (2004 est.) US 35.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 20%, UK 5.6%, Japan 4.3% (2004) $668 million (2003) $9.1 million (1995) Barbadian dollar (BBD) Barbadian dollars per US dollar - NA (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003), 2 (2002), 2 (2001) 1 April - 31 March 134,000 (2003) 140,000 (2003) NA island-wide automatic telephone system country code - 1-246; satellite earth stations - 1 (Intelsat -Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0 (2004) 1 (plus two cable channels) (2004) .bb 204 (2003) 100,000 (2003) 1 (2004 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 1,600 km 1,600 km (2003) 58 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 427,465 GRT/668,195 DWT bulk carrier 14, cargo 31, chemical tanker 6, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1 53 (Bahamas 1, Bangladesh 1, Canada 12, Greece 11, Lebanon 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 17, UAE 1, United Kingdom 7) 1 (2005) Bridgetown Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command and Coast Guard (2005) 18 years of age for voluntary military service; volunteers at earlier age with parental consent; no conscription (2001) 18 71,330 (2005 est.) 18 51,298 (2005 est.) NA NA the Royal Barbados Defense Force includes a land-based Troop Command and a small Coast Guard; the primary role of the land element is to defend the island against external aggression; the Command consists of a single, part-time battalion with a small regular cadre that is deployed throughout the island; it increasingly supports the police in patrolling the coastline to prevent smuggling and other illicit activities (2005) in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory international arbitration that will result in a binding award challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters and the southern limit of Barbadian traditional fishing; joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for Europe and the US; offshore financial center Bassas da India This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was placed under the administration of a commissioner residing in Reunion in 1968. Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique 21 30 S 39 50 E Africa 0.2 sq km 0.2 sq km 0 sq km about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC 0 km 35.2 km 12 nm 200 nm tropical volcanic rock Indian Ocean 0 m unnamed location 2.4 m none 0% 0% 100% (all rock) (2001) 0 sq km (1998 est.) maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones NA the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano uninhabited (July 2005 est.) none Bassas da India possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands the laws of France, where applicable, apply the flag of France is used no economic activity none; offshore anchorage only defense is the responsibility of France claimed by Madagascar Belarus After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the accord, serious implementation has yet to take place. Since his election in July 1995 as the country's first president, Alexander LUKASHENKO has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian means. Government restrictions on freedom of speech and the press, peaceful assembly, and religion continue. Eastern Europe, east of Poland 53 00 N 28 00 E Europe 207,600 sq km 207,600 sq km 0 sq km slightly smaller than Kansas 2,900 km Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 407 km, Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km 0 km (landlocked) none (landlocked) cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime generally flat and contains much marshland Nyoman River 90 m Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m forests, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay 29.55% 0.6% 69.85% (2001) 1,150 sq km (1998 est.) NA soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands Law of the Sea landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of Belarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes; the country is geologically well endowed with extensive deposits of granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, and clay 10,300,483 (July 2005 est.) 16% (male 839,292/female 804,738) 69.5% (male 3,481,432/female 3,672,991) 14.6% (male 498,717/female 1,003,313) (2005 est.) 37.03 years 34.32 years 39.7 years (2005 est.) -0.09% (2005 est.) 10.83 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 14.15 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 2.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.5 male(s)/female 0.88 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 13.37 deaths/1,000 live births 14.3 deaths/1,000 live births 12.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 68.72 years 63.03 years 74.69 years (2005 est.) 1.39 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.3% (2001 est.) 15,000 (2001 est.) 1,000 (2001 est.) Belarusian(s) Belarusian Belarusian 81.2%, Russian 11.4%, Polish 3.9%, Ukrainian 2.4%, other 1.1% (1999 census) Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.) Belarusian, Russian, other age 15 and over can read and write 99.6% 99.8% 99.5% (2003 est.) Republic of Belarus Belarus Respublika Byelarus' none Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship Minsk 6 provinces (voblastsi, singular - voblasts') and 1 municipality* (horad); Brest, Homyel', Horad Minsk*, Hrodna, Mahilyow, Minsk, Vitsyebsk administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers 25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note - 3 July 1944 was the date Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union 15 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24 November 1996 giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and became effective 27 November 1996; revised again 17 October 2004 removing presidential term limits based on civil law system 18 years of age; universal President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994) Prime Minister Sergei SIDORSKY (since 19 December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir SEMASHKO (since December 2003) Council of Ministers president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; first election took place 23 June and 10 July 1994; according to the 1994 constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999, however LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via a November 1996 referendum; new election held 9 September 2001; October 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits allowing president to run for a third term in September 2006; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president Aleksandr LUKASHENKO reelected president; percent of vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 75.6%, Vladimir GONCHARIK 15.4% bicameral National Assembly or Natsionalnoye Sobranie consists of the Council of the Republic or Soviet Respubliki (64 seats; 56 members elected by regional councils and 8 members appointed by the president, all for 4-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Palata Predstaviteley (110 seats; members elected by universal adult suffrage to serve 4-year terms) last held 18 March and 1 April 2001 and 17 and 31 October 2004; international observers widely denounced the October 2004 elections as flawed and undemocratic, based on massive government falsification; pro-Lukashenko candidates won every seat, after many opposition candidates were disqualified for technical reasons Soviet Respubliki - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Palata Predstaviteley - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Constitutional Court (half of the judges appointed by the president and half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives) Agrarian Party or AP [leader NA]; Belarusian Communist Party or KPB [leader NA]; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (Belarusian Patriotic Party) or BPR [Anatoliy BARANKEVICH, chairman]; Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus [Sergei GAYDUKEVICH]; Social-Sports Party [leader NA]; Opposition parties: 10 Plus Coalition [Alyaksandr MILINKEVICH], includes: Belarusian Party of Communists or PKB [Syarhey KALYAKIN]; Belarusian Party of Labor (unregistered) [Aleksandr BUKHVOSTOV, Leonid LEMESHONAK]; Belarusian Popular Front or BPF [Vintsyuk VYACHORKA]; Belarusian Social-Democratic Party Narodnaya Hromada or BSDP NH [Alyaksandr KOZULIN, chairman]; Green Party [Alyaksandr SYKALA]; United Civic Party or UCP [Anatol LYABEDSKA]; Party of Freedom and Progress (unregistered) [Vladimir NOVOSYAD]; Women's Party "Nadezhda" [Valentina MATUSEVICH, chairperson] Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions [Alyaksandr YAROSHUK]; Perspektiva kiosk watchdog NGO [Anatol SHUMCHENKO]; Lenin Communist Union of Youth (youth wing of the Belarusian Party of Communists or PKB); National Strike Committee of Entrepreneurs [Aleksandr VASILYEV, Valery LEVONEVSKY]; Partnership NGO [Nikolay ASTREYKA]; Young Belarus [multiple leaders]; Youth Front (Malady Front) [Dzmitryy DASHKEVICH, Syarhey BAKHUN]; Zubr youth group [Vladimir KOBETS] CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer) Ambassador Mikhail KHVOSTOV 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 986-1604 [1] (202) 986-1805 consulate(s) general: New York Ambassador George A. KROL 46 Starovilenskaya St., Minsk 220002 PSC 78, Box B Minsk, APO 09723 [375] (17) 210-12-83, 217-7347, 217-7348 [375] (17) 234-7853 red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side bears Belarusian national ornamention in red Belarus's economy in 2004-05 posted 6.4% and 7.8% growth. Still, the economy continues to be hampered by high inflation, persistent trade deficits, and ongoing rocky relations with Russia, Belarus' largest trading partner and energy supplier. Belarus has seen little structural reform since 1995, when President LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of "market socialism." In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO reimposed administrative controls over prices and currency exchange rates and expanded the state's right to intervene in the management of private enterprises. In addition, businesses have been subject to pressure on the part of central and local governments, e.g., arbitrary changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, retroactive application of new business regulations, and arrests of "disruptive" businessmen and factory owners. A wide range of redistributive policies has helped those at the bottom of the ladder; the Gini coefficient is among the lowest in the world. For the time being, Belarus remains self-isolated from the West and its open-market economies. Growth has been strong in recent years, despite the roadblocks in a tough, centrally directed economy and the high, but decreasing, rate of inflation. Growth has been buoyed by increased Russian demand for generally noncompetitive Belarusian goods. $77.77 billion (2005 est.) $23.94 billion (2005 est.) 7.8% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $7,600 (2005 est.) 11.1% 38.4% 50.4% (2004 est.) 4.305 million (31 December 2003) agriculture 14%, industry 34.7%, services 51.3% (2003 est.) 2% officially registered unemployed; large number of underemployed workers (2004) 27.1% (2003 est.) 5.1% 20% (1998) 30.4 (2000) 11.5% (2005 est.) 24.2% of GDP (2005 est.) $5.903 billion $6.343 billion, including capital expenditures of $180 million (2005 est.) grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers, motorcycles, televisions, chemical fibers, fertilizer, textiles, radios, refrigerators 4% (2004 est.) 30 billion kWh (2004) 34.3 billion kWh (2004) 800 million kWh (2004) 7 billion kWh (2003) 36,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) 252,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) 14,500 bbl/day (2003 est.) 360,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) 250 million cu m (2004 est.) 18.8 billion cu m (2004 est.) 0 cu m (2004 est.) 18.5 billion cu m (2004 est.) $312.4 million (2005 est.) $16.14 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Russia 47%, UK 8.3%, Netherlands 6.7%, Poland 5.3% (2004) $16.94 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Russia 68.2%, Germany 6.6%, Ukraine 3.3% (2004) $835.4 million (2005 est.) $4.662 billion (30 June 2005 est.) $194.3 million (1995) Belarusian ruble (BYB/BYR) Belarusian rubles per US dollar - 2,140 (2005), 2,160.26 (2004), 2,051.27 (2003), 1,790.92 (2002), 1,390 (2001) calendar year 3,071,300 (2003) 1.118 million (2003) the Ministry of Telecommunications controls all telecommunications through its carrier (a joint stock company) Beltelcom which is a monopoly local - Minsk has a digital metropolitan network and a cellular NMT-450 network; waiting lists for telephones are long; local service outside Minsk is neglected and poor; intercity - Belarus has a partly developed fiber-optic backbone system presently serving at least 13 major cities (1998); Belarus' fiber optics form synchronous digital hierarchy rings through other countries' systems; an inadequate analog system remains operational country code - 375; Belarus is a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line, and has access to the Trans-Siberia Line (TSL); three fiber-optic segments provide connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine; worldwide service is available to Belarus through this infrastructure; additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations AM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11 (1998) 47 (plus 27 repeaters) (1995) .by 5,308 (2004) 1,391,900 (2003) 133 (2004 est.) 44 2 22 4 1 15 (2005 est.) 57 2 1 5 7 42 (2005 est.) 1 (2005 est.) gas 5,223 km; oil 2,443 km; refined products 1,686 km (2004) 5,512 km 5,497 km 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified) 15 km 1.435-m (2004) 93,055 km 93,055 km (2003) 2,500 km (use limited by location on perimeter of country and by shallowness) (2003) Mazyr Army, Air and Air Defense Force 18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2005) 18 2,520,644 (2005 est.) 18 1,657,984 (2005 est.) 85,202 (2005 est.) $176.1 million (FY02) 1.4% (FY02) 1997 boundary treaty with Ukraine remains unratified over unresolved financial claims, preventing demarcation and diminishing border security; boundary with Latvia remains undemarcated but a third of the border with Lithuania was demarcated in 2004 limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to and via Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe; a small and lightly regulated financial center; new anti-money-laundering legislation does not meet international standards; few investigations or prosecutions of money-laundering activities Belgium Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands 50 50 N 4 00 E Europe 30,528 sq km 30,278 sq km 250 sq km about the size of Maryland 1,385 km France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km 66.5 km 12 nm geographic coordinates define outer limit median line with neighbors temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast North Sea 0 m Signal de Botrange 694 m construction materials, silica sand, carbonates 23.28% 0.4% 76.32% includes Luxembourg (2001) 40 sq km (includes Luxembourg) (1998 est.) flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO 10,364,388 (July 2005 est.) 16.9% (male 892,995/female 855,177) 65.7% (male 3,435,282/female 3,373,917) 17.4% (male 745,178/female 1,061,839) (2005 est.) 40.55 years 39.29 years 41.81 years (2005 est.) 0.15% (2005 est.) 10.48 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 10.22 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.04 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.7 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 4.68 deaths/1,000 live births 5.27 deaths/1,000 live births 4.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 78.62 years 75.44 years 81.94 years (2005 est.) 1.64 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.2% (2003 est.) 10,000 (2003 est.) less than 100 (2003 est.) Belgian(s) Belgian Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11% Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25% Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French) age 15 and over can read and write 98% NA% NA% Kingdom of Belgium Belgium Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie Belgique/Belgie federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch Brussels 10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch: provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions; Dutch: gewesten); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Brussels* (Bruxelles), Flanders*, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant, Wallonia*, West-Vlaanderen as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities 4 October 1830 (a provisional government declares independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King Leopold I ascends to the throne) 21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I 7 February 1831; amended many times; revised 14 July 1993 to create a federal state civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations 18 years of age; universal and compulsory King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch Prime Minister Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July 1999) Council of Ministers formally appointed by the monarch none; the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and then approved by parliament government coalition - VLD, MR, PS, SP.A-Spirit bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected by popular vote, 31 are indirectly elected; members serve four-year terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 18 May 2003 (next to be held no later than May 2007) Senate - percent of vote by party - SP.A-Spirit 15.5%, VLD 15.4%, CD & V 12.7%, PS 12.8%, MR 12.1%, VB 9.4%, CDH 5.6%; seats by party - SP.A-Spirit 7, VLD 7, CD & V 6, PS 6, MR 5, VB 5, CDH 2, other 2 (note - there are also 31 indirectly elected senators); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD 15.4%, SP.A-Spirit 14.9%, CD & V 13.3%, PS 13.0%, VB 11.6%, MR 11.4%, CDH 5.5%, Ecolo 3.1%; seats by party - VLD 25, SP.A-Spirit 23, CD & V 21, PS 25, VB 18, MR 24, CDH 8 Ecolo 4, other 2 as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six governments each with its own legislative assembly Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the Government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice Council) Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [Jo VANDEURZEN]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Bart SOMERS]; GROEN! (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens) [Vera DUA]; New Flemish Alliance or NVA [Bart DE WEVER]; Socialist Party.Alternative or SP.A [Caroline GENNEZ]; Spirit [Geert LAMBERT] (new party now associated with SP.A); Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Frank VANHECKE] Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX, Evelyne HUYTEBROECK, Claude BROUIR]; Humanist and Democratic Center of CDH [Joelle MILQUET]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; Reformist Movement or MR [Didier REYNDERS]; Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]; other minor parties Christian, Socialist, and Liberal Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as Pax Christi and groups representing immigrants ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Ambassador Franciskus VAN DAELE 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 333-6900 [1] (202) 333-3079 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York Ambassador Tom C. KOROLOGOS Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710 [32] (2) 508-2111 [32] (2) 511-2725 three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France This modern private enterprise economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. With few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Roughly three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt is nearly 100% of GDP. On the positive side, the government has succeeded in balancing its budget, and income distribution is relatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply because of the global economic slowdown, with moderate recovery in 2004-05. $329.3 billion (2005 est.) $361.4 billion (2005 est.) 1.5% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $31,800 (2005 est.) 1.3% 24.7% 74% (2004 est.) 4.77 million (2005 est.) agriculture 1.3%, industry 24.5%, services 74.2% (2003 est.) 7.6% (2005 est.) 4% (1989 est.) 3.2% 23% (1996) 25 (1996) 2.7% (2005 est.) 18.4% of GDP (2005 est.) $180.4 billion $180.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.56 billion (2005 est.) 93.6% of GDP (2005 est.) sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum 1.1% (2005 est.) 78.77 billion kWh (2003) 79.66 billion kWh (2003) 8.3 billion kWh (2003) 14.7 billion kWh (2003) 13,060 bbl/day (2003) 624,200 bbl/day (2003 est.) 450,000 bbl/day (2001) 1.042 million bbl/day (2001) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 15.5 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 15.4 billion cu m (2001 est.) $6.983 billion (2005 est.) $269.6 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Germany 19.9%, France 17.2%, Netherlands 11.8%, UK 8.6%, US 6.5%, Italy 5.2% (2004) $264.5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Germany 18.4%, Netherlands 17%, France 12.5%, UK 6.8%, Ireland 6.3%, US 5.5% (2004) $13.99 billion (2004 est.) $980.1 billion (30 June 2005 est.) ODA, $1.072 billion (2002) euro (EUR) on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries euros per US dollar - 0.79697 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001) calendar year 5,120,400 (2002) 8,135,500 (2002) highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network country code - 32; submarine cables - 5; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2005) FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998) 25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997) .be 166,799 (2004) 3.4 million (2002) 43 (2004 est.) 25 6 7 3 2 7 (2005 est.) 18 2 16 (2005 est.) 1 (2005 est.) gas 1,485 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2004) 3,521 km 3,521 km 1.435-m gauge (2,927 km electrified) (2004) 149,757 km 117,110 km (including 1,747 km of expressways) 32,647 km (2003) 2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2003) 53 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,146,301 GRT/1,588,184 DWT bulk carrier 15, cargo 2, chemical tanker 2, container 8, liquefied gas 17, petroleum tanker 9 12 (Denmark 4, France 4, Greece 4) 101 (2005) Antwerp, Brussels, Gent, Liege, Oostende, Zeebrugge Land, Naval, and Air Components (2005) 16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise some 7% of the Belgian armed forces (2001) 16 2,436,736 (2005 est.) 16 1,998,003 (2005 est.) 64,263 (2005 est.) $3.999 billion (2003) 1.3% (2003) none growing producer of synthetic drugs; transit point for US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe; despite a strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco Belize Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increasing urban crime. Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico 17 15 N 88 45 W Central America and the Caribbean 22,966 sq km 22,806 sq km 160 sq km slightly smaller than Massachusetts 516 km Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km 386 km 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 nm; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala 200 nm tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May) flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south Caribbean Sea 0 m Victoria Peak 1,160 m arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower 2.85% 1.71% 95.44% (2001) 30 sq km (1998 est.) frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south) deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands none of the selected agreements only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean 279,457 (July 2005 est.) 40.1% (male 57,114/female 54,877) 56.4% (male 79,694/female 77,881) 3.5% (male 4,768/female 5,123) (2005 est.) 19.35 years 19.21 years 19.49 years (2005 est.) 2.33% (2005 est.) 29.34 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 6.04 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 25.69 deaths/1,000 live births 28.97 deaths/1,000 live births 22.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 68.44 years 66.54 years 70.44 years (2005 est.) 3.68 children born/woman (2005 est.) 2.4% (2003 est.) 3,600 (2003 est.) less than 200 (2003 est.) Belizean(s) Belizean mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7% Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (2000) English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole age 15 and over can read and write 94.1% 94.1% 94.1% (2003 est.) none Belize British Honduras parliamentary democracy Belmopan 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo 21 September 1981 (from UK) Independence Day, 21 September (1981) 21 September 1981 English law 18 years of age; universal Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November 1993) Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998) Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 members appointed by the governor general - six on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; members are appointed for five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (next to be held March 2008) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PUP 21, UDP 8 Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister) People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman] Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele CATZIM] ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 332-9636 [1] (202) 332-6888 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles Ambassador Robert J. DIETER 29 Gabourel Lane, Belize City P. O. Box 286, Belize City [501] 227-7161 through 7163 [501] 2-30802 blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland In this small, essentially private enterprise economy the tourism industry is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by marine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments. The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to sturdy GDP growth averaging nearly 5% in 1999-2005. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international donors. $1.778 billion (2004 est.) $908 million (2005 est.) 3.8% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $6,800 (2005 est.) 22.5% 23% 54.5% (2004 est.) 90,000 shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (2001 est.) agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.) 12.9% (2003) 33% (1999 est.) NA NA 3% (2005 est.) 35.4% of GDP (2005 est.) $262 million $329 million, including capital expenditures of $70 million (2005 est.) bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments garment production, food processing, tourism, construction 4.6% (1999) 120 million kWh (2003) 111.6 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 6,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $-200.1 million (2005 est.) $349.9 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 37.2%, UK 26.8%, Jamaica 4.6% (2004) $622.4 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 30.1%, Mexico 12%, Guatemala 7.4%, Cuba 7.2%, China 4.2%, Japan 4.1% (2004) $90.45 million (2005 est.) $1.362 billion (June 2004 est.) NA Belizean dollar (BZD) Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003), 2 (2002), 2 (2001) 1 April - 31 March 33,300 (2003) 60,400 (2003) above-average system trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay country code - 501; satellite earth station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2005) AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998) 2 (1997) .bz 2,613 (2003) 30,000 (2002) 43 (2004 est.) 5 1 2 2 (2005 est.) 38 1 11 26 (2005 est.) 2,872 km 488 km 2,384 km (1999) 825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2004) 295 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,015,270 GRT/1,336,890 DWT bulk carrier 25, cargo 207, chemical tanker 9, container 6, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 17, roll on/roll off 5 142 (Australia 2, Belgium 1, China 50, Cuba 1, Cyprus 1, Estonia 9, Germany 4, Hong Kong 6, Indonesia 3, Italy 2, Japan 5, Latvia 4, Malaysia 1, Nigeria 1, Pakistan 1, Poland 2, Russia 23, Singapore 5, South Korea 6, Spain 3, Switzerland 1, Turkey 2, Ukraine 4, UAE 3, United States 2) (2005) Belize City Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard 18 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient; conscription has never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber available positions by 3:1 (2001) 18 60,750 (2005 est.) 18 41,368 (2005 est.) 3,209 (2005 est.) $18 million (2003) 2% (2003) Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in the largely uninhabited rain forests of Belize's border region; OAS is attempting to revive the 2002 failed Differendum that created a small adjustment to land boundary, a Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, joint ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and substantial US-UK financial package major transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and offshore sector Benin Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the Republic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were alleged. Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo 9 30 N 2 15 E Africa 112,620 sq km 110,620 sq km 2,000 sq km slightly smaller than Pennsylvania 1,989 km Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km 121 km 200 nm tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains Atlantic Ocean 0 m Mont Sokbaro 658 m small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber 18.08% 2.4% 79.52% (2001) 120 sq km (1998 est.) hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands none of the selected agreements sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands 7,460,025 estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.) 46.5% (male 1,752,243/female 1,719,458) 51.2% (male 1,868,630/female 1,948,610) 2.3% (male 70,367/female 100,717) (2005 est.) 16.56 years 16.12 years 17.01 years (2005 est.) 2.82% (2005 est.) 41.99 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 13.76 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 0.7 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 85 deaths/1,000 live births 90 deaths/1,000 live births 79.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 52.66 years 51.53 years 53.82 years (2005 est.) 5.86 children born/woman (2005 est.) 1.9% (2003 est.) 68,000 (2003 est.) 5,800 (2003 est.) very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria, yellow fever, and others are high risks in some locations meningococcal meningitis (2004) Beninese (singular and plural) Beninese African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500 indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20% French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) age 15 and over can read and write 33.6% 46.4% 22.6% (2002 est.) Republic of Benin Benin Republique du Benin Benin Dahomey republic under multiparty democratic rule; dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989 Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government 12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou 1 August 1960 (from France) National Day, 1 August (1960) December 1990 based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government Council of Ministers appointed by the president president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term; runoff election held 22 March 2001 (next to be held March 2006) Mathieu KEREKOU reelected president; percent of vote - Mathieu KEREKOU 84.1%, Bruno AMOUSSOU 15.9% the four top-ranking contenders following the first-round presidential elections were: Mathieu KEREKOU (incumbent) 45.4%, Nicephore SOGLO (former president) 27.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI (National Assembly Speaker) 12.6%, and Bruno AMOUSSOU (Minister of State) 8.6%; the second-round balloting, originally scheduled for 18 March 2001, was postponed four days because both SOGLO and HOUNGBEDJI withdrew alleging electoral fraud; this left KEREKOU to run against his own Minister of State, AMOUSSOU, in what was termed a "friendly match" unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held 30 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Presidential Movement 52, opposition (PRB, PRD, E'toile, and 5 other small parties) 31 Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice African Congress for Renewal or DUNYA [Saka SALEY]; African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Coalition of Democratic Forces [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Front for Renewal and Development or FARD-ALAFIA [Jerome Sakia KINA]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD [Bertin BORNA]; Key Force or FC [leader NA]; Presidential Movement (UBF, MADEP, FC, IDP, and four small parties); Renaissance Party du Benin or PRB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]; Union of Tomorrow's Benin or UBF [Bruno AMOUSSOU] approximately 20 additional minor parties NA ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 232-6656 [1] (202) 265-1996 Ambassador Wayne NEILL Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou [229] 30-06-50 [229] 30-06-70 two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged around 5% in the past six years, but rapid population growth has offset much of this increase. Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order to raise growth still further, Benin plans to attract more foreign investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the development of new food processing systems and agricultural products, and encourage new information and communication technology. Many of these proposals are included in Benin's application to receive Millennium Challenge Account funding - for which it was a finalist in 2004-05. The 2001 privatization policy continues in telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture in spite of government reluctance. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation, with Benin benefiting from a G8 debt reduction announced in July 2005, while pressing for more rapid structural reforms. Benin continues to be hurt by Nigerian trade protection that bans imports of a growing list of products from Benin and elsewhere, which has resulted in increased smuggling and criminality in the border region. $8.676 billion (2005 est.) $4.433 billion (2005 est.) 4.2% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2005 est.) 33.9% 13.6% 52.5% (2004 est.) NA (1996) NA 33% (2001 est.) NA NA 3.2% (2005 est.) 20.1% of GDP (2005 est.) $766.8 million $1.017 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001) textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement (2001) 8.3% (2001 est.) 69 million kWh (2003) 538.2 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 474 million kWh (2003) 400 bbl/day (2003) 12,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 4.105 million bbl (1 January 2002) 608.8 million cu m (1 January 2002) $-155.1 million (2005 est.) $826.9 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) China 29.5%, India 18.8%, Ghana 6.4%, Niger 6%, Indonesia 4.3%, Nigeria 4.3% (2004) $1.043 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) China 32.2%, France 13%, Thailand 6.7%, Cote d''Ivoire 5.3% (2004) $523.7 million (2005 est.) $1.6 billion (2000) $342.6 million (2000) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 480.56 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001) calendar year 66,500 (2003) 236,200 (2003) NA fair system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections country code - 229; satellite earth station - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia (2005) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000) 1 (2001) .bj 879 (2004) 70,000 (2003) 5 (2004 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 4 1 1 2 (2005 est.) 578 km 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2004) 6,787 km 1,357 km 5,430 km (1999) 150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2004) Cotonou Army, Navy, Air Force 21 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; in practice, volunteers may be taken at the age of 18; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2004) 21 1,207,071 21 1,216,180 (2005 est.) 21 670,170 21 630,078 (2005 est.) 72,841 71,428 (2005 est.) $96.5 million (2004) 2.4% (2004) two villages remain in dispute along the border with Burkina Faso; accuses Burkina Faso of moving boundary pillars; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated, and the states expect a ruling in 2005 from the ICJ over the disputed Niger and Mekrou River islands; a joint task force was established in 2004 that resolved disputes over and redrew the maritime and the 870-km land boundary with Nigeria, including the sovereignty over seven villages along the Okpara River; a joint boundary commission continues to resurvey the boundary with Togo to verify Benin's claim that Togo moved boundary stones transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the US; vulnerable to money laundering due to a poorly regulated financial infrastructure Bermuda Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North American winters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism continues to be important to the island's economy, although international business has overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995. North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South Carolina (US) 32 20 N 64 45 W North America 53.3 sq km 53.3 sq km 0 sq km about one-third the size of Washington, DC 0 km 103 km 12 nm 200 nm subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter low hills separated by fertile depressions Atlantic Ocean 0 m Town Hill 76 m limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism 20% 0% 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2001) NA hurricanes (June to November) asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space; sustainable development consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995 65,365 (July 2005 est.) 18.9% (male 6,177/female 6,154) 69.2% (male 22,422/female 22,828) 11.9% (male 3,378/female 4,406) (2005 est.) 39.76 years 38.78 years 40.58 years (2005 est.) 0.64% (2005 est.) 11.6 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.02 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.77 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 8.53 deaths/1,000 live births 10.14 deaths/1,000 live births 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 77.79 years 75.7 years 79.91 years (2005 est.) 1.89 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA NA NA Bermudian(s) Bermudian black 54.8%, white 34.1%, mixed 6.4%, other races 4.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2000 census) Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal 11%, other Protestant 18%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%, unspecified 1%, none 14% (2000 census) English (official), Portuguese age 15 and over can read and write 98% 98% 99% (1970 est.) none Bermuda Somers Islands overseas territory of the UK parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-government Hamilton 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick none (overseas territory of the UK) Bermuda Day, 24 May 8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003 English law 18 years of age; universal Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Sir John VEREKER (since 11 April 2002) Premier William Alexander SCOTT (since 24 July 2003); Deputy Premier Ewart BROWN Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed premier by the governor bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition) and the House of Assembly (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve up to five-year terms) last general election held 24 July 2003 (next to be held July 2008) percent of vote by party - PLP 51.7%, UBP 48%; seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14 Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts Progressive Labor Party or PLP [William Alexander SCOTT]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Grant GIBBONS] Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Union or BPSU [Ed BALL]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES] Caricom (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCO none (overseas territory of the UK) Deputy Chief of Mission Antoinette BOECKER consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3 P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520-5300 [1] (441) 295-1342 [1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233 red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and green shield with a red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, nearly equal to that of the US. Its economy is primarily based on providing financial services for international business and luxury facilities for tourists. The effects of 11 September 2001 have had both positive and negative ramifications for Bermuda. On the positive side, a number of new reinsurance companies have located on the island, contributing to the expansion of an already robust international business sector. On the negative side, Bermuda's tourism industry - which derives over 80% of its visitors from the US - was severely hit as American tourists chose not to travel. Tourism rebounded in 2002-05. Most capital equipment and food must be imported. Bermuda's industrial sector is small, although construction continues to be important; the average cost of a house in June 2003 had risen to $976,000. Agriculture is limited, only 20% of the land being arable. $2.33 billion (2003 est.) NA 2% (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $36,000 (2003 est.) 1% 10% 89% (2002 est.) 37,470 (2000) agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 17%, clerical 22%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 13%, sales 8%, services 20% (2000 est.) 5% (2002 est.) 19% (2000) NA NA 3.3% (mid-2003 est.) $671.1 million $594.6 million, including capital expenditures of $55 million (FY03/04) bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products tourism, international business, light manufacturing NA% 624 million kWh (2003) 580.3 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 4,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $1.469 billion (2004 est.) France 73.2%, UK 6.2%, Spain 2.4% (2004) $8.078 billion (2004 est.) Kazakhstan 39.2%, France 16.2%, Japan 13.1%, Italy 9.2%, South Korea 8.8%, US 6.4% (2004) $160 million (FY99/00) NA Bermudian dollar (BMD) Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar) 1 April - 31 March 56,000 (2002) 37,873 (2003) good fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optic trunk lines country code - 1-441; submarine cables - 3 (fiber optic); satellite earth stations - 3 (2005) AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2004) 4 (2004) .bm 5,161 (2001) 34,500 (2003) 1 (2004 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 447 km 447 km public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km (2002) 108 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,845,326 GRT/6,501,782 DWT bulk carrier 22, cargo 6, container 22, liquefied gas 13, passenger 13, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 7 103 (Australia 2, Canada 20, Finland 2, Germany 1, Greece 1, Hong Kong 5, Indonesia 1, Nigeria 8, Norway 5, Sweden 9, Switzerland 2, United Kingdom 27, United States 20) 1 (2005) Hamilton, Saint George Bermuda Regiment $4.03 million (2001) 0.11% (FY00/01) defense is the responsibility of the UK none Bhutan In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding some border land. Under British influence, a monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. A refugee issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of the refugees are housed in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps. In March 2005, King WANGCHUCK unveiled the government's draft constitution - which would introduce major democratic reforms - and pledged to hold a national referendum for its approval. A referendum date has yet to be named. Southern Asia, between China and India 27 30 N 90 30 E Asia 47,000 sq km 47,000 sq km 0 sq km about half the size of Indiana 1,075 km China 470 km, India 605 km 0 km (landlocked) none (landlocked) varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna Drangme Chhu 97 m Kula Kangri 7,553 m timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate 3.09% 0.43% 96.48% (2001) 400 sq km (1998 est.) violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season soil erosion; limited access to potable water Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes Law of the Sea landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes 2,232,291 other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2005 est.) 39.1% (male 452,213/female 420,675) 56.9% (male 654,109/female 615,431) 4% (male 45,281/female 44,582) (2005 est.) 20.27 years 20.11 years 20.44 years (2005 est.) 2.11% (2005 est.) 34.03 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 12.94 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.07 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 100.44 deaths/1,000 live births 98.19 deaths/1,000 live births 102.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 54.39 years 54.65 years 54.11 years (2005 est.) 4.81 children born/woman (2005 est.) less than 0.1% (2001 est.) less than 100 (1999 est.) NA Bhutanese (singular and plural) Bhutanese Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15% Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25% Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects age 15 and over can read and write 42.2% 56.2% 28.1% (1995 est.) Kingdom of Bhutan Bhutan monarchy; special treaty relationship with India Thimphu 18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Dagana, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang there may be two new districts named Gasa and Yangtse 8 August 1949 (from India) National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907) no written constitution or bill of rights; note - in 2001 the King commissioned the drafting of a constitution, and in March 2005 publicly unveiled it; now awaiting referendum based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction each family has one vote in village-level elections; note - in late 2003 Bhutan's legislature passed a new election law King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972) Chairman of the Council of Ministers Sangay NGEDUP (since 5 September 2005) Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the monarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed, five-year terms; note - there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms in July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds vote unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 elected from village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35 are designated by the monarch to represent government and other secular interests; members serve three-year terms) local elections last held November 2002 (next to be held NA 2005) NA Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed by the monarch) no legal parties Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United Front for Democracy (exiled) AsDB, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer) none; note - Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 826-1919; FAX [1] (212) 826-2998; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US consulate(s) general: New York the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India) divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than 90% of the population. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and dependence on India's financial assistance. The industrial sector is technologically backward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are key resources. Model education, social, and environment programs are underway with support from multilateral development organizations. Each economic program takes into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. For example, the government, in its cautious expansion of the tourist sector, encourages visits by upscale, environmentally conscientious tourists. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment. $2.9 billion (2003 est.) NA 5.3% (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2003 est.) 45% 10% 45% (2002 est.) NA massive lack of skilled labor agriculture 93%, industry and commerce 2%, services 5% NA NA NA NA 3% (2002 est.) $146 million $152 million, including capital expenditures of NA the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures (FY95/96 est.) rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide 9.3% (1996 est.) 1.882 billion kWh (2003) 250.3 million kWh (2003) 1.51 billion kWh (2003) 10 million kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 1,100 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $154 million f.o.b. (2000 est.) India 85.6%, Bangladesh 6.7%, Japan 4.3% (2004) $196 million c.i.f. (2000 est.) Germany 41.8%, India 35.5%, Japan 9.2%, Austria 4.3% (2004) $245 million (2000) substantial aid from India and other nations ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR) ngultrum per US dollar - NA (2005), 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003), 48.61 (2002), 47.186 (2001) 1 July - 30 June 25,200 (2003) 22,000 (2005) telecommunications facilities are poor very low tele-density; domestic service is very poor especially in rural areas; wireless service available since 2003 country code - 975; international telephone and telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India; satellite earth station - 1 (2005) AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (2004) 1 (2005) .bt 985 (2003) 15,000 (2003) 2 (2004 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 8,050 km 4,991 km 3,059 km (2003) Royal Bhutan Army (includes Royal Bodyguard and Royal Bhutan Police) (2005) 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001) 18 483,860 (2005 est.) 18 314,975 (2005 est.) 23,939 (2005 est.) $13.7 million (2004) 1.8% (2004) approximately 104,000 Bhutanese refugees live in Nepal, 90% of whom reside in seven UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees camps; Bhutan cooperates with India to expel Indian separatists Bolivia Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history has consisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and counter-coups. Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, but leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and illegal drug production. In December 2005, Bolivians elected Movement Toward Socialism leader Evo MORALES president - by the widest margin of any leader since the restoration of civilian rule in 1982 - after he ran on a promise to change the country's traditional political class and empower the nation's poor majority. Central South America, southwest of Brazil 17 00 S 65 00 W South America 1,098,580 sq km 1,084,390 sq km 14,190 sq km slightly less than three times the size of Montana 6,743 km Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km 0 km (landlocked) none (landlocked) varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin Rio Paraguay 90 m Nevado Sajama 6,542 m tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower 2.67% 0.19% 97.14% (2001) 1,280 sq km (1998 est.) flooding in the northeast (March-April) the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international demand for tropical timber are contributing to deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru 8,857,870 (July 2005 est.) 35.7% (male 1,613,049/female 1,551,023) 59.8% (male 2,591,328/female 2,701,892) 4.5% (male 178,486/female 222,092) (2005 est.) 21.47 years 20.79 years 22.17 years (2005 est.) 1.49% (2005 est.) 23.76 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 7.64 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 0.8 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 53.11 deaths/1,000 live births 56.7 deaths/1,000 live births 49.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 65.5 years 62.89 years 68.25 years (2005 est.) 2.94 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.1% (2003 est.) 4,900 (2003 est.) less than 500 (2003 est.) Bolivian(s) Bolivian Quechua 30%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%, Aymara 25%, white 15% Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) 5% Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official) age 15 and over can read and write 87.2% 93.1% 81.6% (2003 est.) Republic of Bolivia Bolivia Republica de Bolivia Bolivia republic La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of judiciary) 9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija 6 August 1825 (from Spain) Independence Day, 6 August (1825) 2 February 1967; revised in August 1994 based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21 years of age, universal and compulsory (single) President Eduardo RODRIGUEZ Veltze (since 9 June 2005); Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government President Eduardo RODRIGUEZ Veltze (since 9 June 2005); Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government Cabinet appointed by the president president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 18 December 2005 (next to be held NA 2010) Juan Evo MORALES Ayma elected president; percent of vote - Juan Evo MORALES Ayma 53.7%; Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez 28.6%; Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana 7.8%; Michiaki NAGATANI Morishit 6.5%; Felipe QUISPE Huanca 2.2% Guildo ANGULA Cabrera 0.7%; Eliseo RODRIGUEZ 0.3%; Nestor GARCIA Rojas 0.3%; note - Juan Evo MORALES Ayma will assume the presidency on 22 January 2006 bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (27 seats; members are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130 seats; 69 are directly elected from their districts and 61 are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms) Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held 18 December 2005 (next to be held NA 2010) Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PODEMOS 13, MAS 12, UN 1, MNR 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MAS 73, PODEMOS 43, UN 8, MNR 6 Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges appointed for 10-year terms by National Congress); District Courts (one in each department); provincial and local courts (to try minor cases) Bolivian Socialist Falange or FSB [Romel PANTOJA]; Civic Solidarity Union or UCS [Johnny FERNANDEZ]; Free Bolivia Movement or MBL [Franz BARRIOS]; Marshal of Ayacucho Institutional Vanguard or VIMA [Freddy ZABALA]; Movement of the Revolutionary Left or MIR [Jaime PAZ Zamora]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Juan Evo MORALES Ayma]; Movement Without Fear or MSM [Juan DEL GRANADO]; Poder Democratico Nacional or PODEMOS [Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez]; New Republican Force or NFR [Manfred REYES-VILLA]; Pachakuti Indigenous Movement or MIP [Felipe QUISPE Huanca]; Poder Democratico Nacional or PODEMOS [Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez]; Socialist Party or PS [Jeres JUSTINIANO] Cocalero groups; indigenous organizations; labor unions; Sole Confederation of Campesino Workers of Bolivia or CSUTCB [Roman LOAYZA] CAN, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Jaime APARICIO Otero 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 483-4410 [1] (202) 328-3712 consulate(s) general: Miami, New York, and San Francisco Ambassador David N. GREENLEE Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Paz P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032 [591] (2) 216-8000 [591] (2) 216-8111 three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band; similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band Bolivia, long one of the poorest and least developed Latin American countries, reformed its economy after suffering a disastrous economic crisis in the early 1980s. The reforms spurred real GDP growth, which averaged 4 percent in the 1990s, and poverty rates fell. Economic growth, however, lagged again beginning in 1999 because of a global slowdown and homegrown factors such as political turmoil, civil unrest, and soaring fiscal deficits, all of which hurt investor confidence. In 2003, violent protests against the pro-foreign investment economic policies of President SANCHEZ DE LOZADA led to his resignation and the cancellation of plans to export Bolivia's newly discovered natural gas reserves to large northern hemisphere markets. Foreign investment dried up as companies adopted a wait-and-see attitude regarding new President Carlos MESA's willingness to protect investor rights in the face of increased demands by radical groups that the government expropriate foreign-owned assets. Real GDP growth in 2003-05 - helped by increased demand for natural gas in neighboring Brazil - was positive, but still below the levels seen during the 1990s. Bolivia remains dependent on foreign aid from multilateral lenders and foreign governments. $23.59 billion (2005 est.) $10.06 billion (2005 est.) 3% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2005 est.) 12.6% 35% 52.4% (2005 est.) 4.22 million (2005 est.) agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% 8% in urban areas widespread underemployment (2005 est.) 64% (2004 est.) 1.3% 32% (1999) 44.7 (1999) 5.4% (2005 est.) 12.5% of GDP (2005 est.) $2.931 billion $3.453 billion, including capital expenditures of $741 million (2005 est.) soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes; timber mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, clothing 5.7% (2004 est.) 4.25 billion kWh (2003) 3.963 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 10 million kWh (2003) 42,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) 48,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 458.8 million bbl (1 January 2002) 8.44 billion cu m (2004 est.) 1.15 billion cu m (2001 est.) 2.9 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 727.2 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $376 million (2005 est.) $2.371 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Brazil 40%, US 13.9%, Colombia 8.7%, Peru 6.3%, Japan 4.5% (2004) $1.845 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Brazil 29.7%, Argentina 17.6%, US 10.8%, Chile 7.7%, Peru 7.3% (2004) $1.342 billion (2005 est.) $6.43 billion (2005 est.) $681 million (2002) boliviano (BOB) bolivianos per US dollar - 8.11 (2005), 7.9363 (2004), 7.6592 (2003), 7.17 (2002), 6.6069 (2001) calendar year 600,100 (2003) 1,401,500 (2003) new subscribers face bureaucratic difficulties; most telephones are concentrated in La Paz and other cities; mobile cellular telephone use expanding rapidly primary trunk system, which is being expanded, employs digital microwave radio relay; some areas are served by fiber-optic cable; mobile cellular systems are being expanded country code - 591; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) AM 171, FM 73, shortwave 77 (1999) 48 (1997) .bo 7,080 (2003) 270,000 (2002) 1,065 (2004 est.) 16 4 4 5 3 (2005 est.) 1,051 1 3 60 207 780 (2005 est.) gas 4,860 km; liquid petroleum gas 47 km; oil 2,457 km; refined products 1,589 km; unknown (oil/water) 247 km (2004) 3,519 km 3,519 km 1.000-m gauge (2004) 60,762 km 4,314 km (including 11 km of expressways) 56,448 km (2003) 10,000 km (commercially navigable) (2004) 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 413,407 GRT/699,901 DWT bulk carrier 2, cargo 16, chemical tanker 1, container 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 1 11 (Argentina 1, Egypt 2, Eritrea 1, Germany 1, Iran 1, Singapore 2, United Kingdom 1, United States 2) (2005) Puerto Aguirre (on the Paraguay/Parana waterway, at the Bolivia/Brazil border); also, Bolivia has free port privileges in maritime ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Navy (Fuerza Naval; includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana) (2004) 18 years of age for voluntary military service; when annual number of volunteers falls short of goal, compulsory recruitment is effected, including conscription of boys as young as 14; one estimate holds that 40% of the armed forces are under the age of 18, with 50% of those under the age of 16; conscript tour of duty - 12 months (2002) 18 1,923,234 (2005 est.) 18 1,311,414 (2005 est.) 101,101 (2005 est.) $132.2 million (2004) 1.6% (2004) Chile rebuffs Bolivia's reactivated claim to restore the Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, offering instead unrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile for Bolivian natural gas and other commodities world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Colombia and Peru) with an estimated 28,450 hectares under cultivation in June 2003, a 23% increase from June 2002; intermediate coca products and cocaine exported mostly to or through Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to European and US drug markets; eradication and alternative crop programs under the MESA administration have been unable to keep pace with farmers' attempts to increase cultivation; money-laundering activity related to narcotics trade, especially along the borders with Brazil and Paraguay Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina's declaration of sovereignty in October 1991, was followed by a declaration of independence from the former Yugoslavia on 3 March 1992 after a referendum boycotted by ethnic Serbs. The Bosnian Serbs - supported by neighboring Serbia and Montenegro - responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held areas to form a "Greater Serbia." In March 1994, Bosniaks and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreement creating a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialed a peace agreement that brought to a halt three years of interethnic civil strife (the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995). The Dayton Peace Accords retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries and created a joint multi-ethnic and democratic government charged with conducting foreign, diplomatic, and fiscal policy. Also recognized was a second tier of government comprised of two entities roughly equal in size: the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). The Federation and RS governments were charged with overseeing most government functions. The Office of the High Representative (OHR) was established to oversee the implementation of the civilian aspects of the agreement. In 1995-96, a NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops served in Bosnia to implement and monitor the military aspects of the agreement. IFOR was succeeded by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) whose mission was to deter renewed hostilities. European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR in December 2004; their mission is to maintain peace and stability throughout the country. Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia 44 00 N 18 00 E Europe 51,129 sq km 51,129 sq km 0 sq km slightly smaller than West Virginia 1,459 km Croatia 932 km, Serbia and Montenegro 527 km 20 km no data available hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast mountains and valleys Adriatic Sea 0 m Maglic 2,386 m coal, iron ore, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, cobalt, manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, forests, hydropower 13.6% 2.96% 83.44% (2001) 20 sq km (1998 est.) destructive earthquakes air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; water shortages and destruction of infrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife; deforestation Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands none of the selected agreements within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska or RS (about 49% of the territory); the region called Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro (Montenegro), and traditionally has been settled by an ethnic Croat majority in the west and an ethnic Serb majority in the east 4,025,476 (July 2005 est.) 18.3% (male 378,784/female 358,784) 70.7% (male 1,458,405/female 1,388,793) 10.9% (male 188,741/female 251,969) (2005 est.) 36.21 years 35.81 years 36.63 years (2005 est.) 0.44% (2005 est.) 12.49 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 8.44 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.07 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.75 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 21.05 deaths/1,000 live births 23.62 deaths/1,000 live births 18.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 77.83 years 74.21 years 81.72 years (2005 est.) 1.71 children born/woman (2005 est.) less than 0.1% (2001 est.) 900 (2003 est.) 100 (2001 est.) Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s) Bosnian, Herzegovinian Serb 37.1%, Bosniak 48%, Croat 14.3%, other 0.6% (2000) Bosniak has replaced Muslim as an ethnic term in part to avoid confusion with the religious term Muslim - an adherent of Islam Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 14% Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian age 15 and over can read and write 94.6% 98.4% 91.1% (2000 est.) none Bosnia and Herzegovina none Bosna i Hercegovina People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina emerging federal democratic republic Sarajevo 2 first-order administrative divisions and 1 internationally supervised district* - Brcko district (Brcko Distrikt)*, the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosna i Hercegovina) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska; note - Brcko district is in northeastern Bosnia and is an administrative unit under the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina; the district remains under international supervision 1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia; referendum for independence was completed 1 March 1992; independence was declared 3 March 1992) National Day, 25 November (1943) the Dayton Agreement, signed 14 December 1995, included a new constitution now in force; note - each of the entities also has its own constitution based on civil law system 18 years of age, universal Chairman of the Presidency Ivo Miro JOVIC (since 28 June 2005; presidency member since 9 May 2005 - Croat; note - Dragan COVIC was sacked by High Representative Paddy ASHDOWN on 29 Mar 2005); other members of the three-member rotating (every eight months) presidency: Borislav PARAVAC (since 10 April 2003 - Serb); and Sulejman TIHIC (since 5 October 2002 - Bosniak) Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adnan TERZIC (since 20 December 2002) Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairman; approved by the National House of Representatives the three members of the presidency (one Bosniak, one Croat, one Serb) are elected by popular vote for a four-year term; the member with the most votes becomes the chairman unless he or she was the incumbent chairman at the time of the election, but the chairmanship rotates every eight months; election last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA 2006); the chairman of the Council of Ministers is appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the National House of Representatives percent of vote - Mirko SAROVIC with 35.5% of the Serb vote was elected chairman of the collective presidency for the first eight months (note - SAROVIC resigned in April 2003); Dragan COVIC received 61.5% of the Croat vote; Sulejman TIHIC received 37% of the Bosniak vote President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Niko LOZANCIC (since 27 January 2003); Vice Presidents Sahbaz DZIHANOVIC (since NA 2003) and Desnica RADIVOJEVIC (since NA 2003); President of the Republika Srpska: Dragan CAVIC (since 28 November 2002) bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina consists of the national House of Representatives or Predstavnicki Dom (42 seats - elected by proportional representation, 28 seats allocated from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 14 seats from the Republika Srpska; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); and the House of Peoples or Dom Naroda (15 seats - 5 Bosniak, 5 Croat, 5 Serb; members elected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation's House of Representatives and the Republika Srpska's National Assembly to serve four-year terms); note - Bosnia's election law specifies four-year terms for the state and first-order administrative division entity legislatures national House of Representatives - elections last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held in NA 2006); House of Peoples - last constituted NA January 2003 (next to be constituted in 2007) national House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - SDA 21.9%, SDS 14.0%, SBiH 10.5%, SDP 10.4%, SNSD 9.8%, HDZ 9.5%, PDP 4.6%, others 19.3%; seats by party/coalition - SDA 10, SDS 5, SBiH 6, SDP 4, SNSD 3, HDZ 5, PDP 2, others 7; House of Peoples - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA%; seats by party/coalition - NA the Bosniak/Croat Federation has a bicameral legislature that consists of a House of Representatives (98 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party/coalition - SDA 32, HDZ-BiH 16, SDP 15, SBiH 15, other 20; and a House of Peoples (60 seats - 30 Bosniak, 30 Croat); last constituted December 2002; the Republika Srpska has a National Assembly (83 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held in the fall of 2006); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party/coalition - SDS 26, SNSD 19, PDP 9, SDA 6, SRS 4, SPRS 3, DNZ 3, SBiH 4, SDP 3, others 6; as a result of the 2002 constitutional reform process, a 28-member Republika Srpska Council of Peoples (COP) was established in the Republika Srpska National Assembly including 8 Croats, 8 Bosniaks, 8 Serbs, and 4 members of the smaller communities BiH Constitutional Court (consists of nine members: four members are selected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation's House of Representatives, two members by the Republika Srpska's National Assembly, and three non-Bosnian members by the president of the European Court of Human Rights); BiH State Court (consists of nine judges and three divisions - Administrative, Appellate and Criminal - having jurisdiction over cases related to state-level law and appellate jurisdiction over cases initiated in the entities; note - a War Crimes Chamber opened in March 2005 the entities each have a Supreme Court; each entity also has a number of lower courts; there are 10 cantonal courts in the Federation, plus a number of municipal courts; the Republika Srpska has five municipal courts Alliance of Independent Social Democrats or SNSD [Milorad DODIK]; Bosnian Party or BOSS [Mirnes AJANOVIC]; Civic Democratic Party or GDS [Ibrahim SPAHIC]; Croat Christian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HKDU [Marin TOPIC]; Croat Party of Rights or HSP [Zvonko JURISIC]; Croat Peasants Party or HSS [Marko TADIC]; Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HDZ-BH [Dragan COVIC]; Croatian Peoples Union [Milenko BRKIC]; Democratic National Union or DNZ [Rifet DOLIC]; Democratic Peoples Alliance [Marko PAVIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDS [Rasim KADIC]; New Croat Initiative or NHI [Kresimir ZUBAK]; Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina or SBiH [Safet HALILOVIC]; Party for Democratic Action or SDA [Sulejman TIHIC]; Party of Democratic Progress or PDP [Mladen IVANIC]; Serb Democratic Party or SDS [Dragan CAVIC]; Serb Radical Party of the Republika Srpska or SRS-RS [Milanko MIHAJLICA]; Serb Radical Party-Dr. Vojislav Seselj or SRS-VS [Radislav KANJERIC]; Social Democratic Party of BIH or SDP [Zlatko LAGUMDZIJA]; Social Democratic Union or SDU [Sejfudin TOKIC]; Socialist Party of Republika Srpska or SPRS [Petar DJOKIC] NA BIS, CE, CEI, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer) Ambassador Bisera TURKOVIC 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 [1] (202) 337-1500 [1] (202) 337-1502 consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York Ambassador Douglas L. McELHANEY Alipasina 43, 71000 Sarajevo use street address [387] (33) 445-700 [387] (33) 659-722 branch office(s): Banja Luka, Mostar a wide medium blue vertical band on the fly side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top of the flag; the remainder of the flag is medium blue with seven full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom along the hypotenuse of the triangle Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to Macedonia as the poorest republic in the old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture is almost all in private hands, farms are small and inefficient, and the republic traditionally is a net importer of food. Industry has been greatly overstaffed, one reflection of the socialist economic structure of Yugoslavia. TITO had pushed the development of military industries in the republic with the result that Bosnia was saddled with a host of industrial firms with little commercial potential. The interethnic warfare in Bosnia caused production to plummet by 80% from 1992 to 1995 and unemployment to soar. With an uneasy peace in place, output recovered in 1996-99 at high percentage rates from a low base; but output growth slowed in 2000-02. Part of the lag in output was made up in 2003-05. National-level statistics are limited and do not capture the large share of black market activity. The konvertibilna marka (convertible mark or BAM)- the national currency introduced in 1998 - is pegged to the euro, and confidence in the currency and the banking sector has increased. Implementation of privatization, however, has been slow, and local entities only reluctantly support national-level institutions. Banking reform accelerated in 2001 as all the Communist-era payments bureaus were shut down; foreign banks, primarily from Western Europe, now control most of the banking sector. A sizeable current account deficit and high unemployment rate remain the two most serious economic problems. The country receives substantial amounts of reconstruction assistance and humanitarian aid from the international community but will have to prepare for an era of declining assistance. $28.26 billion Bosnia has a large informal sector that could also be as much as 50 percent of official GDP. (2005 est.) $8.889 billion (2005 est.) 5.2% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $6,800 (2005 est.) 14.2% 30.8% 55% (2002) 1.026 million (2001) agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA 45.5% officially; however, grey economy may reduce actual unemployment to between 25 and 30% (31 December 2004 est.) 25% (2004 est.) NA% NA% 1.4% (2005 est.) $4.373 billion $4.401 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, tank and aircraft assembly, domestic appliances, oil refining (2001) 5.5% (2003 est.) 10.51 billion kWh (2003) 8.849 billion kWh (2003) 3.2 billion kWh (2003) 2.271 billion kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 21,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 300 million cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 300 million cu m (2001 est.) $-2.375 billion (2005 est.) $2.7 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Italy 22.3%, Croatia 21.1%, Germany 20.8%, Austria 7.4%, Slovenia 7.1%, Hungary 4.8% (2004) $6.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Croatia 23.8%, Slovenia 15.8%, Germany 14.8%, Italy 11.4%, Austria 6.6%, Hungary 6.1% (2004) $3 billion (2005 est.) $3.1 billion (2005 est.) $650 million (2001 est.) marka (BAM) marka per US dollar - 1.43 (2005), 1.5752 (2004), 1.7329 (2003), 2.0782 (2002), 2.1857 (2001) the marka is pegged to the euro calendar year 938,000 (2003) 1.05 million (2003) telephone and telegraph network needs modernization and expansion; many urban areas are below average as contrasted with services in other former Yugoslav republics NA country code - 387; no satellite earth stations AM 8, FM 16, shortwave 1 (1998) 33 (plus 277 repeaters) (September 1995) .ba 6,994 (2004) 100,000 (2002) 27 (2004 est.) 8 4 1 3 (2005 est.) 19 1 7 11 (2005 est.) 5 (2005 est.) 1,021 km (795 km electrified) 1,021 km 1.435-m gauge (2004) 21,846 km 11,425 km 10,421 km (1999) Sava River (northern border) open to shipping but use limited because of no agreement with neighboring countries (2004) Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, and Brcko (all inland waterway ports on the Sava), Orasje VF Army (the air and air defense forces are subordinate commands within the Army), VRS Army (the air and air defense forces are subordinate commands within the Army) 18 years of age for compulsory military service in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; 16 years of age in times of war; 18 years of age for Republika Srpska; 17 years of age for voluntary military service in the Federation and in the Republika Srpska; by law, military obligations cover all healthy men between the ages of 18 and 60, and all women between the ages of 18 and 55; service obligation is 4 months (July 2004) 18 1,034,367 (2005 est.) 18 829,530 (2005 est.) 31,264 (2005 est.) $234.3 million (FY02) 4.5% (FY02) Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro have delimited most of their boundary, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute; discussions continue with Croatia on several small disputed sections of the boundary 327,200 (Bosnian Croats, Serbs, and Muslims displaced in 1992-95 war) (2004) minor transit point for marijuana and opiate trafficking routes to Western Europe; remains highly vulnerable to money-laundering activity given a primarily cash-based and unregulated economy, weak law enforcement and instances of corruption Botswana Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most dynamic economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease. Southern Africa, north of South Africa 22 00 S 24 00 E Africa 600,370 sq km 585,370 sq km 15,000 sq km slightly smaller than Texas 4,013 km Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km 0 km (landlocked) none (landlocked) semiarid; warm winters and hot summers predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver 0.65% 0.01% 99.34% (2001) 10 sq km (1998 est.) periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands none of the selected agreements landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country 1,640,115 estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.) 38.8% (male 322,916/female 312,735) 57.5% (male 455,183/female 487,236) 3.8% (male 23,914/female 38,131) (2005 est.) 19.29 years 18.64 years 19.93 years (2005 est.) 0% (2005 est.) 23.33 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 29.36 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female 0.63 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 54.58 deaths/1,000 live births 55.97 deaths/1,000 live births 53.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 33.87 years 33.89 years 33.84 years (2005 est.) 2.85 children born/woman (2005 est.) 37.3% (2003 est.) 350,000 (2003 est.) 33,000 (2003 est.) high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria (2004) Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and white 7% Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%, none 20.6% (2001 census) Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English 2.1% (official), other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4% (2001 census) age 15 and over can read and write 79.8% 76.9% 82.4% (2003 est.) Republic of Botswana Botswana Bechuanaland parliamentary republic Gaborone 9 districts and 5 town councils*; Central, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Northwest, Northeast, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern 30 September 1966 (from UK) Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966) March 1965, effective 30 September 1966 based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal President Festus G. MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Festus G. MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government Cabinet appointed by the president president indirectly elected for a five-year term; election last held 20 October 2004 (next to be held NA 2009); vice president appointed by the president Festus G. MOGAE elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 52% bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely advisory 15-member body consisting of the chiefs of the eight principal tribes, four elected subchiefs, and three members selected by the other 12 members) and the National Assembly (61 seats, 57 members are directly elected by popular vote and four are appointed by the majority party; members serve five-year terms) National Assembly elections last held 30 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009) percent of vote by party - BDP 52%, BNF 26%, BCP 17%, other 5%; seats by party - BDP 44, BNF 12, BCP 1 High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates' Courts (one in each district) Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Festus G. MOGAE]; Botswana National Front or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Otlaadisa KOOSALETSE]; Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO] a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the BAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats; the BAM parties are: the United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; the Independence Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO]; and the Botswana Progressive Union [D. K. KWELE] NA ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOA 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 [1] (202) 244-4990 [1] (202) 244-4164 Ambassador Joseph HUGGINS address NA, Gaborone Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone [267] 353982 [267] 312782 light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since independence in 1966. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of $10,100 in 2005. Two major investment services rank Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has fueled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP and for 70-80% of export earnings. Tourism, financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. On the downside, the government must deal with high rates of unemployment and poverty. Unemployment officially is 23.8%, but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS infection rates are the second highest in the world and threaten Botswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in diamond mining production overshadow long-term prospects. $16.64 billion (2005 est.) $9.594 billion (2005 est.) 4.5% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $10,100 (2005 est.) 2.4% 46.9% (including 36% mining) 50.7% (2003 est.) 288,400 formal sector employees (2004) NA 23.8% (2004) 30.3% 47% (2003) NA NA 8.3% (2005 est.) 23.6% of GDP (2005 est.) $3.766 billion $3.767 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 7.3% of GDP (2005 est.) livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing; textiles 3.4% (2005 est.) 891 million kWh (2004) 2.641 billion kWh (2004) 0 kWh (2002) 1.39 billion kWh (2002) 0 bbl/day (2003) 12,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) 16,000 bbl/day NA (2001) $562 million (2005 est.) $3.68 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2004) $3.37 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 74%, EFTA 17%, Zimbabwe 4% (2004) $6.12 billion (2005 est.) $556 million (2005 est.) $73 million (1995) pula (BWP) pulas per US dollar - 5.16 (2005), 4.6929 (2004), 4.9499 (2003), 6.3278 (2002), 5.8412 (2001) 1 April - 31 March 142,400 (2002) 435,000 (2002) the system is expanding with the growth of mobile cellular service and participation in regional development small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations; mobile cellular service is growing fast country code - 267; two international exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001) 1 (2001) .bw 1,920 (2003) 60,000 (2002) 85 (2004 est.) 10 2 7 1 (2005 est.) 75 3 55 17 (2005 est.) 888 km 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2004) 25,233 km 8,867 km 16,366 km (2003) Botswana Defense Force (includes an Air Wing) 18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; the official qualifications for determining minimum age are unknown (2001) 18 350,649 (2005 est.) 18 136,322 (2005 est.) 21,103 (2005 est.) $338.5 million (2004) 3.9% (2004) commission established with Namibia has yet to resolve small residual disputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlands along the Linyanti River; downstream Botswana residents protest Namibia's planned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric dam at Popavalle (Popa Falls); Botswana has built electric fences to stem the thousands of Zimbabweans who flee to find work and escape political persecution; Namibia has long supported and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing their short, but not clearly delimited Botswana-Zambia boundary Bouvet Island This uninhabited volcanic island is almost entirely covered by glaciers and is difficult to approach. It was discovered in 1739 by a French naval officer after whom the island was named. No claim was made until 1825, when the British flag was raised. In 1928, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the island the previous year. In 1971, Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters were designated a nature reserve. Since 1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station on the island. island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) 54 26 S 3 24 E Antarctic Region 58.5 sq km 58.5 sq km 0 sq km about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC 0 km 29.6 km 4 nm antarctic volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible South Atlantic Ocean 0 m Olav Peak 935 m none 0% 0% 100% (93% ice) (2001) 0 sq km (1998 est.) NA NA covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve uninhabited (July 2005 est.) none Bouvet Island territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply the flag of Norway is used no economic activity; declared a nature reserve .bv automatic meteorological station none; offshore anchorage only defense is the responsibility of Norway none Brazil Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil overcame more than half a century of military intervention in the governance of the country when in 1985 the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers. Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, it is today South America's leading economic power and a regional leader. Highly unequal income distribution remains a pressing problem. Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean 10 00 S 55 00 W South America 8,511,965 sq km 8,456,510 sq km 55,455 sq km includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo slightly smaller than the US 14,691 km Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia 1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km, Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km 7,491 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin mostly tropical, but temperate in south mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt Atlantic Ocean 0 m Pico da Neblina 3,014 m bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber 6.96% 0.9% 92.15% (2001) 26,560 sq km (1998 est.) recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling none of the selected agreements largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador 186,112,794 Brazil took a count in August 2000, which reported a population of 169,799,170; that figure was about 3.3% lower than projections by the US Census Bureau, and is close to the implied underenumeration of 4.6% for the 1991 census; estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.) 26.1% (male 24,789,495/female 23,842,715) 67.9% (male 62,669,392/female 63,719,631) 6% (male 4,549,552/female 6,542,009) (2005 est.) 27.81 years 27.06 years 28.57 years (2005 est.) 1.06% (2005 est.) 16.83 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 6.15 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.7 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 29.61 deaths/1,000 live births 33.37 deaths/1,000 live births 25.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 71.69 years 67.74 years 75.85 years (2005 est.) 1.93 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.7% (2003 est.) 660,000 (2003 est.) 15,000 (2003 est.) Brazilian(s) Brazilian white 53.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 38.5%, black 6.2%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 0.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2000 census) Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Spriritualist 1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4% (2000 census) Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French age 15 and over can read and write 86.4% 86.1% 86.6% (2003 est.) Federative Republic of Brazil Brazil Republica Federativa do Brasil Brasil federative republic Brasilia 26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins 7 September 1822 (from Portugal) Independence Day, 7 September (1822) 5 October 1988 based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age; note - military conscripts do not vote President Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government Cabinet appointed by the president president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 6 October 2002 (next to be held 1 October 2006, with a runoff on 29 October 2006 if necessary); runoff election held 27 October 2002 in runoff election 27 October 2002, Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (PT) elected with 61.3% of the vote; Jose SERRA (PSDB) 38.7% bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; three members from each state and federal district elected according to the principle of majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third elected after a four-year period, two-thirds elected after the next four-year period) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms) Federal Senate - last held 6 October 2002 for two-thirds of the Senate (next to be held October 2006 for one-third of the Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 6 October 2002 (next to be held October 2006) Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PMBD 19, PFL 19, PT 14, PSDB 11, PDT 5, PSB 4, PL 3, PTB 3, PPS 1, PSD 1, PP 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PT 91, PFL 84, PMDB 74, PSDB 71, PP 49, PL 26, PTB 26, PSB 22, PDT 21, PPS 15, PCdoB 12, PRONA 6, PV 5, other 11; note - many congressmen have changed party affiliation since the most recent election Supreme Federal Tribunal (11 ministers are appointed for life by the president and confirmed by the Senate); Higher Tribunal of Justice; Regional Federal Tribunals (judges are appointed for life); note - though appointed "for life," judges, like all federal employees, have a mandatory retirement age of 70 Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Federal Deputy Michel TEMER]; Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Federal Deputy Roberto JEFFERSON]; Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Senator Tasso JEREISSATI]; Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Federal Deputy Eduardo CAMPOS]; Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Renato RABELO]; Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Carlos LUPI]; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Luis Marques MENDES]; Green Party or PV [Jose Luiz de Franca PENNA]; Liberal Front Party or PFL [Senator Jorge BORNHAUSEN]; Liberal Party or PL [Federal Deputy Valdemar COSTA Neto]; National Order Reconstruction Party or PRONA [Federal Deputy Dr. Eneas CARNEIRO]; Partido Municipalista Renovador or PMR [Pastor Vitor Paulo ARAUJO DOS SANTOS]; Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Federal Deputy Roberto FREIRE]; Progressive Party or PP [Federal Deputy Pedro CORREA]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Vitor Jorge ABDALA NOSSEIS]; Worker's Party or PT [Ricardo BERZOIN] Landless Worker's Movement; labor unions and federations; large farmers' associations; religious groups including evangelical christian churches and the Catholic Church AfDB, BIS, CSN, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Roberto ABDENUR 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 238-2700 [1] (202) 238-2827 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco Ambassador John DANILOVICH Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900, Brasilia Unit 3500, APO AA 34030 [55] (61) 3312-7000 [55] (61) 3225-9136 consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo consulate(s): Recife green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress) Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence in world markets. From 2001-03 real wages fell and Brazil's economy grew, on average, only 2.2% per year, as the country absorbed a series of domestic and international economic shocks. That Brazil absorbed these shocks without financial collapse is a tribute to the resiliency of the Brazilian economy and the economic program put in place by former President CARDOSO and strengthened by President LULA DA SILVA. In 2004, Brazil enjoyed more robust growth that yielded increases in employment and real wages. The three pillars of the economic program are a floating exchange rate, an inflation-targeting regime, and tight fiscal policy, all reinforced by a series of IMF programs. The currency depreciated sharply in 2001 and 2002, which contributed to a dramatic current account adjustment; in 2003 to 2005, Brazil ran record trade surpluses and recorded its first current account surpluses since 1992. Productivity gains - particularly in agriculture - also contributed to the surge in exports, and Brazil in 2005 surpassed the previous year's record export level. While economic management has been good, there remain important economic vulnerabilities. The most significant are debt-related: the government's largely domestic debt increased steadily from 1994 to 2003 - straining government finances - before falling as a percentage of GDP in 2005, while Brazil's foreign debt (a mix of private and public debt) is large in relation to Brazil's small (but growing) export base. Another challenge is maintaining economic growth over a period of time to generate employment and make the government debt burden more manageable. $1.58 trillion (2005 est.) $605.6 billion (2005 est.) 2.6% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $8,500 (2005 est.) 10% 39.4% 50.6% (2005 est.) 90.41 million (2005 est.) agriculture 20%, industry 14%, services 66% (2003 est.) 9.9% (2005 est.) 22% (1998 est.) 0.7% 48% (1998) 59.7 (2004) 6.8% (2005 est.) 19.8% of GDP (2005 est.) $140.6 billion $172.4 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004) 50.2% of GDP (2005 est.) coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment 4.7% (2005 est.) 359.2 billion kWh (2003) 371.4 billion kWh (2003) 6 million kWh (2003) 37.4 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2003) 2.01 million bbl/day (2005 est.) 2.1 million bbl/day (2001 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 15.12 billion bbl (2005 est.) 5.95 billion cu m (2001 est.) 9.59 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 3.64 billion cu m (2001 est.) 221.7 billion cu m (2005) $10.42 billion (2005 est.) $115.1 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 20.8%, Argentina 7.5%, Netherlands 6.1%, China 5.6%, Germany 4.1%, Mexico 4% (2004) $78.02 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 18.3%, Argentina 8.9%, Germany 8.1%, China 5.9%, Nigeria 5.6%, Japan 4.6% (2004) $69.28 billion (2005 est.) $211.4 billion (30 June 2005 est.) $30 billion (2002) real (BRL) reals per US dollar - 2.49 (2005), 2.9251 (2004), 3.0771 (2003), 2.9208 (2002), 2.3577 (2001) calendar year 38.81 million (2002) 46,373,300 (2003) good working system extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 64 earth stations country code - 55; 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system to Mercosur Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station AM 1,365, FM 296, shortwave 161 (of which 91 are collocated with AM stations) (1999) 138 (1997) .br 3,163,349 (2003) 14.3 million (2002) 4,136 (2004 est.) 709 8 24 162 463 52 (2005 est.) 3,514 2 79 1,609 1,824 (2005 est.) 417 (2005 est.) condensate/gas 244 km; gas 10,739 km; liquid petroleum gas 341 km; oil 5,212 km; refined products 4,755 km (2004) 29,412 km (1,567 km electrified) 4,907 km 1.600-m gauge (908 km electrified) 194 km 1.440-m gauge 23,915 km 1.000-m gauge (581 km electrified) 396 km 1.000-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (78 km electrified) (2004) 1,724,929 km 94,871 km 1,630,058 km (2000) 50,000 km (most in areas remote from industry and population) (2004) 150 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,961,431 GRT/4,725,267 DWT bulk carrier 28, cargo 25, chemical tanker 7, combination ore/oil 2, container 7, liquefied gas 12, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 48, roll on/roll off 9 17 (Chile 2, Germany 7, Norway 1, Spain 7) 8 (2005) Gebig, Itaqui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, San Sebasttiao, Santos, Sepetiba Terminal, Tubarao, Vitoria Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines), Brazilian Air Force (FAB) 19 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 17 years of age for voluntary service (2001) 19 45,586,036 (2005 est.) 19 33,119,098 (2005 est.) 1,785,930 (2005 est.) $11 billion (2004) 1.8% (2004) unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations; uncontested dispute with Uruguay over certain islands in the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada boundary streams and the resulting tripoint with Argentina; in 2004 Brazil submitted its claims to UNCLOS to extend its maritime continental margin illicit producer of cannabis; minor coca cultivation in the Amazon region, used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important transshipment country for Bolivian, Colombian, and Peruvian cocaine headed for Europe and the US; also used by traffickers as a way station for narcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge in drug-related violence and weapons smuggling; important market for Colombian, Bolivian, and Peruvian cocaine; illicit narcotics proceeds earned in Brazil are often laundered through the financial system; significant illicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area British Indian Ocean Territory Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration order that had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia 6 00 S 71 30 E Political Map of the World 60 sq km 60 sq km 0 sq km includes the entire Chagos Archipelago about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC 0 km 698 km 3 nm 200 nm tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds flat and low (most areas do not exceed four meters in elevation) Indian Ocean 0 m unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m coconuts, fish, sugarcane 0% 0% 100% (2001) 0 sq km (1998 est.) NA NA archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility no indigenous inhabitants approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and 1970s, in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by a British High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in 2001, there were approximately 1,500 UK and US military personnel and 2,000 civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia (July 2005 est.) British Indian Ocean Territory none BIOT overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) Commissioner Tony CROMBIE (since January 2004); Administrator Tony HUMPHRIES (since February 2005); note - both reside in the UK NA none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch none (overseas territory of the UK) none (overseas territory of the UK) white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing. NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military NA kWh NA separate facilities for military and public needs are available all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) 1 (1997) .io 1 (2004 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) Diego Garcia defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016 Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago and its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, but in 2001 were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation since eviction in 1965; the UK resists the Chagossians' demand for an immediate return to the islands; repatriation is complicated by the exclusive US military lease of Diego Garcia that restricts access to the largest island in the chain British Virgin Islands First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were annexed in 1672 by the English. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency. Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico 18 30 N 64 30 W Central America and the Caribbean 153 sq km 153 sq km 0 sq km comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the island of Anegada about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC 0 km 80 km 3 nm 200 nm subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly Caribbean Sea 0 m Mount Sage 521 m NEGL 20% 6.67% 73.33% (2001) NA hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October) limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments) strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico 22,643 (July 2005 est.) 21% (male 2,400/female 2,358) 73.9% (male 8,607/female 8,115) 5.1% (male 614/female 549) (2005 est.) 30.9 years 31.1 years 30.7 years (2005 est.) 2.06% (2005 est.) 14.96 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 10.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.02 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.12 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 18.05 deaths/1,000 live births 21.02 deaths/1,000 live births 14.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 76.49 years 75.41 years 77.62 years (2005 est.) 1.72 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA NA NA British Virgin Islander(s) British Virgin Islander black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991) English (official) age 15 and over can read and write 97.8% (1991 est.) NA% NA% none British Virgin Islands BVI overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing NA Road Town none (overseas territory of the UK) none (overseas territory of the UK) Territory Day, 1 July 1 June 1977 English law 18 years of age; universal Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Tom MACAN (since 14 October 2002) Chief Minister Orlando D. SMITH (since 17 June 2003) Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members serve four-year terms) last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2007) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NDP 8, VIP 5 Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL] NA Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate), UPU none (overseas territory of the UK) none (overseas territory of the UK) blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful) The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 1998. Tourism suffered in 2002 because of the lackluster US economy. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959. $2.498 billion (2004 est.) NA 1% NA (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $38,500 (2004 est.) 1.8% 6.2% 92% (1996 est.) 12,770 (2004) agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% 3% (1995) NA NA NA 2.5% (2003) $121.5 million $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1997) fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center NA% 34.55 million kWh (2003) 32.13 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 410 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $25.3 million (2002) Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2004) $187 million (2002 est.) Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2004) $36.1 million (1997) NA US dollar (USD) the US dollar is used 1 April - 31 March 11,700 (2002) 8,000 (2002) worldwide telephone service NA country code - 1-284; submarine cable to Bermuda AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004) 1 (plus one cable company) (1997) .vg 4,000 (2002) 3 (2004 est.) 2 1 1 (2005 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 177 km 177 km (2002) 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 83,825 GRT/155,909 DWT cargo 1 7 (2005) Road Town defense is the responsibility of the UK none transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering Brunei The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in the developing world. Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia 4 30 N 114 40 E Southeast Asia 5,770 sq km 5,270 sq km 500 sq km slightly smaller than Delaware 381 km Malaysia 381 km 161 km 12 nm 200 nm or to median line tropical; hot, humid, rainy flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west South China Sea 0 m Bukit Pagon 1,850 m petroleum, natural gas, timber 0.57% 0.76% 98.67% (2001) 10 sq km (1998 est.) typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution none of the selected agreements close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia 372,361 (July 2005 est.) 28.6% (male 54,342/female 52,084) 68.4% (male 134,908/female 119,814) 3% (male 5,301/female 5,912) (2005 est.) 27.04 years 27.63 years 26.4 years (2005 est.) 1.9% (2005 est.) 19.01 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 3.42 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 3.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.13 male(s)/female 0.9 male(s)/female 1.09 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 12.61 deaths/1,000 live births 15.93 deaths/1,000 live births 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 74.8 years 72.36 years 77.36 years (2005 est.) 2.3 children born/woman (2005 est.) less than 0.1% (2003 est.) less than 200 (2003 est.) less than 200 (2003 est.) Bruneian(s) Bruneian Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12% Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs and other 10% Malay (official), English, Chinese age 15 and over can read and write 93.9% 96.3% 91.4% (2002) Negara Brunei Darussalam Brunei constitutional sultanate Bandar Seri Begawan 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong 1 January 1984 (from UK) National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection 29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984) based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas none Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises none; the monarch is hereditary Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time in 20 years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; passed constitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected members; Sultan dissolved council on 1 September 2005 and appointed a new council with 29 members as of 2 September 2005 last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA) Supreme Court (chief justice and judges are sworn in by the monarch for three-year terms) National Development Party (NDP) [YASSIN Affendi]; National Unity Party of Brunei (PPKB) [Haji Mohd HATTA bin Haji Zainal Abidin]; People's Awareness Party (PAKAR) [Awang Haji MAIDIN bin Haji Ahmad] parties are small and inactive (2005) NA APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, C, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato PUTEH 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 237-1838 [1] (202) 885-0560 Ambassador Emil SKODON Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan, BS8811 PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507 [673] (2) 220-384 [673] (2) 225-293 yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands This small, well-to-do economy encompasses a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for nearly half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and free education through the university level and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion, although it became a more prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000 APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum. Plans for the future include upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, and, in general, further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas. $6.842 billion (2003 est.) NA 3.2% (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $23,600 (2003 est.) 5% 45% 50% (2001 est.) 158,000 includes foreign workers and military personnel; temporary residents make up about 40% of labor force (2002 est.) agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, government 48% (1999 est.) 3.2% (2002 est.) NA NA NA 0.3% (2003 est.) $4.9 billion $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.35 billion (2003 est.) rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction 5% (2002 est.) 2.659 billion kWh (2003) 2.473 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 196,400 bbl/day (2003) 12,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) 199,000 bbl/day (2003) NA (2003) 1.255 billion bbl (1 January 2002) 10.35 billion cu m (2001 est.) 1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.) 9 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 315 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $4.514 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) Japan 38.1%, South Korea 14%, Australia 11.2%, US 8.6%, Thailand 7.9%, Indonesia 5.9%, China 4.5% (2004) $1.641 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.) Singapore 32.7%, Malaysia 21.2%, UK 8.3%, Japan 7.2% (2004) $0 NA $4.3 million (1995) Bruneian dollar (BND) Bruneian dollars per US dollar - NA (2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003), 1.7906 (2002), 1.7917 (2001) calendar year 90,000 (2002) 137,000 (2002) service throughout the country is excellent; international service is good to East Asia, Europe, and the US every service available country code - 673; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarine cable links to Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore (2001) AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998) 2 (1997) .bn 6,409 (2003) 35,000 (2002) 2 (2004 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 3 (2005 est.) gas 665 km; oil 439 km (2004) 1,150 km 399 km 751 km (1999) 209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2004) 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 465,937 GRT/413,393 DWT liquefied gas 8 8 (United Kingdom 8) (2005) Lumut, Muara, Seria Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force 18 years of age (est.) (2004) 18 103,885 (2005 est.) 18 approx. 85,045 (2005 est.) 3,478 (2005 est.) $290.7 million (2004) 5.1% (2004) in 2003 Brunei and Malaysia ceased gas and oil exploration in their disputed offshore and deepwater seabeds and negotiations have stalemated prompting consideration of international legal adjudication; Malaysia's land boundary with Brunei around Limbang is in dispute; Brunei established an exclusive economic fishing zone encompassing Louisa Reef in southern Spratly Islands in 1984 but makes no public territorial claim to the offshore reefs; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty Bulgaria The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman Turks. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all of Bulgaria became independent in 1908. Having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multiparty election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. Today, reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria on a path toward eventual integration into the EU. The country joined NATO in 2004. Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey 43 00 N 25 00 E Europe 110,910 sq km 110,550 sq km 360 sq km slightly larger than Tennessee 1,808 km Greece 494 km, Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km, Turkey 240 km 354 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast Black Sea 0 m Musala 2,925 m bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land 40.02% 1.92% 58.06% (2001) 8,000 sq km (1998 est.) earthquakes, landslides air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands Air Pollution-Sulfur 94 strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia 7,450,349 (July 2005 est.) 14.1% (male 539,005/female 512,762) 68.7% (male 2,516,368/female 2,599,524) 17.2% (male 531,008/female 751,682) (2005 est.) 40.66 years 38.59 years 42.66 years (2005 est.) -0.89% (2005 est.) 9.66 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 14.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -4.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.71 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 20.55 deaths/1,000 live births 24.31 deaths/1,000 live births 16.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 72.03 years 68.41 years 75.87 years (2005 est.) 1.38 children born/woman (2005 est.) less than 0.1% - note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.) 346 (2001 est.) 100 (2001 est.) Bulgarian(s) Bulgarian Bulgarian 83.9%, Turk 9.4%, Roma 4.7%, other 2% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (2001 census) Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian 1.2%, other 4% (2001 census) Bulgarian 84.5%, Turkish 9.6%, Roma 4.1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census) age 15 and over can read and write 98.6% 99.1% 98.2% (2003 est.) Republic of Bulgaria Bulgaria parliamentary democracy Sofia 28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora, Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol 3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire) Liberation Day, 3 March (1878) adopted 12 July 1991 civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal President Georgi PURVANOV (since 22 January 2002); Vice President Angel MARIN (since 22 January 2002) Prime Minister Sergei STANISHEV (since 16 August 2005); Deputy Prime Ministers Ivaylo KALFIN, Daniel VULCHEV, and Emel ETEM (since 16 August 2005) Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 11 and 18 November 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by the president and elected by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly Georgi PURVANOV elected president; percent of vote - Georgi PURVANOV 54.13%, Petar STOYANOV 45.87%; Sergei STANISHEV elected prime minister, result of legislative vote - 168 to 67 unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held 25 June 2005 (next to be held June 2009) percent of vote by party - CfB 31.1%, NMS2 19.9%, MRF 12.7%, ATAKA 8.2%, UDF 7.7%, DSB 6.5%, BPU 5.2%; seats by party - CfB 83, NMS2 53, MRF 33, UDF 20, ATAKA 17, DSB 17, BPU 13, independents 4 Supreme Administrative Court; Supreme Court of Cassation; Constitutional Court (12 justices appointed or elected for nine-year terms); Supreme Judicial Council (consists of the chairmen of the two Supreme Courts, the Chief Prosecutor, and 22 other members; responsible for appointing the justices, prosecutors, and investigating magistrates in the justice system; members of the Supreme Judicial Council elected for five-year terms, 11 elected by the National Assembly and 11 by bodies of the judiciary) Attack National Union [Volen Siderov]; ATAKA (Attack Coalition) (coalition of parties headed by the Attack National Union); Bulgarian Agrarian National Union-People's Union or BANU [Anastasia MOZER]; Bulgarian People's Union or BPU (coalition of UFD, IMRO, and BANU); Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Sergei STANISHEV]; Coalition for Bulgaria or CfB (coalition of parties dominated by BSP) [Sergei STANISHEV]; Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Ivan KOSTOV]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or IMRO [Krasimir KARAKACHANOV]; Movement for Rights and Freedoms or MRF [Ahmed DOGAN]; National Movement for Simeon II or NMS2 [Simeon SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA]; New Time [Emil KOSHLUKOV]; Union of Democratic Forces or UDF [Petur STOYANOV]; Union of Free Democrats or UFD [Stefan SOFIYANSKI]; United Democratic Forces or UtDF (a coalition of center-right parties dominated by UDF) Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB; Podkrepa Labor Confederation; numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC Ambassador Elena B. POPTODOROVA 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 387-0174 [1] (202) 234-7973 consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York consulate(s): Los Angeles Ambassador John Ross BEYRLE 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1407 American Embassy Sofia, Department of State, 5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740 [359] (2) 937-5100 [359] (2) 937-5230 three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; note - the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe, has been removed Bulgaria, a former communist country striving to enter the European Union, has experienced macroeconomic stability and strong growth since a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the fall of the then socialist government. As a result, the government became committed to economic reform and responsible fiscal planning. Minerals, including coal, copper, and zinc play an important role in industry. In 1997, macroeconomic stability was reinforced by the imposition of a fixed exchange rate of the lev against the German D-mark and the negotiation of an IMF standby agreement. Low inflation and steady progress on structural reforms improved the business environment; Bulgaria has averaged 4% growth since 2000 and has begun to attract significant amounts of foreign direct investment. Corruption in the public administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence of organized crime remain the largest challenges for Bulgaria. $66.96 billion (2005 est.) $26.32 billion (2005 est.) 5.4% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $9,000 (2005 est.) 10.1% 30.2% 59.7% (2005 est.) 3.34 million (2005 est.) agriculture 11%, industry 32.7%, services 56.3% (3rd quarter 2004 est.) 11.5% (2005 est.) 13.4% (2002 est.) 4.5% 22.8% (1997) 31.9 (2001) 4.5% (2005 est.) 22.1% of GDP (2005 est.) $11.18 billion $10.9 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 32.4% of GDP (2005 est.) vegetables, fruits, tobacco, livestock, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets electricity, gas and water; food, beverages and tobacco; machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel 7% (2005 est.) 38.07 billion kWh (2003) 31.75 billion kWh (2003) 5.449 billion kWh (2003) 1.8 billion kWh (2003) 2,908 bbl/day (2003) 107,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 8.1 million bbl (1 January 2002) 4 million cu m (2001 est.) 5.804 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 5.8 billion cu m (2001 est.) 3.724 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $-2.741 billion (2005 est.) $11.67 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Italy 13.1%, Germany 11.6%, Turkey 9.3%, Belgium 6.1%, Greece 5.6%, US 5.3%, France 4.9% (2004) $15.9 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Germany 15.1%, Italy 10.2%, Russia 7.9%, Greece 7.5%, Turkey 6.9%, France 4.4% (2004) $9.707 billion (2005 est.) $15.46 billion (2005 est.) $300 million (2000 est.) lev (BGL) leva per US dollar - 1.56 (2005), 1.5751 (2004), 1.7327 (2003), 2.077 (2002), 2.1847 (2001) on 5 July 1999, the lev was redenominated; the post-5 July 1999 lev is equal to 1,000 of the pre-5 July 1999 lev calendar year 2,868,200 (2002) 2,597,500 (2002) extensive but antiquated more than two-thirds of the lines are residential; telephone service is available in most villages; a fairly modern digital cable trunk line now connects switching centers in most of the regions, the others are connected by digital microwave radio relay country code - 359; direct dialing to 58 countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 2 Intelsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001) 39 (plus 1,242 repeaters) (2001) .bg 53,421 (2004) 630,000 (2002) 213 (2004 est.) 128 1 19 15 1 92 (2005 est.) 85 2 11 72 (2005 est.) 1 (2005 est.) gas 2,425 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2004) 4,294 km 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,710 km electrified) 245 km 0.760-m gauge (2004) 102,016 km 93,855 km (including 328 km of expressways) 8,161 km (2003) 470 km (2004) 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 757,972 GRT/1,115,238 DWT bulk carrier 34, cargo 13, chemical tanker 4, container 6, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 3 45 (2005) Burgas, Varna Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 9 months; plans call for fully porfessionalizing the army by the end of 2007 when conscription will terminate; air force and navy will become fully professional by the end of 2006 (2005) 18 1,661,211 (2005 est.) 18 1,302,037 (2005 est.) 51,023 (2005 est.) $356 million (FY02) 2.6% (2003) none major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and, to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the European market; limited producer of precursor chemicals; some money laundering of drug-related proceeds through financial institutions Burkina Faso Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) achieved independence from France in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s were followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Burkina Faso's high population density and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Recent unrest in Cote d'Ivoire and northern Ghana has hindered the ability of several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabe farm workers to find employment in neighboring countries. Western Africa, north of Ghana 13 00 N 2 00 W Africa 274,200 sq km 273,800 sq km 400 sq km slightly larger than Colorado 3,193 km Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km 0 km (landlocked) none (landlocked) tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m Tena Kourou 749 m manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, phosphates, pumice, salt 14.43% 0.19% 85.38% (2001) 250 sq km (1998 est.) recurring droughts recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands none of the selected agreements landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black, Red, and White Voltas 13,925,313 estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.) 46% (male 3,213,436/female 3,193,253) 51.2% (male 3,487,201/female 3,635,673) 2.8% (male 164,418/female 231,332) (2005 est.) 16.82 years 16.43 years 17.22 years (2005 est.) 2.53% (2005 est.) 44.17 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 18.86 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 0.71 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 97.57 deaths/1,000 live births 105.55 deaths/1,000 live births 89.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 48.45 years 46.96 years 49.99 years (2005 est.) 6.23 children born/woman (2005 est.) 4.2% (2003 est.) 300,000 (2003 est.) 29,000 (2003 est.) very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria is a high risk in some locations schistosomiasis meningococcal meningitis (2004) Burkinabe (singular and plural) Burkinabe Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10% French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population age 15 and over can read and write 26.6% 36.9% 16.6% (2003 est.) none Burkina Faso Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta parliamentary republic Ouagadougou 45 provinces; Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga, Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Nahouri, Nayala, Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro, Zondoma, Zoundweogo 5 August 1960 (from France) Republic Day, 11 December (1958) 2 June 1991 approved by referendum, 11 June 1991 formally adopted; amended April 2000 based on French civil law system and customary law universal President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987) Prime Minister Ernest Paramanga YONLI (since 6 November 2000) Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 13 November 2005 (next to be held NA 2010); in April 2000, the constitution was amended reducing the presidential term from seven to five years, enforceable as of 2005, and allowing the president to be reelected only once; prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature Blaise COMPAORE reelected president; percent of popular vote - Blaise COMPAORE 80.3%, Benewende Stanislas SANKARA 4.9% unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (111 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) National Assembly election last held 5 May 2002 (next to be held May 2007) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDP 57, RDA-ADF 17, PDP/PS 10, CFD 5, PAI 5, others 17 Supreme Court; Appeals Court African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or RDA-ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Confederation for Federation and Democracy or CFD [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement for Tolerance and Progress or MTP [Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE]; Party for African Independence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Socialist Party or PS [leader NA]; Union of Greens for the Development of Burkina Faso or UVDB [Ram OVEDRAGO] Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB; Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP; Group of 14 February; National Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National Organization of Free Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Tertius ZONGO 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 332-5577 [1] (202) 667-1882 (vacant) 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - U. S. Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC 20521-2440 [226] 306723 [226] 303890 two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has few natural resources and a weak industrial base. About 90% of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture, which is vulnerable to harsh climatic conditions. Cotton is the key crop and the government has joined with other cotton producing countries in the region to lobby for improved access to Western markets. GDP growth has largely been driven by increases in world cotton prices. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations. Following the CFA franc currency devaluation in January 1994 the government updated its development program in conjunction with international agencies; exports and economic growth have increased. The government devolved macroeconomic policy and inflation targeting to the West African regional central bank (BCEAO), but maintains control over fiscal and microeconomic policies, including implementing reforms to encourage private investment. The bitter internal crisis in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire continues to hurt trade and industrial prospects and deepens the need for international assistance. $16.94 billion (2005 est.) $5.555 billion (2005 est.) 5% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2005 est.) 39.5% 19.3% 41.3% (2004 est.) 5 million a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (2003) agriculture 90% (2000 est.) NA% 45% (2003 est.) 2% 46.8% (1994) 48.2 (1998) 3% (2005 est.) 20.3% of GDP (2005 est.) $1.033 billion $1.382 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold 14% (2001 est.) 375.6 million kWh (2003) 349.3 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 8,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA NA $-562 million (2005 est.) $395 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) China 31.9%, Singapore 11.5%, Ghana 4.7%, Bangladesh 4.3% (2004) $992 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) France 29.3%, Cote d''Ivoire 16%, Togo 9.8% (2004) $791 million (2005 est.) $1.85 billion (2003) $468.4 million (2003) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 518.65 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001) calendar year 65,400 (2003) 227,000 (2003) all services only fair microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephone communication stations country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) AM 3, FM 17, shortwave 3 (2002) 1 (2002) .bf 442 (2003) 48,000 (2003) 33 (2004 est.) 2 1 1 (2005 est.) 31 3 11 17 (2005 est.) 622 km 622 km 1.000-m gauge another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote D'Ivoire (2004) 12,506 km 2,001 km 10,505 km (1999) Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie (2005) 18 years of age for compulsory military service; 20 years of age for voluntary military service (2001) 18 2,664,572 (2005 est.) 18 1,323,548 (2005 est.) $64.2 million (2004) 1.3% (2004) two villages are in dispute along the border with Benin; Benin accuses Burkina Faso of moving boundary pillars; Burkina Faso border regions remain a staging area for Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire rebels and an asylum for refugees caught in local fighting; the Ivoirian Government accuses Burkina Faso of sheltering Ivoirian rebels Burma Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886) and incorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate, self-governing colony; independence from the Commonwealth was attained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to 1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and later as political kingpin. Despite multiparty legislative elections in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory, the ruling junta refused to hand over power. NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who was under house arrest from 1989 to 1995 and 2000 to 2002, was imprisoned in May 2003 and is currently under house arrest. In November 2005, the junta announced it was extending her detention for at least another six months. Her supporters, as well as all those who promote democracy and improved human rights, are routinely harassed or jailed. Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand 22 00 N 98 00 E Southeast Asia 678,500 sq km 657,740 sq km 20,760 sq km slightly smaller than Texas 5,876 km Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km 1,930 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April) central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands Andaman Sea 0 m Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower 15.19% 0.97% 83.84% (2001) 15,920 sq km (1998 est.) destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 none of the selected agreements strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes 42,909,464 estimates for this country take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.) 27.2% (male 5,967,487/female 5,717,795) 67.8% (male 14,448,887/female 14,641,419) 5% (male 939,092/female 1,194,784) (2005 est.) 26.14 years 25.57 years 26.72 years (2005 est.) 0.42% (2005 est.) 18.11 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 12.15 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -1.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.79 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 67.24 deaths/1,000 live births 73.11 deaths/1,000 live births 61.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 60.7 years 57.8 years 63.78 years (2005 est.) 2.01 children born/woman (2005 est.) 1.2% (2003 est.) 330,000 (2003 est.) 20,000 (2003 est.) very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations (2004) Burmese (singular and plural) Burmese Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5% Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2% Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages age 15 and over can read and write 85.3% 89.2% 81.4% (2002) Union of Burma Burma Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the US Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar) Myanma Naingngandaw Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma since 1989 the military authorities in Burma have promoted the name Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; this decision was not approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and the US Government did not adopt the name, which is a derivative of the Burmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw military junta Rangoon (government refers to capital as Yangon) junta began shifting seat of government to Pyinmana area of central Burma in November 2005 7 divisions (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states (pyi ne-myar, singular - pyi ne) Ayeyarwady, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi, Yangon Chin State, Kachin State, Kayin State, Kayah State, Mon State, Rakhine State, Shan State 4 January 1948 (from UK) Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947) 3 January 1974; suspended since 18 September 1988; national convention convened in 1993 to draft a new constitution but collapsed in 1996; reconvened in 2004 but does not include participation of democratic opposition has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Sr. Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992) Prime Minister, Gen SOE WIN (since 19 October 2004) State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); military junta, so named 15 November 1997, which initially assumed power 18 September 1988 under the name State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC); the SPDC oversees the cabinet none unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never allowed by junta to convene percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NLD 392 (opposition), SNLD 23 (opposition), NUP 10 (pro-government), other 60 remnants of the British-era legal system are in place, but there is no guarantee of a fair public trial; the judiciary is not independent of the executive National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SHWE, chairman, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, general secretary]; National Unity Party or NUP (pro-regime) [THA KYAW] (at last report); Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [KHUN HTUN OO]; and other smaller parties National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma or NCGUB (self-proclaimed government in exile) ["Prime Minister" Dr. SEIN WIN] consists of individuals, some legitimately elected to the People's Assembly in 1990 (the group fled to a border area and joined insurgents in December 1990 to form parallel government in exile); Kachin Independence Army or KIA; Karen National Union or KNU; several Shan factions; United Wa State Army or UWSA; Union Solidarity and Development Association or USDA (pro-regime, a social and political organization) [HTAY OO, general secretary] APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO LINN MYAING 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 332-9044 [1] (202) 332-9046 consulate(s) general: New York Charge d'Affaires Shari VILLAROSA 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521) Box B, APO AP 96546 [95] (1) 379-880, 379-881 [95] (1) 256-018 red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing, 14 white five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the 7 administrative divisions and 7 states Burma is a resource-rich country that suffers from government controls, inefficient economic policies, and abject rural poverty. The junta took steps in the early 1990s to liberalize the economy after decades of failure under the "Burmese Way to Socialism", but those efforts stalled and some of the liberalization measures were rescinded. Burma has been unable to achieve monetary or fiscal stability, resulting in an economy that suffers from serious macroeconomic imbalances - including inflation, multiple official exchange rates that overvalue the Burmese kyat, and a distorted interest rate regime. Most overseas development assistance ceased after the junta began to suppress the democracy movement in 1988 and subsequently ignored the results of the 1990 legislative elections. Economic sanctions against Burma by the United States - including a ban on imports of Burmese products and a ban on provision of financial services by US persons in response to the government of Burma's attack in May 2003 on AUNG SAN SUU KYI and her convoy - further slowed the inflow of foreign exchange. Oil and gas development will drive growth in the next few years. Other areas, however, are struggling. In February 2003, a major banking crisis hit the country's 20 private banks, shutting them down and disrupting the economy. As of December 2005, the largest private banks remained moribund, leaving the private sector with little formal access to credit. Official statistics are inaccurate. Published statistics on foreign trade are greatly understated because of the size of the black market and unofficial border trade - often estimated to be one to two times the size of the official economy. Burma's trade with Thailand, China, and India is rising. Though the Burmese government has good economic relations with its neighbors, a better investment climate and an improved political situation are needed to promote foreign investment, exports, and tourism. $76.2 billion (2005 est.) $8.243 billion (2005 est.) 1.5% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2005 est.) 54.6% 13% 32.4% (2005 est.) 27.75 million (2005 est.) agriculture 70%, industry 7%, services 23% (2001 est.) 5% (2005 est.) 25% (2000 est.) 2.8% 32.4% (1998) 18% (2005 est.) 11.5% of GDP (2005 est.) $523.5 million $769.3 million, including capital expenditures of $5.7 billion (2005 est.) rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; hardwood; fish and fish products agricultural processing; knit and woven apparel; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; cement; natural gas NA 7.393 billion kWh (2003) 6.875 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2004) 18,500 bbl/day (2005 est.) 32,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) 3,356 bbl/day (2003) 49,230 bbl/day (2003) 3.2 billion bbl (2003) 9.98 billion cu m (2003 est.) 1.569 billion cu m (2003 est.) 8.424 billion cu m (2003 est.) 0 cu m (2003 est.) 2.46 trillion cu m (2003) $-215 million (2005 est.) $2.514 billion f.o.b. official export figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of timber, gems, narcotics, rice, and other products smuggled to Thailand, China, and Bangladesh (2005 est.) Thailand 38.9%, India 11.5%, China 5.9%, Japan 5.2% (2004) $2.183 billion f.o.b. import figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of consumer goods, diesel fuel, and other products smuggled in from Thailand, China, Malaysia, and India (2005 est.) China 29.8%, Singapore 20.8%, Thailand 19.3%, South Korea 5.2%, Malaysia 4.8% (2004) $721.1 million (June 2005) $6.967 billion (2005 est.) $127 million (2001 est.) kyat (MMK) kyats per US dollar - 5.82 (2005), 5.7459 (2004), 6.0764 (2003), 6.5734 (2002), 6.6841 (2001) these are official exchange rates; unofficial exchange rates ranged in 2004 from 815 kyat/US dollar to nearly 970 kyat/US dollar, and by year-end 2005, the unofficial exchange rate was 1,075 kyat/US dollar 1 April - 31 March 357,300 (2003) 66,500 (2003) barely meets minimum requirements for local and intercity service for business and government; international service is fair NA country code - 95; satellite earth station - 2, Intelsat (Indian Ocean), and ShinSat AM 1, FM 1 (2004) 2 (2004) .mm 3 (2003) 28,000 (2003) 78 (2004 est.) 19 6 10 3 (2005 est.) 65 14 19 32 (2005 est.) 1 (2005 est.) gas 2,056 km; oil 558 km (2004) 3,955 km 3,955 km 1.000-m gauge (2004) 30,000 km 12,800 km (2004) 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 429,144 GRT/659,622 DWT bulk carrier 8, cargo 19, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 3, roll on'roll off 3, specialized tanker 1 10 (Germany 4, Japan 5, United Kingdom 1) (2005) Moulmein, Rangoon, Sittwe Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw): Army, Navy, Air Force (2005) 18 years of age for voluntary military service for both sexes (May 2002) 18 11,254,374 18 11,303,100 (2005 est.) 18 6,512,923 18 6,789,720 (2005 est.) 440,914 427,382 (2005 est.) $39 million (FY97) 2.1% (FY97) over half of Burma's population consists of diverse ethnic groups with substantial numbers of kin beyond its borders; despite continuing border committee talks, significant differences remain with Thailand over boundary alignment and the handling of ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; ethnic Karens flee into Thailand to escape fighting between Karen rebels and Burmese troops, in 2004 Thailand sheltered about 118,000 Burmese refugees; Karens also protest Thai support for a Burmese hydroelectric dam on the Salween River near the border; environmentalists in Burma and Thailand continue to voice concern over China's construction of hydroelectric dams upstream on the Nujiang/Salween River in Yunnan Province; India seeks cooperation from Burma to keep Indian Nagaland separatists from hiding in remote Burmese uplands 600,000 - 1,000,000 (government offensives against ethnic insurgent groups near borders; most IDPs are ethnic Karen, Karenni, Shan, and Mon) (2004) remains world's second largest producer of illicit opium (estimated production in 2004 - 292 metric tons, down 40% from 2003 due to eradication efforts and drought; cultivation in 2004 - 30,900 hectares, a 34% decline from 2003); lack of government will and ability to take on major narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitment against money laundering continues to hinder the overall antidrug effort; major source of methamphetamine and heroin for regional consumption; currently under Financial Action Task Force countermeasures due to continued failure to address its inadequate money-laundering controls (2005) Burundi Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated in October 1993 after only one hundred days in office, triggering widespread ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. Over 200,000 Burundians perished during the conflict that spanned almost a dozen years. Hundreds of thousands of Burundians were internally displaced or became refugees in neighboring countries. An internationally brokered power-sharing agreement between the Tutsi-dominated government and the Hutu rebels in 2003 paved the way for a transition process that led to an integrated defense force, established a new constitution in October 2004, and elected a majority Hutu government in 2005. The new government, led by President Pierre NKURUNZIZA, faces many challenges, particularly from the country's last rebel group who remains outside of the peace process and continue attacks in the western provinces of Burundi Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo 3 30 S 30 00 E Africa 27,830 sq km 25,650 sq km 2,180 sq km slightly smaller than Maryland 974 km Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km 0 km (landlocked) none (landlocked) equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; wet seasons from February to May and September to November, and dry seasons from June to August and December to January hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains Lake Tanganyika 772 m Heha 2,670 m nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone 35.05% 14.02% 50.93% (2001) 740 sq km (1998 est.) flooding, landslides, drought soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection Law of the Sea landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile 6,370,609 estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.) 46% (male 1,479,941/female 1,450,808) 51.3% (male 1,617,864/female 1,653,331) 2.6% (male 66,199/female 102,466) (2005 est.) 16.6 years 16.27 years 16.95 years (2005 est.) 2.22% (2005 est.) 39.66 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 17.43 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.65 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 69.29 deaths/1,000 live births 75.87 deaths/1,000 live births 62.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 50.29 years 49.61 years 50.99 years (2005 est.) 5.81 children born/woman (2005 est.) 6% (2003 est.) 250,000 (2003 est.) 25,000 (2003 est.) very high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria (2004) Burundian(s) Burundian Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000 Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous beliefs 23%, Muslim 10% Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area) age 15 and over can read and write 51.6% 58.5% 45.2% (2003 est.) Republic of Burundi Burundi Republika y'u Burundi Burundi Urundi republic Bujumbura 16 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration) Independence Day, 1 July (1962) 28 February 2005; ratified by popular referendum based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction NA years of age; universal adult President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August 2005); Vice President Martin NDUWIMANA (since 26 August 2005) President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August 2005); Vice President Martin NDUWIMANA (since 26 August 2005) Council of Ministers appointed by president the president is elected by popular vote to a five year term; elections (by the legislature) last held 19 August 2005 (next to be held NA 2010); note - the constitution adopted in February 2005 permits the post-transition president to be elected by a two-thirds majority of the legislature Pierre NKURUNZIZA was elected president by the legislature by a vote of 151 to 9; note - the constitution adopted in February 2005 permits the post-transition president to be elected by a two-thirds majority of the legislature bicameral, consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (minimum 100 seats; additional seats appointed by a National Independent Electoral Commission to ensure ethnic representation; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and a Senate (54 seats; 34 by indirect vote to serve five year terms, with remaining seats assigned to ethnic groups and former chiefs of state) last held 4 July 2005 (next to be held in 2010) percent of vote by party - CNDD-FDD 58.6%, FRODEBU 21.7%, UPRONA 7.2%, CNDD 4.1%, MRC-Rurenzangemero 2.1%, others 6.2%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 59, FRODEBU 25, UPRONA 10, CNDD 4, MRC-Rurenzangemero 2 Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal (there are three in separate locations); Tribunals of First Instance (17 at the province level and 123 small local tribunals) the three national, mainstream, governing parties are: Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Jean-Baptiste MANWANGARI, secretary general]; Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Leonce NGENDAKUMANA, president]; National Council for the Defense of Democracy, Front for the Defense of Democracy of CNDD-FDD [Hussein RADJABU, president] a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are: National Resistance Movement for the Rehabilitation of the Citizen or MRC-Rurenzangemero [Epitace BANYAGANAKANDI]; Party for National Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA] Party for the Liberation of the Hutu People - National Liberation Front (Palipehutu - FNL); note - as of December 2005, the only insurgent group still fighting the government ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Antoine NTAMOBWA Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 [1] (202) 342-2574 [1] (202) 342-2578 Ambassador (vacant, as of 20 December 2005) Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura B. P. 1720, Bujumbura [257] 223454 [257] 222926 divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and outer side) with a white disk superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above, two stars below) Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantly agricultural with more than 90% of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture. Economic growth depends on coffee and tea exports, which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability to pay for imports, therefore, rests primarily on weather conditions and international coffee and tea prices. The Tutsi minority, 14% of the population, dominates the government and the coffee trade at the expense of the Hutu majority, 85% of the population. Since October 1993 an ethnic-based war has resulted in more than 200,000 deaths, forced 450,000 refugees into Tanzania, and displaced 140,000 others internally. Only one in two children go to school, and approximately one in ten adults has HIV/AIDS. Food, medicine, and electricity remain in short supply. Political stability and the end of the civil war have improved aid flows and economic activity has increased, but underlying weaknesses - a high poverty rate, poor education rates, a weak legal system, and low administrative capacity - risk undermining planned economic reforms. $4.432 billion (2005 est.) $739.5 million (2005 est.) 5.5% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $700 (2005 est.) 45.6% 20.8% 33.6% (2005 est.) 2.99 million (2002) agriculture 93.6%, industry 2.3%, services 4.1% (2002 est.) NA 68% (2002 est.) 1.8% 32.9% (1998) 33.3 (1998) 14% (2005 est.) 11.5% of GDP (2005 est.) $215.4 million $278 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing 18% (2001) 141.3 million kWh (2003) 141.4 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 10 million kWh; note - supplied by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 3,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $-55 million (2005 est.) $52 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) Germany 20.7%, Belgium 8.6%, Pakistan 7%, US 5.9%, Rwanda 5.9% (2004) $200 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) Kenya 13.6%, Tanzania 11.1%, US 8.8%, Belgium 8.5%, France 8.3%, Italy 5.9%, Uganda 5.6%, Japan 4.6%, Germany 4.4% (2004) $76 million (2005 est.) $1.2 billion (2003) $105.5 million (2003) Burundi franc (BIF) Burundi francs per US dollar - 1,138 (2005), 1,100.91 (2004), 1,082.62 (2003), 930.75 (2002), 830.35 (2001) calendar year 23,900 (2003) 64,000 (2003) primitive system sparse system of open-wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001) 1 (2001) .bi 22 (2003) 14,000 (2003) 8 (2004 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 7 4 3 (2005 est.) 14,480 km 1,028 km 13,452 km (1999) mainly on Lake Tanganyika (2004) Bujumbura National Defense Force (Forces de Defense Nationales, FDN): Army (includes Naval Detachment and Air Wing), National Gendarmerie (disbanding begun in 2004) (2005) 16 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001) 16 1,379,793 (2005 est.) 16 693,956 (2005 est.) 84,597 (2005 est.) $38.7 million (2004) 6% (2004) Tutsi, Hutu, other conflicting ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces continue fighting in the Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda in an effort to gain control over populated and natural resource areas; government heads pledge to end conflict, but localized violence continues despite the presence of about 6,000 peacekeepers from the UN Operation in Burundi (ONUB) since 2004; although some 150,000 Burundian refugees have been repatriated, as of February 2005, Burundian refugees still reside in camps in western Tanzania as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo refugees (country of origin): 60,288 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) 140,000 (armed conflict between government and rebels; most IDPs in northern and western Burundi) (2004) Cambodia Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, descendants of the Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Attacks by the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empire ushering in a long period of decline. The king placed the country under French protection in 1863. Cambodia became part of French Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953. In April 1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At least 1.5 million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships, or starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A December 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off almost 13 years of civil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by the Khmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy under a coalition government. Factional fighting in 1997 ended the first coalition government, but a second round of national elections in 1998 led to the formation of another coalition government and renewed political stability. The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrended in early 1999. Some of the remaining leaders are awaiting trial by a UN-sponsored tribunal for crimes against humanity. Elections in July 2003 were relatively peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contending political parties before a coalition government was formed. Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos 13 00 N 105 00 E Southeast Asia 181,040 sq km 176,520 sq km 4,520 sq km slightly smaller than Oklahoma 2,572 km Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km 443 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north Gulf of Thailand 0 m Phnum Aoral 1,810 m oil and gas, timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential 20.96% 0.61% 78.43% (2001) 2,700 sq km (1998 est.) monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand have resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, most of the population does not have access to potable water; declining fish stocks because of illegal fishing and overfishing Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands Law of the Sea a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap 13,607,069 estimates for this country take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.) 37.3% (male 2,559,734/female 2,510,235) 59.7% (male 3,887,642/female 4,232,313) 3.1% (male 150,862/female 266,283) (2005 est.) 19.91 years 19.16 years 20.79 years (2005 est.) 1.81% (2005 est.) 27.08 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 8.97 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.92 male(s)/female 0.57 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 71.48 deaths/1,000 live births 80.13 deaths/1,000 live births 62.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 58.92 years 56.98 years 60.95 years (2005 est.) 3.44 children born/woman (2005 est.) 2.6% (2003 est.) 170,000 (2003 est.) 15,000 (2003 est.) very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis are high risks in some locations at present, H5N1 avian influenza poses a minimal risk; during outbreaks among birds, rare cases could occur among US personnel who have close contact with infected birds or poultry (2005) Cambodian(s) Cambodian Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4% Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5% Khmer (official) 95%, French, English age 15 and over can read and write 73.6% 84.7% 64.1% (2004 est.) Kingdom of Cambodia Cambodia Preahreacheanacha Kampuchea (phonetic pronunciation) Kampuchea Kingdom of Cambodia, Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea, People's Republic of Kampuchea, State of Cambodia multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993 Phnom Penh 20 provinces (khaitt, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities (krong, singular and plural) Banteay Mean Chey, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Koh Kong, Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Chey, Pouthisat, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanakir, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takao Keb, Pailin, Phnom Penh, Preah Seihanu 9 November 1953 (from France) Independence Day, 9 November (1953) promulgated 21 September 1993 primarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codes from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) period, royal decrees, and acts of the legislature, with influences of customary law and remnants of communist legal theory; increasing influence of common law in recent years 18 years of age; universal King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004) Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 14 January 1985) and Deputy Prime Ministers SAR KHENG (since 3 February 1992), Norodom SIRIVUDH, SOK AN, LU LAY SRENG, TEA BANH, HOR NAMHONG, NHEK BUNCHHAY (since 16 July 2004) Council of Ministers in theory appointed by the monarch; in practice named by the prime minister none; the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council; following legislative elections, a member of the majority party or majority coalition is named prime minister by the Chairman of the National Assembly and appointed by the king bicameral, consists of the National Assembly (123 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (61 seats; two members appointed by the monarch, two elected by the National Assembly, and 57 elected by "functional constituencies"; members serve five-year terms) National Assembly - last held 27 July 2003 (next to be held in July 2008); Senate - last held 2 March 1999 (next to be held in January 2006) National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 47%, SRP 22%, FUNCINPEC 21%, other 10%; seats by party - CPP 73, FUNCINPEC 26, SRP 24; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CPP 31, FUNCINPEC 21, SRP 7, other 2 (July 2003) Supreme Council of the Magistracy (provided for in the constitution and formed in December 1997); Supreme Court (and lower courts) exercises judicial authority Cambodian Pracheachon Party (Cambodian People's Party) or CPP [CHEA SIM]; National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or FUNCINPEC [Prince Norodam RANARIDDH]; Sam Rangsi Party or SRP [SAM RANGSI] NA ACCT, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador EK SEREYWATH 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 [1] (202) 726-7742 [1] (202) 726-8381 Ambassador Joseph A. MUSSOMELI 1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh Box P, APO AP 96546 [855] (23) 728-000 [855] (23) 216-437/811 three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width), and blue with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat outlined in black in the center of the red band; only national flag to incorporate a building in its design In 1999, the first full year of peace in 30 years, the government made progress on economic reforms. The United States and Cambodia signed a Bilateral Textile Agreement, which gave Cambodia a guaranteed quota of US textile imports and established a bonus for improving working conditions and enforcing Cambodian labor laws and international labor standards in the industry. From 2001 to 2004, the economy grew at an average rate of 6.4%, driven largely by an expansion in the garment sector and tourism. With the January 2005 expiration of a WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, Cambodia-based textile producers were forced to compete directly with lower priced producing countries such as China and India. Economic growth slowed to an estimated 3.8% in 2005, due to sharply higher competitive pressures in the garment industry and early droughts in 14 of 24 provinces. Faced with the possibility that that its vibrant garment industry, with more than 200,000 jobs, could be in serious danger, the Cambodian government has committed itself to a policy of continued support for high labor standards in an attempt to maintain favor with buyers. The tourism industry continues to grow rapidly, with foreign visitors surpassing one million for the year by September 2005. The long-term development of the economy remains a daunting challenge. The Cambodian government continues to work with bilateral and multilateral donors, including the World Bank and IMF, to address the country's many pressing needs. In December 2004, official donors pledged $504 million in aid for 2005 on the condition that the Cambodian government implement steps to reduce corruption. The major economic challenge for Cambodia over the next decade will be fashioning an economic environment in which the private sector can create enough jobs to handle Cambodia's demographic imbalance. More than 50% of the population is 20 years or younger. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure. Fully 75% of the population remains engaged in subsistence farming. $28.71 billion (2005 est.) $4.92 billion (2005 est.) 4% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2005 est.) 32.9% 29.2% 37.9% (2004) 7 million (2003 est.) agriculture 75% (2004 est.) 2.5% (2000 est.) 40% (2004 est.) 2.9% 33.8% (1997) 40 (2004 est.) 4.3% (2005 est.) 22.8% of GDP (2005 est.) $559.4 million $772 million (2005 est.) rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles 22% (2002 est.) 123.7 million kWh (2003) 115 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 3,700 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $-269 million (2005 est.) $2.663 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 55.9%, Germany 11.7%, UK 6.9%, Vietnam 4.4%, Canada 4.2% (2004) $3.538 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Thailand 22.5%, Hong Kong 14.1%, China 13.6%, Vietnam 10.9%, Singapore 10.8%, Taiwan 8.4% (2004) $1.1 billion (2005 est.) $800 million (2003 est.) $504 million pledged in grants and concessional loans for 2005 by international donors riel (KHR) riels per US dollar - 4,098 (2005), 4,016.25 (2004), 3,973.33 (2003), 3,912.08 (2002), 3,916.33 (2001) calendar year 35,400 (2002) 380,000 (2002) adequate landline and/or cellular service in Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; mobile phone coverage is rapidly expanding in rural areas NA country code - 855; adequate but expensive landline and cellular service available to all countries from Phnom Penh and major provincial cities; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) AM 2, FM 17, (2003) 7 (2003) .kh 818 (2003) 30,000 (2002) 20 (2004 est.) 6 2 2 2 (2005 est.) 14 2 11 1 (2005 est.) 2 (2005 est.) 602 km 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2004) 12,323 km 1,996 km 10,327 km (2000) 2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2004) 479 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,913,910 GRT/2,713,967 DWT bulk carrier 34, cargo 396, chemical tanker 9, container 6, livestock carrier 3, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 1 193 (Canada 4, China 39, China 2, Cyprus 4, Egypt 5, Estonia 2, France 1, Germany 1, Greece 6, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 3, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 1, Israel 1, Italy 1, Japan 1, Lebanon 1, Nigeria 2, Norway 1, Russia 58, Singapore 5, South Korea 23, Syria 8, Turkey 7, Ukraine 6, UAE 1, United States 7, Yemen 1) (2005) Phnom Penh Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Army, Royal Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2005) 18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for all males; conscription law passed September 2004; service obligation is 18 months (September 2004) 18 2,981,823 (2005 est.) 18 1,844,144 (2005 est.) 175,305 (2005 est.) $112 million (FY01 est.) 3% (FY01 est.) Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary with missing boundary markers and Thai encroachments into Cambodian territory; maritime boundary with Vietnam is hampered by unresolved dispute over offshore islands; Cambodia accuses Thailand of obstructing access to Preah Vihear temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962; in 2004 Cambodian-Laotian and Laotian-Vietnamese boundary commissions reerect missing markers completing most of their demarcations narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the government, military, and police; possible small-scale opium, heroin, and amphetamine production; large producer of cannabis for the international market; vulnerable to money laundering due to its cash-based economy and porous borders Cameroon The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite a slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy headed by President Paul BIYA. Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria 6 00 N 12 00 E Africa 475,440 sq km 469,440 sq km 6,000 sq km slightly larger than California 4,591 km Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km 402 km 50 nm varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north Atlantic Ocean 0 m Fako (on Mount Cameroon) 4,095 m petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower 12.81% 2.58% 84.61% (2001) 330 sq km (1998 est.) volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 none of the selected agreements sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; throughout the country there are areas of thermal springs and indications of current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano 16,380,005 estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.) 41.7% (male 3,457,180/female 3,375,668) 55% (male 4,537,281/female 4,477,163) 3.3% (male 239,634/female 293,079) (2005 est.) 18.6 years 18.45 years 18.76 years (2005 est.) 1.93% (2005 est.) 34.67 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 15.4 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.82 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 68.26 deaths/1,000 live births 72.14 deaths/1,000 live births 64.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 50.89 years 50.71 years 51.08 years (2005 est.) 4.47 children born/woman (2005 est.) 6.9% (2003 est.) 560,000 (2003 est.) 49,000 (2003 est.) very high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations schistosomiasis meningococcal meningitis (2004) Cameroonian(s) Cameroonian Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1% indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20% 24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official) age 15 and over can read and write 79% 84.7% 73.4% (2003 est.) Republic of Cameroon Cameroon French Cameroon unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990) preponderance of power remains with the president Yaounde 10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest 1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship) Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972) 20 May 1972 approved by referendum, 2 June 1972 formally adopted; revised January 1996 based on French civil law system, with common law influence; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 20 years of age; universal President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982) Prime Minister Ephraim INONI (since 8 Dec 2004) Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submitted by the prime minister president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 11 October 2004 (next to be held NA October 2011); prime minister appointed by the president President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote - Paul BIYA 70.9%, John FRU NDI 17.4%, Adamou Ndam NJOYA 4.5%, Garga Haman ADJI 3.7% unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - the president can either lengthen or shorten the term of the legislature) last held 23 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RDCP 133, SDF 21, UDC 5, other 21 the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); High Court of Justice (consists of 9 judges and 6 substitute judges, elected by the National Assembly) Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou NDAM NJOYA]; Democratic Rally of the Cameroon People or RDCP [Paul BIYA]; Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]; Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [leader Marcel YONDO]; Movement for the Youth of Cameroon or MYC [Dieudonne TINA]; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA]; Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI]; Union of Cameroonian Populations or UPC [Augustin Frederic KODOCK] Southern Cameroon National Council [Ayamba Ette OTUN]; Human Rights Defense Group [Albert MUKONG, president] ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 265-8790 [1] (202) 387-3826 Ambassador Niels MARQUARDT Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520 [237] 223-05-12, 222-25-89, 222-17-94, 223-40-14 [237] 223-07-53 branch office(s): Douala three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia Because of its oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries, such as a top-heavy civil service and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks. In June 2000, the government completed an IMF-sponsored, three-year structural adjustment program; however, the IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs. International oil and cocoa prices have considerable impact on the economy. $32.35 billion (2005 est.) $15.91 billion (2005 est.) 5% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2005 est.) 44.8% 17.3% 37.9% (2005 est.) 6.86 million (2005 est.) agriculture 70%, industry and commerce 13%, other 17% 30% (2001 est.) 48% (2000 est.) 1.9% 36.6% (1996) 44.6 (2001) 1.5% (2005 est.) 17.3% of GDP (2005 est.) $3.263 billion $2.705 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 64.8% of GDP (2005 est.) coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair 4.2% (1999 est.) 2.988 billion kWh (2003) 2.779 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 82,300 bbl/day (2005 est.) 23,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 85 million bbl (2005 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 55.22 billion cu m (2005) $159 million (2005 est.) $3.236 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Spain 15.2%, Italy 12.3%, UK 10.2%, France 9.2%, US 8.8%, South Korea 7.1%, Netherlands 4.3% (2004) $2.514 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) France 28.2%, Nigeria 9.9%, Belgium 7.6%, US 4.9%, China 4.8%, Germany 4.6%, Italy 4.1% (2004) $1.092 billion (2005 est.) $9.223 billion (2005 est.) on 23 January 2001, the Paris Club agreed to reduce Cameroon's debt of $1.3 billion by $900 million; debt relief now totals $1.26 billion Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 521.74 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001) 1 July - 30 June 110,900 (2002) 1.077 million (2003) available only to business and government cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter country code - 237; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (2002) 1 (2002) .cm 479 (2004) 60,000 (2002) Cameroon also had more than 100 cyber-cafes in 2001 47 (2004 est.) 11 2 4 3 1 1 (2005 est.) 36 7 20 9 (2005 est.) gas 90 km; liquid petroleum gas 9 km; oil 1,120 km (2004) 1,008 km 1,008 km 1.000-m gauge (2004) 80,932 km 5,398 km 75,534 km (2002) navigation mainly on Benue River; limited during rainy season (2004) 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 169,593 GRT/357,023 DWT petroleum tanker 1 (2005) Douala, Limboh Terminal Cameroon Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air Force 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (1999) 18 3,410,440 (2005 est.) 18 1,720,385 (2005 est.) 188,662 (2005 est.) $221.1 million (2004) 1.6% (2004) ICJ ruled in 2002 on the entire Cameroon-Nigeria land and maritime boundary but the parties formed a Joint Border Commission, which continues to meet regularly to resolve differences bilaterally and have commenced with demarcation in less-contested sections of the boundary, starting in Lake Chad in the north; implementation of the ICJ ruling on the Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea is impeded by imprecisely defined coordinates, the unresolved Bakassi allocation, and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River; Nigeria initially rejected cession of the Bakasi Peninsula, then agreed, but has yet to withdraw its forces while much of the indigenous population opposes cession; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes Chad and Niger refugees (country of origin): 39,261 (Chad) 16,983 (Nigeria) 9,634 (Cote d'Ivoire) (2004) Canada Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, north of the conterminous US 60 00 N 95 00 W North America 9,984,670 sq km 9,093,507 sq km 891,163 sq km somewhat larger than the US 8,893 km US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska) 202,080 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast Atlantic Ocean 0 m Mount Logan 5,959 m iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower 4.96% 0.02% 95.02% (2001) 7,200 sq km (1998 est.) continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow east of the mountains air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Marine Life Conservation second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US border 32,805,041 (July 2005 est.) 17.9% (male 3,016,032/female 2,869,244) 68.9% (male 11,357,425/female 11,244,356) 13.2% (male 1,842,496/female 2,475,488) (2005 est.) 38.54 years 37.54 years 39.56 years (2005 est.) 0.9% (2005 est.) 10.84 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 7.73 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.74 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 4.75 deaths/1,000 live births 5.21 deaths/1,000 live births 4.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 80.1 years 76.73 years 83.63 years (2005 est.) 1.61 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.3% (2003 est.) 56,000 (2003 est.) 1,500 (2003 est.) Canadian(s) Canadian British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26% Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (including United Church 9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), other Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16% (2001 census) English (official) 59.3%, French (official) 23.2%, other 17.5% age 15 and over can read and write 97% (1986 est.) NA% NA% none Canada a constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and a federation Ottawa 10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory* 1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (independence recognized) Canada Day, 1 July (1867) made up of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial decisions, and traditions; the written part of the constitution consists of the Constitution Act of 29 March 1867, which created a federation of four provinces, and the Constitution Act of 17 April 1982, which transferred formal control over the constitution from Britain to Canada, and added a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as procedures for constitutional amendments based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations 18 years of age; universal Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Michaelle JEAN (since 27 September 2005) Prime Minister Paul MARTIN (since 12 December 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Anne MCLELLAN (since 12 December 2003) Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister usually from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition in the House of Commons is automatically designated prime minister by the governor general bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (members appointed by the governor general with the advice of the prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age; its normal limit is 105 senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (308 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve for up to five-year terms) House of Commons - last held 28 June 2004 (next to be held 23 January 2006) House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 36.7%, Conservative Party 29.6%, New Democratic Party 15.7%, Bloc Quebecois 12.4%, Greens 4.3%, independents 0.4%, other 0.9%; seats by party - Liberal Party 134, Conservative Party 99, Bloc Quebecois 54, New Democratic Party 19, independent 2 Supreme Court of Canada (judges are appointed by the prime minister through the governor general); Federal Court of Canada; Federal Court of Appeal; Provincial Courts (these are named variously Court of Appeal, Court of Queens Bench, Superior Court, Supreme Court, and Court of Justice) Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Conservative Party of Canada (a merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party) [Stephen HARPER]; Green Party [Jim HARRIS]; Liberal Party [Paul MARTIN]; New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON] NA ACCT, AfDB, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAFTA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC Ambassador Francis Joseph MCKENNA 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001 [1] (202) 682-1740 [1] (202) 682-7726 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix, San Diego, and Seattle consulate(s): Anchorage, Houston, Philadelphia, Princeton, Raleigh, San Francisco, and San Jose Ambassador David H. WILKINS 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8 P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburgh, NY 13669-0430 [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470 [1] (613) 688-3082 consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width), with white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is centered in the white square; the official colors of Canada are red and white As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, in the trillion dollar class, Canada closely resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and affluent living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. Given its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant Canada enjoys solid economic prospects. Solid fiscal management has produced a balanced budget, although public debate continues over how to manage the rising cost of the publicly funded healthcare system. Exports account for roughly a third of GDP. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus with its principal trading partner, the United States, which absorbs more than 85% of Canadian exports. $1.077 trillion (2005 est.) $1.047 trillion (2005 est.) 2.8% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $32,800 (2005 est.) 2.2% 29.1% 68.7% (2005 est.) 17.35 million (2005 est.) agriculture 2%, manufacturing 14%, construction 5%, services 75%, other 3% (2004) 6.8% (2005 est.) 15.9% (2003) 2.8% 23.8% (1994) 33.1 (1998) 2.3% (2005 est.) 20.2% of GDP (2005 est.) $159.6 billion $152.6 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.) 68.2% of GDP NA (2005 est.) wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products; wood and paper products; fish products, petroleum and natural gas 2.9% (2005 est.) 566.3 billion kWh (2003) 520.9 billion kWh (2003) 29.32 billion kWh (2003) 23.58 billion kWh (2003) 3.07 million bbl/day (2005 est.) 2.193 million bbl/day (2003 est.) 1.37 million bbl/day (2004) 987,000 bbl/day (2004) 178.9 billion bbl including shale oil (2004 est.) 165.8 billion cu m (2003 est.) 55.8 billion cu m (2003 est.) 91.52 billion cu m (2003 est.) 8.73 billion cu m (2003 est.) 1.691 trillion cu m (2004) $16.89 billion (2005 est.) $364.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 85.1%, Japan 2.1%, UK 1.6% (2004) $317.7 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 58.9%, China 6.8%, Mexico 3.8% (2004) $34.48 billion (2004 est.) $600.7 billion (30 June 2005) ODA, $2.6 billion (2004) Canadian dollar (CAD) Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.21 (2005), 1.301 (2004), 1.4011 (2003), 1.5693 (2002), 1.5488 (2001) 1 April - 31 March 19,950,900 (2003) 13,221,800 (2003) excellent service provided by modern technology domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations country code - 1-xxx; 5 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) AM 245, FM 582, shortwave 6 (2004) 80 (plus many repeaters) (1997) .ca 3,210,081 (2003) 16.11 million (2002) 1,326 (2004 est.) 508 18 15 151 247 77 (2005 est.) 823 66 351 406 (2005 est.) 319 (2005 est.) crude and refined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980 km (2003) 48,683 km 48,683 km 1.435-m gauge (2004) 1,408,800 km 493,080 km (including 16,906 km of expressways) 915,720 km (2002) 631 km Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States (2003) 169 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,784,229 GRT/2,657,499 DWT bulk carrier 22, cargo 49, chemical tanker 6, combination ore/oil 1, container 1, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 65, petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll off 6 6 (France 1, Germany 3, United States 2) 112 (2005) Fraser River Port, Goderich, Halifax, Montreal, Port Cartier, Quebec, Saint John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Vancouver Canadian Armed Forces: Land Forces Command, Maritime Command, Air Command, Canada Command (homeland security) to be operational in early 2006 (2005) 16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise some 11% of Canada's armed forces (2001) 16 8,216,510 (2005 est.) 16 6,740,490 (2005 est.) 223,821 (2005 est.) $9,801.7 million (2003) 1.1% (2003) managed maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and around the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock; working toward greater cooperation with US in monitoring people and commodities crossing the border; uncontested sovereignty dispute with Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market and export to US; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US market; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering because of its mature financial services sector Cape Verde The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result, Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one. Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents. Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal 16 00 N 24 00 W Political Map of the World 4,033 sq km 4,033 sq km 0 sq km slightly larger than Rhode Island 0 km 965 km measured from claimed archipelagic baselines 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic Atlantic Ocean 0 m Mt. Fogo 2,829 m salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum 9.68% 0.5% 89.82% (2001) 30 sq km (1998 est.) prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection none of the selected agreements strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site 418,224 (July 2005 est.) 39% (male 82,249/female 80,752) 54.3% (male 110,119/female 116,816) 6.8% (male 10,599/female 17,689) (2005 est.) 19.4 years 18.62 years 20.25 years (2005 est.) 0.67% (2005 est.) 25.33 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 6.62 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -11.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female 0.6 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 47.77 deaths/1,000 live births 52.95 deaths/1,000 live births 42.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 70.45 years 67.13 years 73.86 years (2005 est.) 3.48 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.035% (2001 est.) 775 (2001) 225 (as of 2001) Cape Verdean(s) Cape Verdean Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1% Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene) Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words) age 15 and over can read and write 76.6% 85.8% 69.2% (2003 est.) Republic of Cape Verde Cape Verde Republica de Cabo Verde Cabo Verde republic Praia 17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Miguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal 5 July 1975 (from Portugal) Independence Day, 5 July (1975) new constitution came into force 25 September 1992; underwent a major revision on 23 November 1995, substantially increasing the powers of the president, and a further revision in 1999, to create the position of national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica) derived from the legal system of Portugal 18 years of age; universal President Pedro Verona PIRES (since 22 March 2001) Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1 February 2001) Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 11 and 25 February 2001 (next to be held 12 February 2006); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president Pedro PIRES elected president; percent of vote - Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 49.43%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 49.42%; note - the election was won by only twelve votes unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held 14 January 2001 (next to be held 22 January 2006) percent of vote by party - PAICV 47.3%, MPD 39.8%, ADM 6%, other 6.9%; seats by party - PAICV 40, MPD 30, ADM 2 Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Jose Maria Pereira NEVES, chairman]; Democratic Alliance for Change or ADM [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO] (a coalition of PCD, PTS, and UCID); Democratic Christian Party or PDC [Manuel RODRIGUES, chairman]; Democratic Renovation Party or PRD [Victor FIDALGO, president]; Movement for Democracy or MPD [Agostinho LOPES, president]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Isaias RODRIGUES, president]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM, president] NA ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer) Ambassador Jose BRITO 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 [1] (202) 965-6820 [1] (202) 965-1207 consulate(s) general: Boston Ambassador Roger D. PIERCE Rua Abilio m. Macedo 81, Praia C. P. 201, Praia [238] 261 56 16, 261 56 17 [238] 261 13 55 three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white (with a horizontal red stripe in the middle third), and light blue; a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the hoist end of the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower blue bands This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport, tourism, and public services accounting for 72% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of agriculture in GDP in 2004 was only 12%, of which fishing accounted for 1.5%. About 82% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by foreign aid and remittances from emigrants; remittances supplement GDP by more than 20%. Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Future prospects depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, the encouragement of tourism, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program. $2.99 billion (2005 est.) $1.128 billion (2005 est.) 5.5% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2005 est.) 12.1% 21.9% 66% (2004 est.) NA 21% (2000 est.) 30% (2000) NA NA 1.8% (2005 est.) 26.4% of GDP (2005 est.) $328.1 million $393.1 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair NA 44.15 million kWh (2003) 41.06 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 1,200 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $-147.7 million (2005 est.) $73.35 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) Portugal 57.6%, US 16.7%, UK 11% (2004) $500 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) Portugal 41.8%, US 12.3%, Netherlands 8.4%, Spain 5.2%, Italy 4.2%, Brazil 4% (2004) $152.2 million (2005 est.) $325 million (2002) $136 million (1999) Cape Verdean escudo (CVE) Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 80.78 (2005), 88.808 (2004), 97.703 (2003), 117.168 (2002), 123.228 (2001) calendar year 71,700 (2003) 53,300 (2003) effective system, extensive modernization from 1996-2000 following partial privatization in 1995 major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT); fiber optic ring, completed in 2001, links all islands providing Internet access and ISDN services; cellular service introduced in 1998 country code - 238; 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) AM 0, FM 22 (and 12 low power repeaters), shortwave 0 (2002) 1 (and 7 repeaters) (2002) .cv 118 (2004) 20,400 (2003) 7 3 airports are reported to be nonoperational (2004 est.) 6 1 5 (2005 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 1,350 km 1,053 km 297 km (2002) 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,395 GRT/6,614 DWT cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 2 1 (United Kingdom 1) (2005) Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP): Army, Coast Guard (includes maritime air wing) 18 84,641 (2005 est.) 18 65,614 (2005 est.) $14.1 million (2004) 1.5% (2004) none used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Asia destined for Western Europe; the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries. Administered by Jamaica since 1863, they remained a British dependency after 1962 when the former became independent. Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras 19 30 N 80 30 W Central America and the Caribbean 262 sq km 262 sq km 0 sq km 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC 0 km 160 km 12 nm 200 nm tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April) low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs Caribbean Sea 0 m The Bluff 43 m fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism 3.85% 0% 96.15% (2001) NA sq km hurricanes (July to November) no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments important location between Cuba and Central America 44,270 (July 2005 est.) 21.1% (male 4,658/female 4,662) 70.8% (male 15,284/female 16,050) 8.2% (male 1,699/female 1,917) (2005 est.) 36.83 years 36.48 years 37.18 years (2005 est.) 2.64% (2005 est.) 12.92 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 4.81 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 18.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2005 est.) 1.02 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.89 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 8.19 deaths/1,000 live births 9.39 deaths/1,000 live births 6.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 79.95 years 77.33 years 82.6 years (2005 est.) 1.9 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA NA NA Caymanian(s) Caymanian mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20% United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic English age 15 and over has ever attended school 98% 98% 98% (1970 est.) none Cayman Islands overseas territory of the UK British crown colony George Town 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western none (overseas territory of the UK) Constitution Day, first Monday in July 1959; revised 1972 and 1992 British common law and local statutes 18 years of age; universal Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Governor Stuart JACK (since 23 November 2005) Leader of Government Business Kurt TIBBETTS (since 18 May 2005) Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly) none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed by the governor Leader of Government Business unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, three appointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) last held 11 May 2005 (next to be held 2009) percent of vote - NA%; seats - PPM 9, UDP 5, independent 1 Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were formed for the 2000 elections; United Democratic Party or UDP [leader McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [leader Kurt TIBBETTS] NA Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU none (overseas territory of the UK) none (overseas territory of the UK) blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 40,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1998, including almost 600 banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 1.2 million in 1997, with 600,000 from the US. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world. $1.391 billion (2004 est.) NA 1.7% (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $32,300 (2004 est.) 1.4% 3.2% 95.4% (1994 est.) 19,820 (1995) agriculture 1.4%, industry 12.6%, services 86% (1995) 4.1% (1997) NA NA NA 2.8% (2002) $265.2 million $248.9 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1997) vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture NA% 441.9 million kWh (2003) 411 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 2,450 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $1.2 million (1999) mostly US (2004) $457.4 million (1999) US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2004) $70 million (1996) NA Caymanian dollar (KYD) Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.82 (29 October 2001), 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993) 1 April - 31 March 38,000 (2002) 17,000 (2002) reasonably good system liberalization of telecom market in 2003 reflected in falling prices and improving services country code - 1-345; 2 submarine fiber optic cables (Maya-1, Cayman-Jamaica); satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004) 4 with cable system (2004) .ky 9,909 (2003) 3 (2004 est.) 2 2 (2005 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 785 km 785 km (2002) 129 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,827,837 GRT/4,555,974 DWT bulk carrier 29, cargo 12, chemical tanker 39, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 28, roll on/roll off 3 126 (Denmark 1, Germany 14, Greece 20, Italy 12, Norway 1, Philippines 1, Sweden 13, Switzerland 11, United Kingdom 9, United States 44) (2005) Cayman Brac, George Town no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force defense is the responsibility of the UK none offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe Central African Republic The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments - civilian rule was established in 1993 and lasted for one decade. President Ange-Felix PATASSE's civilian government was plagued by unrest, and in March 2003 he was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois BOZIZE, who has since established a transitional government. Though the government has the tacit support of civil society groups and the main parties, a wide field of affiliated and independent candidates will contest the municipal, legislative, and presidential elections scheduled for February 2005. The government still does not fully control the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist. Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo 7 00 N 21 00 E Africa 622,984 sq km 622,984 sq km 0 sq km slightly smaller than Texas 5,203 km Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km 0 km (landlocked) none (landlocked) tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest Oubangui River 335 m Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower 3.1% 0.14% 96.76% (2001) NA sq km hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94 Law of the Sea landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa 3,799,897 estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.) 42.5% (male 813,596/female 802,728) 54% (male 1,010,696/female 1,041,903) 3.4% (male 54,345/female 76,629) (2005 est.) 18.12 years 17.75 years 18.5 years (2005 est.) 1.49% (2005 est.) 35.17 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 20.27 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.71 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 91 deaths/1,000 live births 97.84 deaths/1,000 live births 83.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 43.39 years 43.27 years 43.52 years (2005 est.) 4.5 children born/woman (2005 est.) 13.5% (2003 est.) 260,000 (2003 est.) 23,000 (2003 est.) very high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria meningococcal meningitis (2004) Central African(s) Central African Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2% indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15% animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages age 15 and over can read and write 51% 63.3% 39.9% (2003 est.) Central African Republic none Republique Centrafricaine none Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire CAR republic Bangui 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei, Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga 13 August 1960 (from France) Republic Day, 1 December (1958) 5 December 2004; ratified by popular referendum based on French law 21 years of age; universal President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup) Prime Minister Elie DOTE (since 13 June 2005) note - Celestin GAOMBALET resigned 11 June 2005 Council of Ministers president elected to five year term with a two-term limit; next presidential elections scheduled for 10 April 2005; prime minister appointed by the political party with a parliamentary majority unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held 13 March 2005 and 8 May 2005 (next to be held NA 2010) percent of vote by party - MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD 9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%, independents 6%; seats by party - MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 8, FPP 7, PSD 6, ADP 5, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7 Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court (3 judges appointed by the president, 3 by the president of the National Assembly, and 3 by fellow judges); Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Inferior Courts Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Jacques MBOLIEDAS]; Central African Democratic Assembly or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; Civic Forum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic Forum for Modernity or FODEM [Charles MASSI]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]; Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [David DACKO]; Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [the party of deposed president, Ange-Felix PATASSE]; Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; People's Union for the Republic or UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY]; National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE] NA ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Emmanuel TOUABOY 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 483-7800 [1] (202) 332-9893 Charge d'Affaires James PANOS Avenue David Dacko, Bangui B. P. 924, Bangui [236] 61 02 00 [236] 61 44 94 the embassy is currently operating with a minimal staff four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with more than 70% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates half of GDP. Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry, for 40%. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Factional fighting between the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization, with GDP growth at only 0.5% in 2004 and 2.5% in 2005. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs. $4.47 billion (2005 est.) $1.467 billion (2005 est.) 2.5% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2005 est.) 55% 20% 25% (2001 est.) NA 8% (23% for Bangui) (2001 est.) NA 0.7% 47.7% (1993) 61.3 (1993) 3.6% (2001 est.) NA NA, including capital expenditures of NA cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles 3% (2002) 106 million kWh (2003) 98.58 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 2,400 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA NA $131 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) Belgium 39.6%, Italy 8.7%, Spain 8%, US 6.2%, France 6.1%, Indonesia 5.9%, China 4.9% (2004) $203 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) France 17.6%, US 16.3%, Cameroon 9.3%, Belgium 5% (2004) $1.06 billion (2002 est.) ODA $59.8 million; note - traditional budget subsidies from France (2002 est.) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 528.28 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001) calendar year 9,000 (2002) 13,000 (2003) fair system network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002) 1 (2001) .cf 6 (2002) 5,000 (2002) 50 (2004 est.) 3 1 2 (2005 est.) 47 1 10 23 13 (2005 est.) 23,810 km (1999) 2,800 km (primarily on the Oubangui and Sangha rivers) (2004) Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga Central African Armed Forces (FACA): Ground Forces, Air Force; General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG), Republican Guard (2004) 18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service; conscript service obligation is two years (2005) 18 758,103 (2005 est.) 18 330,255 (2005 est.) $15.5 million (2004) 1% (2004) about 30,000 refugees fleeing the 2002 civil conflict in the CAR still reside in southern Chad; periodic skirmishes over water and grazing rights among related pastoral populations along the border with southern Sudan persist refugees (country of origin): 36,479 (Sudan) 1,864 (Chad) 6,484 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) 200,000 (unrest following coup in 2003) (2004) Chad Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three decades of civil warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The government eventually drafted a democratic constitution, and held flawed presidential elections in 1996 and 2001. In 1998, a rebellion broke out in northern Chad, which sporadically flares up despite several peace agreements between the government and the rebels. In 2005 new rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and have made probing attacks into eastern Chad. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority. In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a referendum successfully removing constitutional term limits. Central Africa, south of Libya 15 00 N 19 00 E Africa 1.284 million sq km 1,259,200 sq km 24,800 sq km slightly more than three times the size of California 5,968 km Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197 km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km 0 km (landlocked) none (landlocked) tropical in south, desert in north broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south Djourab Depression 160 m Emi Koussi 3,415 m petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt 2.86% 0.02% 97.12% (2001) 200 sq km (1998 est.) hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel 9,826,419 (July 2005 est.) 47.9% (male 2,365,277/female 2,337,388) 49.4% (male 2,323,110/female 2,528,086) 2.8% (male 109,535/female 163,023) (2005 est.) 16.02 years 15.32 years 16.71 years (2005 est.) 2.95% (2005 est.) 45.98 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 16.41 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.04 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.92 male(s)/female 0.67 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 93.82 deaths/1,000 live births 103.03 deaths/1,000 live births 84.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 47.18 years 45.55 years 48.87 years (2005 est.) 6.32 children born/woman (2005 est.) 4.8% (2003 est.) 200,000 (2003 est.) 18,000 (2003 est.) very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria schistosomiasis meningococcal meningitis (2004) Chadian(s) Chadian 200 distinct groups; in the north and center: Arabs, Gorane (Toubou, Daza, Kreda), Zaghawa, Kanembou, Ouaddai, Baguirmi, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Boulala, and Maba, most of whom are Muslim; in the south: Sara (Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye), Moundang, Moussei, Massa, most of whom are Christian or animist; about 1,000 French citizens live in Chad Muslim 51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%, other 7% French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic 47.5% 56% 39.3% (2003 est.) Republic of Chad Chad Republique du Tchad Tchad republic N'Djamena 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture); Batha, Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile instead of 14 prefectures, there may be a new administrative structure of 28 departments (departments, singular - department), and 1 city*; Assongha, Baguirmi, Bahr El Gazal, Bahr Koh, Batha Oriental, Batha Occidental, Biltine, Borkou, Dababa, Ennedi, Guera, Hadjer Lamis, Kabia, Kanem, Lac, Lac Iro, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Boneye, Mayo-Dallah, Monts de Lam, N'Djamena*, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile Oriental, Tandjile Occidental, Tibesti 11 August 1960 (from France) Independence Day, 11 August (1960) passed by referendum 31 March 1996 based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December 1990) Prime Minister Pascal YOADIMNADJI (since 3 February 2005) Council of State, members appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister president elected by popular vote to serve five-year term; if no candidate receives at least 50% of the total vote, the two candidates receiving the most votes must stand for a second round of voting; last held 20 May 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); prime minister appointed by the president Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY reelected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 63%, Ngarlegy YORONGAR 16%, Saleh KEBZABO 7% bicameral according to constitution, consists of a National Assembly (155 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and a Senate (not yet created and size unspecified, members to serve six-year terms, one-third of membership renewable every two years) National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to be held in April 2006) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, URD 5, UNDR 3, others 11 Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarlejy YORONGAR]; National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO]; Party for Liberty and Development or PLD [Ibni Oumar Mahamat SALEH]; Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Mahamat Saleh AHMAT, chairman]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Lol Mahamat CHOUA]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR [Jean ALINGUE]; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]; Viva Rally for Development and Progress or Viva RNDP [Delwa Kassire COUMAKOYE] NA ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Mahamat Adam BECHIR 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 462-4009 [1] (202) 265-1937 Ambassador Marc WALL Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena B. P. 413, N'Djamena [235] (51) 70-09 [235] (51) 56-54 three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flags of Andorra and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted by major foreign direct investment projects in the oil sector that began in 2000. Over 80% of Chad's population relies on subsistence farming and livestock raising for its livelihood. Chad's economy has long been handicapped by its landlocked position, high energy costs, and a history of instability. Chad relies on foreign assistance and foreign capital for most public and private sector investment projects. A consortium led by two US companies has been investing $3.7 billion to develop oil reserves, estimated at 1 billion barrels, in southern Chad. The nation's total oil reserves have been estimated to be 2 billion barrels. Oil production came on stream in late 2003. Chad began to export oil in 2004. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings. $18.3 billion (2005 est.) $4.988 billion (2005 est.) 14% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2005 est.) 23.7% 38.6% 37.7% (2005 est.) NA agriculture more than 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing) NA 80% (2001 est.) NA NA 5.5% (2005 est.) 7.2% of GDP (2005 est.) $765.2 million $653.3 million, including capital expenditures of $146 million (2005 est.) cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials 5% (1995) 120 million kWh (2003) 111.6 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 225,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) 1,450 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA NA $663.3 million (2005 est.) $3.016 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 67.7%, China 21.5%, Portugal 4.3% (2004) $749.1 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) France 21.9%, Cameroon 16.1%, US 10.8%, Portugal 10.4%, Germany 6.4%, Belgium 4.6% (2004) $881.8 million (2005 est.) $1.5 billion (2003 est.) $238.3 million received; note - $125 million committed by Taiwan (August 1997); $30 million committed by African Development Bank; ODA $246.9 million (2003 est.) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 516.5 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001) calendar year 11,800 (2002) 65,000 (2003) primitive system fair system of radiotelephone communication stations country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2002) 1 (2002) .td 8 (2004) 15,000 (2002) 50 (2004 est.) 7 2 3 1 1 (2005 est.) 44 14 21 9 (2005 est.) oil 205 km (2004) 33,400 km 267 km 33,133 km (1999) Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season (2002) Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale Tchadienne, ANT), Air Force, Gendarmerie (2004) 20 years of age for conscripts, with 3-year service obligation; 18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age restriction for volunteers with consent from a guardian (2004) 20 1,559,382 (2005 est.) 20 834,695 (2005 est.) 95,228 (2005 est.) $101.3 million (2004) 2.1% (2004) since 2003, Janjawid armed militia and Sudanese military have driven about 200,000 Darfur region refugees into eastern Chad; Chad remains an important mediator in the Sudanese civil conflict; Chadian Aozou rebels reside in southern Libya; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes Chad and Niger refugees (country of origin): 200,000 (Sudan) 30,000 (Central African Republic) (2004) Chile Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians inhabited central and southern Chile; the latter were not completely subjugated until the early 1880s. Although Chile declared its independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-84), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern lands. A three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s, have contributed to steady growth and have helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation. Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru 30 00 S 71 00 W South America 756,950 sq km 748,800 sq km 8,150 sq km includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana 6,171 km Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km 6,435 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200/350 nm temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east Pacific Ocean 0 m Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower 2.65% 0.42% 96.93% (2001) 18,000 sq km (1998 est.) severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling none of the selected agreements strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage); Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions 15,980,912 (July 2005 est.) 25.2% (male 2,062,735/female 1,970,913) 66.7% (male 5,320,870/female 5,342,771) 8% (male 534,737/female 748,886) (2005 est.) 30.07 years 29.17 years 31.05 years (2005 est.) 0.97% (2005 est.) 15.44 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 5.76 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.71 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births 9.55 deaths/1,000 live births 8.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 76.58 years 73.3 years 80.03 years (2005 est.) 2.02 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.3% (2003 est.) 26,000 (2003 est.) 1,400 (2003 est.) Chilean(s) Chilean white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2% Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish NEGL% Spanish age 15 and over can read and write 96.2% 96.4% 96.1% (2003 est.) Republic of Chile Chile Republica de Chile Chile republic Santiago 13 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica 18 September 1810 (from Spain) Independence Day, 18 September (1810) 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 1989, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, and 2005 based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and subsequent codes influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Chile is in the process of completely overhauling its criminal justice system; a new, US-style adversarial system is being gradually implemented throughout the country, and the final stage of implementation in the Santiago metropolitan region began in June 2005 18 years of age; universal and compulsory President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government Cabinet appointed by the president president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 11 December 2005, with runoff election to be held 15 January 2006 (next to be held December 2009) Ricardo LAGOS Escobar elected president; percent of vote - Ricardo LAGOS Escobar 51.32%, Joaquin LAVIN 48.68% bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (38 seats elected by popular vote); elected members serve eight-year terms (one-half elected every four years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) Senate - last held 11 December 2005 (next to be held December 2009); Chamber of Deputies - last held 11 December 2005 (next to be held December 2009) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CPD 20 (PDC 6, PS 8, PPD 3, PRSD 3), APC 17 (UDI 9, RN 8), independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CPD 65 (PDC 21, PPD 22, PS 15, PRSD 7), APC 54 (UDI 34, RN 20, independent 1) Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by the president and ratified by the Senate from lists of candidates provided by the court itself; the president of the Supreme Court is elected every three years by the 20-member court); Constitutional Tribunal Alliance for Chile ("Alianza") or APC (including National Renewal or RN [Sergio DIEZ Urzia] and Independent Democratic Union or UDI [Jovino NOVOA Vasquez]); Coalition of Parties for Democracy ("Concertacion") or CPD (including Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Adolfo ZALDIVAR Larrain], Socialist Party or PS [Ricardo NUNEZ], Party for Democracy or PPD [Victor BARRUETO], Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD [Jose Antonio GOMEZ Urrutia]); Communist Party or PC [Guillermo TEILLIER] revitalized university student federations at all major universities; Roman Catholic Church; United Labor Central or CUT includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor confederations APEC, BIS, CSN, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Andres BIANCHI 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 [1] (202) 785-1746 [1] (202) 887-5579 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) Ambassador Craig A. KELLY Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago APO AA 34033 [56] (2) 232-2600 [56] (2) 330-3710 two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is a blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the center representing a guide to progress and honor; blue symbolizes the sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red stands for the blood spilled to achieve independence; design was influenced by the US flag Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level of foreign trade. During the early 1990s, Chile's reputation as a role model for economic reform was strengthened when the democratic government of Patricio AYLWIN - which took over from the military in 1990 - deepened the economic reform initiated by the military government. Growth in real GDP averaged 8% during 1991-97, but fell to half that level in 1998 because of tight monetary policies implemented to keep the current account deficit in check and because of lower export earnings - the latter a product of the global financial crisis. A severe drought exacerbated the recession in 1999, reducing crop yields and causing hydroelectric shortfalls and electricity rationing, and Chile experienced negative economic growth for the first time in more than 15 years. Despite the effects of the recession, Chile maintained its reputation for strong financial institutions and sound policy that have given it the strongest sovereign bond rating in South America. By the end of 1999, exports and economic activity had begun to recover, and growth rebounded to 4.2% in 2000. Growth fell back to 3.1% in 2001 and 2.1% in 2002, largely due to lackluster global growth and the devaluation of the Argentine peso. Chile's economy began a slow recovery in 2003, growing 3.2%, and accelerated to 6.1% in 2004-05, while Chile maintained a low rate of inflation. GDP growth benefited from high copper prices, solid export earnings (particularly forestry, fishing, and mining), and stepped-up foreign direct investment. Unemployment, however, remains stubbornly high. Chile deepened its longstanding commitment to trade liberalization with the signing of a free trade agreement with the US, which took effect on 1 January 2004. Chile signed a free trade agreement with China in November 2005. Record-high copper prices strengthened the peso to a 5 ½-year high, as of December 2005, and will boost GDP in 2006. $180.6 billion (2005 est.) $97 billion (2005 est.) 5.9% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $11,300 (2005 est.) 6.2% 46.5% 47.3% (2005 est.) 6.3 million (2005 est.) agriculture 13.6%, industry 23.4%, services 63% (2003) 7.4% (2005 est.) 20.6% (2000) 1.2% 47% (2000) 57.1 (2000) 4% (2005 est.) 23.2% of GDP (2005 est.) $29.2 billion $24.75 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.33 billion (2005 est.) 8.1% of GDP (2005 est.) grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic, asparagus, beans, beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles 6% (2005 est.) 45.3 billion kWh (2003) 44.13 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 2 billion kWh (2003) 4,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) 228,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) 0 bbl/day (2003) 221,500 bbl/day (2003 est.) 150 million bbl (1 January 2004) 1.18 billion cu m (2002 est.) 6.517 billion cu m (2002 est.) 0 cu m (2002) 5.337 billion cu m (2002 est.) 99.05 billion cu m (1 January 2004) $309 million (2005 est.) $38.03 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 14%, Japan 11.4%, China 9.9%, South Korea 5.5%, Netherlands 5.1%, Brazil 4.3%, Italy 4.1%, Mexico 4% (2004) $30.09 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Argentina 16.8%, US 13.7%, Brazil 11.2%, China 7.5% (2004) $16.03 billion (November 2005 est.) $44.8 billion (31 October 2005 est.) ODA, $0 (2002) Chilean peso (CLP) Chilean pesos per US dollar - 511.45 (2005), 609.37 (2004), 691.43 (2003), 688.94 (2002), 634.94 (2001) calendar year 3.467 million (2002) 6,445,700 (2002) modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations country code - 56; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (one inactive) (1998) 63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997) .cl 202,429 (2003) 3.575 million (2002) 364 (2004 est.) 72 5 7 22 21 17 (2005 est.) 291 1 4 11 59 216 (2005 est.) gas 2,583 km; gas/lpg 42 km; liquid petroleum gas 539 km; oil 1,003 km; refined products 757 km (2004) 6,585 km 2,831 km 1.676-m gauge (1,317 km electrified) 3,754 km 1.000-m gauge (2004) 79,605 km 16,080 km (including 407 km of expressways) 63,525 km (2001) 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 725,216 GRT/954,519 DWT bulk carrier 10, cargo 6, chemical tanker 9, container 1, liquefied gas 3, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 4 21 (2005) Antofagasta, Arica, Huasco, Iquique, Lirquen, San Antonio, San Vicente, Valparaiso Army of the Nation, National Navy (includes naval air, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps), Chilean Air Force, Chilean Carabineros (National Police) 18 years of age for compulsory military service; all citizens 18-45 are obligated to perform military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy and Air Force (2004) 18 3,815,761 (2005 est.) 18 3,123,281 (2005 est.) 140,084 (2005 est.) $3.42 billion (2004) 3.8% (2004) Chile rebuffs Bolivia's reactivated claim to restore the Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, offering instead unrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile to Bolivian gas and other commodities; Peru proposes changing its latitudinal maritime boundary with Chile to an equidistance line with a southwestern axis; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims important transshipment country for cocaine destined for Europe and the US; economic prosperity and increasing trade have made Chile more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits, especially through the Iquique Free Trade Zone, but a new anti-money-laundering law improves controls; imported precursors passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising China For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight. Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam 35 00 N 105 00 E Asia 9,596,960 sq km 9,326,410 sq km 270,550 sq km slightly smaller than the US 22,117 km Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km, India 3,380 km, Kazakhstan 1,533 km, North Korea 1,416 km, Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Mongolia 4,677 km, Nepal 1,236 km, Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast) 3,605 km, Russia (northwest) 40 km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 km Hong Kong 30 km, Macau 0.34 km 14,500 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east Turpan Pendi -154 m Mount Everest 8,850 m coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest) 15.4% 1.25% 83.35% (2001) 525,800 sq km (1998 est.) frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; land subsidence air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal produces acid rain; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land since 1949 to soil erosion and economic development; desertification; trade in endangered species Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling none of the selected agreements world's fourth largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US); Mount Everest on the border with Nepal is the world's tallest peak 1,306,313,812 (July 2005 est.) 21.4% (male 148,134,928/female 131,045,415) 71% (male 477,182,072/female 450,664,933) 7.6% (male 47,400,282/female 51,886,182) (2005 est.) 32.26 years 31.87 years 32.67 years (2005 est.) 0.58% (2005 est.) 13.14 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 6.94 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.12 male(s)/female 1.13 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 0.91 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 24.18 deaths/1,000 live births 21.21 deaths/1,000 live births 27.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 72.27 years 70.65 years 74.09 years (2005 est.) 1.72 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.1% (2003 est.) 840,000 (2003 est.) 44,000 (2003 est.) Chinese (singular and plural) Chinese Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities 8.1% Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Muslim 1%-2%, Christian 3%-4% officially atheist (2002 est.) Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic groups entry) age 15 and over can read and write 90.9% 95.1% 86.5% (2002) People's Republic of China China Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo Zhongguo PRC Communist state Beijing 23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions (zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 4 municipalities (shi, singular and plural) Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang Guangxi, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Xizang (Tibet) Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entries for the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau 221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty); 1 January 1912 (Manchu Dynasty replaced by a Republic); 1 October 1949 (People's Republic established) Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, 1 October (1949) most recent promulgation 4 December 1982 based on civil law system; derived from Soviet and continental civil code legal principles; legislature retains power to interpret statutes; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction. 18 years of age; universal President HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003) and Vice President ZENG Qinghong (since 15 March 2003) Premier WEN Jiabao (since 16 March 2003); Vice Premiers HUANG Ju (since 17 March 2003), WU Yi (17 March 2003), ZENG Peiyan (since 17 March 2003), and HUI Liangyu (since 17 March 2003) State Council appointed by the National People's Congress (NPC) president and vice president elected by the National People's Congress for five-year terms; elections last held 15-17 March 2003 (next to be held mid-March 2008); premier nominated by the president, confirmed by the National People's Congress HU Jintao elected president by the Tenth National People's Congress with a total of 2,937 votes (four delegates voted against him, four abstained, and 38 did not vote); ZENG Qinghong elected vice president by the Tenth National People's Congress with a total of 2,578 votes (177 delegates voted against him, 190 abstained, and 38 did not vote); two seats were vacant unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (2,985 seats; members elected by municipal, regional, and provincial people's congresses to serve five-year terms) last held December 2002-February 2003 (next to be held late 2007-February 2008) percent of vote - NA%; seats - NA Supreme People's Court (judges appointed by the National People's Congress); Local Peoples Courts (comprise higher, intermediate and local courts); Special Peoples Courts (primarily military, maritime, and railway transport courts) Chinese Communist Party or CCP [HU Jintao, General Secretary of the Central Committee]; eight registered small parties controlled by CCP no substantial political opposition groups exist, although the government has identified the Falungong spiritual movement and the China Democracy Party as subversive groups AfDB, APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BCIE, BIS, CDB, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SCO, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC Ambassador ZHOU Wenzhong 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 328-2500 [1] (202) 328-2582 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s): Los Angeles Ambassador Clark T. RANDT, Jr. Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002 [86] (10) 6532-3831 [86] (10) 6532-3178 consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau, Shanghai, Shenyang red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner China's economy during the last quarter-century has changed from a centrally planned system that was largely closed to international trade to a more market-oriented economy that has a rapidly growing private sector and is a major player in the global economy. Reforms started in the late 1970s with the phasing out of collectivized agriculture, and expanded to include the gradual liberalization of prices, fiscal decentralization, increased autonomy for state enterprises, the foundation of a diversified banking system, the development of stock markets, the rapid growth of the non-state sector, and the opening to foreign trade and investment. China has generally implemented reforms in a gradualist or piecemeal fashion. The process continues with key moves in 2005 including the sale of equity in China's largest state banks to foreign investors and refinements in foreign exchange and bond markets. The restructuring of the economy and resulting efficiency gains have contributed to a more than ten-fold increase in GDP since 1978. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis, China in 2005 stood as the second-largest economy in the world after the US, although in per capita terms the country is still lower middle-income and 150 million Chinese fall below international poverty lines. Economic development has generally been more rapid in coastal provinces than in the interior and there are large disparities in per capita income between regions. The government has struggled to (a) sustain adequate jobs growth for tens of millions of workers laid off from state-owned enterprises, migrants, and new entrants to the work force; (b) reduce corruption and other economic crimes; and (c) contain environmental damage and social strife related to the economy's rapid transformation. From 100 to 150 million surplus rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many subsisting through part-time, low-paying jobs. One demographic consequence of the "one child" policy is that China is now one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world. Another long-term threat to growth is the deterioration in the environment - notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table especially in the north. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and economic development. China has benefited from a huge expansion in computer Internet use, with more than 100 million users at the end of 2005. Foreign investment remains a strong element in China's remarkable expansion in world trade and has been an important factor in growth of urban jobs. On 21 July 2005 China revalued its currency by 2.1 percent against the US dollar and moved to an exchange rate system that references a basket of currencies. Reports of shortages of electric power in the summer of 2005 in southern China receded by September-October and did not have a substantial impact on China's economy. More power generating capacity is scheduled to come on line in 2006 as large scale investments are completed. The Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party in October 2005 approved the draft 11th Five-Year Plan and the National People's Congress is expected to give final approval in March 2006. The plan calls for a 20 percent reduction in energy consumption per unit of GDP by 2010 and an estimated 45 percent increase in GDP by 2010. The plan states that conserving resources and protecting the environment are basic goals but it lacks details on the policies and reforms necessary to achieve these goals. $8.158 trillion (2005 est.) $1.833 trillion (2005 est.) 9.2% (official data) (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2005 est.) 14.4% 53.1% 32.5% (2005 est.) 791.4 million (2005 est.) agriculture 49%, industry 22%, services 29% (2003 est.) 4.2% official registered unemployment in urban areas in 2004; substantial unemployment and underemployment in rural areas; an official Chinese journal estimated overall unemployment (including rural areas) for 2003 at 20% (2004) 10% (2001 est.) 2.4% 30.4% (1998) 44 (2002) 1.9% (2005 est.) 43.6% of GDP (2005 est.) $392.1 billion $424.3 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 28.8% of GDP (2005 est.) rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, apples, cotton, oilseed, pork, fish mining and ore processing, iron, steel, aluminum, and other metals; coal; machine building; armaments; textiles and apparel; petroleum; cement; chemicals; fertilizers; consumer products, including footwear, toys, and electronics; food processing; transportation equipment, including automobiles, rail cars and locomotives, ships, and aircraft; telecommunications equipment, commercial space launch vehicles and satellites 27.7% (2005 est.) 2.19 trillion kWh (2004) 2.17 trillion kWh (2004) 10.6 billion kWh (2003) 1.546 billion kWh (2003) 3.504 million bbl/day (2004) 6.391 million bbl/day (2004) 340,300 bbl/day (2004) 3.226 million bbl/day (2004) 18.26 billion bbl (2004) 35.02 billion cu m (2003) 33.91 billion cu m (2003) 2.79 billion cu m (2004) 0 cu m (2004) 2.53 trillion cu m (2004) $129.1 billion (2005 est.) $752.2 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 21.1%, Hong Kong 17%, Japan 12.4%, South Korea 4.7%, Germany 4% (2004) $631.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Japan 16.8%, Taiwan 11.4%, South Korea 11.1%, US 8%, Germany 5.4% (2004) $795.1 billion (2005 est.) $242 billion (2005 est.) NA yuan (CNY) also referred to as the Renminbi (RMB) yuan per US dollar - 8.19 (2005), 8.2768 (2004), 8.277 (2003), 8.277 (2002), 8.2771 (2001) calendar year 263 million (2003) 269 million (2003) domestic and international services are increasingly available for private use; unevenly distributed domestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and many towns interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular telephone systems have been installed; a domestic satellite system with 55 earth stations is in place country code - 86; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions); several international fiber-optic links to Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Russia, and Germany (2000) AM 369, FM 259, shortwave 45 (1998) 3,240 (of which 209 are operated by China Central Television, 31 are provincial TV stations and nearly 3,000 are local city stations) (1997) .cn 160,421 (2003) 94 million (2004) 472 (2004 est.) 389 54 120 139 23 53 (2005 est.) 117 4 5 15 29 36 (2005 est.) 30 (2005 est.) gas 15,890 km; oil 14,478 km; refined products 3,280 km (2004) 71,898 km 71,898 km 1.435-m gauge (18,115 km electrified) 23,945 km (multiple track not included in total) (2002) 1,809,829 km 1,447,682 km (with at least 29,745 km of expressways) 362,147 km (2003) 121,557 km (2002) 1,649 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 18,724,653 GRT/27,749,784 DWT barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 362, cargo 696, chemical tanker 38, combination ore/oil 1, container 135, liquefied gas 30, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 81, petroleum tanker 246, refrigerated cargo 30, roll on/roll off 11, vehicle carrier 10 9 (Hong Kong 4, Japan 2, South Korea 2, United States 1) 872 (2005) Dalian, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces, Navy (includes marines and naval aviation), Air Force (includes Airborne Forces), and II Artillery Corps (strategic missile force); People's Armed Police Force (internal security troops considered to be an adjunct to the PLA); Militia (2003) 18-22 years of age for compulsory military service, with 24-month service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service; 17 years of age for women who meet requirements for specific military jobs (2004) 18 342,956,265 (2005 est.) 18 281,240,272 (2005 est.) 13,186,433 (2005 est.) $67.49 billion (2004) 4.3% (2004) in 2005, China and India initiate drafting principles to resolve all aspects of their extensive boundary and territorial disputes together with a security and foreign policy dialogue to consolidate discussions related to the boundary, regional nuclear proliferation, and other matters; recent talks and confidence-building measures have begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; about 90,000 ethnic Tibetan exiles reside primarily in India as well as Nepal and Bhutan; China asserts sovereignty over the Spratly Islands together with Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions in the Spratlys but is not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord on marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; China occupies some of the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; China and Taiwan have become more vocal in rejecting both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting; certain islands in the Yalu and Tumen rivers are in an uncontested dispute with North Korea and a section of boundary around Mount Paektu is considered indefinite; China seeks to stem illegal migration of tens of thousands of North Koreans; in 2004, China and Russia divided up the islands in the Amur, Ussuri, and Argun Rivers, ending a century-old border dispute; demarcation of the China-Vietnam boundary proceeds slowly and although the maritime boundary delimitation and fisheries agreements were ratified in June 2004, implementation has been delayed; environmentalists in Burma and Thailand remain concerned about China's construction of hydroelectric dams upstream on the Nujiang/Salween River in Yunnan Province refugees (country of origin): 299,287 (Vietnam) estimated 30,000-50,000 (North Korea) (2004) major transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden Triangle; growing domestic drug abuse problem; source country for chemical precursors and methamphetamine Christmas Island Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park. Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia 10 30 S 105 40 E Southeast Asia 135 sq km 135 sq km 0 sq km about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC 0 km 138.9 km 12 nm 12 nm 200 nm tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds; wet season December to April steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau Indian Ocean 0 m Murray Hill 361 m phosphate, beaches 0% 0% 100% mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (2001) NA sq km the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard NA located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean 361 (July 2005 est.) NA NA NA 0% (2005 est.) NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA Christmas Islander(s) Christmas Island Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% no indigenous population (2001) Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997) English (official), Chinese, Malay the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1,508 as of the 2001 Census Territory of Christmas Island Christmas Island territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services NA The Settlement none (territory of Australia) none (territory of Australia) Australia Day, 26 January (1788) Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958) under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general Administrator Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November 2003) none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held in 2005) percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9 Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court none none none none (territory of Australia) none (territory of Australia) the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag, however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the official flag of the territory Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, projected to begin operations in the near future NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA, including capital expenditures of NA NA tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) NA Australia, NZ (2004) NA principally Australia (2004) NA Australian dollar (AUD) Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.38 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001) 1 July - 30 June NA service provided by the Australian network GSM mobile telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005 country code - 61-891; satellite earth stations - one INTELSAT earth station provides telephone and telex service (2005) AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004) NA .cx 1 (2004 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 140 km 30 km 110 km (2002) Flying Fish Cove defense is the responsibility of Australia none Clipperton Island This isolated island was named for John CLIPPERTON, a pirate who made it his hideout early in the 18th century. Annexed by France in 1855, it was seized by Mexico in 1897. Arbitration eventually awarded the island to France, which took possession in 1935. Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico 10 17 N 109 13 W Political Map of the World 6 sq km 6 sq km 0 sq km about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC 0 km 11.1 km 12 nm 200 nm tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, rains May-October coral atoll Pacific Ocean 0 m Rocher Clipperton 29 m fish 0% 0% 100% (all coral) (2001) 0 sq km (1998 est.) NA NA reef 12 km in circumference uninhabited (July 2005 est.) none Clipperton Island none Ile Clipperton sometimes called Ile de la Passion possession of France; administered by France from French Polynesia by a high commissioner of the Republic the laws of France, where applicable, apply the flag of France is used Although 115 species of fish have been identified in the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic activity is tuna fishing. none; offshore anchorage only defense is the responsibility of France none Cocos (Keeling) Islands There are 27 coral islands in the group. Captain William KEELING discovered the islands in 1609, but they remained uninhabited until the 19th century. Annexed by the UK in 1857, they were transferred to the Australian Government in 1955. The population on the two inhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island. Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka 12 30 S 96 50 E Southeast Asia 14 sq km 14 sq km 0 sq km includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC 0 km 26 km 12 nm 200 nm tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year flat, low-lying coral atolls Indian Ocean 0 m unnamed location 5 m fish 0% 0% 100% (2001) NA sq km cyclone season is October to April fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation 628 (July 2005 est.) NA NA NA 0% (2005 est.) NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA Cocos Islander(s) Cocos Islander Europeans, Cocos Malays Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.) Malay (Cocos dialect), English Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands Cocos (Keeling) Islands territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services NA West Island none (territory of Australia) none (territory of Australia) Australia Day, 26 January (1788) Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23 November 1953) based upon the laws of Australia and local laws NA Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general Administrator (nonresident) Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November 2003) NA none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats) held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held NA Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court none none none none (territory of Australia) none (territory of Australia) the flag of Australia is used Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia. There is a small tourist industry. NA NA NA% NA% NA% NA% NA the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others 60% (2000 est.) NA NA vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts copra products and tourism NA Australia (2004) NA Australia (2004) NA Australian dollar (AUD) Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.38 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001) 1 July - 30 June 287 (1992) analog cellular service available connected within Australia's telecommunication system NA country code - 61-891; telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 INTELSAT satellite earth station (2005) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2004) NA .cc 1 (2004 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 15 km (2005) Port Refuge defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory does have a five-person police force none Colombia Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A 40-year conflict between government forces and anti-government insurgent groups and illegal paramilitary groups - both heavily funded by the drug trade - escalated during the 1990s. The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government and violence has been decreasing since about 2002, but insurgents continue attacks against civilians and large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence. Paramilitary groups challenge the insurgents for control of territory and the drug trade, and also the government's ability to exert its dominion over rural areas. Although several thousand paramilitary members have demobilized since 2002 in an ongoing peace process, their commitment to ceasing illicit activity is unclear. While Bogota steps up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders. Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama 4 00 N 72 00 W South America 1,138,910 sq km 1,038,700 sq km 100,210 sq km includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank slightly less than three times the size of Montana 6,004 km Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 1,496 km (est.), Venezuela 2,050 km 3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km) 12 nm 200 nm 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains Pacific Ocean 0 m Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower 2.42% 1.67% 95.91% (2001) 8,500 sq km (1998 est.) highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands Law of the Sea only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea 42,954,279 (July 2005 est.) 30.7% (male 6,670,950/female 6,516,371) 64.2% (male 13,424,433/female 14,142,825) 5.1% (male 968,127/female 1,231,573) (2005 est.) 26.04 years 25.14 years 26.93 years (2005 est.) 1.49% (2005 est.) 20.82 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 5.59 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.79 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 20.97 deaths/1,000 live births 24.92 deaths/1,000 live births 16.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 71.72 years 67.88 years 75.7 years (2005 est.) 2.56 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.7% (2003 est.) 190,000 (2003 est.) 3,600 (2003 est.) Colombian(s) Colombian mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1% Roman Catholic 90%, other 10% Spanish age 15 and over can read and write 92.5% 92.4% 92.6% (2003 est.) Republic of Colombia Colombia Republica de Colombia Colombia republic; executive branch dominates government structure Bogota 32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Distrito Capital de Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada 20 July 1810 (from Spain) Independence Day, 20 July (1810) 5 July 1991 based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US procedures was enacted into law in 2004 and is gradually being implemented; judicial review of executive and legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations 18 years of age; universal President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government Cabinet consists of a coalition of the two dominant parties - the PL and PSC - and independents president and vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 26 May 2002 (next to be held May 2006) President Alvaro URIBE Velez received 53% of the vote; Vice President Francisco SANTOS was elected on the same ticket bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (166 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) Senate - last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held March 2006); House of Representatives - last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held March 2006) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PL 28, PSC 13, independents and smaller parties (many aligned with conservatives) 61; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PL 54, PSC 21, independents and other parties 91 four roughly coequal, supreme judicial organs; Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (highest court of criminal law; judges are selected by their peers from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms); Council of State (highest court of administrative law; judges are selected from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms); Constitutional Court (guards integrity and supremacy of the constitution; rules on constitutionality of laws, amendments to the constitution, and international treaties); Superior Judicial Council (administers and disciplines the civilian judiciary; resolves jurisdictional conflicts arising between other courts; members are elected by three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms) Colombian Communist Party or PCC [Jaime CAICEDO]; Conservative Party or PSC [Carlos HOLGUIN Sardi]; Democratic Pole or PDI [Samuel MORENO Rojas]; Liberal Party or PL [Cesar GAVIRIA] Colombia has about 60 formally recognized political parties, most of which do not have a presence in either house of Congress two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia - Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC and National Liberation Army or ELN; largest illegal paramilitary group, a roughly organized umbrella group of disparate paramilitary forces, is United Self-Defense Groups of Colombia or AUC BCIE, CAN, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Andres PASTRANA 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 387-8338 [1] (202) 232-8643 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Beverly Hills, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Washington, DC Ambassador William B. WOOD Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831 Carrera 45 #22D-45, Bogota, D.C., APO AA 34038 [57] (1) 315-0811 [57] (1) 315-2197 three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center Colombia's economy has been on a recovery trend during the past two years despite a serious armed conflict. The economy continues to improve thanks to austere government budgets, focused efforts to reduce public debt levels, and an export-oriented growth focus. Ongoing economic problems facing President URIBE range from reforming the pension system to reducing high unemployment. New exploration is needed to offset declining oil production. On the positive side, several international financial institutions have praised the economic reforms introduced by URIBE, succeeded in reducing the public-sector deficit below 1.5% of GDP. The government's economic policy and democratic security strategy have engendered a growing sense of confidence in the economy, particularly within the business sector. Coffee prices have recovered from previous lows as the Colombian coffee industry pursues greater market shares in developed countries such as the United States. $303.1 billion (2005 est.) $100.9 billion (2005 est.) 4.3% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $7,100 (2005 est.) 12.5% 34.3% 53.3% (2005 est.) 20.52 million (2005 est.) agriculture 22.7%, industry 18.7%, services 58.5% (2000 est.) 11.8% (2005 est.) 59% (2001 est.) 1% 44% (1999) 57.1 (2003 est.) 5% (2005 est.) 20.2% of GDP (2005 est.) $46.82 billion $48.77 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 44.2% of GDP (2005 est.) coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds 4.5% (2005 est.) 47.14 billion kWh (2003) 42.85 billion kWh (2003) 1.082 billion kWh (2003) 100 million kWh (2003) 512,400 bbl/day (2005 est.) 270,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2003) NA (2003) 1.436 billion bbl (2005 est.) 6.354 billion cu m (2004 est.) 6.219 billion cu m (2004 est.) 0 cu m (2004 est.) 0 cu m (2004 est.) 127.4 billion cu m (2005) $-917 million (2005 est.) $23.06 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 42.1%, Venezuela 9.7%, Ecuador 6% (2004) $20.42 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 29.1%, Venezuela 6.5%, China 6.4%, Mexico 6.2%, Brazil 5.8% (2004) $14.18 billion (2005 est.) $37.06 billion (30 June 2005 est.) NA Colombian peso (COP) Colombian pesos per US dollar - 2,324.08 (2005), 2,628.61 (2004), 2,877.65 (2003), 2,504.24 (2002), 2,299.63 (2001) calendar year 8,768,100 (2003) 6,186,200 (2003) modern system in many respects nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic satellite system with 41 earth stations; fiber-optic network linking 50 cities country code - 57; satellite earth stations - 6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat; 3 fully digitalized international switching centers; 8 submarine cables AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999) 60 (includes seven low-power stations) (1997) .co 115,158 (2003) 2,732,200 (2003) 980 (2004 est.) 100 2 9 38 40 11 (2005 est.) 881 1 35 273 572 (2005 est.) 2 (2005 est.) gas 4,360 km; oil 6,134 km; refined products 3,140 km (2004) 3,304 km 150 km 1.435-m gauge 3,154 km 0.914-m gauge (2004) 112,998 km 26,000 km 84,000 km (2000) 9,187 km (2004) 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 35,427 GRT/46,301 DWT bulk carrier 1, cargo 11, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 2 7 (2005) Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Muelles El Bosque, Puerto Bolivar, Santa Marta, Turbo Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval Aviation, Marines, and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana) 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 24 months (2004) 18 10,212,456 (2005 est.) 18 6,986,228 (2005 est.) 389,735 (2005 est.) $3.3 billion (FY01) 3.4% (FY01) Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in 1999 and against Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over disputed maritime boundary involving 50,000 sq km in the Caribbean Sea, including the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; dispute with Venezuela over maritime boundary and Los Monjes Islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics, guerrilla, and paramilitary activities penetrate all of its neighbors' borders and have created a serious refugee crisis with over 300,000 persons having fled the country, mostly into neighboring states 2,730,000 - 3,100,000 (conflict between government and FARC; drug wars) (2004) illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's leading coca cultivator (cultivation of coca in 2002 was 144,450 hectares, a 15% decline since 2001); potential production of opium between 2001 and 2002 declined by 25% to 91 metric tons; potential production of heroin declined to 11.3 metric tons; the world's largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of about 90% of the cocaine to the US market and the great majority of cocaine to other international drug markets; important supplier of heroin to the US market; active aerial eradication program; a significant portion of non-US narcotics proceeds are either laundered or invested in Colombia through the black market peso exchange Comoros Unstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power. He pledged to resolve the secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the 2000 Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters approved a new constitution and presidential elections took place in the spring of 2002. Each island in the archipelago elected its own president and a new union president took office in May of 2002. Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique 12 10 S 44 15 E Africa 2,170 sq km 2,170 sq km 0 sq km slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC 0 km 340 km 12 nm 200 nm tropical marine; rainy season (November to May) volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills Indian Ocean 0 m Le Kartala 2,360 m NEGL 35.87% 23.32% 40.81% (2001) NA sq km cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands none of the selected agreements important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel 671,247 (July 2005 est.) 42.8% (male 144,075/female 143,175) 54.2% (male 179,541/female 184,488) 3% (male 9,407/female 10,561) (2005 est.) 18.61 years 18.35 years 18.87 years (2005 est.) 2.91% (2005 est.) 37.52 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.89 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 74.93 deaths/1,000 live births 83.48 deaths/1,000 live births 66.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 61.96 years 59.65 years 64.33 years (2005 est.) 5.09 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.12% (2001 est.) NA NA Comoran(s) Comoran Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2% Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic) age 15 and over can read and write 56.5% 63.6% 49.3% (2003 est.) Union of the Comoros Comoros Union des Comores Comores independent republic Moroni 3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou 6 July 1975 (from France) Independence Day, 6 July (1975) 23 December 2001 French and Sharia (Islamic) law in a new consolidated code 18 years of age; universal President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2002); note - following a 1999 coup AZALI was appointed president; in January 2002 he resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002 presidential elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO was appointed interim president until replaced again by AZALI in May 2002 when BOLERO was appointed Minister of External Defense and Territorial Security; the president is both the chief of state and the head of government President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2002); note - following a 1999 coup AZALI was appointed president; in January 2002 he resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002 presidential elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO was appointed interim president until replaced again by AZALI in May 2002 when BOLERO was appointed Minister of External Defense and Territorial Security; the president is both the chief of state and the head of government Council of Ministers appointed by the president as defined by the 2001 constitution, the presidency rotates every four years among the elected presidents from the three main islands in the Union; election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held April 2006); prime minister appointed by the president; note - AZALI has not appointed a Prime Minister since he was sworn into office in May 2002 President AZALI Assoumani elected president with 75% of the vote unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 15 deputies are selected by the individual islands' local assemblies and the 18 by universal suffrage; deputies serve for five years); last held 18 and 25 April 2004 (next to be held NA 2009) NA Supreme Court or Cour Supremes (two members appointed by the president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one elected by the Council of each island, and others are former presidents of the republic) Forces pour l'Action Republicaine or FAR [Col. Abdourazak ABDULHAMID]; Forum pour la Redressement National or FRN (alliance of 12 parties); Front Democratique or FD [Moustoifa Said CHEIKH]; Front National pour la Justice or FNJ (Islamic party in opposition) [Ahmed RACHID]; Movement des Citoyens pour la Republique or MCR [Mahamoud MRADABI]; Mouvement Populaire Anjouanais or MPA (Anjouan separatist movement) [leader NA]; Mouvement pour la Democratie et le Progress or MDP-NGDC [Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Movement pour le Socialisme et la Democratie or MSD (splinter group of FD) [Abdou SOEFOU]; Parti Comorien pour la Democratie et le Progress or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE]; Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND (party of the government) [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid AFFRAITANE] NA ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AMF, AU, COMESA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO Ambassador Mahmoud M. ABOUD (ambassador to the US and Canada and permanent representative to the UN) (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Union of the Comoros to the United Nations, 420 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022 [1] (212) 972-8010 and 223-2711 [1] (212) 983-4712 and 715-0699 the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centered within the triangle is a white crescent with the convex side facing the hoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a line between the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros); the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of three islands that have inadequate transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the main staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government - which is hampered by internal political disputes - is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, improve health services, diversify exports, promote tourism, and reduce the high population growth rate. Increased foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be met. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP. $441 million (2002 est.) $402 million NA (2005 est.) 3% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $600 (2005 est.) 40% 4% 56% (2001 est.) 144,500 (1996 est.) agriculture 80% 20% (1996 est.) 60% (2002 est.) NA NA 3% (2005 est.) $27.6 million NA, including capital expenditures of NA (2001 est.) vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca) tourism, perfume distillation -2% (1999 est.) 18 million kWh (2003) 16.74 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 700 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $34 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) US 43.8%, France 18.6%, Singapore 16.5%, Turkey 4.8%, Germany 4.5% (2004) $115 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) France 23.5%, South Africa 11%, Kenya 7.5%, UAE 7.2%, Italy 4.9%, Pakistan 4.7%, Mauritius 4.2%, Singapore 4.1% (2004) $232 million (2000 est.) $24 million (2003 est.) Comoran franc (KMF) Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - NA (2005), 396.21 (2004), 435.9 (2003), 522.74 (2002), 549.78 (2001) the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per euro calendar year 13,200 (2003) 2,000 (2003) sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay country code - 269; HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001) NA .km 11 (2003) 5,000 (2003) 4 (2004 est.) 4 1 3 (2005 est.) 880 km 673 km 207 km (1999) 79 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 452,801 GRT/681,343 DWT bulk carrier 9, cargo 55, chemical tanker 1, container 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 1 35 (Bulgaria 1, Germany 1, Greece 7, India 1, Jordan 1, Kenya 1, Lebanon 3, Nigeria 1, Norway 1, Pakistan 1, Philippines 1, Russia 2, Syria 3, Turkey 6, Ukraine 4, United Kingdom 1) (2005) Mayotte, Moutsamoudou Comoran Security Force 18 138,940 (2005 est.) 18 98,792 (2005 est.) $11.6 million (2004) 3% (2004) claims French-administered Mayotte Cook Islands Named after Captain COOK, who sighted them in 1770, the islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965 residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are continuing problems. Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand 21 14 S 159 46 W Oceania 240 sq km 240 sq km 0 sq km 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC 0 km 120 km 12 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin tropical; moderated by trade winds low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south Pacific Ocean 0 m Te Manga 652 m NEGL 17.39% 13.04% 69.57% (2001) NA typhoons (November to March) NA Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea none of the selected agreements the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying, sparsely populated, coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanic isles where most of the populace lives 21,388 (July 2005 est.) NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA children born/woman (2005 est.) NA NA NA Cook Islander(s) Cook Islander Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 87.7%, part Cook Island Maori 5.8%, other 6.5% (2001 census) Cook Islands Christian Church 55.9%, Roman Catholic 16.8%, Seventh-Day Adventists 7.9%, Church of Latter Day Saints 3.8%, other Protestant 5.8%, other 4.2%, unspecified 2.6%, none 3% (2001 census) English (official), Maori NA 95% NA% NA% none Cook Islands Harvey Islands self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense, in consultation with the Cook Islands self-governing parliamentary democracy Avarua none none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action) Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965) 4 August 1965 based on New Zealand law and English common law NA years of age; universal adult Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Frederick GOODWIN (since 9 February 2001); New Zealand High Commissioner Kurt MEYER (since July 2001), representative of New Zealand Prime Minister Jim MARURAI (since 14 December 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Terepai MAOATE (since 9 August 2005) Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament none; the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually becomes prime minister unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held 7 September 2004 (next to be held by 2009) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CIP 10, DAP 9, Demo Tumu 4, independent 1; note - one seat undecided pending by-election the House of Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers High Court Cook Islands People's Party or CIP [Geoffrey HENRY]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [Terepai MAOATE]; New Alliance Party or NAP [Norman GEORGE]; Cook Islands National Party or CIN [Teariki HEATHER]; Demo Party Tumu [Robert WOONTON] NA ACP, AsDB, FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IOC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island) centered in the outer half of the flag Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country from foreign markets, the limited size of domestic markets, lack of natural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Manufacturing activities are limited to fruit processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits are offset by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, the country lived beyond its means, maintaining a bloated public service and accumulating a large foreign debt. Subsequent reforms, including the sale of state assets, the strengthening of economic management, the encouragement of tourism, and a debt restructuring agreement, have rekindled investment and growth. $105 million (2001 est.) NA 7.1% (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.) 17% 7.8% 75.2% (2000 est.) 8,000 (1996) agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56% shortage of skilled labor (1995) 13% (1996) NA NA NA 3.2% (2000 est.) $28 million $27 million, including capital expenditures of $3.3 million (FY00/01 est.) copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts 1% (2002) 28 million kWh (2003) 26.04 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 400 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $9.1 million (2000) Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25%, US 8% (2004) $50.7 million (2000) New Zealand 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2004) $141 million (1996 est.) $13.1 million; note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater part (1995) New Zealand dollar (NZD) New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.53 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001) 1 April - 31 March 6,200 (2002) 1,500 (2002) Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex the individual islands are connected by a combination of satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004) 1 (outer islands receive satellite broadcasts) (2004) .ck 3,600 (2002) 9 (2004 est.) 2 2 (2005 est.) 7 2 4 1 (2005 est.) 320 km 33 km 287 km (2003) 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,074 GRT/7,520 DWT petroleum tanker 1 (2005) Avatiu no regular military forces; Ministry of Police and Disaster Management (2004) defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request none Coral Sea Islands Scattered over some 1 million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on the Willis Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs. Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia 18 00 S 152 00 E Oceania less than 3 sq km less than 3 sq km 0 sq km includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 780,000 sq km, with the Willis Islets the most important NA 0 km 3,095 km 3 nm 200 nm tropical sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays) Pacific Ocean 0 m unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m NEGL 0% 0% 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2001) 0 sq km occasional tropical cyclones no permanent fresh water resources important nesting area for birds and turtles no indigenous inhabitants there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (2005 est.) Coral Sea Islands Territory Coral Sea Islands territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories none (territory of Australia) none (territory of Australia) the flag of Australia is used no economic activity there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland none; offshore anchorage only defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors none Costa Rica Costa Rica is a Central American success story: since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its democratic development. Although still a largely agricultural country, it has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism sectors. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread. Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama 10 00 N 84 00 W Central America and the Caribbean 51,100 sq km 50,660 sq km 440 sq km includes Isla del Coco slightly smaller than West Virginia 639 km Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km 1,290 km 12 nm 200 nm 200 nm tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes Pacific Ocean 0 m Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m hydropower 4.41% 5.88% 89.71% (2001) 1,260 sq km (1998 est.) occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling Marine Life Conservation four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu, erupted destructively in 1963-65 4,016,173 (July 2005 est.) 28.9% (male 593,540/female 566,361) 65.5% (male 1,330,481/female 1,300,664) 5.6% (male 104,564/female 120,563) (2005 est.) 26.03 years 25.59 years 26.5 years (2005 est.) 1.48% (2005 est.) 18.6 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 4.33 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.87 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 9.95 deaths/1,000 live births 10.85 deaths/1,000 live births 9 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 76.84 years 74.26 years 79.55 years (2005 est.) 2.28 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.6% (2003 est.) 12,000 (2003 est.) 900 (2003 est.) Costa Rican(s) Costa Rican white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1% Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2% Spanish (official), English age 15 and over can read and write 96% 95.9% 96.1% (2003 est.) Republic of Costa Rica Costa Rica Republica de Costa Rica Costa Rica democratic republic San Jose 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose 15 September 1821 (from Spain) Independence Day, 15 September (1821) 7 November 1949 based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal and compulsory President Abel PACHECO (since 8 May 2002); First Vice President Lineth SABORIO (since 8 May 2002); Second Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Abel PACHECO (since 8 May 2002); First Vice President Lineth SABORIO (since 8 May 2002); Second Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government Cabinet selected by the president president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3 February 2002; run-off election held 7 April 2002 (next to be held 5 February 2006) Abel PACHECO elected president; percent of vote - Abel PACHECO (PUSC) 58%; Rolando ARAYA (PLN) 42% unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held 3 February 2002 (next to be held 5 February 2006) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PUSC 19, PLN 17, PAC 14, PML 6, PRC 1; note - seats by party as of January 2005 - PUSC 19, PLN 16, PAC 8, PML 5, PRC 1, Patriotic Union 3, Homeland First 1, Authentic Member from Heredia 1, Democratic National Alliance 1, independent 2 Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly) Authentic Member from Heredia [Jose SALAS]; Citizen Action Party or PAC [Otton SOLIS]; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Gerardo Justo OROZCO Alvarez]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Vladimir DE LA CRUZ]; General Union Party or PUGEN [Carlos Alberto FERNANDEZ Vega]; Homeland First or PP [Juan Jose VARGAS Fallas]; Independent Worker Party or PIO [Jose Alberto CUBERO Carmona]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth]; National Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Juan Carlos CHAVEZ Mora]; National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; National Liberation Party or PLN [Francisco Antonio PACHECO]; National Patriotic Party or PPN [Daniel Enrique REYNOLDS Vargas]; National Restoration Party or PRN [Carlos AVENDANO]; Nationalist Democratic Alliance or ADN [Jose Miguel VILLALOBOS Umana]; Patriotic Union or UP [Humberto ARCE Salas]; Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Lorena VASQUEZ Badilla]; Union for Change Party or UPC [Antonio ALVAREZ Desanti]; United Leftist Coalition or IU [Humberto VARGAS Carbonel] Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate); Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party affiliate); Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP; National Association for Economic Development or ANFE; National Association of Educators or ANDE; Rerum Novarum or CTRN (PLN affiliate) [Gilbert Brown] BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Tomas DUENAS 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 234-2945 [1] (202) 265-4795 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Hammond (temporary location in Louisiana), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa (temporarily closed), and Washington DC consulate(s): San Francisco Ambassador Mark LANGDALE Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose APO AA 34020 [506] 519-2000 [506] 519-2305 five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk on the hoist side of the red band; above the coat of arms a light blue ribbon contains the words, AMERICA CENTRAL, and just below it near the top of the coat of arms is a white ribbon with the words, REPUBLICA COSTA RICA Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been substantially reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net has been put into place. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and high education levels, and tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange. Low prices for coffee and bananas have hurt the agricultural sector. The government continues to grapple with its large internal and external deficits and sizable internal debt. The reduction of inflation remains a difficult problem because of rises in the price of imports, labor market rigidities, and fiscal deficits. The country also needs to reform its tax system and its pattern of public expenditure. Costa Rica is the only signatory to the US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) that has not ratified it. CAFTA implementation would result in economic reforms and an improved investment climate. $40.32 billion (2005 est.) $19.81 billion (2005 est.) 3.2% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $10,000 (2005 est.) 8.6% 28.3% 63.1% (2005 est.) 1.82 million (2005 est.) agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.) 6.6% (2005 est.) 18% (2004 est.) 1.1% 36.8% (2002) 46.5 (2000) 13.8% (2005 est.) 18% of GDP (2005 est.) $2.722 billion $3.195 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 56.2% of GDP (2005 est.) coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products 2.6% (2005 est.) 7.726 billion kWh (2003) 7.12 billion kWh (2003) 115 million kWh (2003) 50 million kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 40,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $-1.179 billion (2005 est.) $7.005 billion (2005 est.) US 46.9%, Netherlands 5.3%, Guatemala 4.4% (2004) $9.69 billion (2005 est.) US 46.1%, Japan 5.9%, Mexico 5.1%, Brazil 4.2% (2004) $2.208 billion (2005 est.) $3.633 billion (30 June 2005 est.) Costa Rican colon (CRC) Costa Rican colones per US dollar - 479.28 (2005), 437.91 (2004), 398.66 (2003), 359.82 (2002), 328.87 (2001) calendar year 1.132 million (2002) 528,047 (2002) good domestic telephone service in terms of breadth of coverage; restricted cellular telephone service point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave, fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is available country code - 506; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); two submarine cables (1999) AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002) 20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002) .cr 10,826 (2003) 800,000 (2002) 149 (2004 est.) 31 2 2 18 9 (2005 est.) 125 25 100 (2005 est.) refined products 242 km (2004) 278 km 278 km 1.067-m gauge (2004) 35,889 km 8,075 km 27,814 km (2003) 730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2004) 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,716 GRT/ DWT passenger/cargo 2 (2005) Caldera, Puerto Limon no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security, Government, and Police 18 years of age (2004) 18 997,690 (2005 est.) 18 829,874 (2005 est.) 41,097 (2005 est.) $64.2 million (2004) 0.4% (2003) legal dispute over navigational rights of Rio San Juan on the border with Nicaragua remains unresolved transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots; domestic cocaine consumption, particularly crack cocaine, is rising Cote d'Ivoire Close ties to France since independence in 1960, the development of cocoa production for export, and foreign investment made Cote d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the tropical African states, but did not protect it from political turmoil. On 25 December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history - overthrew the government led by President Henri Konan BEDIE. Junta leader Robert GUEI held elections in late 2000, but excluded prominent opposition leader Alassane OUATTARA, blatantly rigged the polling results, and declared himself winner. Popular protest forced GUEI to step aside and brought runner-up Laurent GBAGBO into power. Ivorian dissidents and disaffected members of the military launched a failed coup attempt in September 2002. Rebel forces claimed the northern half of the country and in January 2003 were granted ministerial positions in a unity government under the auspices of the Linas-Marcoussis Peace Accord. President GBAGBO and rebel forces resumed implementation of the peace accord in December 2003 after a three-month stalemate, but issues that sparked the civil war, such as land reform and grounds for nationality remain unresolved. The central government has yet to exert control over the northern regions and tensions remain high between GBAGBO and opposition leaders. Several thousand French and West African troops remain in Cote d'Ivoire to maintain peace and facilitate the disarmament, demobilization, and rehabilitation process. Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia 8 00 N 5 00 W Africa 322,460 sq km 318,000 sq km 4,460 sq km slightly larger than New Mexico 3,110 km Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km, Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km 515 km 12 nm 200 nm 200 nm tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October) mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest Gulf of Guinea 0 m Mont Nimba 1,752 m petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoa beans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower 9.75% 13.84% 76.41% (2001) 730 sq km (1998 est.) coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands none of the selected agreements most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apart from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated 17,298,040 estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.) 41% (male 3,490,536/female 3,596,208) 56.3% (male 4,920,726/female 4,820,326) 2.7% (male 231,514/female 238,730) (2005 est.) 19.05 years 19.36 years 18.76 years (2005 est.) 2.06% (2005 est.) 35.51 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 14.94 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 90.83 deaths/1,000 live births 107.64 deaths/1,000 live births 73.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 48.62 years 46.05 years 51.27 years (2005 est.) 4.58 children born/woman (2005 est.) 7% (2003 est.) 570,000 (2003 est.) 47,000 (2003 est.) very high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria, yellow fever, and others are high risks in some locations schistosomiasis (2004) Ivoirian(s) Ivoirian Akan 42.1%, Voltaiques or Gur 17.6%, Northern Mandes 16.5%, Krous 11%, Southern Mandes 10%, other 2.8% (includes 130,000 Lebanese and 14,000 French) (1998) Christian 20-30%, Muslim 35-40%, indigenous 25-40% (2001) the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim (70%) and Christian (20%) French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken age 15 and over can read and write 50.9% 57.9% 43.6% (2003 est.) Republic of Cote d'Ivoire Cote d'Ivoire Republique de Cote d'Ivoire Cote d'Ivoire Ivory Coast republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960 Yamoussoukro; note - although Yamoussoukro has been the official capital since 1983, Abidjan remains the commercial and administrative center; the US, like other countries, maintains its Embassy in Abidjan 19 regions; Agneby, Bafing, Bas-Sassandra, Denguele, Dix-Huit Montagnes, Fromager, Haut-Sassandra, Lacs, Lagunes, Marahoue, Moyen-Cavally, Moyen-Comoe, N'zi-Comoe, Savanes, Sud-Bandama, Sud-Comoe, Vallee du Bandama, Worodougou, Zanzan 7 August 1960 (from France) Independence Day, 7 August (1960) new constitution adopted 4 August 2000 based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal President Laurent GBAGBO (since 26 October 2000); Transitional Prime Minister Charles Konan BANNY (since 7 December 2005) Council of Ministers appointed by the president president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 26 October 2000 (next to be held by October 2006); prime minister appointed by the president Laurent GBAGBO elected president; percent of vote - Laurent GBAGBO 59.4%, Robert GUEI 32.7%, Francis WODIE 5.7%, other 2.2% unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (225 seats; members are elected in single- and multi-district elections by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections last held 10 December 2000 with by-elections on 14 January 2001 (next to be held by October 2006) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FPI 96, PDCI-RDA 94, RDR 5, PIT 4, other 2, independents 22, vacant 2 a Senate is scheduled to be created in the next full election in 2005 Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consists of four chambers: Judicial Chamber for criminal cases, Audit Chamber for financial cases, Constitutional Chamber for judicial review cases, and Administrative Chamber for civil cases; there is no legal limit to the number of members Citizen's Democratic Union or UDCY [Eg Theodore MEL]; Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally or PDCI-RDA [Henri Konan BEDIE]; Ivorian Popular Front or FPI [Laurent GBAGBO]; Ivorian Worker's Party or PIT [Francis WODIE]; Rally of the Republicans or RDR [Alassane OUATTARA]; Union for Democracy and Peace or UDPCI [Paul Akoto YAO]; over 20 smaller parties NA ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Daouda DIABATE 3421 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 [1] (202) 797-0300 [1] (202) 462-9444 Ambassador Aubrey HOOKS Riviera Golf 01, Abidjan B. P. 1866, Abidjan 01 [225] 20 21 09 79 [225] 20 22 32 59 three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on the flag of France Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest producers and exporters of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these products and weather conditions. Despite government attempts to diversify the economy, it is still heavily dependent on agriculture and related activities, engaging roughly 68% of the population. Growth was negative in 2000-03 because of the difficulty of meeting the conditions of international donors, continued low prices of key exports, and severe civil war. In November 2004 the situation deteriorated when President GBAGBO's troops attacked and killed nine French peacekeeping forces, and the UN imposed an arms embargo. Political turmoil damaged the economy in 2005, with fear among Ivorians spreading, foreign investment shriveling, French businesses and expats fleeing, travel within the country falling, and criminal elements that traffic in weapons and diamonds gaining ground. The Government will continue to survive financially off of the sale of cocoa, which represents 40% of GDP and 90% of foreign exchange earning. Though the 2005 harvest has been largely unaffected by past fighting, the Government will likely lose between 10% and 20% of its cocoa harvest to northern rebels who smuggle the cocoa they control to neighboring countries where cocoa prices are higher. The Government remains hopeful that ongoing exploration of Cote d'Ivoire's offshore oil reserves will result in signifcant production that could boost daily crude output from roughly 33,000 barrels per day (b/d) to over 200,000 b/d by the end of the decade. $24.81 billion (2005 est.) $16.17 billion (2005 est.) -1.5% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2005 est.) 27.7% 16.7% 55.6% (2005 est.) 6.95 million (68% agricultural) (2005 est.) 13% in urban areas (1998) 37% (1995) 3.1% 28.8% (1995) 45.2 (1998) 2% (2005 est.) 8.7% of GDP (2005 est.) $2.434 billion $2.83 billion, including capital expenditures of $420 million (2005 est.) 70.4% of GDP (2005 est.) coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity, ship construction and repair 15% (1998 est.) 5.127 billion kWh (2003) 3.418 billion kWh (2003) 1.35 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 32,900 bbl/day (2005 est.) 20,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 220 million bbl (2005 est.) 1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.) 1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 14.87 billion cu m (2005) $-289 million (2005 est.) $6.49 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 11.6%, Netherlands 10.2%, France 9.5%, Italy 5.5%, Belgium 4.7%, Germany 4.7% (2004) $4.759 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) France 24.3%, Nigeria 19.2%, UK 4% (2004) $1.95 billion (2005 est.) $13.26 billion (2005 est.) ODA, $1 billion (1996 est.) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 521.74 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001) calendar year 328,000 (2003) 1.236 million (2003) well developed by African standards but operating well below capacity open-wire lines and microwave radio relay; 90% digitalized country code - 225; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 2 submarine cables (June 1999) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (1998) 14 (1999) .ci 3,795 (2004) 90,000 (2002) 37 (2004 est.) 7 1 2 4 (2005 est.) 28 8 15 5 (2005 est.) condensate 107 km; gas 223 km; oil 104 km (2004) 660 km 660 km 1.000-meter gauge an additional 622 km of this railroad extends into Burkina Faso (2004) 50,400 km 4,889 km 45,511 km (1999) 980 km (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons) (2003) Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro Army, Navy, Air Force 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004) 18 3,696,106 (2005 est.) 18 1,973,265 (2005 est.) 189,354 (2005 est.) $180.2 million (2004) 1.2% (2004) rebel and ethnic fighting against the central government in 2002 has spilled into neighboring states, driven out foreign cocoa workers from nearby countries, and, in 2004, resulted in 6,000 peacekeepers deployed as part of UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) assisting 4,000 French troops already in-country; the Ivorian Government accuses Burkina Faso and Liberia of supporting Ivorian rebels refugees (country of origin): 71,711 (Liberia) 500,000 (2002 coup; most IDPs are in western regions) (2004) illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption; transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin to Europe and occasionally to the US, and for Latin American cocaine destined for Europe and South Africa; while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leave the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a developed financial system limits the country's utility as a major money-laundering center Croatia The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the close of World War I. In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federal independent Communist state under the strong hand of Marshal TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared from Croatian lands. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998. Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia 45 10 N 15 30 E Europe 56,542 sq km 56,414 sq km 128 sq km slightly smaller than West Virginia 2,197 km Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km, Serbia and Montenegro (north) 241 km, Serbia and Montenegro (south) 25 km, Slovenia 670 km 5,835 km (mainland 1,777 km, islands 4,058 km) 12 nm 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands Adriatic Sea 0 m Dinara 1,830 m oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, gypsum, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower 26.09% 2.27% 71.65% (2001) 30 sq km (1998 est.) destructive earthquakes air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits 4,495,904 (July 2005 est.) 16.4% (male 378,615/female 359,231) 67% (male 1,497,355/female 1,514,993) 16.6% (male 283,460/female 462,250) (2005 est.) 39.97 years 38.01 years 41.76 years (2005 est.) -0.02% (2005 est.) 9.57 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 11.38 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.61 male(s)/female 0.92 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 6.84 deaths/1,000 live births 6.79 deaths/1,000 live births 6.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 74.45 years 70.79 years 78.31 years (2005 est.) 1.39 children born/woman (2005 est.) less than 0.1% (2001 est.) 200 (2001 est.) less than 10 (2001 est.) Croat(s), Croatian(s) Croatian Croat 89.6%, Serb 4.5%, other 5.9% (including Bosniak, Hungarian, Slovene, Czech, and Roma) (2001 census) Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.9%, none 5.2% (2001 census) Croatian 96.1%, Serbian 1%, other and undesignated 2.9% (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German) (2001 census) age 15 and over can read and write 98.5% 99.4% 97.8% (2003 est.) Republic of Croatia Croatia Republika Hrvatska Hrvatska People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia presidential/parliamentary democracy Zagreb 20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city* (grad - singular); Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska Zupanija, Brodsko-Posavska Zupanija, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska Zupanija, Istarska Zupanija, Karlovacka Zupanija, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka Zupanija, Krapinsko-Zagorska Zupanija, Licko-Senjska Zupanija, Medimurska Zupanija, Osjecko-Baranjska Zupanija, Pozesko-Slavonska Zupanija, Primorsko-Goranska Zupanija, Sibensko-Kninska Zupanija, Sisacko-Moslavacka Zupanija, Splitsko-Dalmatinska Zupanija, Varazdinska Zupanija, Viroviticko-Podravska Zupanija, Vukovarsko-Srijemska Zupanija, Zadarska Zupanija, Zagreb*, Zagrebacka Zupanija 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia) Independence Day, 8 October (1991); note - 25 June 1991 is the day the Croatian Parliament voted for independence; following a 3-month moratorium to allow the European Community to solve the Yugoslav crisis peacefully, Parliament adopted a decision on 8 October 1991 to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia adopted on 22 December 1990; revised 2000, 2001 based on civil law system 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed) President Stjepan (Stipe) MESIC (since 18 February 2000) Prime Minister Ivo SANADER (since 9 December 2003); Deputy Prime Ministers Jadranka KOSOR (since 23 December 2003) and Damir POLANCEC (since NA February 2005) Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the parliamentary Assembly president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 January 2005 (next to be held January 2010); the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president and then approved by the Assembly Stjepan MESIC reelected president; percent of vote - Stjepan MESIC 66%, Jadranka KOSOR (HDZ) 34% in the second round unicameral Assembly or Sabor (152 seats; note - one seat was added in the November 2003 parliamentary elections; members elected from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms) Assembly - last held 23 November 2003 (next to be held in 2007) Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; number of seats by party - HDZ 66, SDP 34, HSS 10, HNS 10, HSP 8, IDS 4, Libra 3, HSU 3, SDSS 3, other 11 minority government coalition - HDZ, DC, HSLS, HSU, SDSS Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; judges for both courts appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the Assembly Croatian Bloc or HB [Ivic PASALIC]; Croatian Christian Democratic Union or HKDU [Anto KOVACEVIC]; Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ [Ivo SANADER]; Croatian Party of Rights or HSP [Anto DJAPIC]; Croatian Peasant Party or HSS [Josip FRISCIC]; Croatian Pensioner Party or HSU [Vladimir JORDAN]; Croatian People's Party or HNS [Vesna PUSIC] (in 2005 party merged with Libra to become Croatian People's Party-Liberal Democrats or NS-LD [Vesna PUSIC]); Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS [Ivan CEHOK]; Croatian True Revival Party or HIP [Miroslav TUDJMAN]; Democratic Centre or DC [Vesna SKARE-OZBOLT]; Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS [Vojislav STANIMIROVIC]; Istrian Democratic Forum or IDF [Luciano DELBIANCO]; Liberal Party or LS [Zlatko BENASIC]; Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Ivica RACAN] NA ACCT (observer), BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Neven JURICA 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 588-5899 [1] (202) 588-8936 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York Ambassador Ralph FRANK 2 Thomas Jefferson, 10010 Zagreb use street address [385] (1) 661-2200 [385] (1) 661-2373 red, white, and blue horizontal bands with Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered) Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the Republic of Croatia, after Slovenia, was the most prosperous and industrialized area, with a per capita output perhaps one-third above the Yugoslav average. The economy emerged from a mild recession in 2000 with tourism, banking, and public investments leading the way. Unemployment remains high, at about 18 percent, with structural factors slowing its decline. While macroeconomic stabilization has largely been achieved, structural reforms lag because of deep resistance on the part of the public and lack of strong support from politicians. Growth, while impressively about 3% to 4% for the last several years, has been stimulated, in part, through high fiscal deficits and rapid credit growth. The EU accession process should accelerate fiscal and structural reform. $53.29 billion (2005 est.) $35.77 billion (2005 est.) 3.2% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $11,600 (2005 est.) 8.1% 31% 60.8% (2005 est.) 1.71 million (2005 est.) agriculture 2.7%, industry 32.8%, services 64.5% (2004) 18.7% official rate; labor force surveys indicate unemployment around 14% (December 2004 est.) 11% (2003) 3.4% 24.5% (2003 est.) 29 (2001) 3.2% (2005 est.) 28.1% of GDP (2005 est.) $17.69 billion $19.35 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 52.1% of GDP (2005 est.) wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, barley, alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus, grapes, soybeans, potatoes; livestock, dairy products chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages; tourism 4.5% (2005 est.) 11.15 billion kWh (2003) 15.81 billion kWh (2003) 550 million kWh (2003) 5.99 billion kWh (2003) 20,500 bbl/day (2005 est.) 90,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 93.6 million bbl (1 January 2002) 1.76 billion cu m (2001 est.) 2.84 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 1.08 billion cu m (2001 est.) 34.36 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $-1.79 billion (2005 est.) $10.3 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Italy 23%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 13.4%, Germany 11.4%, Austria 9.6%, Slovenia 7.6% (2004) $18.93 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Italy 17.1%, Germany 15.5%, Russia 7.3%, Slovenia 7.1%, Austria 6.9%, France 4.4% (2004) $8.811 billion (2005 est.) $29.28 billion (30 June 2005 est.) ODA $166.5 million (2002) kuna (HRK) kuna per US dollar - 5.92 (2005), 6.0358 (2004), 6.7035 (2003), 7.8687 (2002), 8.34 (2001) calendar year 1.825 million (2002) 2.553 million (2003) NA reconstruction plan calls for replacement of all analog circuits with digital and enlarging the network; a backup will be included in the plan for the main trunk country code - 385; digital international service is provided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in the Trans-Asia-Europe (TEL) fiber-optic project, which consists of two fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik; Croatia is also investing in ADRIA 1, a joint fiber-optic project with Germany, Albania, and Greece (2000) AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999) 36 (plus 321 repeaters) (September 1995) .hr 29,644 (2004) 1.014 million (2003) 68 (2004 est.) 23 2 6 2 4 9 (2005 est.) 45 1 7 37 (2005 est.) 1 (2005 est.) gas 1,340 km; oil 583 km (2004) 2,726 km 2,726 km 1.435-m gauge (984 km electrified) (2004) 28,588 km 24,186 km (including 583 km of expressways) 4,402 km (2003) 785 km (2004) 73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 750,579 GRT/1,178,786 DWT bulk carrier 25, cargo 12, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 25, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 4 1 (Denmark 1) 31 (2005) Omisalj, Ploce, Rijeka, Sibenik, Vukovar (on Danube) Ground Forces (Hrvatska Vojska, HKoV), Naval Forces (Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM), Air and Air Defense Forces (Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo i Protuzrakoplovna Obrana, HRZiPZO) 18 years of age for compulsory military service, with 6-month service obligation; 16 years of age with consent for voluntary service; Croatian Military Police planning to end conscription in 2005 (December 2004) 18 1,005,058 (2005 est.) 18 725,914 (2005 est.) 29,020 (2005 est.) $620 million (2004) 2.39% (2002 est.) discussions continue with Bosnia and Herzegovina over several small disputed sections of the boundary; the Croatia-Slovenia land and maritime boundary agreement, which would have ceded most of Pirin Bay and maritime access to Slovenia and several villages to Croatia, remains un-ratified and in dispute; as a European Union peripheral state, neighboring Slovenia must conform to the strict Schengen border rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through southeastern Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties with Croatia 12,600 (Croats and Serbs displaced in 1992-1995 war) (2004) transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe; has been used as a transit point for maritime shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe Cuba The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the European discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule, marked initially by neglect, became increasingly repressive, provoking an independence movement and occasional rebellions which were harshly suppressed. It was US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 that finally overthrew Spanish rule. The subsequent Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence, which was granted in 1902 after a three-year transition period. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule has held the regime together since then. Cuba's Communist regime, with Soviet support, attempted to export its revolution throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The country is now slowly recovering from a severe economic recession in 1990, following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion to $6 billion annually. Cuba portrays its difficulties as the result of the US embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migration to the US - using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, air flights, or via the southwest border - is a continuing problem. The US Coast Guard intercepted 2,712 individuals attempting to cross the Straits of Florida in fiscal year 2005. Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida 21 30 N 80 00 W Central America and the Caribbean 110,860 sq km 110,860 sq km 0 sq km slightly smaller than Pennsylvania 29 km US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains part of Cuba 3,735 km 12 nm 200 nm tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October) mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast Caribbean Sea 0 m Pico Turquino 2,005 m cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land 33.05% 7.6% 59.35% (2001) 870 sq km (1998 est.) the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands Marine Life Conservation largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles 11,346,670 (July 2005 est.) 19.6% (male 1,139,644/female 1,079,412) 70.1% (male 3,977,110/female 3,975,818) 10.4% (male 540,720/female 633,966) (2005 est.) 35.36 years 34.73 years 35.98 years (2005 est.) 0.33% (2005 est.) 12.03 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 7.19 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.85 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 6.33 deaths/1,000 live births 7.11 deaths/1,000 live births 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 77.23 years 74.94 years 79.65 years (2005 est.) 1.66 children born/woman (2005 est.) less than 0.1% (2003 est.) 3,300 (2003 est.) less than 200 (2003 est.) Cuban(s) Cuban mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1% nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented Spanish age 15 and over can read and write 97% 97.2% 96.9% (2003 est.) illicit migration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to depart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, direct flights, or falsified visas; Cubans also use non-maritime routes to enter the US including direct flights to Miami and overland via the southwest border Republic of Cuba Cuba Republica de Cuba Cuba Communist state Havana 14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902) Independence Day, 10 December (1898); note - 10 December 1898 is the date of independence from Spain, 20 May 1902 is the date of independence from US administration; Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953) 24 February 1976; amended July 1992 and June 2002 based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 16 years of age; universal President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished; president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished; president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the Council of State and appointed by the National Assembly or the 31-member Council of State, elected by the Assembly to act on its behalf when it is not in session president and vice presidents elected by the National Assembly for a term of five years; election last held 6 March 2003 (next to be held in 2008) Fidel CASTRO Ruz reelected president; percent of legislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - 100% unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (609 seats, elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms) last held 19 January 2003 (next to be held in NA 2008) percent of vote - PCC 97.6%; seats - PCC 609 People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly) only party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary] NA ACP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO none; note - Cuba has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Dagoberto RODRIGUEZ Barrera; address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss Embassy, 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: [1] (202) 797-8518 none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Michael E. PARMLY; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado, Havana; telephone: [53] (7) 833-3551 through 3559 (operator assistance required); FAX: [53] (7) 833-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening against a desire for firm political control. It has rolled back limited reforms undertaken in the 1990s to increase enterprise efficiency and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services. The average Cuban's standard of living remains at a lower level than before the downturn of the 1990s, which was caused by the loss of Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The government in 2005 strengthened its controls over dollars coming into the economy from tourism, remittances, and trade. External financing has helped growth in the mining, oil, construction, and tourism sectors. $37.05 billion (2005 est.) NA 5.2% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,300 (2005 est.) 5.5% 26.1% 68.4% (2005 est.) 4.6 million state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2005 est.) agriculture 21.2%, industry 14.4%, services 64.4% (2004) 1.9% (2005 est.) NA NA NA 4.2% (2005 est.) 9.8% of GDP (2005 est.) $22.11 billion $23.65 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock sugar, petroleum, tobacco, construction, nickel, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, pharmaceuticals 3.5% (2005 est.) 15.65 billion kWh (2004) 14.62 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 72,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) 205,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 532 million bbl (1 January 2002) 704 million cu m (2004) 704 million cu m (2004) 0 cu m (2004) 0 cu m (2004) 42.62 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $-748 million (2005 est.) $2.388 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Netherlands 22.7%, Canada 20.6%, China 7.7%, Russia 7.5%, Spain 6.4%, Venezuela 4.4% (2004) $6.916 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Spain 14.7%, Venezuela 13.5%, US 11%, China 8.9%, Canada 6.4%, Italy 6.2%, Mexico 4.9% (2004) $2.518 billion (2005 est.) $13.1 billion (convertible currency); another $15-20 billion owed to Russia (2005 est.) $68.2 million (1997 est.) Cuban peso (CUP) and Convertible peso (CUC) Convertible pesos per US dollar - 0.93 Cuba has three currencies in circulation: the Cuban peso (CUP), the convertible peso (CUC), and the US dollar (USD), although the dollar is being withdrawn from circulation; in April 2005 the official exchange rate changed from $1 per CUC to $1.08 per CUC (0.93 CUC per $1), both for individuals and enterprises; individuals can buy 24 Cuban pesos (CUP) for each CUC sold, or sell 25 Cuban pesos for each CUC bought; enterprises, however, must exchange CUP and CUC at a 1:1 ratio. calendar year 574,400 (2002) 17,900 (2002) greater investment beginning in 1994 and the establishment of a new Ministry of Information Technology and Communications in 2000 has resulted in improvements in the system; wireless service is expensive and remains restricted to foreigners and regime elites, many Cubans procure wireless service illegally with the help of foreigners national fiber-optic system under development; 85% of switches digitized by end of 2004; telephone line density remains low, at 10 per 100 inhabitants; domestic cellular service expanding country code - 53; fiber-optic cable laid to but not linked to US network; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998) 58 (1997) .cu 1,529 (2003) 120,000 private citizens are prohibited from buying computers or accessing the Internet without special authorization; foreigners may access the Internet in large hotels, but are subject to firewalls; some Cubans buy illegal passwords on the black market, or take advantage of public outlets to access limited email and the government-controlled "intranet" (2004) 170 (2004 est.) 78 7 9 18 7 37 (2005 est.) 92 1 29 62 (2005 est.) gas 49 km; oil 230 km (2004) 4,226 km 4,226 km 1.435-m gauge (140 km electrified) an additional 7,742 km of track is used by sugar plantations; about 65% of this track is standard gauge; the rest is narrow gauge (2004) 60,858 km 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway) 31,038 km (1999) 240 km (2004) 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 54,818 GRT/81,850 DWT bulk carrier 2, cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 2 1 (Spain 1) 20 (2005) Cienfuegos, Havana, Matanzas Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR): Revolutionary Army (ER), Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR), Territorial Militia Troops (MTT), Youth Labor Army (EJT) 17 years of age; both sexes are eligible for military service (2004) 17 2,967,865 17 2,913,559 (2005 est.) 17 2,441,927 17 2,396,741 (2005 est.) 91,901 87,500 (2005 est.) $572.3 million (2003) 1.8% (2003) Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993 US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone primarily for marijuana bound for North America; established the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999 Cyprus Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey 35 00 N 33 00 E Middle East 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus) 9,240 sq km 10 sq km about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut NA; note - boundary with Dhekelia is being resurveyed Akrotiri 47.4 km, Dhekelia NA 648 km 12 nm 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast Mediterranean Sea 0 m Mount Olympus 1,951 m copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment 7.79% 4.44% 87.77% (2001) 382 sq km (2001 est.) moderate earthquake activity; droughts water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution none of the selected agreements the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia) 780,133 (July 2005 est.) 20.9% (male 83,256/female 79,701) 67.7% (male 267,446/female 260,846) 11.4% (male 38,766/female 50,118) (2005 est.) 34.68 years 33.64 years 35.7 years (2005 est.) 0.54% (2005 est.) 12.57 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 7.64 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.77 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 7.18 deaths/1,000 live births 8.94 deaths/1,000 live births 5.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 77.65 years 75.29 years 80.13 years (2005 est.) 1.83 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.1% (2003 est.) less than 1,000 (1999 est.) NA Cypriot(s) Cypriot Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001) Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and other 4% Greek, Turkish, English age 15 and over can read and write 97.6% 98.9% 96.3% (2003 est.) Republic of Cyprus Cyprus the Turkish Cypriot community (north Cyprus) refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC) republic a separation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in July 1974 that followed a Greek junta-supported coup attempt gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), recognized only by Turkey Nicosia 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosia (Nicosia) and Larnaca 16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are only recognized by Turkey Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as Independence Day 16 August 1960; from December 1963, the Turkish Cypriots no longer participated in the government; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and for better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently since the mid-1960s; in 1975, following the 1974 Turkish intervention, Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which became the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" when the Turkish Cypriots declared their independence in 1983; a new constitution for the "TRNC" passed by referendum on 5 May 1985 based on common law, with civil law modifications 18 years of age; universal President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and vice president president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 February 2003 (next to be held February 2008) Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected president; percent of vote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%, Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, Alekos MARKIDIS 6.6% Mehmet Ali TALAT becomes "president" of north Cyprus, 24 April 2005, after "presidential" elections on 17 April 2005; results - Mehmet Ali TALAT 55.6%, Dervis EROGLU 22.7%; Ferdi Sabit SOYER is "prime minister"; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in north Cyprus, appointed by the "prime minister" unicameral - Republic of Cyprus: House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish Cypriots; note - only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); north Cyprus: Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) Republic of Cyprus: last held 27 May 2001 (next to be held May 2006); north Cyprus: last held 14 December 2003 (next to be held NA 2008) Republic of Cyprus: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - AKEL 34.71%, DISY 34%, DIKO 14.84%, KISOS 6.51%, others 9.94%; seats by party - AKEL (Communist) 20, DISY 19, DIKO 9, KISOS 4, others 4; north Cyprus: Assembly of the Republic - percent of vote by party - CTP 35.8%, UBP 32.3%, Peace and Democratic Movement 13.4%, DP 12.3%; seats by party - CTP 19, UBP 18, Peace and Democratic Movement 6, DP 7 Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and vice president) there is also a Supreme Court in north Cyprus Republic of Cyprus: Democratic Party or DIKO [Tassos PAPADOPOULOS]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; Fighting Democratic Movement or ADIK [Dinos MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [George PERDIKIS]; New Horizons [Nikolaus KOUTSOU]; Restorative Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS]; Social Democratic Party or EDEK (formerly United Democratic Union of Cyprus) [Yiannakis OMIROU]; United Democrats Movement or EDE [George VASSILIOU]; north Cyprus: Democratic Party or DP [Serder DENKTASH]; National Birth Party or UDP [Enver EMIN]; National Unity Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Our Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU]; Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH [Alpay DURDURAN]; Peace and Democratic Movement [Mustafa AKINCI]; Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT] Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West); Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO (Communist controlled) Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Euripides L. EVRIVIADES 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 462-5772 [1] (202) 483-6710 consulate(s) general: New York representative of the Turkish Cypriot community in the US is Osman ERTUG; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202) 887-6198 Ambassador Ronasld B. SCHLICHER corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, 2407 Nicosia P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nikosia [357] (22) 393939 [357] (22) 780944 white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag has a horizontal red stripe at the top and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on a white field The Republic of Cyprus has a capitalist economy dominated by the service sector, which accounts for 76% of GDP. Tourism and financial services are the most important sectors; erratic growth rates over the past decade reflect the economy's reliance on tourism, which often fluctuates with political instability in the region and economic conditions in Western Europe. Cyprus joined the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2) in May 2005 and could adopt the euro within the next two years. Although sluggish tourism and poor fiscal management have resulted in high budget deficits since 2001, the government is pursuing reforms to trim the deficit. As in the Turkish sector, water shortages are a perennial problem; a few desalination plants are now on-line. After 10 years of drought, the country received substantial rainfall from 2001-03, alleviating immediate concerns. The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly one-third of the per capita GDP of the south, and economic growth tends to be volatile, given north Cyprus's relative isolation, bloated public sector, reliance on the Turkish lira, and small market size. The Turkish Cypriot economy grew 15.4% in 2004, fueled by growth in the construction and education sectors as well as increased employment of Turkish Cypriots in the Republic of Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriots are heavily dependent on transfers from the Turkish government. Under the 2003-06 economic protocol, Ankara plans to provide around $550 million to the "TRNC." Agriculture and services, together, employ more than half of the work force, especially with tourism growth and the easing of border restrictions with the Greek Cypriots since April 2003. Republic of Cyprus: $16.82 billion north Cyprus: $4.54 billion (2005 est.) Republic of Cyprus: $15.83 billion (2005 est.) Republic of Cyprus: 3.8% (2005 est.) north Cyprus: 15.4% (2004 est.) Republic of Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $21,600 (2005 est.); north Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $7,135 (2004 est.) NA NA% NA% Republic of Cyprus - $6.698 billion (2005 est.), north Cyprus - $231.3 million (2003 est.) Republic of Cyprus - $7.122 billion (2005 est.), north Cyprus - $432.8 million (2003 est.) citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables, poultry, pork, lamb, kids, dairy, cheese tourism, food and beverage processing; cement and gypsum production; ship repair and refurbishment; textiles; light chemicals; metal products; wood, paper, stone, and clay products 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) NA (2001) UK 27.2%, Greece 11.9%, Germany 5%, UAE 4.8% (2004) Greece 15.2%, Italy 10.5%, Germany 8.9%, UK 8.6%, France 6.3%, Japan 4.7%, Israel 4.4%, China 4% (2004) Republic of Cyprus - NA; north Cyprus - $700 million from Turkey in grants and loans, which are usually forgiven (2003-06) Greek Cypriot area: Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish New lira (YTL) Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.47 (2005), 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003), 0.6107 (2002), 0.6431 (2001), Turkish new lira per US dollar 1.426 million (2005), 1.426 million (2004), 1.501 million (2003), 1.507 million (2002), 1.226 million (2001) calendar year excellent in both Republic of Cyprus and north Cyprus areas open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay country code - 357; tropospheric scatter; 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat .cy 5,901 (2004) 210,000 (2002) 17 (2004 est.) 13 7 2 3 1 (2005 est.) 3 1 2 (2005 est.) 10 (2005 est.) 14,110 km (Republic of Cyprus: 11,760 km; north Cyprus: 2,350 km) 8,773 km (including 268 km of expressways) 5,337 km 972 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 22,016,374 GRT/35,760,004 DWT bulk carrier 384, cargo 248, chemical tanker 45, container 125, liquefied gas 4, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 19, petroleum tanker 103, refrigerated cargo 19, roll on/roll off 12, vehicle carrier 5 899 (Austria 2, Belgium 1, Canada 10, China 8, Croatia 3, Cuba 5, Egypt 1, Estonia 3, France 1, Germany 236, Greece 396, Hong Kong 2, India 2, Iran 2, Israel 3, Japan 18, Latvia 7, Monaco 1, Netherlands 12, Norway 14, Philippines 1, Poland 20, Portugal 2, Russia 56, Singapore 2, Slovenia 4, South Korea 1, Spain 4, Sweden 6, Switzerland 4, Syria 2, Ukraine 3, UAE 11, United Kingdom 24, United States 31, Vietnam 1) 54 (2005) Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos Republic of Cyprus: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes air and naval elements) north Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (GKK) 18 years of age (2004) 18 184,352 (2005 est.) 18 150,750 (2005 est.) 6,578 (2005 est.) $384 million (FY02) 3.8% (FY02) hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous entities, the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot community (north Cyprus); the 1,000-strong UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since 1964 and maintains the buffer zone between north and south; March 2003 reunification talks failed, but Turkish-Cypriots later opened their borders to temporary visits by Greek Cypriots; on 24 April 2004, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities voted in simultaneous and parallel referenda on whether to approve the UN-brokered Annan Plan that would have ended the thirty-year division of the island by establishing a new "United Cyprus Republic," a majority of Greek Cypriots voted "no"; on 1 May 2004, Cyprus entered the European Union still divided, with the EU's body of legislation and standards (acquis communitaire) suspended in the north 265,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced for over 30 years) (2004) minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey; some cocaine transits as well; despite a strengthening of anti-money-laundering legislation, remains highly vulnerable to money laundering; identification of benefiting owners and reporting of suspicious transactions by nonresident-controlled companies in offshore sector remains weak Czech Republic Following the First World War, the closely related Czechs and Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar years, the new country's leaders were frequently preoccupied with meeting the demands of other ethnic minorities within the republic, most notably the Sudeten Germans and the Ruthenians (Ukrainians). After World War II, a truncated Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of influence. In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize Communist party rule and create "socialism with a human face." Anti-Soviet demonstrations the following year ushered in a period of harsh repression. With the collapse of Soviet authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom through a peaceful "Velvet Revolution." On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a "velvet divorce" into its two national components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. Central Europe, southeast of Germany 49 45 N 15 30 E Europe 78,866 sq km 77,276 sq km 1,590 sq km slightly smaller than South Carolina 1,881 km Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km, Slovakia 215 km 0 km (landlocked) none (landlocked) temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country Elbe River 115 m Snezka 1,602 m hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber 39.8% 3.05% 57.15% (2001) 240 sq km (1998 est.) flooding air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests; efforts to bring industry up to EU code should improve domestic pollution Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands none of the selected agreements landlocked; strategically located astride some of oldest and most significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditional military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in central Europe 10,241,138 (July 2005 est.) 14.7% (male 773,028/female 731,833) 71.1% (male 3,651,018/female 3,627,006) 14.2% (male 565,374/female 892,879) (2005 est.) 38.97 years 37.2 years 40.82 years (2005 est.) -0.05% (2005 est.) 9.07 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 10.54 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.63 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 3.93 deaths/1,000 live births 4.28 deaths/1,000 live births 3.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 76.02 years 72.74 years 79.49 years (2005 est.) 1.2 children born/woman (2005 est.) less than 0.1% (2001 est.) 2,500 (2001 est.) less than 10 (2001 est.) Czech(s) Czech Czech 90.4%, Moravian 3.7%, Slovak 1.9%, other 4% (2001 census) Roman Catholic 26.8%, Protestant 2.1%, other 3.3%, unspecified 8.8%, unaffiliated 59% (2001 census) Czech NA 99.9% (1999 est.) NA% NA% Czech Republic Czech Republic Ceska Republika Ceska Republika parliamentary democracy Prague 13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavni mesto); Jihocesky Kraj, Jihomoravsky Kraj, Karlovarsky Kraj, Kralovehradecky Kraj, Liberecky Kraj, Moravskoslezsky Kraj, Olomoucky Kraj, Pardubicky Kraj, Plzensky Kraj, Praha (Prague)*, Stredocesky Kraj, Ustecky Kraj, Vysocina, Zlinsky Kraj 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia) Czech Founding Day, 28 October (1918) ratified 16 December 1992, effective 1 January 1993 civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring it in line with Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory 18 years of age; universal President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003) the Czech Republic's first president Vaclav HAVEL stepped down from office on 2 February 2003 having served exactly 10 years; parliament finally elected a successor on 28 February 2003 after two inconclusive elections in January 2003 Prime Minister Jiri PAROUBEK (since 25 April 2005), Deputy Prime Ministers Zdenek SKROMACH (since 4 August 2004), Jiri HAVEL (since 2 January 2006), Pavel NEMEC (since 4 August 2004), Milan SIMONOVSKY (since 4 August 2004) Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; last successful election held 28 February 2003 (after earlier elections held 15 and 24 January 2003 were inconclusive; next election to be held January 2008); prime minister appointed by the president Vaclav KLAUS elected president on 28 February 2003; Vaclav KLAUS 142 votes, Jan SOKOL 124 votes (third round; combined votes of both chambers of parliament) bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Poslanecka Snemovna (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) Senate - last held in two rounds 5-6 November and 12-13 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006); Chamber of Deputies - last held 14-15 June 2002 (next to be held by June 2006) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ODS 37, KDU-CSL 14, Open Democracy 13, CSSD 7, Caucus Open Democracy 7, independents 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CSSD 30.2%, ODS 24.5%, KSCM 18.5%, KDU-CSL & US-DEU coalition 14.3%, other minor 12.5%; seats by party - CSSD 70, ODS 57, KSCM 41, KDU-CSL 21, US-DEU 10, independent 1 Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for a 10-year term Caucus SNK [Josef ZOSER]; Christian and Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party or KDU-CSL [Miroslav KALOUSEK, chairman]; Civic Democratic Alliance or ODA [Jirina NOVAKOVA, chairwoman]; Civic Democratic Party or ODS [Mirek TOPOLANEK, chairman]; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSCM [Miroslav GREBENICEK, chairman]; Communist Party of Czechoslovakia or KSC [Miroslav STEPAN, chairman]; Czech National Social Party of CSNS [Jaroslav ROVNY, chairman]; Czech Social Democratic Party or CSSD [Stanislav GROSS, acting chairman]; European Democrats [Jan KASL]; Freedom Union-Democratic Union or US-DEU [Hana Marvanova, chairwoman]; Open Democracy [Sona PAUKRTOVA, chairwoman] Bohemian and Moravian Trade Union Confederation [Milan STECH] ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC Ambassador Petr KOLAR 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 274-9100 [1] (202) 966-8540 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York Ambassador William J. CABANISS Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1 use embassy street address [420] (2) 5753-0663 [420] (2) 5753-0920 two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia) The Czech Republic is one of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states of Central and Eastern Europe. Growth in 2000-05 was supported by exports to the EU, primarily to Germany, and a strong recovery of foreign and domestic investment. Domestic demand is playing an ever more important role in underpinning growth as interest rates drop and the availability of credit cards and mortgages increases. Current account deficits of around 5% of GDP are beginning to decline as demand for Czech products in the European Union increases. Inflation is under control. Recent accession to the EU gives further impetus and direction to structural reform. In early 2004 the government passed increases in the Value Added Tax (VAT) and tightened eligibility for social benefits with the intention to bring the public finance gap down to 4% of GDP by 2006, but more difficult pension and healthcare reforms will have to wait until after the next elections. Privatization of the state-owned telecommunications firm Cesky Telecom took place in 2005. Intensified restructuring among large enterprises, improvements in the financial sector, and effective use of available EU funds should strengthen output growth. $184.9 billion (2005 est.) $112.8 billion (2005 est.) 4.6% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $18,100 (2005 est.) 3.4% 39.3% 57.3% (2004 est.) 5.27 million (2005 est.) agriculture 4%, industry 38%, services 58% (2002 est.) 9.1% (2005 est.) NA 4.3% 22.4% (1996) 25.4 (1996) 2% (2005 est.) 26.2% of GDP (2005 est.) $48.16 billion $53.04 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 33.1% of GDP (2005 est.) wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, poultry metallurgy, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, glass, armaments 6% (2005 est.) 78.18 billion kWh (2003) 56.5 billion kWh (2003) 26.3 billion kWh (2003) 10.1 billion kWh (2003) 12,380 bbl/day (2003) 185,200 bbl/day (2003 est.) 26,670 bbl/day (2001) 192,300 bbl/day (2001) 17.25 million bbl (1 January 2002) 160 million cu m (2001 est.) 9.892 billion cu m (2001 est.) 1 million cu m (2001 est.) 9.521 billion cu m (2001 est.) 3.057 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $-3.523 billion (2005 est.) $78.37 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Germany 36.2%, Slovakia 8.5%, Austria 6%, Poland 5.3%, UK 4.7%, France 4.6%, Italy 4.3%, Netherlands 4.3% (2004) $76.59 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Germany 31.7%, Slovakia 5.4%, Italy 5.3%, China 5.2%, Poland 4.8%, France 4.7%, Russia 4.1%, Austria 4% (2004) $30.49 billion (2005 est.) $43.2 billion (30 June 2005 est.) $2.4 billion in available EU structural adjustment and cohesion funds (2004-06) Czech koruna (CZK) koruny per US dollar - 23.72 (2005), 25.7 (2004), 28.209 (2003), 32.739 (2002), 38.035 (2001) calendar year 3.626 million (2003) 9,708,700 (2003) privatization and modernization of the Czech telecommunication system got a late start but is advancing steadily; growth in the use of mobile cellular telephones is particularly vigorous 86% of exchanges now digital; existing copper subscriber systems now being enhanced with Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) equipment to accommodate Internet and other digital signals; trunk systems include fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay country code - 420; satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1 Globalstar AM 31, FM 304, shortwave 17 (2000) 150 (plus 1,434 repeaters) (2000) .cz 295,677 (2004) 2.7 million (2003) 120 (2004 est.) 44 2 9 14 2 17 (2005 est.) 77 28 49 (2005 est.) 2 (2005 est.) gas 7,020 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km (2004) 9,543 km 9,421 km 1.435-m gauge (2,893 km electrified) 122 km 0.760-m gauge (23 km electrified) (2004) 127,672 km 127,672 km (including 518 km of expressways) (2002) 664 km (on Elbe, Vltava, and Oder rivers) (2004) 3 Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem Army of the Czech Republic (ACR): Joint Forces Command, Support and Training Forces Command (2005) 18-50 years of age for voluntary military service; on-going transformation of military service into a fully professional, all-volunteer force no longer dependent on conscription began in January 2004 and is scheduled to be completed by 2007 (2005) 18 2,414,728 (2005 est.) 18 1,996,631 (2005 est.) 66,583 (2005 est.) $2.17 billion (2004) 1.81% FY05 (2005) in February 2005, the ICJ refused to rule on the restitution of Liechtenstein's land and property assets in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1945 as German property; individual Sudeten Germans seek restitution for property confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World War II transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and minor transit point for Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for local and regional markets; susceptible to money laundering related to drug trafficking, organized crime Congo, Democratic Republic of the Established as a Belgian colony in 1908, the Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960, but its early years were marred by political and social instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a November 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU Sese Seko - as well as that of the country - to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years through several subsequent sham elections as well as through the use of brutal force. Ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from fighting in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling of the MOBUTU regime by a rebellion led by Laurent KABILA. He renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC), but in August 1998 his regime was itself challenged by an insurrection backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan intervened to support the Kinshasa regime. A cease-fire was signed in July 1999 by the DROC, Zimbabwe, Angola, Uganda, Namibia, Rwanda, and Congolese armed rebel groups, but sporadic fighting continued. Laurent KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and his son Joseph KABILA was named head of state. In October 2002, the new president was successful in negotiating the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying eastern Congo; two months later, the Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. A transitional government was set up in July 2003; Joseph KABILA remains as president and is joined by four vice presidents representing the former government, former rebel groups, and the political opposition. The transitional government plans to hold a series of elections in 2006 to determine the presidency and National Assembly seats. Central Africa, northeast of Angola 0 00 N 25 00 E Africa 2,345,410 sq km 2,267,600 sq km 77,810 sq km slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US 10,730 km Angola 2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of Angola's discontiguous Cabinda Province), Burundi 233 km, Central African Republic 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Sudan 628 km, Tanzania 459 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km 37 km 12 nm boundaries with neighbors tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season April to October, dry season December to February; south of Equator - wet season November to March, dry season April to October vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east Atlantic Ocean 0 m Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber 2.96% 0.52% 96.52% (2001) 110 sq km (1998 est.) periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); in the east, in the Great Rift Valley, there are active volcanoes poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching; mining of minerals (coltan - a mineral used in creating capacitors, diamonds, and gold) causing environmental damage Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands Environmental Modification straddles equator; has very narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo River and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands 60,085,804 estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.) 48.1% (male 14,513,779/female 14,396,952) 49.4% (male 14,579,101/female 15,121,297) 2.5% (male 597,776/female 876,099) (2005 est.) 15.8 years 15.4 years 16.2 years (2005 est.) 2.98% (2005 est.) 44.38 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 14.43 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -0.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population fighting between the Congolese Government and Uganda- and Rwanda-backed Congolese rebels spawned a regional war in DROC in August 1998, which left 1.8 million Congolese internally displaced and caused 300,000 Congolese refugees to flee to surrounding countries (2005 est.) 1.01 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 0.68 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 92.87 deaths/1,000 live births 101.25 deaths/1,000 live births 84.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 51.1 years 49.68 years 52.56 years (2005 est.) 6.54 children born/woman (2005 est.) 4.2% (2003 est.) 1.1 million (2003 est.) 100,000 (2003 est.) very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria, plague, and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are high risks in some locations schistosomiasis (2004) Congolese (singular and plural) Congolese or Congo over 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs 10% French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba 65.5% 76.2% 55.1% (2003 est.) Democratic Republic of the Congo none Republique Democratique du Congo none Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire DROC dictatorship; presumably undergoing a transition to representative government Kinshasa 10 provinces (provinces, singular - province) and 1 city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu 30 June 1960 (from Belgium) Independence Day, 30 June (1960) new constitution adopted 17 July 2003 based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal and compulsory President Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001); note - following the assassination of his father, Laurent Desire KABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the presidency; the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001); note - following the assassination of his father, Laurent Desire KABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the presidency; the president is both the chief of state and head of government National Executive Council, appointed by the president prior to the overthrow of MOBUTU Sese Seko, the president was elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 29 July 1984 (next was scheduled to be held in May 1997); formerly, there was also a prime minister who was elected by the High Council of the Republic; note - a Transitional Government is finalizing a new constitution with free elections scheduled to be held in early 2006 MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga reelected president in 1984 without opposition Joseph KABILA succeeded his father, Laurent Desire KABILA, following the latter's assassination in January 2001, negotiations with rebel leaders led to the establishment of a transitional government in July 2003 with free elections scheduled to be held in early 2006 a 500-member National Assembly and a 120-seat Senate established in June 2003 NA; members of the National Assembly were appointed by leaders in the factions integrated into the new government Supreme Court or Cour Supreme Democratic Social Christian Party or PDSC [Andre BO-BOLIKO]; Forces for Renovation for Union and Solidarity or FONUS [Joseph OLENGHANKOY]; National Congolese Lumumbist Movement or MNC [Francois LUMUMBA]; Popular Movement of the Revolution or MPR (three factions: MPR-Fait Prive [Catherine NZUZI wa Mbombo]; MPR/Vunduawe [Felix VUNDUAWE]; MPR/Mananga [MANANGA Dintoka Mpholo]); Unified Lumumbast Party or PALU [Antoine GIZENGA]; Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba]; Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans or UFERI (two factions: UFERI [Lokambo OMOKOKO]; UFERI/OR [Adolph Kishwe MAYA]) NA ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Faida MITIFU 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009: note - Consular Office at 1726 M Street, NW, Wasington, DC, 20036 [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691 [1] (202) 234-2609 Ambassador Roger MEECE 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa Unit 31550, APO AE 09828 [243] (88) 43608 [243] (88) 43467 light blue with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center and a columnar arrangement of six small yellow five-pointed stars along the hoist side The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nation endowed with vast potential wealth - has declined drastically since the mid-1980s. The war, which began in August 1998, dramatically reduced national output and government revenue, increased external debt, and resulted in the deaths of perhaps 3.5 million people from war, famine, and disease. Foreign businesses curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict, lack of infrastructure, and the difficult operating environment. Conditions improved in late 2002 with the withdrawal of a large portion of the invading foreign troops. The transitional government has reopened relations with international financial institutions and international donors, with President KABILA implementing reforms. Much economic activity lies outside the GDP data. Economic stability improved in 2003-05, although an uncertain legal framework, corruption, and a lack of openness in government policy continues to hamper growth. In 2005, renewed activity in the mining sector, the source of most exports, boosted Kinshasa's fiscal position and GDP growth. Business and economic prospects are expected to improve once a new government is installed after elections. $46.27 billion (2005 est.) $7.541 billion (2005 est.) 6.5% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $800 (2005 est.) 55% 11% 34% (2000 est.) 14.51 million (1993 est.) NA NA (2003 est.) NA NA NA 9% (2004 est.) $700 million $750 million, including capital expenditures of $24 million (2004) coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products mining (diamonds, copper, zinc), mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement, commercial ship repair NA 6.036 billion kWh (2003) 4.324 billion kWh (2003) 1.3 billion kWh (2003) 10 million kWh (2003) 22,000 bbl/day (2003) 8,300 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 1.538 billion bbl (1 January 2002) 104.8 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $1.108 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) Belgium 47.5%, Finland 20.8%, US 10.9%, China 7.5% (2004) $1.319 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) South Africa 17.2%, Belgium 14.5%, France 10.1%, Zambia 8.5%, Kenya 5.9%, US 5.6%, Germany 5.5% (2004) $10.6 billion (2003 est.) $2.2 billion (FY03/04) Congolese franc (CDF) Congolese francs per US dollar - 437.86 (2005), 401.04 (2004), 405.34 (2003), 346.49 (2002), 206.62 (2001) calendar year 10,000 (2002) 1 million (2003) poor barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations country code - 243; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2001) 4 (2001) .cd 153 (2003) 50,000 (2002) 230 (2004 est.) 25 4 2 16 2 1 (2005 est.) 207 18 92 97 (2005 est.) gas 54 km; oil 71 km (2004) 5,138 km 3,987 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km 1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge (2004) 157,000 km (including 30 km of expressways) (1999) 15,000 km (navigation on the Congo curtailed by fighting) (2004) 1 Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka Army, Navy, Air Force 18 11,052,696 (2005 est.) 18 5,851,292 (2005 est.) $93.5 million (2004) 1.5% (2004) heads of the Great Lakes states and UN pledge to end conflict but unchecked tribal, rebel, and militia fighting continues unabated in the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, drawing in the neighboring states of Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda; the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) has maintained over 14,000 peacekeepers in the region since 1999; thousands of Ituri refugees from the Congo continue to flee the fighting primarily into Uganda; 90,000 Angolan refugees were repatriated by 2004 with the remainder in the Democratic Republic of the Congo expected to return in 2005; in 2005, DROC and Rwanda established a border verification mechanism to address accusations of Rwandan military supporting Congolese rebels and the DROC providing rebel Rwandan "Interhamwe" forces the means and bases to attack Rwandan forces; the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area refugees (country of origin): 45,060 (Sudan) 100,000 (Angola) 19,552 (Burundi) 6,626 (Republic of Congo) 19,743 (Rwanda) 18,953 (Uganda) 2.33 million (fighting between government forces and rebels since mid-1990s; most IDPs are in eastern provinces) (2004) illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption; while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leaves the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center Denmark Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. However, the country has opted out of certain elements of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), European defense cooperation, and issues concerning certain justice and home affairs. Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major islands (Sjaelland and Fyn) 56 00 N 10 00 E Europe 43,094 sq km 42,394 sq km 700 sq km includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark (the Jutland Peninsula, and the major islands of Sjaelland and Fyn), but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts 68 km Germany 68 km 7,314 km 12 nm 200 nm 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers low and flat to gently rolling plains Lammefjord -7 m Yding Skovhoej 173 m petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand 54.02% 0.19% 45.79% (2001) 4,760 sq km (1998 est.) flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling none of the selected agreements controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen 5,432,335 (July 2005 est.) 18.8% (male 524,250/female 497,683) 66.1% (male 1,811,787/female 1,780,907) 15.1% (male 349,458/female 468,250) (2005 est.) 39.47 years 38.55 years 40.4 years (2005 est.) 0.34% (2005 est.) 11.36 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 10.43 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 2.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.75 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 4.56 deaths/1,000 live births 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births 4.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 77.62 years 75.34 years 80.03 years (2005 est.) 1.74 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.2% (2003 est.) 5,000 (2003 est.) less than 100 (2003 est.) Dane(s) Danish Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, Muslim 2% Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority) English is the predominant second language age 15 and over can read and write 100% 100% 100% Kingdom of Denmark Denmark Kongeriget Danmark Danmark constitutional monarchy Copenhagen metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 2 boroughs* (amtskommuner, singular - amtskommune); Arhus, Bornholm, Frederiksberg*, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kobenhavn, Kobenhavn (Copenhagen)*, Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjylland, Storstrom, Vejle, Vestsjalland, Viborg since 2005 Bornholm may have become a borough; in the future the counties may be replaced by regions; see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are part of the Kingdom of Denmark and are self-governing overseas administrative divisions first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June (1849) is generally viewed as the National Day 5 June 1849 adoption of original constitution; a major overhaul of 5 June 1953 allowed for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations 18 years of age; universal Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born 26 May 1968) Prime Minister Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN (since 27 November 2001) Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by parliament none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch unicameral People's Assembly or Folketinget (179 seats, including 2 from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) last held 8 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009) percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 29%, Social Democrats 25.9%, Danish People's Party 13.2%, Conservative Party 10.3%, Social Liberal Party 9.2%, Socialist People's Party 6%, Unity List 3.4%; seats by party - Liberal Party 52, Social Democrats 47, Danish People's Party 24, Conservative Party 18, Social Liberal Party 17, Socialist People's Party 11, Unity List 6; note - does not include the 2 seats from Greenland and the 2 seats from the Faroe Islands Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch for life) Center Democratic Party [Mimi JAKOBSEN]; Christian Democrats (was Christian People's Party) [Marianne KARLSMOSE]; Conservative Party (sometimes known as Conservative People's Party) [Bendt BENDTSEN]; Danish People's Party [Pia KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Party [Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN]; Social Democratic Party [Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT]; Social Liberal Party (sometimes called the Radical Left) [Marianne JELVED, leader; Soren BALD, chairman]; Socialist People's Party [Villy SOEVNDAL]; Red-Green Unity List (bloc includes Left Socialist Party, Communist Party of Denmark, Socialist Workers' Party) [collective leadership] NA AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Ambassador Friis PETERSEN 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 234-4300 [1] (202) 328-1470 consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York Ambassador James P. CAIN Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen PSC 73, APO AE 09716 [45] 33 41 71 00 [45] 35 43 02 23 red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side, and that design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, a stable currency, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus. Government objectives include streamlining the bureaucracy and further privatization of state assets. The government has been successful in meeting, and even exceeding, the economic convergence criteria for participating in the third phase (a common European currency) of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), but Denmark has decided not to join 12 other EU members in the euro; even so, the Danish krone remains pegged to the euro. Growth in 2005 was sluggish, yet above the scanty 0.3% of 2003. Because of high GDP per capita, welfare benefits, a low Gini index, and political stability, the Danish people enjoy living standards topped by no other nation. A major long-term issue will be the sharp decline in the ratio of workers to retirees. $182.1 billion (2005 est.) $254.1 billion (2005 est.) 2.2% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $33,500 (2005 est.) 2.2% 24% 73.8% (2005 est.) 2.9 million (2005 est.) agriculture 4%, industry 17%, services 79% (2002 est.) 5.7% (2005 est.) NA 2% 24% (2000 est.) 24.7 (1997) 1.9% (2005 est.) 19.5% of GDP (2005 est.) $148.8 billion $142.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $500 million (2005 est.) 40.4% of GDP (2005 est.) barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products; fish iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products, shipbuilding and refurbishment, windmills 4% (2005 est.) 43.32 billion kWh (2003) 31.68 billion kWh (2003) 15.6 billion kWh (2003) 7 billion kWh (2003) 376,900 bbl/day (2003) 188,300 bbl/day (2003 est.) 332,100 bbl/day (2001) 195,000 bbl/day (2001) 1.23 billion bbl (1 January 2002) 8.38 billion cu m (2001 est.) 5.28 billion cu m (2001 est.) 3.1 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 81.98 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $7.019 billion (2005 est.) $84.95 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Germany 18%, Sweden 13.2%, UK 8.7%, US 5.8%, Netherlands 5.5%, Norway 5.4%, France 5% (2004) $74.69 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Germany 22.3%, Sweden 13.5%, Netherlands 6.8%, UK 6.1%, France 4.5%, Norway 4.5%, Italy 4.1%, China 4% (2004) $40.05 billion (2004 est.) $352.9 billion (30 June 2005) ODA, $1.63 billion (1999) Danish krone (DKK) Danish kroner per US dollar - 5.93 (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002), 8.3228 (2001) calendar year 3,610,100 (2003) 4,785,300 (2003) excellent telephone and telegraph services buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form trunk network, 4 cellular mobile communications systems country code - 45; 18 submarine fiber-optic cables linking Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and UK; satellite earth stations - 6 Intelsat, 10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat (Blaavand-Atlantic-East); note - the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) share the Danish earth station and the Eik, Norway, station for worldwide Inmarsat access (1997) AM 2, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998) 26 (plus 51 repeaters) (1998) .dk 1,219,925 (2004) 2.756 million (2002) 97 (2004 est.) 28 2 7 4 12 3 (2005 est.) 69 6 63 (2005 est.) condensate 12 km; gas 3,892 km; oil 455 km; oil/gas/water 2 km; unknown (oil/water) 64 km (2004) 2,628 km 2,628 km 1.435-m gauge (595 km electrified) (2004) 71,847 km 71,847 km (including 920 km of expressways) (2002) 417 km (2001) 287 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,952,473 GRT/9,030,444 DWT bulk carrier 2, cargo 67, chemical tanker 40, container 79, liquefied gas 10, livestock carrier 2, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 42, petroleum tanker 25, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 4 23 (Bahamas 14, France 1, Greece 1, Greenland 1, Norway 2, Sweden 2, UAE 1, Vietnam 1) 487 (2005) Aalborg, Aarhus, Asnaesvaerkets, Copenhagen, Elsinore, Ensted, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Frederikshavn, Graasten, Kalundborg, Odense, Roenne Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy (Sovaernet), Royal Danish Air Force, Home Guard (Hjemmevaernet) (2005) 18 years of age for compulsory and volunteer military service; conscripts serve an initial training period that varies from 4 to 12 months according to specialization; reservists are assigned to mobilization units following completion of their conscript service (2004) 18 1,175,108 (2005 est.) 18 955,168 (2005 est.) 31,317 (2005 est.) $3,271.6 million (2003) 1.5% (2004) Iceland disputes the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; Faroese continue to study proposals for full independence; uncontested sovereignty dispute with Canada over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland Dhekelia By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers in total: Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area. on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta 34 59 N 33 45 E Middle East 130.8 sq km area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC NA; note - boundary with Cyprus is being resurveyed 27.5 km temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus no indigenous personnel approximately 2,200 military personnel are on the base; there are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of military personnel or civilian staff on both the bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base, but do not live there English, Greek Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area Dhekelia overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus Episkopi Cantonment; located in Akrotiri the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952) Administrator Maj. Gen. Peter Tomas Clayton PEARSON (since 9 May 2003); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defence none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed by the monarch none (overseas territory of the UK) none (overseas territory of the UK) the flag of the UK is used Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Dhekelia. All food and manufactured goods must be imported. none includes Dheklia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway Djibouti The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in 1977. Hassan Gouled APTIDON installed an authoritarian one-party state and proceeded to serve as president until 1999. Unrest among the Afars minority during the 1990s led to a civil war that ended in 2001 following the conclusion of a peace accord between Afar rebels and the Issa-dominated government. Djibouti's first multi-party presidential elections in 1999 resulted in the election of Ismail Omar GUELLEH. Djibouti occupies a very strategic geographic location at the mouth of the Red Sea and serves as an important transshipment location for goods entering and leaving the east African highlands. The present leadership favors close ties to France, which maintains a significant military presence in the country, but has also developed increasingly stronger ties with the United States in recent years. Djibouti currently hosts the only United States military base in sub-Saharan Africa and is a front-line state in the global war on terrorism. Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia 11 30 N 43 00 E Africa 23,000 sq km 22,980 sq km 20 sq km slightly smaller than Massachusetts 516 km Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 km 314 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm desert; torrid, dry coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains Lac Assal -155 m Moussa Ali 2,028 m geothermal areas, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum 0.04% 0% 99.96% (2001) 10 sq km (1998 est.) earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land; desertification; endangered species Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution none of the selected agreements strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostly wasteland; Lac Assal (Lake Assal) is the lowest point in Africa 476,703 (July 2005 est.) 43.3% (male 103,516/female 102,860) 53.5% (male 133,168/female 121,823) 3.2% (male 7,748/female 7,588) (2005 est.) 18.23 years 18.77 years 17.69 years (2005 est.) 2.06% (2005 est.) 39.98 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 19.39 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 1.09 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 104.13 deaths/1,000 live births 111.82 deaths/1,000 live births 96.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 43.1 years 41.84 years 44.39 years (2005 est.) 5.4 children born/woman (2005 est.) 2.9% (2003 est.) 9,100 (2003 est.) 690 (2003 est.) high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever malaria (2004) Djiboutian(s) Djiboutian Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5% Muslim 94%, Christian 6% French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar age 15 and over can read and write 67.9% 78% 58.4% (2003 est.) Republic of Djibouti Djibouti French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland republic 5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura 27 June 1977 (from France) Independence Day, 27 June (1977) multiparty constitution approved by referendum 4 September 1992 based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law 18 years of age; universal adult President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999) Prime Minister Mohamed Dileita DILEITA (since 4 March 2001) Council of Ministers responsible to the president president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 8 April 2005 (next to be held by April 2011); prime minister appointed by the president Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH 100% unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms) last held 10 January 2003 (next to be held January 2008) percent of vote - RPP 62.2%, FRUD 36.9%; seats - RPP 65, FRUD 0; note - RPP (the ruling party) dominated the election Supreme Court or Cour Supreme Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN Robleh Awaleh]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Abdillahi HAMARITEH]; Djibouti Development Party or PDD [Mohamed Daoud CHEHEM]; Front pour la Restauration de l'Unite Democratique or FRUD [Ali Mohamed DAOUD]; People's Progress Assembly or RPP (governing party) [Ismail Omar GUELLEH]; Peoples Social Democratic Party or PPSD [Moumin Bahdon FARAH]; Republican Alliance for Democracy or ARD [Ahmed Dini AHMED]; Union for Democracy and Justice or UDJ [leader NA] Union for Presidential Majority UMP (coalition includes RPP, FRUD, PPSD and PND); Union for Democratic Changeover or UAD (opposition coalition includes ARD, MRDD, UDJ, and PDD) [Ahmed Dini AHMED] ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador ROBLE Olhaye Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 [1] (202) 331-0270 [1] (202) 331-0302 Ambassador Marguerita RAGSDALE Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti B. P. 185, Djibouti [253] 35 39 95 [253] 35 39 40 two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red five-pointed star in the center The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital city, the remainder are mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center. Djibouti has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate of at least 50% continues to be a major problem. While inflation is not a concern, due to the fixed tie of the Djiboutian franc to the US dollar, the artificially high value of the Djiboutian franc adversely affects Djibouti's balance of payments. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over the last seven years because of recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Faced with a multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallen in arrears on long-term external debt and has been struggling to meet the stipulations of foreign aid donors. $619 million (2002 est.) NA 3.5% (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.) 3.5% 15.8% 80.7% (2001 est.) 282,000 (2000) NA 50% (2004 est.) 50% (2001 est.) NA NA 2% (2002 est.) $135 million $182 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1999 est.) fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels, animal hides construction, agricultural processing, salt 3% (1996 est.) 240 million kWh (2003) 223.2 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 12,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $250 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) Somalia 63.8%, Yemen 22.6%, Ethiopia 5% (2004) $987 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) Saudi Arabia 19.7%, India 12.4%, Ethiopia 11.8%, China 8.1%, France 5.6%, US 4.8% (2004) $366 million (2002 est.) $36 million (2001) Djiboutian franc (DJF) Djiboutian francs per US dollar - NA (2005), 177.72 (2004), 177.72 (2003), 177.72 (2002), 177.72 (2001) calendar year 9,500 (2003) 23,000 (2003) telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country microwave radio relay network country code - 253; submarine cable to Jiddah, Suez, Sicily, Marseilles, Colombo, and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; Medarabtel regional microwave radio relay telephone network AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001) 1 (2002) .dj 702 (2004) 6,500 (2003) 13 (2004 est.) 3 1 1 1 (2005 est.) 10 2 5 3 (2005 est.) 100 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway) 100 km 1.000-m gauge railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia (2004) 2,890 km 364 km 2,526 km (1999) 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT cargo 1 (2005) Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force) 18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001) 18 95,328 (2005 est.) 18 46,020 (2005 est.) $28.6 million (2004) 4.4% (2004) Djibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with "Somaliland" leadership while maintaining some political ties to various factions in Somalia; although most of the 26,000 Somali refugees in Djibouti who fled civil unrest in the early 1990s have returned, several thousand still await repatriation in UNHCR camps refugees (country of origin): 25,474 (Somalia) (2004) Dominican Republic Explored and claimed by Columbus on his first voyage in 1492, the island of Hispaniola became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821, but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865. A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative, rule for much of its subsequent history was brought to an end in 1966 when Joaquin BALAGUER became president. He maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency. The Dominican economy has had one of the fastest growth rates in the hemisphere over the past decade. Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti 19 00 N 70 40 W Central America and the Caribbean 48,730 sq km 48,380 sq km 350 sq km slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire 360 km Haiti 360 km 1,288 km 6 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed Lago Enriquillo -46 m Pico Duarte 3,175 m nickel, bauxite, gold, silver 22.65% 10.33% 67.02% (2001) 2,590 sq km (1998 est.) lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution Law of the Sea shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti 8,950,034 (July 2005 est.) 32.9% (male 1,505,964/female 1,438,809) 61.7% (male 2,815,544/female 2,703,012) 5.4% (male 226,372/female 260,333) (2005 est.) 23.88 years 23.68 years 24.09 years (2005 est.) 1.29% (2005 est.) 23.28 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 7.35 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -3.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.87 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 32.38 deaths/1,000 live births 34.81 deaths/1,000 live births 29.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 71.44 years 69.94 years 73.03 years (2005 est.) 2.86 children born/woman (2005 est.) 1.7% (2003 est.) 88,000 (2003 est.) 7,900 (2003 est.) Dominican(s) Dominican white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73% Roman Catholic 95% Spanish age 15 and over can read and write 84.7% 84.6% 84.8% (2003 est.) Dominican Republic The Dominican Republica Dominicana La Dominicana representative democracy Santo Domingo 31 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Jose de Ocoa, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Santo Domingo, Valverde 27 February 1844 (from Haiti) Independence Day, 27 February (1844) 28 November 1966; amended 25 July 2002 based on French civil codes; undergoing modification in 2004 towards an accusatory system 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age members of the armed forces and national police cannot vote President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro (since 16 August 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro (since 16 August 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government Cabinet nominated by the president president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 16 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2008) Leonel FERNANDEZ elected president; percent of vote - Leonel FERNANDEZ (PLD) 57.1%, Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (PRD) 33.7%, Eduardo ESTRELLA (PRSC) 8.7% bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (150 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) Senate - last held 16 May 2002 (next to be held May 2006); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 May 2002 (next to be held May 2006) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 29, PLD 2, PRSC 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 73, PLD 41, PRSC 36 Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by a the National Judicial Council comprised of the President, the leaders of both chambers of congress, the President of the Supreme Court, and an opposition or non-governing party member) Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna]; Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Vicente Sanchez BARET]; Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Enrique ATUN] Collective of Popular Organizations or COP; Citizen Participation Group (Participacion Ciudadania); Foundation for Institution-Building (FINJUS) ACP, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador-designate Flavio Dario Espinal JACOBO 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 332-6280 [1] (202) 265-8057 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) Ambassador Hans H. HERTELL corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500 [1] (809) 221-5511 [1] (809) 686-7437 a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by an olive branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean representative democracy which enjoyed GDP growth of more than 7% in 1998-2000. Growth subsequently plummeted as part of the global economic slowdown. Although the country has long been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer, due to growth in tourism and free trade zones. The country suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GNP, while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of national income. Growth turned negative in 2003 with reduced tourism, a major bank fraud, and limited growth in the US economy (the source of about 85% of export revenues), but recovered in 2004 and 2005. Resumption of a badly needed IMF loan, slowed due to government repurchase of electrical power plants, is basic to the restoration of social and economic stability. Newly elected President FERNANDEZ in mid-2004 promised belt-tightening reform. His administration has passed tax reform and arranged a $600 million IMF standby arrangement in March 20005 to ease the country's fiscal situation. Although the economy continues to grow at a respectable rate, inflation and unemployment remain the two biggest challenges. $58.52 billion (2005 est.) $17.68 billion (2005 est.) 4.1% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2005 est.) 10.7% 31.5% 57.8% (2003) 2.3 million - 2.6 million (2000 est.) agriculture 17%, industry 24.3%, services and government 58.7% (1998 est.) 17% (2005 est.) 25% 2.1% 37.9% (1998) 47.4 (1998) 4.3% (2005 est.) 25.4% of GDP (2005 est.) $5.322 billion $5.485 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.1 billion (2005 est.) 51.4% of GDP (2005 est.) sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco 2% (2001 est.) 12.6 billion kWh (2003) 11.71 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2001 est.) 128,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) 129,900 bbl/day (2003) $-383 million (2005 est.) $5.818 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 80%, South Korea 2.1%, Canada 1.9% (2004) $9.747 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 48.1%, Venezuela 13.5%, Colombia 4.8%, Mexico 4.8% (2004) $1.379 billion (2005 est.) $7.907 billion (2005 est.) $239.6 million (1995) Dominican peso (DOP) Dominican pesos per US dollar - 30.42 (2005), 42.12 (2004), 30.831 (2003), 18.61 (2002), 16.952 (2001) calendar year 901,800 (2003) 2,120,400 (2003) NA relatively efficient system based on island-wide microwave radio relay network country code - 1-809; 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998) 25 (2003) .do 64,197 (2003) 500,000 (2003) 31 (2004 est.) 13 3 3 3 3 1 (2005 est.) 19 4 5 10 (2005 est.) 1,743 km 375 km 1.435-m gauge 142 km 0.762-m gauge additional 1,226 km operated by sugar companies in 1.076-m, 0.889-m, and 0.762-m gauges (2004) 12,600 km 6,224 km 6,376 km (1999) 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 11,230 GRT/17,011 DWT cargo 3 (2005) Boca Chica, Puerto Plata, Rio Haina, Santo Domingo Army, Navy, Air Force 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001) 18 2,108,197 (2005 est.) 18 1,420,693 (2005 est.) 91,597 (2005 est.) $180 million (1998) 1.1% (1998) increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find work transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor the Dominican Republic for illicit financial transactions Dominica Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized by Europeans, due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the native Caribs. France ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763, which made the island a colony in 1805. In 1980, two years after independence, Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and tyrannical administration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia CHARLES, the first female prime minister in the Caribbean, who remained in office for 15 years. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean. Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago 15 25 N 61 20 W Central America and the Caribbean 754 sq km 754 sq km 0 sq km slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC 0 km 148 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall rugged mountains of volcanic origin Caribbean Sea 0 m Morne Diablatins 1,447 m timber, hydropower, arable land 6.67% 20% 73.33% (2001) NA sq km flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months NA Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling none of the selected agreements known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to its spectacular, lush, and varied flora and fauna, which are protected by an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of the Lesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters and include Boiling Lake, the second-largest, thermally active lake in the world 69,029 (July 2005 est.) 26.7% (male 9,328/female 9,125) 65.4% (male 23,225/female 21,900) 7.9% (male 2,193/female 3,258) (2005 est.) 29.59 years 29.26 years 29.95 years (2005 est.) -0.27% (2005 est.) 15.73 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 6.81 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -11.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 0.67 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 14.15 deaths/1,000 live births 18.68 deaths/1,000 live births 9.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 74.65 years 71.73 years 77.71 years (2005 est.) 1.96 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA NA NA Dominican(s) Dominican black, mixed black and European, European, Syrian, Carib Amerindian Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), other 6%, none 2% English (official), French patois age 15 and over has ever attended school 94% 94% 94% (2003 est.) Commonwealth of Dominica Dominica parliamentary democracy; republic within the Commonwealth Roseau 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter 3 November 1978 (from UK) Independence Day, 3 November (1978) 3 November 1978 based on English common law 18 years of age; universal President Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (since October 2003) Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004); note - assumed post after death of Prime Minister Pierre CHARLES Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 1 October 2003 (next to be held October 2008); prime minister appointed by the president Nicholas LIVERPOOL elected president; percent of legislative vote - NA% unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointed senators, 21 elected by popular vote; members serve five-year terms) last held 5 May 2005 (next to be held by 5 August 2010); note - tradition dictates that the election will be held within five years of the last election, but technically it is five years from the first seating of parliament (12 May 2005) plus a 90-day grace period percent of vote by party - DLP 52.08%, UWP 43.6%, DFP 3.15%; seats by party - DLP 12, UWP 8, independent 1 Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the Court of Appeal and the High Court (located in Saint Lucia; one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction) Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Charles SAVARIN]; Dominica Labor Party or DLP [Roosevelt SKERRIT]; United Workers Party or UWP [Edison JAMES] Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party) ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Ambassador Swinburne LESTRADE 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 [1] (202) 364-6781 [1] (202) 364-6791 consulate(s) general: New York the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Dominica green, with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes) The Dominican economy depends on agriculture, primarily bananas, and remains highly vulnerable to climatic conditions and international economic developments. Production of bananas dropped precipitously in 2003, a major reason for the 1% decline in GDP. Tourism increased in 2003 as the government sought to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism" destination. Development of the tourism industry remains difficult, however, because of the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the absence of an international airport. The government began a comprehensive restructuring of the economy in 2003 - including elimination of price controls, privatization of the state banana company, and tax increases - to address Dominica's economic crisis and to meet IMF targets. In order to diversify the island's production base the government is attempting to develop an offshore financial sector and is planning to construct an oil refinery on the eastern part of the island. $384 million (2003 est.) NA -1% (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $5,500 (2003 est.) 18% 24% 58% (2002 est.) 25,000 (1999 est.) agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28% 23% (2000 est.) 30% (2002 est.) NA NA 1% (2001 est.) $73.9 million $84.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2001) bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts, cocoa; forest and fishery potential not exploited soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes -10% (1997 est.) 69.98 million kWh (2003) 65.09 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003) 800 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $74 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) UK 21.6%, Jamaica 14.8%, Antigua and Barbuda 8.8%, Guyana 7.5%, Japan 5.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.8%, US 4.3%, Saint Lucia 4% (2004) $234 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) China 20.4%, US 16.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 12.3%, UK 6.9%, South Korea 4.6%, Japan 4.3% (2004) $161.5 million (2001) $22.8 million (2003 est.) East Caribbean dollar (XCD) East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - NA (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001) 1 July - 30 June 23,700 (2002) 9,400 (2002) NA fully automatic network country code - 1-767; microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004) 1 (2004) .dm 681 (2003) 12,500 (2002) 2 (2004 est.) 2 2 (2005 est.) 780 km 393 km 387 km (1999) 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 13,771 GRT/19,736 DWT bulk carrier 2, cargo 19, chemical tanker 2, container 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1 21 (Estonia 6, Greece 3, Pakistan 1, Russia 2, Singapore 6, Syria 2, UAE 1) (2005) Portsmouth, Roseau no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Coast Guard) NA NA joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer; anti-money-laundering enforcement is weak, making the country particularly vulnerable to money laundering East Timor The Portuguese began to trade with the island of Timor in the early 16th century and colonized it in mid-century. Skirmishing with the Dutch in the region eventually resulted in an 1859 treaty in which Portugal ceded the western portion of the island. Imperial Japan occupied East Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. East Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later. It was incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of East Timor. An unsuccessful campaign of pacification followed over the next two decades, during which an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives. On 30 August 1999, in a UN-supervised popular referendum, an overwhelming majority of the people of East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia. Between the referendum and the arrival of a multinational peacekeeping force in late September 1999, anti-independence Timorese militias - organized and supported by the Indonesian military - commenced a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of retribution. The militias killed approximately 1,300 Timorese and forcibly pushed 300,000 people into West Timor as refugees. The majority of the country's infrastructure, including homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, and schools, and nearly 100% of the country's electrical grid were destroyed. On 20 September 1999 the Australian-led peacekeeping troops of the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) deployed to the country and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002, East Timor was internationally recognized as an independent state. Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note - East Timor includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco 8 50 S 125 55 E Southeast Asia 15,007 sq km NA NA slightly larger than Connecticut 228 km Indonesia 228 km 706 km NA NA NA NA tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons mountainous Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble 4.71% 0.67% 94.62% (2001) 1,065 sq km (est.) floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion Timor comes from the Malay word for "East"; the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands 1,040,880 other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2005 est.) 37.1% (male 196,108/female 189,753) 59.9% (male 318,173/female 305,479) 3% (male 15,353/female 16,014) (2005 est.) 20.41 years 20.46 years 20.35 years (2005 est.) 2.09% (2005 est.) 27.19 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 6.3 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 47.41 deaths/1,000 live births 53.71 deaths/1,000 live births 40.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 65.9 years 63.63 years 68.29 years (2005 est.) 3.61 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA NA NA Timorese Timorese Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority Roman Catholic 90%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 3%, Hindu 0.5%, Buddhist, Animist (1992 est.) Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian, English there are about 16 indigenous languages; Tetum, Galole, Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by significant numbers of people age 15 and over can read and write 58.6% (2002) Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste East Timor Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese] Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese] Portuguese Timor Republic Dili 13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque 28 November 1975 (date of proclamation of independence from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of East Timor's independence from Indonesia Independence Day, 28 November (1975) 22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model) UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law remains in place but will be replaced by civil and penal codes based on Portuguese law (2004) 17 years of age; universal President Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 20 May 2002); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto some legislation; he formerly used the name Jose Alexandre GUSMAO Prime Minister Mari Bin Amude ALKATIRI (since 20 May 2002) Council of Ministers president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held in April 2007); after the legislature was sworn in, the leader of the majority party was appointed prime minister by the president, suggesting a precedent for the future Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO elected president; percent of vote - Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do AMARAL 17.3% unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary, minimum requirement of 52 and a maximum of 65 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - for its first term of office, the National Parliament is comprised of 88 members on an exceptional basis (next to be held August 2006); direct elections for national parliament were never held; elected delegates to the national convention named themselves legislators instead of having elections; hence the exceptional numbers for this term of the national parliament. percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 57.37%, PD 8.72%, PSD 8.18%, ASDT 7.84%, UDT 2.36%, PNT 2.21%, KOTA 2.13%, PPT 2.01%, PDC 1.98%, PST 1.78%, independents/other 5.42%; seats by party - FRETILIN 55, PD 7, PSD 6, ASDT 6, PDC 2, UDT 2, KOTA 2, PNT 2, PPT 2, UDC/PDC 1, PST 1, PL 1, independent 1 Supreme Court of Justice - constitution calls for one judge to be appointed by National Parliament and rest appointed by Superior Council for Judiciary; note - until Supreme Court is established, Court of Appeals is highest court Associacao Social-Democrata Timorense or ASDT [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL]; Christian Democratic Party of Timor or PDC [Antonio XIMENES]; Christian Democratic Union of Timor or UDC [Vicente da Silva GUTERRES]; Democratic Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO]; Liberal Party or PL [leader NA]; Maubere Democratic Party or PDM [leader NA]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or FRETILIN [Lu OLO]; Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO]; Socialist Party of Timor or PST [leader Avelino COELHO]; Sons of the Mountain Warriors (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes) or KOTA [Clementino dos Reis AMARAL]; Timor Democratic Union or UDT [Joao CARRASCALAO]; Timor Labor Party or PTT [Paulo Freitas DA SILVA]; Timorese Nationalist Party or PNT [Abilio ARAUJO]; Timorese Popular Democratic Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida-Santos DA COSTA] Popular Council for the Defense of the Democratic Republic of East Timor or CPD-RDTL [leader Antonio-Aitahan MATAK] is largest political pressure group; dissatisfied veterans of struggle against Indonesia, led by one-time government advisor Cornelio GAMA (also known as L-7), also play an important role in pressuring government ACP, ARF, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, MIGA, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO Ambassador Jose Luis GUTERRES 3415 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20007 202 965-1515 202 965-1517 consulate(s) general: New York (the ambassador resides in New York) (2004) Ambassador Grover Joseph REES Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Conqueiros, Dili Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250 (670) 332-4684 (670) 331-3206 red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; there is a white star in the center of the black triangle In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure of East Timor was laid waste by Indonesian troops and anti-independence militias, and 300,000 people fled westward. Over the next three years, however, a massive international program, manned by 5,000 peacekeepers (8,000 at peak) and 1,300 police officers, led to substantial reconstruction in both urban and rural areas. By 2003, all but about 30,000 of the refugees had returned. Non-petroleum GDP growth was held back in 2003 by extensive drought and the gradual winding down of the international presence, but recovered somewhat in 2004. The country faces great challenges in continuing the rebuilding of infrastructure, strengthening the infant civil administration, and generating jobs for young people entering the workforce. The development of oil and gas resources in nearby waters has begun to supplement government revenues ahead of schedule and above expectations - the result of high petroleum prices - but the technology-intensive industry does little to create jobs for the unemployed. The Parliament in June 2005 unanimously approved the creation of a Petroleum Fund to serve as a repository for all petroleum revenues and preserve the value of East Timor's petroleum wealth for future generations. $370 million (2004 est.) NA 1% (2004 est.) purchasing power parity - $400 (2004 est.) 25.4% 17.2% 57.4% (2001) NA NA 50% unemployment in urban areas reached 20%; data do not include underemployed (2001) 42% (2003 est.) NA NA 38 (2002 est.) 1.8% (2004) $107.7 million $73 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004) coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth 8.5% NA kWh (2003) NA kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) $10 million excluding oil (2005 est.) Indonesia 100% (2004) $202 million (2004 est.) Indonesia, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Bangladesh (2004) none $2.2 billion (1999-2002 est.) US dollar (USD) the US dollar is the legal tender 1 July - 30 June NA AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA NA .tl; note - ICANN approved the change from .tp in January 2005 8 (2004 est.) 3 1 1 1 (2005 est.) 5 3 2 (2005 est.) 9 (2005 est.) 3,800 km 428 km 3,372 km (1995) Dili East Timor Defense Force (Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, FDTL): Army, Navy (Armada) (2005) 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001) 18 NA $4.4 million (FY03) NA UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) has maintained about a thousand peacekeepers in East Timor since 2002; East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee continues to meet, survey, and delimit the land boundary, but several sections of the boundary especially around the Oekussi enclave remain unresolved; Indonesia and East Timor contest the sovereignty of the uninhabited coral island of Palau Batek/Fatu Sinai, which prevents delimitation of the northern maritime boundaries; many of 28,000 East Timorese refugees still residing in Indonesia in 2003 have returned, but many continue to refuse repatriation; East Timor and Australia continue to meet but disagree over how to delimit a permanent maritime boundary and share unexploited potential petroleum resources that fall outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty; dispute with Australia also hampers creation of a southern maritime boundary with Indonesia NA Ecuador The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Colombia and Venezuela). Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador marked 25 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period has been marred by political instability. Seven presidents have governed Ecuador since 1996. Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru 2 00 S 77 30 W South America 283,560 sq km 276,840 sq km 6,720 sq km includes Galapagos Islands slightly smaller than Nevada 2,010 km Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km 2,237 km 200 nm 100 nm from 2,500 meter isobath tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente) Pacific Ocean 0 m Chimborazo 6,267 m petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower 5.85% 4.93% 89.22% (2001) 8,650 sq km (1998 est.) frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands none of the selected agreements Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world 13,363,593 (July 2005 est.) 33.5% (male 2,282,252/female 2,195,942) 61.5% (male 4,094,146/female 4,130,096) 4.9% (male 310,336/female 350,821) (2005 est.) 23.27 years 22.82 years 23.74 years (2005 est.) 1.24% (2005 est.) 22.67 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 4.24 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.88 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 23.66 deaths/1,000 live births 28.36 deaths/1,000 live births 18.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 76.21 years 73.35 years 79.22 years (2005 est.) 2.72 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.3% (2003 est.) 21,000 (2003 est.) 1,700 (2003 est.) Ecuadorian(s) Ecuadorian mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3% Roman Catholic 95%, other 5% Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua) age 15 and over can read and write 92.5% 94% 91% (2003 est.) Republic of Ecuador Ecuador Republica del Ecuador Ecuador republic Quito 22 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe 24 May 1822 (from Spain) Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809) 10 August 1998 based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters President Alfredo PALACIO (since 20 April 2005); Vice President Nicanor Alejandro SERRANO Aguilar (since 5 May 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; former President Lucio GUTIERREZ was removed from office by congress effective 20 April 2005 President Alfredo PALACIO (since 20 April 2005); Vice President Nicanor Alejandro SERRANO Aguilar (since 5 May 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government Cabinet appointed by the president the president and vice president are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term (no immediate reelection); election last held 20 October 2002; runoff election held 24 November 2002 (next to be held October 2006) results of the 24 November 2002 runoff election - Lucio GUTIERREZ elected president; percent of vote - Lucio GUTIERREZ 54.3%; Alvaro NOBOA 45.7%; note - Vice President Alfredo PALACIO assumed the presidency on 20 April 2005 after congress removed Lucio GUTIERREZ from office unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats; members are popularly elected by province to serve four-year terms) last held 20 October 2002 (next to be held October 2006) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PSC 25, PRE 15, ID 16, PRIAN 10, PSP 9, Pachakutik Movement 6, MPD 5, DP 4, PS-FA 3, independents 7; note - defections by members of National Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (according to the Constitution, new justices are elected by the full Supreme Court; in December 2004, however, Congress successfully replaced the entire court via a simple-majority resolution) Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP [Averroes BUCARAM]; Democratic Left or ID [Guillermo LANDAZURI]; National Action Institutional Renewal Party or PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]; Pachakutik Movement [Gilberto TALAHUA]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP [Lucio GUTIERREZ Borbua]; Popular Democracy or DP [Dr. Juan Manuel FUERTES]; Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Gustavo TERAN Acosta]; Radical Alfarista Front or FRA [Fabian ALARCON, director]; Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Leon FEBRES CORDERO]; Socialist Party - Broad Front or PS-FA [Victor GRANDA] Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE [Luis MACAS, president]; Coordinator of Social Movements or CMS [F. Napoleon SANTOS]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of Ecuador or FEINE [Marco MURILLO, president]; National Federation of Indigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Pedro DE LA CRUZ, president] CAN, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Luis Benigno GALLEGOS Chiriboga 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 234-7200 [1] (202) 667-3482 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Jersey City (New Jersey), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco Ambassador Linda J. JEWELL Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito APO AA 34039 [593] (2) 256-2890 [593] (2) 250-2052 consulate(s) general: Guayaquil three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms Ecuador has substantial petroleum resources, which have accounted for 40% of the country's export earnings and one-fourth of central government budget revenues in recent years. Consequently, fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. In the late 1990s, Ecuador suffered its worst economic crisis, with natural disasters and sharp declines in world petroleum prices driving Ecuador's economy into free fall in 1999. Real GDP contracted by more than 6%, with poverty worsening significantly. The banking system also collapsed, and Ecuador defaulted on its external debt later that year. The currency depreciated by some 70% in 1999, and, on the brink of hyperinflation, the MAHAUD government announced it would dollarize the economy. A coup, however, ousted MAHAUD from office in January 2000, and after a short-lived junta failed to garner military support, Vice President Gustavo NOBOA took over the presidency. In March 2000, Congress approved a series of structural reforms that also provided the framework for the adoption of the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and growth returned to its pre-crisis levels in the years that followed. Under the administration of Lucio GUTIERREZ - January 2003 to April 2005 - Ecuador benefited from higher world petroleum prices, and the new government under Alfredo PALACIO has proposed economic reforms to reduce Ecuador's vulnerability to petroleum price swings and financial crises. High oil prices have kept the current account in surplus. PALACIO is committed to spending a part of the oil windfall on social projects. $52.66 billion (2005 est.) $31.36 billion (2005 est.) 3% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2005 est.) 7.4% 31.8% 60.8% (2005 est.) 4.6 million (urban) (2005 est.) agriculture 8%, industry 24%, services 68% (2001) 11.2%; note - underemployment of 47% (2005 est.) 45% (2001 est.) 2% 32% data for urban households only (October 2003) 42 data are for urban households (2003) 2% (2005 est.) 22% of GDP (2005 est.) $8.822 billion planned $8.153 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.6 billion (2005 est.) 44.9% of GDP (2005 est.) bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals 4.5% (2005 est.) 11.27 billion kWh (2003) 10.55 billion kWh (2003) 65 million kWh (2003) 140 million kWh (2003) 493,200 bbl/day (2005 est.) 155,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) 387,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) NA (2001) 4.512 billion bbl (2005 est.) 160 million cu m (2001 est.) 160 million cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 106.5 billion cu m (2005) $58 million (2005 est.) $9.224 billion (2005 est.) US 42.9%, Panama 14.3%, Peru 7.9%, Italy 4.6% (2004) $8.436 billion (2005 est.) US 16.5%, Colombia 14.1%, China 9.2%, Venezuela 7.1%, Brazil 6.5%, Chile 4.6%, Japan 4.5%, Mexico 4.3% (2004) $1.618 billion (2005 est.) $17.01 billion (31 December 2004 est.) $216 million (2002) US dollar (USD) 25,000 (2005), 25,000 (2004), 25,000 (2003), 25,000 (2002), 24,988 (2001) calendar year 1.549 million (2003) 2,394,400 (2003) generally elementary but being expanded facilities generally inadequate and unreliable country code - 593; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001) 7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2001) .ec 3,188 (2003) 569,700 (2003) 205 (2004 est.) 85 3 4 19 30 29 (2005 est.) 200 31 169 (2005 est.) 1 (2005 est.) extra heavy crude 578 km; gas 71 km; oil 1,386 km; refined products 1,185 km (2004) 966 km 966 km 1.067-m gauge (2004) 43,197 km 7,287 km 35,910 km (2003) 1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2003) 31 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 241,403 GRT/391,898 DWT chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 1, passenger 8, petroleum tanker 20 3 (Germany 1, Greece 1, Paraguay 1) (2005) Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE) 20 years of age for conscript military service; 12-month service obligation (2004) 20 2,792,770 (2005 est.) 20 2,338,428 (2005 est.) 133,922 (2005 est.) $655 million (2004) 2.2% (2004) organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate across Ecuador's shared border and caused over 20,000 refugees to flee into Ecuador in 2004 significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and Peru; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; attractive location for cash-placement by drug traffickers laundering money because of dollarization and weak anti-money-laundering regime, especially vulnerable along the border with Colombia; increased activity on the northern frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents Egypt The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C. and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty following World War II. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to ready the economy for the new millennium through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure. Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula 27 00 N 30 00 E Africa 1,001,450 sq km 995,450 sq km 6,000 sq km slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico 2,665 km Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km, Sudan 1,273 km 2,450 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta Qattara Depression -133 m Mount Catherine 2,629 m petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc 2.87% 0.48% 96.65% (2001) 33,000 sq km (1998 est.) periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining the Nile and natural resources Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands none of the selected agreements controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, a sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics; dependence on upstream neighbors; dominance of Nile basin issues; prone to influxes of refugees 77,505,756 (July 2005 est.) 33% (male 13,106,043/female 12,483,899) 62.6% (male 24,531,266/female 23,972,216) 4.4% (male 1,457,097/female 1,955,235) (2005 est.) 23.68 years 23.31 years 24.05 years (2005 est.) 1.78% (2005 est.) 23.32 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 5.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -0.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.74 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 32.59 deaths/1,000 live births 33.31 deaths/1,000 live births 31.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 71 years 68.5 years 73.62 years (2005 est.) 2.88 children born/woman (2005 est.) less than 0.1% (2001 est.) 12,000 (2001 est.) 700 (2003 est.) Egyptian(s) Egyptian Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1% Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian and other 6% Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes age 15 and over can read and write 57.7% 68.3% 46.9% (2003 est.) Arab Republic of Egypt Egypt Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah Misr United Arab Republic (with Syria) republic Cairo 26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj 28 February 1922 (from UK) Revolution Day, 23 July (1952) 11 September 1971; amended 22 May 1980 based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations 18 years of age; universal and compulsory President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October 1981) Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF (since 9 July 2004) Cabinet appointed by the president president elected by popular vote for six-year term; note - a national referendum in May 2005 approved a constitutional amendment that changed the presidential election to a multicandidate popular vote; previously the president was nominated by the People's Assembly and the nomination was validated by a national, popular referendum; last referendum held 26 September 1999; first election under terms of constitutional amendment held 7 September 2005; next election scheduled for 2011 Hosni MUBARAK reelected president; percent of vote - Hosni MUBARAK 88.6%, Ayman NOUR 7.6%, Noman GOMAA 2.9% bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) and the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura - which functions only in a consultative role (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the president; members serve six-year terms; mid-term elections for half the members) People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 7 and 20 November, 1 December 2005;(next to be held November-December 2010); Advisory Council - last held May-June 2004 (next to be held May-June 2007) People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 311, NWP 6, Tagammu 2, Tomorrow Party 1, independents 112 (12 seats to be determined by rerun elections, 10 seats appointed by President); Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA Supreme Constitutional Court National Democratic Party or NDP [Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (governing party)]; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [Rifaat EL-SAID]; New Wafd Party or NWP [No'man GOMAA]; Tomorrow Party [Ayman NOUR] formation of political parties must be approved by the government despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but moved more aggressively since then to block its influence; civic society groups are sanctioned, but constrained in practical terms; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, COMESA, EBRD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador M. Nabil FAHMY 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 895-5400 [1] (202) 244-5139 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco Ambassador designate Francis J. RICCIARDONE, Jr 8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairo Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900 [20] (2) 797-3300 [20] (2) 797-3200 three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side with a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; design is based on the Arab Liberation flag and similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars, Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band, and Yemen, which has a plain white band Lack of substantial progress on economic reform since the mid 1990s has limited foreign direct investment in Egypt and kept annual GDP growth in the range of 2%-3% in 2001-03. However, in 2004 Egypt implemented several measures to boost foreign direct investment. In September 2004, Egypt pushed through custom reforms, proposed income and corporate tax reforms, reduced energy subsidies, and privatized several enterprises. The budget deficit rose to an estimated 8% of GDP in 2004 compared to 6.1% of GDP the previous year, in part as a result of these reforms. Monetary pressures on an overvalued Egyptian pound led the government to float the currency in January 2003, leading to a sharp drop in its value and consequent inflationary pressure. The development of an export market for natural gas is a bright spot for future growth prospects, but improvement in the capital-intensive hydrocarbons sector does little to reduce Egypt's persistent unemployment. $337.9 billion (2005 est.) $81.47 billion (2005 est.) 4.5% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $4,400 (2005 est.) 15% 36.7% 48.4% (2005 est.) 21.34 million (2005 est.) agriculture 32%, industry 17%, services 51% (2001 est.) 10% (2005 est.) 16.7% (2000 est.) 4.4% 25% (1995) 34.4 (2001) 5.4% (2005 est.) 16.2% of GDP (2005 est.) $18.03 billion $24.55 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.7 billion (2005 est.) 93.6% of GDP (2005 est.) cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals 3.2% (2005 est.) 84.26 billion kWh (2003) 78.16 billion kWh (2003) 450 million kWh (2003) 250 million kWh (2003) 700,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) 566,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 2.7 billion bbl (2005 est.) 21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.) 21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 1.264 trillion cu m (2005) $2.928 billion (2005 est.) $14.33 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Italy 11.9%, US 10.8%, UK 7%, Syria 6.2%, Germany 4.7%, Spain 4.2% (2004) $24.1 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 12.2%, Germany 7%, Italy 6.6%, France 5.7%, China 5.4%, UK 4.7%, Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2004) $20.31 billion (2005 est.) $28.95 billion (30 June 2005 est.) ODA, $1.12 billion (2002) Egyptian pound (EGP) Egyptian pounds per US dollar - 5.78 (2005), 6.1963 (2004), 5.8509 (2003), 4.4997 (2002), 3.973 (2001) 1 July - 30 June 9.6 million (2005) 8,583,940 (2005) large system; underwent extensive upgrading during 1990s and is reasonably modern; Internet access and cellular service are available principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay country code - 20; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat; 5 coaxial submarine cables; tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to Israel; a participant in Medarabtel AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999) 98 (September 1995) .eg 3,401 (2004) 4.2 million (2005) 87 (2004 est.) 72 13 38 17 4 (2005 est.) 15 1 2 5 7 (2005 est.) 2 (2005 est.) condensate 289 km; condensate/gas 94 km; gas 6,115 km; liquid petroleum gas 852 km; oil 5,032 km; oil/gas/water 36 km; refined products 246 km (2004) 5,063 km 5,063 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2004) 64,000 km 49,984 km 14,016 km (1999) 3,500 km includes Nile River, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in delta; Suez Canal (193.5 km including approaches) navigable by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 17.68 m (2004) 77 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,194,696 GRT/1,754,815 DWT bulk carrier 14, cargo 34, container 2, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 14, roll on/roll off 8 10 (Denmark 1, Greece 6, Lebanon 2, Turkey 1) 34 (2005) Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said, Suez, Zeit Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command 18 years of age for conscript military service; 3-year service obligation (2001) 18 18,347,560 (2005 est.) 18 15,540,234 (2005 est.) 802,920 (2005 est.) $2.44 billion (2003) 3.4% (2004) Egypt and Sudan retain claims to administer the two triangular areas that extend north and south of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel, but have withdrawn their military presence; Egypt is developing the Hala'ib Triangle north of the Treaty line; since the attack on Taba and other Egyptian resort towns on the Red Sea in October 2004, Egypt vigilantly monitors the Sinai and borders with Israel and the Gaza Strip; Egypt does not extend domestic asylum to some 70,000 persons who identify as Palestinians but who largely lack UNRWA assistance and, until recently, UNHCR recognition as refugees refugees (country of origin): 70,215 (Palestinian Territories) (2004) transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium moving to Europe, Africa, and the US; transit stop for Nigerian couriers; concern as money-laundering site due to lax financial regulations and enforcement El Salvador El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms. Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras 13 50 N 88 55 W Central America and the Caribbean 21,040 sq km 20,720 sq km 320 sq km slightly smaller than Massachusetts 545 km Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km 307 km 200 nm tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau Pacific Ocean 0 m Cerro El Pital 2,730 m hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land 31.85% 12.07% 56.08% (2001) 360 sq km (1998 est.) known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands Law of the Sea smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea 6,704,932 (July 2005 est.) 36.5% (male 1,250,901/female 1,198,589) 58.3% (male 1,860,084/female 2,051,140) 5.1% (male 153,133/female 191,085) (2005 est.) 21.57 years 20.44 years 22.69 years (2005 est.) 1.75% (2005 est.) 27.04 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 5.85 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -3.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.91 male(s)/female 0.8 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 25.1 deaths/1,000 live births 27.98 deaths/1,000 live births 22.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 71.22 years 67.61 years 75.01 years (2005 est.) 3.16 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.7% (2003 est.) 29,000 (2003 est.) 2,200 (2003 est.) Salvadoran(s) Salvadoran mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1% Roman Catholic 83%, other 17% there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughout the country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 million Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians) age 10 and over can read and write 80.2% 82.8% 77.7% (2003 est.) Republic of El Salvador El Salvador Republica de El Salvador El Salvador republic San Salvador 14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan 15 September 1821 (from Spain) Independence Day, 15 September (1821) 23 December 1983 based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations 18 years of age; universal President Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (since 1 June 2004); Vice President Ana Vilma DE ESCOBAR (since 1 June 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (since 1 June 2004); Vice President Ana Vilma DE ESCOBAR (since 1 June 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government Council of Ministers selected by the president president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 21 March 2004 (next to be held March 2009) Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez elected president; percent of vote - Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (ARENA) 57.7%, Schafik HANDAL (FMLN) 35.6%, Hector SILVA (CDU-PDC) 3.9%, other 2.8% unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year terms) last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held March 2006) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FMLN 31, ARENA 28, PCN 15, PDC 5, CD 5 Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are selected by the Legislative Assembly) Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER, secretary general]; Democratic Convergence or CD (formerly United Democratic Center or CDU) [Ruben ZAMORA, secretary general]; Democratic Party or PD [Jorge MELENDEZ]; Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Medardo GONZALEZ, coordinator general]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Kirio Waldo SALGADO, president]; National Action Party or PAN [Gustavo Rogelio SALINAS, secretary general]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ ZEPEDA, president]; National Republican Alliance or ARENA [Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez]; Popular Social Christian Party or PPSC [Rene AGUILUZ]; Revolutionary Democratic Front or FDR [Julio Cesar HERNANDEZ Carcamo, coordinator general]; Social Christian Union or USC (formed by the merger of Christian Social Renewal Party or PRSC and Unity Movement or MU) [Abraham RODRIGUEZ, president]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Juan MEDRANO] labor organizations - Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Salvadoran Union of Ex-Petrolleros and Peasant Workers or USEPOC; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL; business organizations - National Association of Small Enterprise or ANEP; Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association or ASIC; Salvadoran Industrial Association or ASI BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Rene Antonio LEON Rodriguez 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 265-9671 [1] (202) 234-3834 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (2), San Francisco, and Washington, DC consulate(s): Boston Ambassador H. Douglas BARCLAY Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador Unit 3116, APO AA 34023 [503] 2278-4444 [503] 2278-5522 three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band The smallest country in Central America, El Salvador has the third largest economy, but growth has been minimal in recent years. Hoping to stimulate the sluggish economy, the government is striving to open new export markets, encourage foreign investment, and modernize the tax and healthcare systems. Implementation in 2006 of the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, which El Salvador was the first to ratify, is viewed as a key policy to help achieve these objectives. The trade deficit has been offset by annual remittances from Salvadorans living abroad - 16% of GDP in 2004 - and external aid. With the adoption of the US dollar as its currency, El Salvador has lost control over monetary policy and must concentrate on maintaining a disciplined fiscal policy. $33.89 billion (2005 est.) $16.52 billion (2005 est.) 2% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $5,100 (2005 est.) 9.8% 30.3% 60% (2005 est.) 2.81 million (2005 est.) agriculture 17.1%, industry 17.1%, services 65.8% (2003 est.) 6.5% - but the economy has much underemployment (2005 est.) 36.1% (2003 est.) 1.4% 39.3% (2001) 52.5 (2001) 4.7% (2005 est.) 15.8% of GDP (2005 est.) $2.84 billion $3.167 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 45.8% of GDP (2005 est.) coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; shrimp; beef, dairy products food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals 0.3% (2005 est.) 4.158 billion kWh (2004) 4.45 billion kWh (2004) 91 million kWh (2004) 473 million kWh (2004) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 40,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $-858 million (2005 est.) $3.586 billion (2005 est.) US 65.6%, Guatemala 11.8%, Honduras 6.3% (2004) $6.678 billion (2005 est.) US 46.3%, Guatemala 8.1%, Mexico 6% (2004) $2.003 billion (2005 est.) $8.273 billion (30 June 2005 est.) $125 million of which, $53 million from US (2003) US dollar (USD) the US dollar became El Salvador's currency in 2001 calendar year 752,600 (2003) 1,149,800 (2003) NA nationwide microwave radio relay system country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System AM 61 (plus 24 repeaters), FM 30, shortwave 0 (1998) 5 (1997) .sv 4,084 (2003) 550,000 (2003) 73 (2004 est.) 4 1 1 2 (2005 est.) 72 1 15 56 (2005 est.) 1 (2005 est.) 283 km 283 km 0.914-m gauge length of operational route reduced from 562 km to 283 km by disuse and lack of maintenance (2004) 10,029 km 1,986 km 8,043 km (1999) Rio Lempa partially navigable (2004) Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco Army, Navy (FNES), Air Force (FAS) 18 years of age for compulsory military service, with 12-month service obligation; 16 years of age for volunteers (2002) 18 1,391,278 (2005 est.) 18 960,315 (2005 est.) 70,286 (2005 est.) $157 million (2003) 1.1% (2003) in 1992, the ICJ ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, but despite OAS intervention and a further ICJ ruling in 2003, full demarcation of the border remains stalled; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca advocating Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not identified in the ICJ decision, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana produced for local consumption; domestic cocaine abuse on the rise Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule. This tiny country, composed of a mainland portion plus five inhabited islands, is one of the smallest on the African continent. President OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO has ruled the country for over two decades since seizing power from his uncle, then President MACIAS, in a 1979 coup. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996 and 2002 presidential elections - as well as the 1999 and 2004 legislative elections - were widely seen as flawed. The president exerts almost total control over the political system and has discouraged political opposition. Equatorial Guinea has also experienced rapid economic growth due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves, and in the last decade has become Sub-Saharan Africa's third largest oil exporter. Despite the country's economic windfall from oil production resulting in a massive increase in government revenue in recent years, there have been few improvements in the population's living standards. Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon 2 00 N 10 00 E Africa 28,051 sq km 28,051 sq km 0 sq km slightly smaller than Maryland 539 km Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km 296 km 12 nm 200 nm tropical; always hot, humid coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic Atlantic Ocean 0 m Pico Basile 3,008 m petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay 4.63% 3.57% 91.8% (2001) NA sq km violent windstorms, flash floods tap water is not potable; deforestation Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution none of the selected agreements insular and continental regions rather widely separated 535,881 (July 2005 est.) 41.7% (male 112,326/female 111,244) 54.5% (male 140,568/female 151,500) 3.8% (male 8,900/female 11,343) (2005 est.) 18.83 years 18.2 years 19.46 years (2005 est.) 2.42% (2005 est.) 36.18 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 12 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female 0.78 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 85.13 deaths/1,000 live births 91.28 deaths/1,000 live births 78.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 49.7 years 48.01 years 51.44 years (2005 est.) 4.62 children born/woman (2005 est.) 3.4% (2001 est.) 5,900 (2001 est.) 370 (2001 est.) very high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria (2004) Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s) Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo age 15 and over can read and write 85.7% 93.3% 78.4% (2003 est.) Republic of Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial Guinea Ecuatorial Spanish Guinea republic Malabo 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas 12 October 1968 (from Spain) Independence Day, 12 October (1968) approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January 1995 partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom 18 years of age; universal adult President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup) Prime Minister Miguel Abia BITEO Borico (since 14 June 2004); First Deputy Prime Minister Mercelino Oyono NTUTUMU (since 15 June 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Mangue Obama NFUBEA (since 15 June 2004) Council of Ministers appointed by the president president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 15 December 2002 (next to be held December 2009); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected president; percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO 97.1%, Celestino Bonifacio BACALE 2.2%; elections marred by widespread fraud unicameral House of People's Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (80 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held NA 2009) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 98, NA 2 Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all executive authority in the president Supreme Tribunal Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido MIKO Abogo]; Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE (ruling party) [Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO]; Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Miguel Esono EMAN]; Popular Union or UP [Andres Moises Bda ADA]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP [Victorino Bolekia BONAY]; Union of Independent Democrats of UDI [Daniel OYONO] NA ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTO (observer) Ambassador Purificacion ANGUE ONDO 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 518-5700 [1] (202) 518-5252 the US ambassador to Cameroon is accredited to Equatorial Guinea K-3, Carretera de Aeropuerto, Al lado de Restaurante El Paraiso, Malabo [240] 098-895 [240] 098-894 three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice) The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Forestry, farming, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistence farming predominates. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the neglect of the rural economy under successive regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth (the government has stated its intention to reinvest some oil revenue into agriculture). A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993 because of corruption and mismanagement. No longer eligible for concessional financing because of large oil revenues, the government has been unsuccessfully trying to agree on a "shadow" fiscal management program with the World Bank and IMF. Businesses, for the most part, are owned by government officials and their family members. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Growth remained strong in 2005, led by oil. Equatorial Guinea now has the second highest per capita income in the world, after Luxembourg. $25.69 billion (2005 est.) $7.644 billion (2005 est.) 18.6% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $50,200 (2005 est.) 2.4% 95.5% 2.2% (2005 est.) NA 30% (1998 est.) NA NA NA 5% (2005 est.) 46.3% of GDP (2005 est.) $1.973 billion $711.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas 30% (2002 est.) 29.43 million kWh (2003) 27.37 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 420,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) 1,200 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 563.5 million bbl (1 January 2002) 20 million cu m (2001 est.) 20 million cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 68.53 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $1.364 billion (2005 est.) $6.727 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 29.3%, China 22.8%, Spain 16%, Taiwan 14.9%, Canada 6.8% (2004) $1.864 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 26.8%, Cote d''Ivoire 21.4%, Spain 13.6%, France 8.8%, UK 7.8%, Italy 4.4% (2004) $1.078 billion (2005 est.) $248 million (2000 est.) $33.8 million (1995) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 480.56 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001) 1 January - 31 December 9,600 (2003) 41,500 (2003) poor system with adequate government services NA country code - 240; international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 5 (2002) 1 (2002) .gq 3 (2004) 1,800 (2002) 4 (2004 est.) 3 1 1 1 (2005 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) condensate 37 km; gas 39 km; liquid natural gas 4 km; oil 24 km (2004) 2,880 km (1999) 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,556 GRT/9,704 DWT cargo 1 (2005) Malabo Army, Navy, Air Force (2005) 18 years of age (est.) (2004) 18 106,571 (2005 est.) 18 66,379 (2005 est.) $126.2 million (2004) 2.5% (2004) in 2002, ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but a dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River, imprecisely defined maritime coordinates in the ICJ decision, and the unresolved Bakasi allocation contribute to the delay in implementation; UN has been pressing Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to pledge to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and create a maritime boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay Eritrea Eritrea was awarded to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a federation. Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean rebels defeating governmental forces; independence was overwhelmingly approved in a 1993 referendum. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices on 12 December 2000. Eritrea currently hosts a UN peacekeeping operation that is monitoring a 25 km-wide Temporary Security Zone on the border with Ethiopia. An international commission, organized to resolve the border dispute, posted its findings in 2002 but final demarcation is on hold due to Ethiopian objections. Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan 15 00 N 39 00 E Africa 121,320 sq km 121,320 sq km 0 sq km slightly larger than Pennsylvania 1,626 km Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km 2,234 km total; mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea 1,083 km 12 nm hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually); semiarid in western hills and lowlands; rainfall heaviest during June-September except in coastal desert dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 m Soira 3,018 m gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish 4.95% 0.03% 95.02% (2001) 220 sq km (1998 est.) frequent droughts; locust swarms deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species none of the selected agreements strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993 4,561,599 (July 2005 est.) 44.8% (male 1,023,898/female 1,019,389) 51.9% (male 1,170,823/female 1,194,741) 3.3% (male 74,312/female 78,436) (2005 est.) 17.54 years 17.35 years 17.73 years (2005 est.) 2.51% (2005 est.) 38.62 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 13.53 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population UNHCR began repatriating about 150,000 Eritrean refugees from Sudan in 2001 following the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2000 (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 74.87 deaths/1,000 live births 82.28 deaths/1,000 live births 67.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 58.47 years 56.96 years 60.02 years (2005 est.) 5.61 children born/woman (2005 est.) 2.7% (2003 est.) 60,000 (2003 est.) 6,300 (2003 est.) high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria is a high risk in some locations (2004) Eritrean(s) Eritrean ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%, other 3% Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages NA 58.6% 69.9% 47.6% (2003 est.) State of Eritrea Eritrea Hagere Ertra Ertra Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia transitional government following a successful referendum on independence for the Autonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a National Assembly, composed entirely of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, was established as a transitional legislature; a Constitutional Commission was also established to draft a constitution; ISAIAS Afworki was elected president by the transitional legislature; the constitution, ratified in May 1997, did not enter into effect, pending parliamentary and presidential elections; parliamentary elections had been scheduled in December 2001, but were postponed indefinitely; currently the sole legal party is the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) Asmara 6 regions (zobatat, singular - zoba); Anseba, Debub (Southern), Debubawi K'eyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea), Gash Barka, Ma'akel (Central), Semenawi Keyih Bahri (Northern Red Sea) 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia) Independence Day, 24 May (1993) a transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993, was replaced by a new constitution adopted on 23 May 1997, but not yet implemented primary basis is the Ethiopian legal code of 1957, with revisions; new civil, commercial, and penal codes have not yet been promulgated; also relies on customary and post-independence-enacted laws and, for civil cases involving Muslims, Sharia law 18 years of age; universal President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government and is head of the State Council and National Assembly President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government and is head of the State Council and National Assembly State Council is the collective executive authority; members appointed by the president president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 8 June 1993 (next election date uncertain as the National Assembly did not hold a presidential election in December 2001 as anticipated) ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki 95% unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; term limits not established) in May 1997, following the adoption of the new constitution, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old Central Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the 527-member Constituent Assembly, that had been established in 1997 to discuss and ratify the new constitution, and 15 representatives of Eritreans living abroad were formed into a Transitional National Assembly to serve as the country's legislative body until countrywide elections to a National Assembly were held; although only 75 of 150 members of the Transitional National Assembly were elected, the constitution stipulates that once past the transition stage, all members of the National Assembly will be elected by secret ballot of all eligible voters; National Assembly elections scheduled for December 2001 were postponed indefinitely High Court - regional, subregional, and village courts; also have military and special courts People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, the only party recognized by the government [ISAIAS Afworki]; note - a National Assembly committee drafted a law on political parties in January 2001, but the full National Assembly has not yet debated or voted on it Eritrean Islamic Jihad or EIJ [leader NA] (also including Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement or EIJM (also known as the Abu Sihel Movement) [leader NA]); Eritrean Islamic Salvation or EIS (also known as the Arafa Movement) [leader NA]; Eritrean Liberation Front or ELF [ABDULLAH Muhammed]; Eritrean National Alliance or ENA (a coalition including EIJ, EIS, ELF, and a number of ELF factions) [HERUY Tedla Biru]; Eritrean Public Forum or EPF [ARADOM Iyob] ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO Ambassador GIRMA Asmerom 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 319-1991 [1] (202) 319-1304 consulate(s) general: Oakland (California) Ambassador Scott H. DELISI Franklin D. Roosevelt Street, Asmara P. O. Box 211, Asmara [291] (1) 120004 [291] (1) 127584 red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle Since independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993, Eritrea has faced the economic problems of a small, desperately poor country. Like the economies of many African nations, the economy is largely based on subsistence agriculture, with 80% of the population involved in farming and herding. The Ethiopian-Eritrea war in 1998-2000 severely hurt Eritrea's economy. GDP growth fell to zero in 1999 and to -12.1% in 2000. The May 2000 Ethiopian offensive into northern Eritrea caused some $600 million in property damage and loss, including losses of $225 million in livestock and 55,000 homes. The attack prevented planting of crops in Eritrea's most productive region, causing food production to drop by 62%. Even during the war, Eritrea developed its transportation infrastructure, asphalting new roads, improving its ports, and repairing war damaged roads and bridges. Since the war ended, the government has maintained a firm grip on the economy, expanding the use of the military and party-owned businesses to complete Eritrea's development agenda. Erratic rainfall and the delayed demobilization of agriculturalists from the military kept cereal production well below normal, holding down growth in 2002-05. Eritrea's economic future depends upon its ability to master social problems such as illiteracy, unemployment, and low skills, and to open its economy to private enterprise so the diaspora's money and expertise can foster economic growth. $4.471 billion (2005 est.) $1.244 billion (2005 est.) 2% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2005 est.) 8.7% 26.3% 65% (2005 est.) NA agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% NA (2003 est.) 50% (2004 est.) NA NA 15% (2005 est.) 26.8% of GDP (2005 est.) $248.8 million $409.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal; livestock, goats; fish food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, salt, cement, commercial ship repair NA 270.9 million kWh (2003) 251.9 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 4,600 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $-278.7 million (2005 est.) $33.58 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) Malaysia 21.4%, Italy 13.7%, Eqypt 8.3%, India 7.8%, Japan 6.4%, Germany 5.3%, China 4.1%, UK 4% (2004) $676.5 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) Ireland 25.7%, US 17.9%, Italy 16%, Turkey 6.2% (2004) $32.6 million (2005 est.) $311 million (2000 est.) $77 million (1999) nakfa (ERN) nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - 14.5 (2005), 13.788 (2004), 13.878 (2003), 13.958 (2002), 11.31 (2001) calendar year 38,100 (2003) inadequate very inadequate; most telephones are in Asmara; government is seeking international tenders to improve the system (2002) country code - 291; note - international connections exist AM 2, FM NA, shortwave 2 (2000) 1 (2000) .er 1,047 (2004) 9,500 (2003) 17 (2004 est.) 4 2 2 (2005 est.) 13 1 1 5 4 2 (2005 est.) 306 km 306 km 0.950-m gauge (2004) 4,010 km 874 km 3,136 km (1999) 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 16,069 GRT/19,549 DWT cargo 3, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 1 (2005) Assab, Massawa Army, Navy, Air Force 18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 16 months (2004) 18 NA (2005) $151 million (2004) 13.4% (2004) Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002 Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but despite international intervention, mutual animosities, accusations and armed posturing prevail, preventing demarcation; Ethiopia refuses to withdraw to the delimited boundary until technical errors made by the EEBC that ignored "human geography" are addressed, including the award of Badme, the focus of the 1998-2000 war; Eritrea insists that the EEBC decision be implemented immediately without modifications; since 2000, the UN Peacekeeping Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) monitors the 25km-wide Temporary Security Zone in Eritrea until the demarcation; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; Eritrea protests Yemeni fishing around the Hanish Islands awarded to Eritrea by the ICJ in 1999 59,000 (border war with Ethiopia from 1998-2000; most IDPs are near the central border region) (2004) Estonia After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940, it regained its freedom in 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to promote economic and political ties with Western Europe. It joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004. Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia 59 00 N 26 00 E Europe 45,226 sq km 43,211 sq km 2,015 sq km includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined 633 km Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km 3,794 km 12 nm limits fixed in coordination with neighboring states maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south Baltic Sea 0 m Suur Munamagi 318 m oil shale, peat, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud 16.04% 0.45% 83.51% (2001) 40 sq km (1998 est.) sometimes flooding occurs in the spring air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 80% less than in 1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to water bodies in 2000 was one twentieth the level of 1980; in connection with the start-up of new water purification plants, the pollution load of wastewater decreased; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas need to be monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certain locations Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands none of the selected agreements the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; offshore lie more than 1,500 islands 1,332,893 (July 2005 est.) 15.5% (male 106,300/female 100,446) 67.7% (male 429,843/female 472,034) 16.8% (male 74,037/female 150,233) (2005 est.) 39.06 years 35.52 years 42.35 years (2005 est.) -0.65% (2005 est.) 9.91 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 13.21 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -3.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 0.91 male(s)/female 0.49 male(s)/female 0.84 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 7.87 deaths/1,000 live births 9.06 deaths/1,000 live births 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 71.77 years 66.28 years 77.6 years (2005 est.) 1.39 children born/woman (2005 est.) 1.1% (2001 est.) 7,800 (2003 est.) less than 200 (2003 est.) Estonian(s) Estonian Estonian 67.9%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian 1.3%, Finn 0.9%, other 2.2% (2000 census) Evangelical Lutheran 13.6%, Orthodox 12.8%, other Christian (including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal) 1.4%, unaffiliated 34.1%, other and unspecified 32%, none 6.1% (2000 census) Estonian (official) 67.3%, Russian 29.7%, other 2.3%, unknown 0.7% (2000 census) age 15 and over can read and write 99.8% 99.8% 99.8% (2003 est.) Republic of Estonia Estonia Eesti Vabariik Eesti Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic parliamentary republic Tallinn 15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond): Harjumaa (Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa (Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu), Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva), Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuressaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru) counties have the administrative center name following in parentheses 20 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 is the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia; 20 August 1991 is the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union adopted 28 June 1992 based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts 18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens President Arnold RUUTEL (since 8 October 2001) Prime Minister Andrus ANSIP (since 12 April 2005) Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if a candidate does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of balloting in the Parliament, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus members of local governments) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest percentage of votes; election last held 21 September 2001 (next to be held in the fall of 2006); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament Arnold RUUTEL elected president on 21 September 2001 by a 367-member electoral assembly that convened following Parliament's failure in August to elect then-President MERI's successor; on the second ballot of voting, RUUTEL received 186 votes to Parliament Speaker Toomas SAVI's 155; the remaining 26 ballots were either left blank or invalid unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held 2 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007) percent of vote by party - Center Party 25.4%, Res Publica 24.6%, Reform Party 17.7%, Estonian People's Union 13%, Pro Patria Union (Fatherland League) 7.3% People's Party Moodukad 7%; seats by party - Res Publica 26, Center Party 20, Reform Party 19, Estonian People's Union 13, Pro Patria Union 7, Social Democrats 6, non-affiliated (Social Liberals and independents) 10 National Court (chairman appointed by Parliament for life) Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman]; Estonian People's Union (Rahvaliit) [Villu REILJAN, chairman]; Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) [Andrus ANSIP]; Estonian United Russian People's Party or EUVRP [Yevgeniy TOMBERG, chairman]; Pro Patria Union (Isamaaliit) [Tonis LUKAS, chairman]; Res Publica [Taavi VESKIMAGI, chairman]; Social Democratic Party (formerly People's Party Moodukad or Moderates) [Ivari PADAR, chairman]; Social Liberals (group of 8 parliamentarians, former Center Party members) [Peeter Kreitzberg] NA Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Ambassador Juri LUIK 2131 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 588-0101 [1] (202) 588-0108 consulate(s) general: New York Ambassador Aldona Zofia WOS Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn use embassy street address [372] 668-8100 [372] 668-8134 pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white Estonia, as a new member of the World Trade Organization and the European Union, has transitioned effectively to a modern market economy with strong ties to the West, including the pegging of its currency to the euro. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and is greatly influenced by developments in Finland, Sweden, and Germany, three major trading partners. The current account deficit remains high; however, the state budget is essentially in balance, and public debt is low. $21.81 billion (2005 est.) $12.56 billion (2005 est.) 7.1% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $16,400 (2005 est.) 4.1% 29.1% 66.8% (2005 est.) 670,000 (2005 est.) agriculture 11%, industry 20%, services 69% (1999 est.) 9.2% (2005 est.) NA (2000) 3% 29.8% (1998) 37.2 (2000) 4% (2005 est.) 27.6% of GDP (2005 est.) $5.126 billion $5.017 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 3.8% of GDP (2005 est.) potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textile; information technology, telecommunications 7.3% (2004 est.) 9.017 billion kWh (2003) 7.024 billion kWh (2003) 1.562 billion kWh (2003) 200 million kWh (2003) 6,100 bbl/day (2003 est.) 25,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 1.27 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 1.27 billion cu m (2001 est.) $-1.403 billion (2005 est.) $7.439 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Finland 23.1%, Sweden 15.3%, Germany 8.4%, Latvia 7.9%, Russia 5.7%, Lithuania 4.4% (2004) $9.189 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Finland 22.1%, Germany 12.9%, Sweden 9.7%, Russia 9.2%, Lithuania 5.3%, Latvia 4.7% (2004) $1.852 billion (2005 est.) $10.09 billion (30 June 2005 est.) $108 million (2000) Estonian kroon (EEK) krooni per US dollar - 12.45 (2005), 12.596 (2004), 13.856 (2003), 16.612 (2002), 17.478 (2001) calendar year 475,000 (2002) 881,000 (2002) foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures greatly improved telephone service; substantial fiber-optic cable systems carry telephone, TV, and radio traffic in the digital mode; Internet services are available throughout most of the country - only about 11,000 subscriber requests were unfilled by September 2000 a wide range of high quality voice, data, and Internet services is available throughout the country country code - 372; fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet-switched service; two international switches are located in Tallinn (2001) AM 0, FM 98, shortwave 0 (2001) 3 (2001) .ee 82,142 (2004) 444,000 (2002) 29 (2004 est.) 12 1 7 1 3 (2005 est.) 14 1 1 2 4 6 (2005 est.) 1 (2005 est.) gas 859 km (2004) 958 km 958 km 1.520-m/1.524-m gauge (132 km electrified) (2004) 56,849 km 13,303 km (including 99 km of expressways) 45,546 km (2003) 500 km (2003) 43 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 212,998 GRT/177,488 DWT cargo 17, passenger/cargo 20, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 4 6 (Norway 6) 51 (2005) Kopli, Kuivastu, Muuga, Tallinn, Virtsu Estonian Defense Forces: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Staff, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit), Maritime Border Guard, Coast Guard Border Guards and Ministry of Internal Affairs become part of the Estonian Defense Forces in wartime; the Coast Guard is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense in peacetime and the Estonian Navy in wartime 18 years of age for compulsory military service for all male citizens, with 8-month service obligation for conscripts and 11 months for sergeants and reserve officers; Estonia has committed to retaining conscription for men and women up to 2010 and, unlike Latvia and Lithuania, has no plan to transition to a contract armed forces; 17 years of age for volunteers; reserve commitment up to the age of 60 (2005) 18 291,696 (2005 est.) 18 200,382 (2005 est.) in 2004, 51% of the young men called up for service were determined to be unfit; main obstacles to conscription were psychiatric and behavioral 11,146 (2005 est.) $155 million (2002 est.) 2% (2002 est.) in 1996, the Estonia-Russia technical border agreement was initialed but both states have been hesitant to sign and ratify it, with Russia asserting that Estonia needs to better assimilate Russian-speakers and Estonian groups pressing for realignment of the boundary based more closely on the 1920 Tartu Peace Treaty that would bring the now divided ethnic Setu people and parts of the Narva region within Estonia; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia must implement the strict Schengen border rules transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and the Caucasus via Russia, cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia, and synthetic drugs from Western Europe to Scandinavia; increasing domestic drug abuse problem; possible precursor manufacturing and/or trafficking; potential money laundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking is a concern as is possible use of the gambling sector to launder funds Ethiopia Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, with the exception of the 1936-41 Italian occupation during World War II. In 1974 a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppled in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A two and a half year border war with Eritrea ended with a peace treaty on 12 December 2000. Final demarcation of the boundary is currently on hold due to Ethiopian objections to an international commission's finding requiring it to surrender sensitive territory. Eastern Africa, west of Somalia 8 00 N 38 00 E Africa 1,127,127 sq km 1,119,683 sq km 7,444 sq km slightly less than twice the size of Texas 5,328 km Djibouti 349 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 861 km, Somalia 1,600 km, Sudan 1,606 km 0 km (landlocked) none (landlocked) tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley Denakil Depression -125 m Ras Dejen 4,620 m small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower 10.71% 0.75% 88.54% (2001) 1,900 sq km (1998 est.) geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia; three major crops are believed to have originated in Ethiopia: coffee, grain sorghum, and castor bean 73,053,286 estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.) 43.9% (male 16,082,504/female 15,999,602) 53.4% (male 19,452,737/female 19,525,746) 2.7% (male 905,648/female 1,087,049) (2005 est.) 17.75 years 17.64 years 17.85 years (2005 est.) 2.36% (2005 est.) 38.61 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 15.06 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population repatriation of Ethiopians who fled to Sudan for refuge from war and famine in earlier years is expected to continue for several years; some Sudanese and Somali refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting or famine in their own countries, continue to return to their homes (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.83 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 95.32 deaths/1,000 live births 105.3 deaths/1,000 live births 85.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 48.83 years 47.67 years 50.03 years (2005 est.) 5.33 children born/woman (2005 est.) 4.4% (2003 est.) 1.5 million (2003 est.) 120,000 (2003 est.) very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and hepatitis E malaria and cutaneous leishmaniasis are high risks in some locations meningococcal meningitis rabies schistosomiasis (2004) Ethiopian(s) Ethiopian Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigre 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1% Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%, other 3%-8% Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromigna, Guaragigna, Somali, Arabic, other local languages, English (major foreign language taught in schools) age 15 and over can read and write 42.7% 50.3% 35.1% (2003 est.) Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ethiopia Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik Ityop'iya Abyssinia, Italian East Africa FDRE federal republic Addis Ababa 9 ethnically-based states (kililoch, singular - kilil) and 2 self-governing administrations* (astedaderoch, singular - astedader); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela Peoples), Hareri Hizb (Harari People), Oromiya (Oromia), Sumale (Somali), Tigray, Ye Debub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples) oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years National Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991) ratified December 1994, effective 22 August 1995 currently transitional mix of national and regional courts 18 years of age; universal President GIRMA Woldegiorgis (since 8 October 2001) Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since NA August 1995) Council of Ministers as provided for in the December 1994 constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives president elected by the House of People's Representatives for a six-year term; election last held 8 October 2001 (next to be held October 2007); prime minister designated by the party in power following legislative elections GIRMA Woldegiorgis elected president; percent of vote by the House of People's Representatives - 100% bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Federation or upper chamber (108 seats; members are chosen by state assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the House of People's Representatives or lower chamber (548 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve five-year terms) last held 15 May 2005 (next to be held NA 2010) percent of vote - NA%; seats by party - OPDO 177, ANDM 134, TPLF 38, WGGPDO 27, EPRDF 19, SPDO 18, GNDM 15, KSPDO 10, ANDP 8, GPRDF 7, SOPDM 7, BGPDUF 6, BMPDO 5, KAT 4, other regional political groupings 22, independents 8; note - 43 seats unconfirmed irregularities and violence at some polling stations necessitated the rescheduling of voting in certain constituencies; voting postponed in Somali regional state because of severe drought Federal Supreme Court (the president and vice president of the Federal Supreme Court are recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; for other federal judges, the prime minister submits to the House of People's Representatives for appointment candidates selected by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council) Afar National Democratic Party or ANDP [leader NA]; Benishangul Gumuz People's Democratic Unity Front or BGPDUF [Mulualem BESSE]; Coalition for Unity and Democracy or CUD [HAILU Shawil]; Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF [MELES Zenawi] (an alliance of ANDM, OPDO, SEPDF, and TPLF); Gurage Nationalities' Democratic Movement or GNDM [leader NA]; United Ethopian Democratic Forces or UEDF [MERARA Gudina]; dozens of small parties Afar Revolutionary Democratic Union Front or ARDUF [leader NA]; Council of Alternative Forces for Peace and Democracy in Ethiopia or CAFPDE [BEYANE Petros]; Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition or SEPDC [BEYANE Petros] ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer) Ambassador KASSAHUN Ayele 3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 364-1200 [1] (202) 686-9551 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles consulate(s): New York Ambassador Aurelia A. BRAZEAL Entoto Street, Addis Ababa P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa [251] (1) 550666 [251] (1) 551328 three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands; Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the three main colors of her flag were so often adopted by other African countries upon independence that they became known as the pan-African colors Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy is based on agriculture, accounting for half of GDP, 60% of exports, and 80% of total employment. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent drought and poor cultivation practices. Coffee is critical to the Ethiopian economy with exports of some $156 million in 2002, but historically low prices have seen many farmers switching to qat to supplement income. The war with Eritrea in 1998-2000 and recurrent drought have buffeted the economy, in particular coffee production. In November 2001, Ethiopia qualified for debt relief from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Under Ethiopia's land tenure system, the government owns all land and provides long-term leases to the tenants; the system continues to hamper growth in the industrial sector as entrepreneurs are unable to use land as collateral for loans. Drought struck again late in 2002, leading to a 2% decline in GDP in 2003. Normal weather patterns late in 2003 helped agricultural and GDP growth recover in 2004-05. $59.93 billion (2005 est.) $9.034 billion (2005 est.) 6.5% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $800 (2005 est.) 40.1% 12.7% 47.2% (2005 est.) NA (2001 est.) agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, industry and construction 8%, government and services 12% (1985) NA (2002) 50% (2004 est.) 3% 33.7% (1995) 30 (2000) 6% (2005 est.) 20.8% of GDP (2005 est.) $2.338 billion $2.88 billion, including capital expenditures of $788 million (2005 est.) cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, sugarcane, potatoes, qat; hides, cattle, sheep, goats food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing, cement 6.7% (2001 est.) 2.058 billion kWh (2003) 1.914 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 27,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 214,000 bbl (1 January 2002) 12.46 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $-1.023 billion (2005 est.) $612 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) Djibouti 13.3%, Germany 10%, Japan 8.4%, Saudi Arabia 5.6%, US 5.2%, UAE 5%, Italy 4.6% (2004) $2.722 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Saudi Arabia 25.3%, US 15.8%, China 6.6% (2004) $1.192 billion (2005 est.) $2.9 billion (2001 est.) $308 million (FY00/01) birr (ETB) birr per US dollar - 8.72 (2005), 8.68 (2004), 8.5997 (2003), 8.5678 (2002), 8.4575 (2001) since 24 October 2001 exchange rates are determined on a daily basis via interbank transactions regulated by the Central Bank 8 July - 7 July 435,000 (2003) 97,800 (2003) adequate for government use open-wire; microwave radio relay; radio communication in the HF, VHF, and UHF frequencies; two domestic satellites provide the national trunk service country code - 251; open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean) AM 8, FM 0, shortwave 1 (2001) 1 plus 24 repeaters (2002) .et 9 (2003) 75,000 (2003) 83 (2004 est.) 14 3 5 5 1 (2005 est.) 68 3 3 13 27 22 (2005 est.) 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad) 681 km 1.000-m gauge railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia (2004) 33,856 km 4,367 km 29,489 km (2003) 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 81,933 GRT/101,287 DWT cargo 6, roll on/roll off 2 (2005) Ethiopia is landlocked and has used ports of Assab and Massawa in Eritrea and port of Djibouti Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF): Ground Forces, Air Force Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following the secession of Eritrea, Ethiopian naval facilities remained in Eritrean possession (2003) 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001) 18 14,568,277 (2005 est.) 18 8,072,755 (2005 est.) 803,777 (2005 est.) $337.1 million (2004) 4.6% (2004) Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by the 2002 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but despite international intervention, mutual animosities, accusations and armed posturing prevail, preventing demarcation; Ethiopia refuses to withdraw to the delimited boundary until technical errors made by the EEBC that ignored "human geography" are addressed, including the award of Badme, the focus of the 1998-2000 war; Eritrea insists that the EEBC decision be implemented immediately without modifications; Ethiopia has only an administrative line and no international border with the Oromo region of southern Somalia where it maintains alliances with local clans in opposition to the unrecognized Somali Interim Government in Mogadishu; "Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities and trade ties to landlocked Ethiopia; the UNHCR expects most of the remaining 23,000 Somali refugees in Ethiopia to be repatriated in 2005; efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Sudan have been delayed by civil war refugees (country of origin): 93,032 (Sudan) 23,578 (Somalia) 132,000 (border war with Eritrea from 1998-2000 and ethnic clashes in Gambela; most IDPs are in Tigray and Gambela Provinces) (2004) Transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe and North America as well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (khat) for local use and regional export, principally to Djibouti and Somalia (legal in all three countries); the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center Europa Island Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way between southern Madagascar and southern Mozambique 22 20 S 40 22 E Africa 28 sq km 28 sq km 0 sq km about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC 0 km 22.2 km 12 nm 200 nm tropical low and flat Indian Ocean 0 m unnamed location 24 m NEGL 0% 0% 100% (mangrove forests and woodlands) (2001) 0 sq km (1998 est.) NA NA wildlife sanctuary no indigenous inhabitants there is a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2005 est.) none Europa Island none Ile Europa possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands the laws of France, where applicable, apply the flag of France is used no economic activity 1 meteorological station 1 (2004 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) none; offshore anchorage only defense is the responsibility of France claimed by Madagascar European Union Following the two devastating World Wars of the first half of the 20th century, a number of European leaders in the late 1940s became convinced that the only way to establish a lasting peace was to unite the two chief belligerent nations - France and Germany - both economically and politically. In 1950, the French Foreign Minister Robert SCHUMAN proposed an eventual union of all Europe, the first step of which would be the integration of the coal and steel industries of Western Europe. The following year the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was set up when six members, Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, signed the Treaty of Paris. The ECSC was so successful that within a few years the decision was made to integrate other parts of the countries' economies. In 1957, the Treaties of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), and the six member states undertook to eliminate trade barriers among themselves by forming a common market. In 1967, the institutions of all three communities were formally merged into the European Community (EC), creating a single Commission, a single Council of Ministers, and the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament were initially selected by national parliaments, but in 1979 the first direct elections were undertaken and they have been held every five years since. In 1973, the first enlargement of the EC took place with the addition of Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The 1980s saw further membership expansion with Greece joining in 1981 and Spain and Portugal in 1986. The 1992 Treaty of Maastricht laid the basis for further forms of cooperation in foreign and defense policy, in judicial and internal affairs, and in the creation of an economic and monetary union - including a common currency. This further integration created the European Union (EU). In 1995, Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined the EU, raising the membership total to 15. Despite the expansion of membership and functions, "Eurosceptics" in various countries have raised questions about the erosion of national cultures and the imposition of a flood of regulations from the EU capital in Brussels. Failure by all member states to ratify the constitution or the inability of newcomer countries to meet euro currency standards might force a loosening of some EU agreements and perhaps lead to several levels of EU participation. These "tiers" might eventually range from an "inner" core of politically integrated countries to a looser "outer" economic association of members. Europe between Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, southeastern Europe, and the North Atlantic Ocean Europe 3,976,372 sq km less than one-half the size of the US 11,214.8 km Albania 282 km, Andorra 120.3 km, Belarus 1,050 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Croatia 999 km, Holy See 3.2 km, Liechtenstein 34.9 km, Macedonia 246 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Norway 2,348 km, Romania 443 km, Russia 2,257 km, San Marino 39 km, Serbia and Montenegro 151 km, Switzerland 1,811 km, Turkey 206 km, Ukraine 726 km data for European Continent only 65,413.9 km NA cold temperate; potentially subarctic in the north to temperate; mild wet winters; hot dry summers in the south fairly flat along the Baltic and Atlantic coast; mountainous in the central and southern areas Lammefjord, Denmark -7 m Mont Blanc, France 4,807 m iron ore, arable land, natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, lead, zinc, hydropower, uranium, potash, fish NA% NA% NA% 115,807 sq km flooding along coasts; avalanches in mountainous area; earthquakes in the south; volcanic eruptions in Italy; periodic droughts in Spain; ice floes in the Baltic NA Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 82, Tropical Timber 94 Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds 456,953,258 (July 2005 est.) 16.03% (male 37,608,010/female 35,632,351) 67.17% (male 154,439,536/female 152,479,619) 16.81% (male 31,515,921/female 45,277,821) (2005 est.) 0.15% (July 2005 est.) 10 births/1,000 population (July 2005 est.) 10.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2005 est.) 1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (July 2005 est.) NA 1.06 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.69 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female (July 2004 est.) 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births (July 2005 est.) 78.3 years 75.1 years 81.6 years (July 2005 est.) 1.47 children born/woman (July 2005 est.) NA% NA NA Roman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish; note - only official languages are listed; Irish (Gaelic) will become the twenty-first language on 1 January 2007 Brussels, Belgium the Council of the European Union meets in Brussels, the European Parliament meets in Strasbourg, France, and the Court of Justice of the European Communities meets in Luxembourg 7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed establishing the EU); 1 November 1993 (Maastricht Treaty entered into force) Europe Day 9 May (1950); note - a Union-wide holiday, the day that Robert Schuman proposed the creation of an organized Europe based on a series of treaties: the Treaty of Paris, which set up the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951; the Treaties of Rome, which set up the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) in 1957; the Single European Act in 1986; the Treaty on European Union (Maastricht) in 1992; the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1997; and the Treaty of Nice in 2001; note - a new draft Constitutional Treaty, signed on 29 October 2004 in Rome, gave member states two years for ratification either by parliamentary vote or national referendum before it was scheduled to take effect on 1 November 2006; defeat in French and Dutch referenda in May-June 2005 caused a suspension of the ratification process 18 years of age; universal President of the European Commission Jose Manuel DURAO BARROSO (since 22 November 2004) European Commission (composed of 25 members, one from each member country; each commissioner responsible for one or more policy areas) the president of the European Commission is designated by member governments; the president-designate then chooses the other Commission members; the European Parliament confirms the entire Commission for a five-year term; election last held 18 November 2004 (next to be held 2009) European Parliament approved the European Commission by an approval vote of 449 to 149 with 82 abstentions the European Council brings together heads of state and government and the president of the European Commission and meets at least twice a year; its aim is to provide the impetus for the major political issues relating to European integration and to issue general policy guidelines Council of the European Union (25 member-state ministers having 321 votes; the number of votes is roughly proportional to member-states' population); note - the Council is the main decision-making body of the EU; European Parliament (732 seats; seats allocated among member states by proportion to population); members elected by direct universal suffrage for a five-year term last held 10-13 June 2004 (next to be held June 2009) percent of vote - NA%; seats by party - EPP-ED 268, PES 202, ALDE 88, Greens/EFA 42, EUL/NGL 41, IND/DEM 36, UEN 27, independents 28 Court of Justice of the European Communities (ensures that the treaties are interpreted and applied correctly) - 25 justices (one from each member state) appointed for a six-year term; note - for the sake of efficiency, the court can sit with 11 justices known as the "Grand Chamber"; Court of First Instance - 25 justices appointed for a six-year term Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe or ALDE [Graham R. WATSON]; Independence/Democracy Group or IND/DEM [Jens-Peter BONDE and Nigel FARAGE]; Group of Greens/European Free Alliance or Greens/EFA [Monica FRASSONI and Daniel Marc COHN-BENDIT]; Socialist Group in the European Parliament or PES [Martin SCHULZ]; Confederal Group of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left or EUL/NGL [Francis WURTZ]; European People's Party-European Democrats or EPP-ED [Hans-Gert POETTERING]; Union for Europe of the Nations Group or UEN [Brian CROWLEY and Cristiana MUSCARDINI] ASEAN (dialogue member), ARF (dialogue member), EBRD, FAO, IDA, OAS (observer), OECD, UN (observer), WTO Australian Group, CBSS, CERN, G-10, NSG (observer) BIS EBRD, WADB (nonregional member) Ambassador John BRUTON 2300 M Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20037 [1] (202) 862-9500 [1] (202) 429-1766 Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires P. Michael McKINLEY 13 Zinnerstraat/Rue Zinner, B-1000 Brussels same as above [32] (2) 508-2222 [32] (2) 512-5720 on a blue field, 12 five-pointed gold stars arranged in a circle, representing the union of the peoples of Europe; the number of stars is fixed Domestically, the European Union attempts to lower trade barriers, adopt a common currency, and move toward convergence of living standards. Internationally, the EU aims to bolster Europe's trade position and its political and economic power. Because of the great differences in per capita income (from $10,000 to $28,000) and historic national animosities, the European Community faces difficulties in devising and enforcing common policies. For example, both Germany and France since 2003 have flouted the member states' treaty obligation to prevent their national budgets from running more than a 3% deficit. In 2004, the EU admitted 10 central and eastern European countries that are, in general, less advanced technologically and economically than the existing 15. Twelve EU member states introduced the euro as their common currency on 1 January 1999. The UK, Sweden, and Denmark do not now participate; the 10 new member states may choose to adopt the euro when they meet the EU's fiscal and monetary criteria and the member states so agree. $12.18 trillion (2005 est.) $13.31 trillion (2005 est.) 1.7% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $28,100 (2005 est.) 2.2% 27.3% 70.5% (2004 est.) 218.5 million (2005 est.) agriculture 4.5%, industry 27.4%, services 66.9% the remainder is in miscellaneous public and private sector industries and services (2002 est.) 9.4% (2005 est.) See individual country listings 2.8% 25.5% (1995 est.) 32 (2003 est.) 2.2% (2005 est.) percent of GDP - 19.6% of GDP (2005 est.) wheat, barley, oilseeds, sugar beets, wine, grapes, dairy products, cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, fish among the world's largest and most technologically advanced, the European Union industrial base includes: ferrous and non-ferrous metal production and processing, metal products, petroleum, coal, cement, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, construction equipment, industrial equipment, shipbuilding, electrical power equipment, machine tools and automated manufacturing systems, electronics and telecommunications equipment, fishing, food and beverage processing, furniture, paper, textiles, tourism 1.3% (2005 est.) 2.925 trillion kWh (2002 est.) 2.711 trillion kWh (2002 est.) 282.6 billion kWh (2002) 281.2 billion kWh (2002 est.) 3.424 million bbl/day (2001) 14.59 million bbl/day (2001) 5.322 million bbl/day (2001) 15.69 million bbl/day (2001) 7.294 billion bbl (1 January 2002) 239.2 billion cu m (2001) 465.6 billion cu m (2001) 78.1 billion cu m (2001) 297.8 billion cu m (2001) 3.256 trillion cu m (1 January 2002) $NA $1.318 trillion external exports, excluding intra EU trade (2004) US 24.2%, Switzerland 7.7%, China 5%, Russia 4.7% (2004) $1.402 trillion external imports, excluding intra-EU trade (2004) US 15.3%, China 12.4%, Russia 7.8%, Japan 7.2% (2004) $NA euro, British pound, Danish kroner, Swedish kroner, Cypriot pound, koruny (Czech Republic), krooni (Estonia), forint (Hungary), lati (Latvia), litai (Lithuania), Maltese liri, zloty (Poland), koruny (Slovakia), tolar (Slovenia) euros per US dollar - 0.79697 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001) NA 238,763,162 (2002) 314,644,700 (2002) see individual country entries of member states AM 866, FM 13,396, shortwave 73 (1998); note - sum of individual country radio broadcast stations; there is also a European-wide station (Euroradio) 2,791 (1995); note - does not include repeaters; sum of individual country television broadcast stations; there is also a European-wide station (Eurovision) .eu (effective 2005); note - see country entries of member states for individual country codes 22,000,414 (2004); note - sum of individual country Internet hosts 206,032,067 (September 2004) 3,130 (2004 est.) 1,852 (2005 est.) 1,274 (2005 est.) 93 (2005 est.) 222,293 km 28,438 km 186,405 km 7,427 km 23 km (2003) 4,634,810 km (including 56,704 km of expressways) 4,161,318 km 473,492 km (1999-2000) 53,512 km Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Bremen (Germany), Copenhagen (Denmark), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille (France), Naples (Italy), Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Riga (Latvia), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Stockholm (Sweden), Talinn (Estonia) In November 2004, the European Union heads of government signed a "Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe" that offers possibilities - with some limits - for increased defense and security cooperation. If ratified, in a process that may take some two years, this treaty will in effect make operational the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) approved in the 2000 Nice Treaty. Despite limits of cooperation for some EU members, development of a European military planning unit is likely to continue. So is creation of a rapid-reaction military force and a humanitarian aid system, which the planning unit will support. France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Italy continue to press for wider coordination. The five-nation Eurocorps - created in 1992 by France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Luxembourg - has already deployed troops and police on peacekeeping missions to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and assumed command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan in August 2004. Eurocorps directly commands the 5,000-man Franco-German Brigade, the Multinational Command Support Brigade, and EUFOR, which took over from SFOR in Bosnia in December 2004. Other troop contributions are under national command - committments to provide 67,100 troops were made at the Helsinki EU session in 2000. Some 56,000 EU troops were actually deployed in 2003. In August 2004, the new European Defense Agency, tasked with promoting cooperative European defense capabilities, began operations. In November 2004, the EU Council of Ministers formally committed to creating thirteen 1,500-man "battle groups" by the end of 2007, to respond to international crises on a rotating basis. Twenty-two of the EU's 25 nations have agreed to supply troops. France, Italy, and the UK are to form the first three battle groups in 2005, with Spain to follow. In May 2005, Norway, Sweden, and Finland agreed to establish one of the battle groups, possibly to include Estonian forces. The remaining groups are to be formed by 2007. (2005) the EU has no border disputes with neighboring countries; it has set up a Schengen area - consisting of 13 EU member states that have signed the convention implementing the Schengen agreements (1985 and 1990) on the free movement of persons and the harmonization of border controls in Europe; the Schengen agreements ("acquis") became incorporated into EU law with the implementation of the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam on 1 May 1999; member states are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden; in addition, non-EU states Iceland and Norway (as part of the Nordic Union) have been included in the Schengen area since 1996 (full members in 2001), bringing the total current membership to 15; the UK (since 2000) and Ireland (since 2002) take part in some aspects of the Schengen area, especially with respect to police and criminal matters; the 10 new member states that joined the EU in 2004 eventually are expected to participate in Schengen, following a transition period to upgrade their border controls and procedures Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Although first sighted by an English navigator in 1592, the first landing (English) did not occur until almost a century later in 1690, and the first settlement (French) was not established until 1764. The colony was turned over to Spain two years later and the islands have since been the subject of a territorial dispute, first between Britain and Spain, then between Britain and Argentina. The UK asserted its claim to the islands by establishing a naval garrison there in 1833. Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that landed seven weeks later and after fierce fighting forced Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982. Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina 51 45 S 59 00 W South America 12,173 sq km 12,173 sq km 0 sq km includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands slightly smaller than Connecticut 0 km 1,288 km 12 nm 200 nm 200 nm cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 24 inches in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains Atlantic Ocean 0 m Mount Usborne 705 m fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss 0% 0% 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (2001) NA sq km strong winds persist throughout the year overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the Chornobyl disaster deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season 2,967 (July 2005 est.) NA NA NA (2005 est.) 2.44% (2005 est.) NA births/1,000 population (2005 est.) NA deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) NA NA NA (2005 est.) NA years NA years NA years (2005 est.) NA children born/woman (2005 est.) NA NA NA Falkland Islander(s) Falkland Island British primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist English none Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina NA Stanley none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina) none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina) Liberation Day, 14 June (1982) 3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998 English common law 18 years of age; universal Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) Governor Howard PEARCE (since 3 December 2002); Chief Executive Chris SIMPKINS (since NA March 2003); Financial Secretary Derek F. HOWATT (since NA) Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats - 2 ex officio, 8 elected by popular vote, members serve four-year terms); presided over by the governor last held 22 November 2001 (next to be held November 2005) percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 8; note - 71% voter turnout Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction none; all independents none ICFTU, UPU none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina) none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina) blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising was once the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of economic activity. In 1987 the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, which goes to support the island's health, education, and welfare system. Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. The islands are now self-financing except for defense. The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day; to date no exploitable site has been identified. An agreement between Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves. Tourism, especially eco-tourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in 2001. Another large source of income is interest paid on money the government has in the bank. The British military presence also provides a sizeable economic boost. $75 million (2002 est.) NA NA% purchasing power parity - $25,000 (2002 est.) NA% NA% NA% 1,100 (est.) agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing) full employment; labor shortage (2001) NA NA% NA% 3.6% (1998) $66.2 million $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2 million (FY98/99 est.) fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products fish and wool processing; tourism NA% 22.23 million kWh (2003) 20.68 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 200 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $125 million (2004 est.) Spain 77.4%, UK 9.4%, US 4.9% (2004) $90 million (2004 est.) UK 63.2%, Spain 30.3%, France 3.6% (2004) $NA $0 (1997 est.) Falkland pound (FKP) Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.54 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001) the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound 1 April - 31 March 2,400 (2002) 0 (2001) NA government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998) 2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service) cable television is available in Stanley (2002) .fk 0 however one-half of all households are reported to have internet access (2002) 5 (2004 est.) 2 1 1 (2005 est.) 3 3 (2005 est.) 440 km 50 km 390 km (2003) Stanley no regular military forces NA NA defense is the responsibility of the UK Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied the islands by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks Faroe Islands The population of the Faroe Islands is largely descended from Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. A high degree of self-government was attained in 1948. Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway 62 00 N 7 00 W Europe 1,399 sq km 1,399 sq km 0 sq km (some lakes and streams) eight times the size of Washington, DC 0 km 1,117 km 3 nm 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast Atlantic Ocean 0 m Slaettaratindur 882 m fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas 2.14% 0% 97.86% (2001) 0 sq km (1998 est.) NA NA archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands 46,962 (July 2005 est.) 21.3% (male 4,997/female 4,999) 64.9% (male 16,120/female 14,360) 13.8% (male 2,923/female 3,563) (2005 est.) 35.11 years 34.64 years 35.68 years (2005 est.) 0.62% (2005 est.) 13.97 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 1.12 male(s)/female 0.82 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 6.24 deaths/1,000 live births 7.54 deaths/1,000 live births 4.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 79.21 years 75.77 years 82.67 years (2005 est.) 2.2 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA% NA NA Faroese (singular and plural) Faroese Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish NA NA% NA% NA% probably the same as Denmark proper none Faroe Islands none Foroyar part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948 NA Torshavn none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 49 municipalities none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) Olaifest (Olavasoka), 29 July 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution) Danish 18 years of age; universal Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS, chief administrative officer (since 1 November 2001) Prime Minister Joannes EIDESGAARD (since 3 February 2004) Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008) Joannes EIDESGAARD elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA% coalition of Social Democrats, Union Party, and People's Party unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms) last held 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008) percent of vote by party - Union Party 23.7%, Social Democrats 21.8%, Republican Party 21.7%, People's Party 20.6%, Center Party 5.2%, Independence Party 4.6%; seats by party - Union Party 7, Social Democrats 7, Republican Party 8, People's Party 7, Center Party 2, Independence Party 1 election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 8 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1, People's Party 1 none Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Independence Party [Kari P. HOJGAARD]; People's Party [Anfinn KALLSBERG]; Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Kaj Oeo JOHANNESEN] NA IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UPU none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) The Faroese economy has had a strong performance since 1994, mostly as a result of increasing fish landings and high and stable export prices. Unemployment is minimal and there are signs of labor shortages in several sectors. The positive economic development has helped the Faroese Home Rule Government produce increasing budget surpluses, which in turn has helped to reduce the large public debt, most of it owed to Denmark. However, the total dependence on fishing makes the Faroese economy extremely vulnerable, and the present fishing efforts appear in excess of what is a sustainable level of fishing in the long term. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which may eventually lay the basis for a more diversified economy and thus lessen dependence on Danish economic assistance. Aided by a substantial annual subsidy (15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other Scandinavians. $1 billion (2001 est.) NA 10% (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $22,000 (2001 est.) 27% 11% 62% (1999) 24,250 (October 2000) fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%, construction and private services 33%, public services 34% 1% (October 2000) NA NA% NA% 5.1% (1999) $488 million $484 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (1999) milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish fishing, fish processing, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts 8% (1999 est.) 260.2 million kWh (2003) 242 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 4,500 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $533 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) Denmark 33.5%, UK 29.7%, Norway 8.4%, Nigeria 7.1% (2004) $639 million c.i.f. (2004 est.) Denmark 52.5%, Norway 18.2%, Iceland 5%, Sweden 4.2% (2004) $64 million (1999) $135 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1998) Danish krone (DKK) Danish kroner per US dollar - NA (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002), 8.3228 (2001) calendar year 23,000 (2002) 30,700 (2002) good international communications; good domestic facilities digitalization was completed in 1998; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed country code - 298; satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable to the Shetland Islands, linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland; fiber-optic submarine cable connection to Canada-Europe cable AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998) 3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995) .fo 25,000 (2002) 1 (2004 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 463 km 454 km 9 km (1999) 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 24,051 GRT/11,998 DWT cargo 6, container 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 2 8 (Denmark 2, Germany 1, Iceland 2, Norway 2, United Kingdom 1) (2005) Torshavn no regular military forces $NA NA defense is the responsibility of Denmark because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred; Iceland disputes the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line boundary; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm Micronesia, Federated States of In 1979 the Federated States of Micronesia, a UN Trust Territory under US administration, adopted a constitution. In 1986 independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association with the US, which was amended and renewed in 2004. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid. Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia 6 55 N 158 15 E Oceania 702 sq km 702 sq km 0 sq km (fresh water only) includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie) four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only) 0 km 6,112 km 12 nm 200 nm tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk Pacific Ocean 0 m Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate 5.71% 45.71% 48.58% (2001) NA typhoons (June to December) overfishing, climate change, pollution Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection none of the selected agreements four major island groups totaling 607 islands 108,105 (July 2005 est.) 37.1% (male 20,439/female 19,674) 59.8% (male 32,382/female 32,313) 3% (male 1,461/female 1,836) (2005 est.) 18.9 years (2000) -0.08% (2005 est.) 25.11 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 4.87 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -21.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 30.21 deaths/1,000 live births 33.3 deaths/1,000 live births 26.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 69.75 years 67.96 years 71.62 years (2005 est.) 3.25 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA NA NA Micronesian(s) Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47% English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi age 15 and over can read and write 89% 91% 88% (1980 est.) Federated States of Micronesia none Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) FSM constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004 Palikir 4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship) Constitution Day, 10 May (1979) 10 May 1979 based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws 18 years of age; universal President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government Cabinet president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators at large for four-year terms; election last held 11 May 2003 (next to be held May 2007); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed Joseph J. URUSEMAL elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA% unicameral Congress (14 seats; four - one elected from each state to serve four-year terms and 10 - elected from single-member districts delineated by population to serve two-year terms; members elected by popular vote) elections for four-year term seats last held 4 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007); elections for two-year term seats last held 8 March 2005 (next to be held March 2007) percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14 Supreme Court no formal parties ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 [1] (202) 223-4383 [1] (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam) Ambassador Suzanne K. HALE 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 [691] 320-2187 [691] 320-2186 light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and fishing. The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a tourist industry exists, but the remote location, a lack of adequate facilities, and limited air connections hinder development. The Amended Compact of Free Association with the US guarantees the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) millions of dollars in annual aid through 2023, and establishes a Trust Fund into which the US and the FSM make annual contributions in order to provide annual payouts to the FSM in perpetuity after 2023. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US assistance but also to the slow growth of the private sector. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure remain major impediments to long-term growth. $277 million GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.) NA 1% (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.) 50% 4% 46% (2000 est.) NA two-thirds are government employees 16% (1999 est.) 26.7% NA NA 1% (2002 est.) $161 million ($69 million less grants) $160 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1998 est.) black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens tourism, construction, fish processing, specialized aquaculture, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls NA 192 million kWh (2002) 178.6 million kWh (2002) 0 kWh (2002) 0 kWh (2002) $22 million (f.o.b.) (FY99/00 est.) Japan, US, Guam (2004) $149 million f.o.b. (FY99/00 est.) US, Australia, Japan (2004) $53.1 million (FY02/03 est.) under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US pledged $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001; the level of aid has been subsequently reduced US dollar (USD) the US dollar is used 1 October - 30 September 10,100 (2001) 1,800 (2002) adequate system islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes), satellite (Intelsat) ground stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002) AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004) 3; note - cable TV also available (2004) .fm 6,000 (2002) 6 (2004 est.) 6 4 2 (2005 est.) 240 km 42 km 198 km (1999) 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,423 GRT/1,551 DWT cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1 2 (United States 2) (2005) Tomil Harbor no ministry of defense and no standing armed forces; the paramilitary Maritime Wing, a small maritime law enforcement unit, is responsible to the Division of Maritime Surveillance within the Office of the Attorney General (2003) Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a sovereign, self-governing state in free association with the US; FSM is totally dependent on the US for its defense none Fiji Fiji became independent in 1970, after nearly a century as a British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987, caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). A 1990 constitution favored native Melanesian control of Fiji, but led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. Amendments enacted in 1997 made the constitution more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government and gave a mandate to the government of Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand 18 00 S 175 00 E Oceania 18,270 sq km 18,270 sq km 0 sq km slightly smaller than New Jersey 0 km 1,129 km measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines 12 nm 200 nm 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation mostly mountains of volcanic origin Pacific Ocean 0 m Tomanivi 1,324 m timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower 10.95% 4.65% 84.4% (2001) 30 sq km (1998 est.) cyclonic storms can occur from November to January deforestation; soil erosion Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 none of the selected agreements includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited 893,354 (July 2005 est.) 31.4% (male 143,066/female 137,346) 64.5% (male 288,434/female 287,720) 4.1% (male 16,797/female 19,991) (2005 est.) 24.28 years 23.84 years 24.74 years (2005 est.) 1.4% (2005 est.) 22.73 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 5.65 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -3.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.84 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 12.62 deaths/1,000 live births 13.97 deaths/1,000 live births 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 69.53 years 67.05 years 72.14 years (2005 est.) 2.75 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.1% (2003 est.) 600 (2003 est.) less than 200 (2003 est.) Fijian(s) Fijian Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5% (1998 est.) Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu 38%, Muslim 8%, other 2% Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is a Muslim minority (1986) English (official), Fijian, Hindustani age 15 and over can read and write 93.7% 95.5% 91.9% (2003 est.) Republic of the Fiji Islands Fiji republic military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987 Suva (Viti Levu) 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western 10 October 1970 (from UK) Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970) promulgated on 25 July 1990; amended on 25 July 1997 to allow nonethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multiparty government mandatory; effective 28 July 1998 based on British system 21 years of age; universal President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda (since 18 July 2000) Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10 September 2000) Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - there is also a Presidential Council that advises the president on matters of national importance and a Great Council of Chiefs, which consists of the highest ranking members of the traditional chief system president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda elected president by the Great Council of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA% bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (34 seats; 24 appointed by the President on the advice of the Great Council of Chiefs, nine appointed by the president, and one appointed by the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, three reserved for other ethnic groups, one reserved for the council of Rotuma constituency encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms) House of Representatives - last held 25 August through 1 September and 19 September 2001 (next to be held not later than September 2006) House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - FLP 26.5%, SDL 27.5%, NFP 1.2%, MV 4.2%, NLUP 1.3%, UGP .3%, independents 1.4%; seats by party - FLP 27, SDL 32, MV 6, NFP 1, NLUP 2, UGP 1, independents 2 Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts Bai Kei Viti Party or BKV [Ratu Tevita MOMOEDONU]; Conservative Alliance Party/Matanitu Vanua or CAMV [Ratu Rakuita VAKALALABURE]; Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji Democratic Party or FDP [Felipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or FAP [Adi Kuini SPEED], Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Felipe BOLE], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Tupeni BABA]); Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY]; General Voters Party or GVP [leader NA] (became part of United General Party); Girmit Heritage Party or GHP [leader NA]; Justice and Freedom Party or AIM [leader NA]; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR [leader NA]; National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE]; Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of National Unity or PANU [Meli BOGILEKA]; Party of the Truth or POTT [leader NA]; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United General Party or UGP [Millis Mick BEDDOES] NA ACP, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Mr. Paula NAVUNISARAVI (Charge D'Affaires ad Interim) 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 240, Washington, DC 20007 [1] (202) 337-8320 [1] (202) 337-1996 Ambassador Larry Miles DINGER 31 Loftus Street, Suva P. O. Box 218, Suva [679] 331-4466 [679] 330-0081 light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports and a growing tourist industry - with 300,000 to 400,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of foreign exchange. Fiji's sugar has special access to European Union markets, but will be harmed by the EU's decision to cut sugar subsidies. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity, but is not efficient. Long-term problems include low investment, uncertain land ownership rights, and the government's ability to manage its budget. Yet short-run economic prospects are good, provided tensions do not again erupt between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians. Overseas remittances from Fijians working in Kuwait and Iraq have increased significantly. $5.398 billion (2005 est.) $1.992 billion (2005 est.) 2% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $6,000 (2005 est.) 16.6% 22.4% 61% (2001 est.) 137,000 (1999) agriculture, including subsistence agriculture 70% (2001 est.) 7.6% (1999) 25.5% (1990-91) NA NA 1.6% (2002 est.) $427.9 million $531.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.) sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries NA 775.7 million kWh (2003) 721.4 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 10,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $862 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) US 24%, Australia 19%, UK 12.6%, Samoa 6.5%, Japan 4.1% (2004) $1.235 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.) Australia 25.9%, Singapore 23.1%, New Zealand 21.1% (2004) $188.1 million (2001 est.) $40.3 million (1995) Fijian dollar (FJD) Fijian dollars per US dollar - NA (2005), 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003), 2.1869 (2002), 2.2766 (2001) calendar year 102,000 (2003) 109,900 (2003) modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications center NA country code - 679; access to important cable links between US and Canada as well as between NZ and Australia; 2 satellite earth stations - 2 INMARSAT (Pacific Ocean) AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998) NA .fj 493 (2003) 55,000 (2003) 28 (2004 est.) 3 1 1 1 (2005 est.) 25 7 18 (2005 est.) 597 km 597 km 0.600-m gauge belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; used to haul sugarcane during harvest season (May to December) (2003) 3,440 km 1,692 km 1,748 km (1999) 203 km 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges (2004) 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,372 GRT/7,453 DWT passenger 3, passenger/cargo 2, roll on/roll off 2 1 (Australia 1) (2005) Lambasa, Lautoka, Suva Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval Division (2005) 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001) 18 215,104 (2005 est.) 18 163,960 (2005 est.) 9,266 (2005 est.) $36 million (2004) 2.2% (FY02) none Finland Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It won its complete independence in 1917. During World War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and resist invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In the subsequent half century, the Finns made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is now on par with Western Europe. As a member of the European Union, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999. Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia 64 00 N 26 00 E Europe 338,145 sq km 304,473 sq km 33,672 sq km slightly smaller than Montana 2,681 km Norway 727 km, Sweden 614 km, Russia 1,340 km 1,250 km 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm) 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills Baltic Sea 0 m Haltiatunturi 1,328 m timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone 7.19% 0.03% 92.78% (2001) 640 sq km (1998 est.) NA air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling none of the selected agreements long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain 5,223,442 (July 2005 est.) 17.3% (male 460,977/female 443,859) 66.8% (male 1,764,874/female 1,723,385) 15.9% (male 328,952/female 501,395) (2005 est.) 40.97 years 39.43 years 42.52 years (2005 est.) 0.16% (2005 est.) 10.5 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 9.79 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.04 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.66 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 3.57 deaths/1,000 live births 3.89 deaths/1,000 live births 3.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 78.35 years 74.82 years 82.02 years (2005 est.) 1.73 children born/woman (2005 est.) less than 0.1% (2003 est.) 1,500 (2003 est.) less than 100 (2003 est.) Finn(s) Finnish Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.7%, Russian 0.4%, Estonian 0.2%, Roma 0.2%, Sami 0.1% Lutheran National Church 84.2%, Greek Orthodox in Finland 1.1%, other Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 13.5% (2003) Finnish 92% (official), Swedish 5.6% (official), other 2.4% (small Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities) (2003) age 15 and over can read and write 100% (2000 est.) 100% 100% Republic of Finland Finland Suomen Tasavalta Suomi republic Helsinki 6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani, Ita-Suomen Laani, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani 6 December 1917 (from Russia) Independence Day, 6 December (1917) 1 March 2000 civil law system based on Swedish law; the president may request the Supreme Court to review laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations 18 years of age; universal President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000) Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June 2003) and Deputy Prime Minister Eero HEINALUOMA (since 24 September 2005) Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to parliament president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 16 January 2000 and 6 February 2000 (next to be held February 2006); the president appoints the prime minister and deputy prime minister from the majority party or the majority coalition after parliamentary elections and the parliament must approve the appointment Tarja HALONEN elected president; percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 51.6%, Esko AHO (Kesk) 48.4% government coalition - Kesk, SDP, and SFP unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms) last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007) percent of vote by party - Kesk 24.7%, SDP 24.5%, Kok 18.5%, VAS 9.9%, VIHR 8%, KD 5.3%, SFP 4.6%; seats by party - Kesk 55, SDP 53, Kok 40, VAS 19, VIHR 14, KD 7, SFP 8, others 4 Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (judges appointed by the president) Center Party or Kesk [Matti VANHANEN]; Christian Democrats or KD [Paivi RASANEN]; Green League or VIHR [Tarja CRONBERG]; Left Alliance or VAS composed of People's Democratic League and Democratic Alternative [Suvi-Anne SIIMES]; National Coalition (conservative) Party or Kok [Jyrki KATAINEN]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Eero HEINALUOMA]; Swedish People's Party or SFP [Jan-Erik ENESTAM] AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Ambassador Jukka Robert VALTASAARI 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 298-5800 [1] (202) 298-6030 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Amy HYATT Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinki APO AE 09723 [358] (9) 616250 [358] (9) 6162 5800 white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy, with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Trade is important, with exports equaling two-fifths of GDP. Finland excels in high-tech exports, e.g., mobile phones. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population. Rapidly increasing integration with Western Europe - Finland was one of the 12 countries joining the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) - will dominate the economic picture over the next several years. High unemployment remains a persistent problem. $158.4 billion (2005 est.) $191.3 billion (2005 est.) 1.7% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $30,300 (2005 est.) 3.1% 30.4% 66.5% (2005 est.) 2.61 million (2005 est.) agriculture and forestry 8%, industry 22%, construction 6%, commerce 14%, finance, insurance, and business services 10%, transport and communications 8%, public services 32% 7.9% (2005 est.) NA 4.2% 21.6% (1991) 26.9 (2000) 1.2% (2005 est.) 19.4% of GDP (2005 est.) $99.61 billion $97.14 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 42% of GDP (2005 est.) barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing 3% (2005 est.) 79.61 billion kWh (2003) 78.94 billion kWh (2003) 7 billion kWh (2003) 11.9 billion kWh (2003) 9,013 bbl/day (2003 est.) 219,700 bbl/day (2003 est.) 101,000 bbl/day (2001) 318,300 bbl/day (2001) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 4.557 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 4.567 billion cu m (2001 est.) $5.858 billion (2005 est.) $67.88 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Sweden 11.1%, Germany 10.7%, Russia 8.9%, UK 7%, US 6.4%, Netherlands 5.1% (2004) $56.45 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Germany 16.2%, Sweden 14.3%, Russia 12.8%, Netherlands 6.3%, Denmark 5.2%, UK 4.6%, France 4.3% (2004) $13.01 billion (2004 est.) $211.7 billion (30 June 2005) ODA, $379 million (2001) euro (EUR) on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries euros per US dollar - 0.79697 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001) calendar year 2.548 million (2003) 4.7 million (2003) modern system with excellent service digital fiber-optic fixed-line network and an extensive cellular network provide domestic needs country code - 358; 1 submarine cable (Finland Estonia Connection); satellite earth stations - access to Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998) 120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999) .fi 1,219,173 (2004) 2.65 million (2002) 148 (2004 est.) 76 2 27 10 23 14 (2005 est.) 72 5 67 (2005 est.) gas 694 km (2004) 5,851 km 5,851 km 1.524-m gauge (2,400 km electrified) (2004) 78,168 km 50,616 km (including 653 km of expressways) 27,552 km (2004) 7,842 km includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia (2004) 94 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,152,175 GRT/1,053,906 DWT bulk carrier 3, cargo 27, chemical tanker 6, container 1, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 20, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 25 2 (Norway 1, United States 1) 42 (2005) Hamina, Hanko, Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Pori, Porvoo, Raahe, Rauma, Turku Finnish Defense Forces: Army, Navy (includes Coastal Defense Forces), Air Force (2003) 18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service (October 2004) 18 1,121,275 (2005 est.) 18 913,617 (2005 est.) 32,040 (2005 est.) $1.8 billion (FY98/99) 2% (FY98/99) various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands France Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracy resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common exchange currency, the euro, in January 1999. At present, France is at the forefront of efforts to develop the EU's military capabilities to supplement progress toward an EU foreign policy. Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain 46 00 N 2 00 E Europe 547,030 sq km 545,630 sq km 1,400 sq km includes only metropolitan France; excludes the overseas administrative divisions slightly less than twice the size of Colorado 2,889 km Andorra 56.6 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km 3,427 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean) 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east Rhone River delta -2 m Mont Blanc 4,807 m coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorospar, gypsum, timber, fish 33.53% 2.07% 64.4% (2001) 20,000 sq km (1998 est.) flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling none of the selected agreements largest West European nation 60,656,178 (July 2005 est.) 18.4% (male 5,717,761/female 5,440,060) 65.2% (male 19,784,749/female 19,752,432) 16.4% (male 4,084,193/female 5,876,983) (2005 est.) 38.85 years 37.3 years 40.39 years (2005 est.) 0.37% (2005 est.) 12.15 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 9.08 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.7 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 4.26 deaths/1,000 live births 4.76 deaths/1,000 live births 3.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 79.6 years 75.96 years 83.42 years (2005 est.) 1.85 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.4% (2003 est.) 120,000 (2003 est.) less than 1,000 (2003 est.) Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) French Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4% French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish) age 15 and over can read and write 99% 99% 99% (1980 est.) French Republic France Republique Francaise France republic Paris 22 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes metropolitan France is divided into 22 regions (including the "territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and is subdivided into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the overseas territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon) Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica 486 (unified by Clovis) Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) adopted by referendum 28 September 1958, effective 4 October 1958; amended concerning election of president in 1962; amended to comply with provisions of 1992 EC Maastricht Treaty, 1996 Amsterdam Treaty, 2000 Treaty of Nice; amended to tighten immigration laws in 1993; amended in 2000 to change the seven-year presidential term to a five-year term civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts 18 years of age; universal President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) Prime Minister Dominique DE VILLEPIN (since 31 May 2005) Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the suggestion of the prime minister president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (changed from seven-year term in October 2000); election last held 21 April and 5 May 2002 (next to be held, first round April 2007, second round May 2007); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly majority and appointed by the president Jacques CHIRAC reelected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Jacques CHIRAC (RPR) 81.96%, Jean-Marie LE PEN (FN) 18.04% bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (321 seats - 296 for metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve nine-year terms; elected by thirds every three years); note - between now and 2010, 25 new seats will be added to the Senate for a total of 346 seats - 326 for metropolitan France and overseas departments, 2 for New Caledonia, 2 for Mayotte, 1 for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, 3 for overseas territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members will be indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve six-year terms, with one-half the seats being renewed every three years; and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a single-member majority system to serve five-year terms) Senate - last held 26 September 2004 (next to be held September 2007); National Assembly - last held 8-16 June 2002 (next to be held not later than June 2007) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 156, PS 97, UDF 33, PCF 23, RDSE 15, other 7; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 355, PS 140, UDF 29, PCF 21, Radical Party 7, Greens 3, other 22 Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (three members appointed by the president, three appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate); Council of State or Conseil d'Etat Citizen and Republican Movement or MCR [Jean Pierre CHEVENEMENT]; Democratic and European Social Rally or RDSE (mainly Radical Republican and Socialist Parties, and PRG) [Jacques PELLETIER]; French Communist Party or PCF [Marie-George BUFFET]; Left Radical Party or PRG (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG) [Jean-Michel BAYLET]; Movement for France or MPF [Philippe DE VILLIERS]; National Front or NF [Jean-Marie LE PEN]; Rally for France or RPF [Charles PASQUA]; Socialist Party or PS [Francois HOLLANDE]; Greens [Yann WEHRLING, national secretary]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Francois BAYROU]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP (including RPR, DL, and a part of UDF) [Nicolas SARKOZY] historically-Communist labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail) or CGT, approximately 700,000 members (claimed); left-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail) or CFDT, approximately 889,000 members (claimed); independent labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail - Force Ouvriere) or FO, 300,000 members (est.); independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale des Cadres) or CGC, 196,000 members (claimed); employers' union (Mouvement des Entreprises de France) or MEDEF, 750,000 companies as members (claimed) ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FZ, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC Ambassador Jean-David LEVITTE 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 [1] (202) 944-6000 [1] (202) 944-6166 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco Ambassador Craig R. STAPLETON 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08 PSC 116, APO AE 09777 [33] (1) 43-12-22-22 [33] (1) 42 66 97 83 consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French Tricolor), the origin of the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution; the design and/or colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, Luxembourg, and Netherlands; the official flag for all French dependent areas France is in the midst of transition, from a well-to-do modern economy that has featured extensive government ownership and intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The government has partially or fully privatized many large companies, banks, and insurers. It retains controlling stakes in several leading firms, including Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales, and is dominant in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, and defense industries. The telecommunications sector is gradually being opened to competition. France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social spending that reduce income disparity and the impact of free markets on public health and welfare. The government has lowered income taxes and introduced measures to boost employment and reform the pension system. In addition, it is focusing on the problems of the high cost of labor and labor market inflexibility resulting from the 35-hour workweek and restrictions on lay-offs. The tax burden remains one of the highest in Europe (nearly 50% of GDP in 2005). The lingering economic slowdown and inflexible budget items have pushed the budget deficit above the eurozone's 3%-of-GDP limit; unemployment stands at 10%. $1.816 trillion (2005 est.) $2.118 trillion (2005 est.) 1.5% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $29,900 (2005 est.) 2.5% 21.4% 76.1% (2005 est.) 27.72 million (2005 est.) agriculture 4.1%, industry 24.4%, services 71.5% (1999) 10% (2005 est.) 6.5% (2000) 2.8% 25.1% (1995) 32.7 (1995) 1.9% (2005 est.) 19.4% of GDP (2005 est.) $1.06 trillion $1.144 trillion, including capital expenditures of $23 billion (2005 est.) 66.5% of GDP (2005 est.) wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism 0.3% (2005 est.) 536.9 billion kWh (2003) 433.3 billion kWh (2003) 72.2 billion kWh (2003) 6.2 billion kWh (2003) 76,300 bbl/day (2003 est.) 2.06 million bbl/day (2003 est.) 409,600 bbl/day (2001) 2.281 million bbl/day (2001) 144.3 million bbl (1 January 2002) 1.898 billion cu m (2001 est.) 42.01 billion cu m (2001 est.) 1.725 billion cu m (2001 est.) 40.26 billion cu m (2001 est.) 12.86 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $-30.11 billion (2005 est.) $443.4 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Germany 15%, Spain 9.5%, UK 9.3%, Italy 9%, Belgium 7.2%, US 6.7% (2004) $473.3 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Germany 19.2%, Belgium 9.9%, Italy 8.8%, Spain 7.4%, UK 7%, Netherlands 6.7%, US 5.1% (2004) $77.35 billion (2004 est.) $2.826 trillion (30 June 2005) ODA, $5.4 billion (2002) euro (EUR) on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries euros per US dollar - 0.79697 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001) calendar year 33,905,400 (2003) 41,683,100 (2003) highly developed extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive introduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system country code - 33; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998) 584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995) .fr 2,396,761 (2004) 21.9 million (2003) 478 (2004 est.) 288 13 28 96 82 69 (2005 est.) 191 3 72 116 (2005 est.) 3 (2005 est.) gas 14,232 km; oil 3,024 km; refined products 4,889 km (2004) 29,519 km 29,352 km 1.435-m gauge (14,481 km electrified) 167 km 1.000-m gauge (2004) 891,290 km 891,290 km (including 10,390 km of expressways) (2003) 8,500 km (1,686 km accessible to craft of 3,000 metric tons) (2000) 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 703,639 GRT/889,705 DWT cargo 4, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas 4, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 30, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 1 6 (Sweden 5, Switzerland 1) 139 (2005) Bordeaux, Calais, Dunkerque, La Pallice, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Paris, Rouen, Strasbourg Army (includes Marines, Foreign Legion, Army Light Aviation), Navy (includes naval air), Air Force (includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie 17 years of age with consent for voluntary military service (2001) 17 13,676,509 (2005 est.) 17 11,262,661 (2005 est.) 389,204 (2005 est.) $45 billion FY06 (2005) 2.6% FY06 (2005 est.) Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana; France asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); France and Vanuatu claim Matthew and Hunter Islands, east of New Caledonia transshipment point for and consumer of South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics French Guiana First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site of notorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agency launches its communication satellites from Kourou. Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname 4 00 N 53 00 W South America 91,000 sq km 89,150 sq km 1,850 sq km slightly smaller than Indiana 1,183 km Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km 378 km 12 nm 200 nm tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains Atlantic Ocean 0 m Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), petroleum, kaolin, fish, niobium, tantalum, clay 0.14% 0.05% 99.81% (90% forest, 10% other) (2001) 20 sq km (1998 est.) high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding NA mostly an unsettled wilderness; the only non-independent portion of the South American continent 195,506 (July 2005 est.) 29.3% (male 29,262/female 27,947) 64.7% (male 67,895/female 58,534) 6.1% (male 6,038/female 5,830) (2005 est.) 28.45 years 29.49 years 27.31 years (2005 est.) 2.1% (2005 est.) 20.7 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 4.85 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 5.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.16 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.12 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 12.07 deaths/1,000 live births 12.91 deaths/1,000 live births 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 77.09 years 73.77 years 80.58 years (2005 est.) 3.01 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA% NA NA French Guianese (singular and plural) French Guianese black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10% Roman Catholic French age 15 and over can read and write 83% 84% 82% (1982 est.) Department of Guiana French Guiana none Guyane overseas department of France NA Cayenne none (overseas department of France) none (overseas department of France) Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) French legal system 18 years of age; universal President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Ange MANCINI (since 31 July 2002) President of the General Council Joseph HO-TEN-YOU (since 26 March 2001); President of the Regional Council Antoine KARAM (since 22 March 1992) NA French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; presidents of the General and Regional Councils are appointed by the members of those councils unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) General Council - last held NA March 2000 (next to be held NA 2006); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2004) General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PSG 5, various left-wing parties 5, independents 7, other 2; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - PS 28.28%, various left parties 22.56%, RPR 15.91%, independents 8.6%, Walwari Committee 6%; seats by party - PS 11, various left parties 9, RPR 6, independents 3, Walwari Committee 2 one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998 (next to be held September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; 2 seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP/RPR 1, Walwari Committee 1 Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (highest local court based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana) Guyanese Democratic Action or ADG [Andre LECANTE]; Guyanese Socialist Party or PSG [Marie-Claude VERDAN]; Guyana Democratic Forces or FDG [Georges OTHILY]; Popular National Guyanese Party or PNPG [Jose DORCY]; Socialist Party or PS [Paul DEBRIETTE]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP (includes RPR) [Muriel ICARE]; Walwari Committee (aligned with the PRG in France) [Christine TAUBIRA-DELANON] NA UPU, WCL, WFTU none (overseas department of France) none (overseas department of France) the flag of France is used The economy is tied closely to the much larger French economy through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou (which accounts for 25% of GDP), fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities. Forest and woodland cover 90% of the country. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated; rice and manioc are the major crops. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers. $1.551 billion (2003 est.) NA NA% purchasing power parity - $8,300 (2003 est.) NA% NA% NA% (2001 est.) 58,800 (1997) agriculture 18.2%, industry 21.2%, services, government, and commerce 60.6% (1980) 22% (2001) NA NA% NA% 1.5% (2002 est.) $225 million $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1996) corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining NA% 465.2 million kWh (2003) 432.6 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 6,600 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $155 million f.o.b. (2002 est.) France 62%, Switzerland 7%, US 2% (2004) $625 million c.i.f. (2002 est.) France 63%, US, Trinidad and Tobago, Italy (2004) $1.2 billion (1988) NA euro (EUR) Euros per US dollar - NA (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001) calendar year 51,000 (2001) 138,200 (2002) NA fair open-wire and microwave radio relay system country code - 594; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) AM 2, FM 14 (including 6 repeaters), shortwave 6 (including 5 repeaters) (1998) 3 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997) .gf 3,200 (2002) 11 (2004 est.) 4 1 2 1 (2005 est.) 7 2 5 (2005 est.) 817 km (1998) 3,760 km 460 km navigable by small oceangoing vessels and coastal and river steamers, 3,300 km by native craft (2004) 3 Degrad des Cannes no regular military forces; Gendarmerie 18 47,809 (2005 est.) 18 38,676 (2005 est.) $NA NA defense is the responsibility of France Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa) in French Guiana small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe French Polynesia The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996. Oceania, archipelagoes in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to Australia 15 00 S 140 00 W Oceania 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls) 3,660 sq km 507 sq km slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut 0 km 2,525 km 12 nm 200 nm tropical, but moderate mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs Pacific Ocean 0 m Mont Orohena 2,241 m timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower 0.82% 5.46% 93.72% (2001) NA sq km occasional cyclonic storms in January NA includes five archipelagoes (4 volcanic, 1 coral); Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru 270,485 (July 2005 est.) 26.7% (male 36,947/female 35,403) 67.4% (male 94,710/female 87,546) 5.9% (male 8,018/female 7,861) (2005 est.) 27.48 years 27.84 years 27.1 years (2005 est.) 1.52% (2005 est.) 16.93 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 4.63 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 2.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.07 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 8.44 deaths/1,000 live births 9.73 deaths/1,000 live births 7.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 75.9 years 73.5 years 78.42 years (2005 est.) 2.04 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA% NA NA French Polynesian(s) French Polynesian Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4% Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6% French 61.1% (official), Polynesian 31.4% (official), Asian languages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002 census) age 14 and over can read and write 98% 98% 98% (1977 est.) Overseas Lands of French Polynesia French Polynesia Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaise Polynesie Francaise French Colony of Oceania overseas lands of France; overseas territory of France from 1946-2004 NA Papeete none (overseas lands of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent Clipperton Island is administered by France from French Polynesia none (overseas lands of France); note - the Australian government calls them "overseas entities" Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) based on French system 18 years of age; universal President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Anne BOQUET (since September 2005) President of the Territorial Government of French Polynesia Oscar TEMARU (since 3 March 2005); President of the Territorial Assembly Antony GEROS (since 9 May 2004) Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Government and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (57 seats - changed from 49 seats for May 2004 election; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held 23 May 2004 (next to be held May 2009) one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998 (next to be held September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP/RPR 1, UMP 1 Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif Alliance for a New Democracy or ADN [Nicole BOUTEAU]; Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile VERNAUDON]; People's Rally for the Republic of Polynesia or RPR (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]; The New Star (Te Fetia Api) [Philippe SHYLE]; This Country is Yours (No Oe E Te Nunaa) [Nicle BOUTEAU]; Union for Democracy or UPD [Oscar TEMARU] NA FZ, ICFTU, PIF (observer), SPC, UPU, WMO none (overseas lands of France) none (overseas lands of France) two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence agricultural economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. With the halt of French nuclear testing in 1996, the military contribution to the economy fell sharply. Tourism accounts for about one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. Other sources of income are pearl farming and deep-sea commercial fishing. The small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefits substantially from development agreements with France aimed principally at creating new businesses and strengthening social services. $4.58 billion (2003 est.) NA NA% (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $17,500 (2003 est.) 6% 18% 76% (2002) 70,000 (1996) agriculture 13%, industry 19%, services 68% (2002) 11.8% (1994) NA NA% NA% 1.5% (2002 est.) $1 billion $900 million, including capital expenditures of $185 million (1996) coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef, dairy products, coffee tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates NA% 493.7 million kWh (2003) 459.2 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 4,800 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $385 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) France 36.6%, Japan 22.7%, US 16.1%, Niger 13%, Thailand 4.1% (2004) $1.437 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) France 47.6%, New Zealand 8.9%, Singapore 8.4%, Australia 8.4%, US 7.1% (2004) NA $367 million (1997) Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF) Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - NA (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003), 126.71 (2002), 133.26 (2001) pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro calendar year 52,500 (2002) 90,000 (2002) NA NA country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998) 7 (plus 17 low-power repeaters) (1997) .pf 5,123 (2003) 35,000 (2002) 50 (2004 est.) 37 2 5 23 7 (2005 est.) 13 5 8 (2005 est.) 1 (2005 est.) 2,590 km 1,735 km 855 km (1999) 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 17,537 GRT/15,150 DWT cargo 4, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1 1 (France 1) (2005) Papeete no regular military forces; Gendarmerie and National Police Force defense is the responsibility of France none French Southern and Antarctic Lands The Southern Lands consist of two archipelagos, Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen, and two volcanic islands, Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul. They contain no permanent inhabitants and are visited only by researchers studying the native fauna. The Antarctic portion consists of "Adelie Land," a thin slice of the Antarctic continent discovered and claimed by the French in 1840. southeast of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note - French Southern and Antarctic Lands include Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, and Iles Kerguelen in the southern Indian Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of Antarctica, "Adelie Land"; the US does not recognize the French claim to "Adelie Land" 43 00 S 67 00 E Antarctic Region 7,829 sq km 7,829 sq km 0 sq km includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen; excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Delaware 0 km 1,232 km 12 nm 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen (does not include the rest of French Southern and Antarctic Lands) antarctic volcanic Indian Ocean 0 m Mont Ross on Iles Kerguelen 1,850 m fish, crayfish 0% 0% 100% (2001) 0 sq km (1998 est.) Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes NA islands component is widely scattered across remote locations in the southern Indian Ocean no indigenous inhabitants (July 2005 est.) in 2002, there were 145 researchers whose numbers vary from winter (July) to summer (January) (July 2005 est.) Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands French Southern and Antarctic Lands Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises overseas territory of France since 1955; administered from Paris by Administrateur Superieur Michel CHAMPON (since 20 December 2004), assisted by Secretary General Jean-Yves HERMOSO (since NA) none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes "Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US the laws of France, where applicable, apply none (overseas territory of France) none (overseas territory of France) the flag of France is used Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and geophysical research stations and French and other fishing fleets. The fish catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are exported to France and Reunion. .tf 0 (2004 est.) 75 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,092,387 GRT/5,056,658 DWT bulk carrier 2, cargo 1, chemical tanker 21, container 19, liquefied gas 7, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 6, vehicle carrier 4 71 (Belgium 5, Denmark 2, France 45, Germany 2, Greece 2, Hong Kong 5, Japan 4, Saudi Arabia 1, Sweden 5) (2005) none; offshore anchorage only defense is the responsibility of France French claim to "Adelie Land" in Antarctica is not recognized by the United States Gabon Only two autocratic presidents have ruled Gabon since independence from France in 1960. Gabon's current President, El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - has dominated Gabon's political scene for almost four decades. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in 2002-03 and the presidential elections in 2005 have exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Gabon's political opposition remains weak, divided, and financially dependent on the current regime. Despite political conditions, a small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous and stable African countries. Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea 1 00 S 11 45 E Africa 267,667 sq km 257,667 sq km 10,000 sq km slightly smaller than Colorado 2,551 km Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km 885 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm tropical; always hot, humid narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south Atlantic Ocean 0 m Mont Iboundji 1,575 m petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower 1.26% 0.66% 98.08% (2001) 150 sq km (1998 est.) NA deforestation; poaching Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands none of the selected agreements a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabon become one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, these circumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity 1,389,201 estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.) 42.1% (male 293,668/female 291,816) 53.8% (male 372,134/female 374,850) 4.1% (male 23,551/female 33,182) (2005 est.) 18.57 years 18.34 years 18.8 years (2005 est.) 2.45% (2005 est.) 36.24 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 11.72 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.71 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 53.64 deaths/1,000 live births 63.21 deaths/1,000 live births 43.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 55.02 years 53.63 years 56.45 years (2005 est.) 4.77 children born/woman (2005 est.) 8.1% (2003 est.) 48,000 (2003 est.) 3,000 (2003 est.) very high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria (2004) Gabonese (singular and plural) Gabonese Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Bapounou, Nzebi, Obamba), other Africans and Europeans 154,000, including 10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1% French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi age 15 and over can read and write 63.2% 73.7% 53.3% (1995 est.) Gabonese Republic Gabon Republique Gabonaise Gabon republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990) Libreville 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem 17 August 1960 (from France) Founding of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), 12 March (1968) adopted 14 March 1991 based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 21 years of age; universal President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba (since 2 December 1967) Prime Minister Jean-Francois NTOUTOUME-EMANE (since 23 January 1999) Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 27 November 2005 (next to be held NA 2012); prime minister appointed by the president President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba reelected; percent of vote - El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba 79.2%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 13.6%, Zacharie MYBOTO 6.6% bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats; members elected by members of municipal councils and departmental assemblies) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms) National Assembly - last held 9 and 23 December 2001 (next to be held December 2006); Senate - last held 26 January and 9 February 2003 (next to be held by January 2009) National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PDG 86, RNB-RPG 8, PGP 3, ADERE 3, CLR 2, PUP 1, PSD 1, independents 13, others 3; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, CLR 1, independents 9 Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers - Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE]; Congress for Democracy and Justice or CDJ [Jules Aristide Bourdes OGOULIGUENDE]; Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE [Divungui-di-Ndinge DIDJOB]; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG, former sole party [Simplice Nguedet MANZELA]; Gabonese Party for Progress or PGP [Pierre-Louis AGONDJO-OKAWE]; National Rally of Woodcutters-Rally for Gabon or RNB-RPG (Bucherons) [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]; People's Unity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Pierre EMBONI]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]; Union for Democracy and Social Integration or UDIS [leader NA]; Union of Gabonese People or UPG [Pierre MAMBOUNDOU] NA ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Jules Marius OGOUEBANDJA Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 797-1000 [1] (202) 332-0668 consulate(s): New York Ambassador Barrie R. WALKLEY Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Libreville Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 74 34 92 [241] 74 55 07 three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most of sub-Saharan African nations. This has supported a sharp decline in extreme poverty; yet because of high income inequality a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management hobbles the economy. Devaluation of its currency by 50% in January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate dropped to 6% in 1996. The IMF provided a one-year standby arrangement in 1994-95, a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility (EFF) at near commercial rates beginning in late 1995, and stand-by credit of $119 million in October 2000. Those agreements mandated progress in privatization and fiscal discipline. France provided additional financial support in January 1997 after Gabon had met IMF targets for mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon criticized the government for overspending on off-budget items, overborrowing from the central bank, and slipping on its schedule for privatization and administrative reform. The rebound of oil prices in 1999-2000 helped growth, but drops in production hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains. In December 2000, Gabon signed a new agreement with the Paris Club to reschedule its official debt. A follow-up bilateral repayment agreement with the US was signed in December 2001. Gabon signed a 14 month Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in May 2004, and received Paris Club debt rescheduling later that year. Short-term progress depends on an upbeat world economy and fiscal and other adjustments in line with IMF policies. $8.031 billion (2005 est.) $7.332 billion (2005 est.) 2.1% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $5,800 (2005 est.) 6% 58.8% 35.1% (2005 est.) 640,000 (2005 est.) agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25% 21% (1997 est.) NA NA NA 1.5% (2005 est.) 24.5% of GDP (2005 est.) $2.463 billion $1.618 billion, including capital expenditures of $325 million (2005 est.) 29.5% of GDP (2005 est.) cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical softwood); fish petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, and gold mining; chemicals; ship repair; food and beverage; textile; lumbering and plywood; cement 1.6% (2002 est.) 1.487 billion kWh (2003) 1.383 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 268,900 bbl/day (2005 est.) 12,250 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 1.921 billion bbl (2005 est.) 80 million cu m (2001 est.) 80 million cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 66.47 billion cu m (2005) $1.11 billion (2005 est.) $5.813 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 52.9%, China 8.5%, France 7.3% (2004) $1.533 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) France 43.8%, US 6.3%, UK 5.9%, Netherlands 4% (2004) $525 million (2005 est.) $3.857 billion (2005 est.) $331 million (1995) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 521.74 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001) calendar year 38,400 (2003) 300,000 (2003) adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of the growing mobile cell system adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations country code - 241; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia AM 6, FM 7 (and 11 repeaters), shortwave 4 (2001) 4 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001) .ga 93 (2004) 35,000 (2003) 56 (2004 est.) 11 1 1 8 1 (2005 est.) 45 7 15 23 (2005 est.) gas 210 km; oil 1,385 km (2004) 814 km 814 km 1.435-m gauge (2004) 32,333 km 6,247 km 26,086 km (2003) 1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2003) Gamba, Libreville, Lucinda, Owendo, Port-Gentil Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001) 18 276,310 (2005 est.) 18 156,632 (2005 est.) 15,150 (2005 est.) $184.8 million (2004) 2% (2004) UN presses Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and to establish a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay; only a few hundred out of the 20,000 Republic of the Congo refugees who fled militia fighting in 2000 remain in Gabon Gaza Strip The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provided for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority (PA) as part of the interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement, the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 Protocol Concerning Redeployment in Hebron, the Israel-PLO 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum, and the 4 September 1999 Sharm el-Sheikh Agreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external and internal security and for public order of settlements and Israeli citizens. Direct negotiations to determine the permanent status of Gaza and West Bank began in September 1999 after a three-year hiatus, but were derailed by a second intifadah that broke out in September 2000. In June 2003 the Quartet (US, European Union, United Nations, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. The proposed date for a permanent status agreement has been postponed indefinitely due to violence and accusations that both sides have not followed through on their commitments. Longtime Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT died in November 2004 and Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA President in January 2005, bringing hope of a turning point in the conflict. In February 2005 Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments, focused on security issues, in an effort to move the peace process forward. Progress has been slow because of different interpretations of the verbal agreement by the two sides. Israel in September 2005 withdrew all Israeli settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip. Nonetheless, Israel controls maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip. An agreement signed by the PA and Israel in November 2005 authorized the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under joint PA and Egyptian control, with monitoring provided by the European Union. The future political status of the Gaza Strip has yet to be determined. Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel 31 25 N 34 20 E Middle East 360 sq km 360 sq km 0 sq km slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC 62 km Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km 40 km Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain Mediterranean Sea 0 m Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m arable land, natural gas 28.95% 21.05% 50% (2001) 120 sq km (1998 est.) droughts desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination of underground water resources there are 25 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Gaza Strip (February 2002 est.) 1,376,289 in addition, there are more than 5,000 Israeli settlers in the Gaza Strip (July 2005 est.) 48.5% (male 342,186/female 325,899) 48.8% (male 342,927/female 329,354) 2.6% (male 15,036/female 20,887) (2005 est.) 15.65 years 15.5 years 15.81 years (2005 est.) 3.77% (2005 est.) 40.03 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 3.87 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.72 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 22.93 deaths/1,000 live births 24.05 deaths/1,000 live births 21.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 71.79 years 70.5 years 73.15 years (2005 est.) 5.91 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA NA NA NA NA Palestinian Arab and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6% Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 98.7%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.6% Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians), English (widely understood) age 15 and over can read and write 91.9% 96.3% 87.4% (2003 est.) none Gaza Strip none Qita Ghazzah High population density, limited land access, and strict internal and external controls have kept economic conditions in the Gaza Strip - the smaller of the two areas under the Palestinian Authority - even more degraded than in the West Bank. The beginning of the second intifadah in September 2000 sparked an economic downturn, largely the result of Israeli closure policies; these policies, which were imposed in response to security interests in Israel, disrupted labor and commodity relationships with the Gaza Strip. In 2001, and even more severely in 2003, Israeli military measures in Palestinian Authority areas resulted in the destruction of much capital plant, the disruption of administrative structure, and widespread business closures. Including the West Bank, the UN estimates that more than 100,000 Palestinians out of the 125,000 who used to work in Israel or in joint industrial zones have lost their jobs. Unemployment has continued at half the labor force. Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in September 2005 offers some medium-term opportunities for economic growth, especially given the removal of restrictions on internal movement. In addition, recent agreements and continuing negotiations on the administration of Gaza's border crossings increase the prospects for trade. $768 million (2003 est.) NA 4.5% (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $600 (2003 est.) 9% 28% 63% (includes West Bank) (2002 est.) 278,000 (April-June 2005) agriculture 11.9%, industry 18%, services 70.1% (April-June 2005) 31% (includes West Bank) (January-September 2005 avg.) 81% (2004 est.) NA NA 3% (includes West Bank) (2004) $964 million $1.34 billion, including capital expenditures of NA; note - these budget data include West Bank (2004) olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products generally small family businesses that produce textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale modern industries in an industrial center, but operations ceased prior to Israel's evacuation of Gaza Strip settlements NA NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the Gaza Strip power plant and by an Israeli utility NA kWh 0 kWh (2001) NA kWh; note - some electricity supplied by an Israeli utility (2005) $270 million f.o.b., includes West Bank (2003) Israel, Egypt, West Bank (2004) $1.952 billion c.i.f., includes West Bank (2003) Israel, Egypt, West Bank (2004) $0 (includes West Bank) (2002) $2 billion (includes West Bank) (2004 est.) new Israeli shekel (ILS) new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.35 (2005), 4.482 (2004), 4.5541 (2003), 4.7378 (2002), 4.2057 (2001) calendar year 95,729 (total for Gaza Strip and West Bank) (1997) 320,000 (cellular subscribers in both Gaza Strip and West Bank) (2002) NA Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for landline services in the Gaza Strip; the Palestinian JAWAL company provides cellular services NA AM 0, FM 8, shortwave 0 (2005) NA (2005) .ps 60,000 (includes West Bank) (2001) 2 (2001) includes Gaza International Airport (GIA), inaugurated on 24 November 1998 as part of agreements stipulated in the September 1995 Oslo II Accord and the 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum; GIA has been largely closed since October 2000 by Israeli orders and its runway was destroyed by the Israeli Defense Forces in December 2001 (2004 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 1 (2005 est.) see entry for West Bank Gaza in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authority is not permitted conventional military forces; there are, however, public security forces (2002) NA NA West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel announced its intention to pull out settlers and withdraw from the Gaza Strip in 2005 refugees (country of origin): 922,674 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)) (2004) Georgia The region of present-day Georgia contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in the first centuries AD and Christianity became the state religion in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th to the 13th centuries) that was cut short by the Mongol invasion of 1236. Subsequently, the Ottoman and Persian empires competed for influence in the region. Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Despite myriad problems, some progress on market reforms and democratization has been made since then. An attempt by the government to manipulate legislative elections in November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. New elections in early 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his National Movement Party. Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia 42 00 N 43 30 E Asia 69,700 sq km 69,700 sq km 0 sq km slightly smaller than South Carolina 1,461 km Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km 310 km NA warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi (Kolkhida Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of Kolkhida Lowland Black Sea 0 m Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth 11.44% 3.86% 84.7% (2001) 4,700 sq km (1998 est.) earthquakes air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands none of the selected agreements strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them 4,677,401 (July 2005 est.) 18% (male 444,779/female 398,162) 65.9% (male 1,480,557/female 1,603,743) 16% (male 300,859/female 449,301) (2005 est.) 37.36 years 34.93 years 39.7 years (2005 est.) -0.35% (2005 est.) 10.25 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 9.09 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -4.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.16 male(s)/female 1.12 male(s)/female 0.92 male(s)/female 0.67 male(s)/female 0.91 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 18.59 deaths/1,000 live births 20.71 deaths/1,000 live births 16.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 75.88 years 72.59 years 79.67 years (2005 est.) 1.41 children born/woman (2005 est.) less than 0.1% (2001 est.) 3,000 (2003 est.) less than 200 (2003 est.) Georgian(s) Georgian Georgian 83.8%, Azeri 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5%, other 2.5% (2002 census) Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, Muslim 9.9%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census) Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7% Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia age 15 and over can read and write 99% 100% 98% (1999 est.) none Georgia none Sak'art'velo Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic republic T'bilisi 9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 9 cities (k'alak'ebi, singular - k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika) Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli Chiat'ura, Gori, K'ut'aisi, P'ot'i, Rust'avi, T'bilisi, Tqibuli, Tsqaltubo, Zugdidi Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika (Bat'umi) the administrative centers of the 2 autonomous republics are shown in parentheses 9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union) Independence Day, 26 May (1918); note - 26 May 1918 is the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 is the date of independence from the Soviet Union adopted 24 August 1995 based on civil law system 18 years of age; universal President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government for the power ministries: state security (includes interior) and defense President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January 2004); Prime Minister Zurab NOGHAIDELI (since 17 February 2005); note - the president is the chief of state and head of government for the power ministries: state security (includes interior) and defense; the prime minister is head of the remaining ministries of government Cabinet of Ministers president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 4 January 2004 (next to be held NA 2009) Mikheil SAAKASHVILI elected president; percent of vote - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI 96.3%, Temur SHASHIASHVILI 1.9% unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred to as Parliament) or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats - 150 elected by party lists); members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held spring 2008) percent of vote by party - National Movement-Democrats 67.6%, Rightist Opposition 7.6%, all other parties received less than 7% each; seats by party - National Movement-Democrats 135, Rightist Opposition 15 Supreme Court (judges elected by the Supreme Council on the president's recommendation); Constitutional Court; first and second instance courts Burjanadze-Democrats [Nino BURJANADZE]; Georgian People's Front [Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG [Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia (Industrialists) or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Bachuki KARDAVA]; National Movement Democratic Front [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI] bloc composed of National Movement and Burjanadze-Democrats; National Movement [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI]; New Right [David GAMKRELIDZE]; Republican Party [David BERDZENISHVILI]; Rightist Opposition [David GAMKRELIDZE] bloc composed of Industrialists and New Right Party; Socialist Party or SPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI]; Union of National Forces-Conservatives [Koba DAVITASHVILI and Zviad DZIDZIGURI] Georgian independent deputies from Abkhaz government in exile; separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia; supporters of the late ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA ACCT (observer), BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Levan MIKELADZE Suite 602, 1101 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 [1] (202) 387-4537 [1] (202) 393-4537 Ambassador John F. TEFFT 11 George Balanchine St., T'bilisi 0131 7060 Tbilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060 [995] (32) 27-70-00 [995] (32) 53-23-10 white rectangle, in its central portion a red cross connecting all four sides of the flag; in each of the four corners is a small red bolnur-katskhuri cross; the five-cross flag appears to date back to the 14th century Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation of agricultural products such as citrus fruits, tea, hazelnuts, and grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial sector producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, metals, machinery, and chemicals. The country imports the bulk of its energy needs, including natural gas and oil products. Its only sizable internal energy resource is hydropower. Despite the severe damage the economy has suffered due to civil strife, Georgia, with the help of the IMF and World Bank, has made substantial economic gains since 1995, achieving positive GDP growth and curtailing inflation. Georgia had suffered from a chronic failure to collect tax revenues, however, the new government is making progress in reforming the tax code, enforcing taxes, and cracking down on corruption. In addition, the privatisation process has taken off, permitting the government to boost expenditures on infrastructure, defence and poverty reduction. Smuggling is a perennial drain on the economy. Georgia also suffers from energy shortages; it privatized the T'bilisi electricity distribution network in 1998, but payment collection rates remain low, both in T'bilisi and throughout the regions. The country is pinning its hopes for long-term growth on its role as a transit state for pipelines and trade. The construction on the Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline have brought much-needed investment and job opportunities. Nevertheless, high energy prices in 2006 will compound the pressure on the country's inefficient energy sector. Restructuring the sector and finding energy supply alternatives to Russia remains a major challenge. $16.13 billion (2005 est.) $5.135 billion (2005 est.) 10% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,400 (2005 est.) 16% 26.8% 57.2% (2005 est.) 2.1 million (2001 est.) agriculture 40%, industry 20%, services 40% (1999 est.) 17% (2001 est.) 54% (2001 est.) 2.3% 27.9% (1996) 36.9 (2001) 8% (2005 est.) 24.6% of GDP (2005 est.) $872.5 million $1.097 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine 3% (2000) 8.634 billion kWh (2003) 8.63 billion kWh (2003) 250 million kWh (2003) 850 million kWh (2003) 1,982 bbl/day (2003) 13,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 60 million cu m (2001 est.) 1.16 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 1.1 billion cu m (2001 est.) $-439.3 million (2005 est.) $1.4 billion (2005 est.) Turkey 18.3%, Turkmenistan 17.8%, Russia 16.2%, Armenia 8.4%, UK 4.9% (2004) $2.5 billion (2005 est.) Russia 14%, Turkey 11%, UK 9.3%, Azerbaijan 8.5%, Germany 8.2%, Ukraine 7.7%, US 6% (2004) $350.1 million (2005 est.) $1.9 billion (2003) ODA $150 million (2000 est.) lari (GEL) lari per US dollar - 1.82 (2005), 1.9167 (2004), 2.1457 (2003), 2.1957 (2002), 2.073 (2001) calendar year 650,500 (2003) 522,300 (2003) NA local - T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi have cellular telephone networks; urban telephone density is about 20 per 100 people; rural telephone density is about 4 per 100 people; intercity facilities include a fiber-optic line between T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi; nationwide pager service is available country code - 995; Georgia and Russia are working on a fiber-optic line between P'ot'i and Sochi (Russia); present international service is available by microwave, landline, and satellite through the Moscow switch; international electronic mail and telex service are available AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998) 12 (plus repeaters) (1998) .ge 5,160 (2004) 150,500 (2003) 30 (2004 est.) 19 1 7 5 4 2 (2005 est.) 6 4 1 1 (2005 est.) 3 (2005 est.) gas 1,697 km; oil 1,027 km; refined products 232 km (2004) 1,612 km (1,612 km electrified) 1,575 km 1.520-m gauge (1,575 electrified) 37 km 0.912-m gauge (37 electrified) (2004) 20,247 km 7,973 km 12,274 km (2003) 175 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 855,908 GRT/1,288,812 DWT bulk carrier 22, cargo 133, container 3, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 6, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1 105 (Albania 1, Azerbaijan 2, Cyprus 2, Egypt 3, Estonia 1, Germany 1, Greece 4, Israel 1, Lebanon 3, Romania 6, Russia 8, Syria 27, Turkey 14, Ukraine 30, UAE 2) 1 (2005) Bat'umi, P'ot'i transportation network is in poor condition resulting from ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacks maintenance and repair Ground Forces (includes National Guard), Air and Air Defense Forces, Maritime Defense Force, Interior Forces 18 to 34 years of age for compulsory and voluntary active duty military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2005) 18 1,038,736 (2005 est.) 18 827,281 (2005 est.) 38,857 (2005 est.) $23 million (FY00) 0.59% (FY00) a CIS peacekeeping force of Russian troops is deployed in the Abkhazia region of Georgia together with a UN military observer group; a Russian peacekeeping battalion is deployed in South Ossetia Russia and Georgia agree on delimiting 80% of their common border, leaving certain small, strategic segments and the maritime boundary unresolved; OSCE observers monitor volatile areas such as the Pankisi Gorge in the Akhmeti region and the Argun Gorge in Abkhazia; UN Observer Mission in Georgia has maintained a peacekeeping force in Georgia since 1993; Meshkheti Turks scattered throughout the former Soviet Union seek to return to Georgia; boundary with Armenia remains undemarcated; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy from the Georgian government; Azerbaijan and Georgia cannot resolve the alignment of their boundary at certain crossing areas 260,000 (displaced from Abkhazia and South Ossetia) (2004) limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; used as transshipment point for opiates via Central Asia to Western Europe and Russia Germany As Europe's largest economy and second most populous nation, Germany remains a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany in two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and security organizations, the EC, which became the EU, and NATO, while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring Eastern productivity and wages up to Western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro. Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark 51 00 N 9 00 E Europe 357,021 sq km 349,223 sq km 7,798 sq km slightly smaller than Montana 3,621 km Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646 km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577 km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km 2,389 km 12 nm 200 nm 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.54 m Zugspitze 2,963 m coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land 33.85% 0.59% 65.56% (2001) 4,850 sq km (1998 est.) flooding emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste disposal; government established a mechanism for ending the use of nuclear power over the next 15 years; government working to meet EU commitment to identify nature preservation areas in line with the EU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling none of the selected agreements strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance to the Baltic Sea 82,431,390 (July 2005 est.) 14.4% (male 6,078,885/female 5,766,065) 66.7% (male 28,006,268/female 27,003,958) 18.9% (male 6,359,776/female 9,216,438) (2005 est.) 42.16 years 40.88 years 43.53 years (2005 est.) 0% (2005 est.) 8.33 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 10.55 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.69 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 4.16 deaths/1,000 live births 4.61 deaths/1,000 live births 3.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 78.65 years 75.66 years 81.81 years (2005 est.) 1.39 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.1% (2001 est.) 43,000 (2001 est.) less than 1,000 (2003 est.) German(s) German German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish) Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3% German age 15 and over can read and write 99% (1997 est.) NA% NA% Federal Republic of Germany Germany Bundesrepublik Deutschland Deutschland German Empire, German Republic, German Reich federal republic Berlin 13 states (Laender, singular - Land) and 3 free states* (Freistaaten, singular - Freistaat); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern*, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen*, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen* 18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March 1991 Unity Day, 3 October (1990) 23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution of the united German people 3 October 1990 civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal President Horst KOEHLER (since 1 July 2004) Chancellor Angela MERKEL (since 22 November 2005) Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chancellor president elected for a five-year term by a Federal Convention including all members of the Federal Assembly and an equal number of delegates elected by the state parliaments; election last held 23 May 2004 (next to be held 23 May 2009); chancellor elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Assembly for a four-year term; election last held 22 November 2005 (next to be held November 2009) Horst KOEHLER elected president; received 604 votes of the Federal Convention against 589 for Gesine SCHWAN; Angela MERKEL elected chancellor; vote by Federal Assembly 397 to 202 with 12 abstentions bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Federal Assembly or Bundestag (613 seats; elected by popular vote under a system combining direct and proportional representation; a party must win 5% of the national vote or three direct mandates to gain representation; members serve four-year terms) and the Federal Council or Bundesrat (69 votes; state governments are directly represented by votes; each has 3 to 6 votes depending on population and are required to vote as a block) Federal Assembly - last held 18 September 2005 (next to be held September 2009); note - there are no elections for the Bundesrat; composition is determined by the composition of the state-level governments; the composition of the Bundesrat has the potential to change any time one of the 16 states holds an election Federal Assembly - percent of vote by party - CDU/CSU 35.2%, SPD 34.3%, FDP 9.8%, Left 8.7%, Greens 8.1%; seats by party - CDU/CSU 225, SPD 222, FDP 61, Left 54, Greens 51; Federal Council - current composition - NA Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht (half the judges are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat) Alliance '90/Greens [Angelika BEER and Reinhard BUETIKOFER]; Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Angela MERKEL]; Christian Social Union or CSU [Edmund STOIBER, chairman]; Free Democratic Party or FDP [Guido WESTERWELLE, chairman]; Left Party or PDS/WASG [Oskar LAFONTAINE and Gregor GYSI]; Party of Democratic Socialism or PDS [Lothar BISKY]; Social Democratic Party or SPD [Franz MUENTEFERING] business associations, employers' organizations; expellee, refugee, trade unions, and veterans groups AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC Ambassador Wolfgang Friedrich ISCHINGER 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 [1] (202) 298-8140 [1] (202) 298-4249 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco Ambassador William R. TIMKEN, Jr. Neustaedtische Kirchstrasse 4-5, 10117 Berlin; note - a new embassy will be built near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin; ground was broken in October 2004 and completion is scheduled for 2008 PSC 120, Box 1000, APO AE 09265 [49] (030) 2385 174 [49] (030) 8305-1215 consulate(s) general: Duesseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold Germany's affluent and technologically powerful economy - the fifth largest in the world - has become one of the slowest growing economies in the euro zone. A quick turnaround is not in the offing in the foreseeable future. Growth in 2001-03 fell short of 1%, rising to 1.7% in 2004 before falling back to 0.8% in 2005. The modernization and integration of the eastern German economy continues to be a costly long-term process, with annual transfers from west to east amounting to roughly $70 billion. Germany's aging population, combined with high unemployment, has pushed social security outlays to a level exceeding contributions from workers. Structural rigidities in the labor market - including strict regulations on laying off workers and the setting of wages on a national basis - have made unemployment a chronic problem. Corporate restructuring and growing capital markets are setting the foundations that could allow Germany to meet the long-term challenges of European economic integration and globalization, particularly if labor market rigidities are further addressed. In the short run, however, the fall in government revenues and the rise in expenditures have raised the deficit above the EU's 3% debt limit. $2.446 trillion (2005 est.) $2.83 trillion (2005 est.) 0.8% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $29,700 (2005 est.) 1.1% 28.6% 70.3% (2005 est.) 43.32 million (2005 est.) agriculture 2.8%, industry 33.4%, services 63.8% (1999) 11.6% (2005 est.) NA 3.6% 25.1% (1997) 28.3 (2000) 2% (2005 est.) 17.1% of GDP (2005 est.) $1.249 trillion $1.362 trillion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 68.1% of GDP (2005 est.) potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages; cattle, pigs, poultry among the world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages; shipbuilding; textiles 1.7% (2005 est.) 558.1 billion kWh (2003) 510.4 billion kWh (2003) 54.1 billion kWh (2003) 45.4 billion kWh (2003) 158,700 bbl/day (2003) 2.677 million bbl/day (2003) 12,990 bbl/day (2003) 2.135 million bbl/day (2003) 395.8 million bbl (1 January 2004) 21 billion cu m (2003) 99.55 billion cu m (2003) 7.731 billion cu m (2003) 85.02 billion cu m (2003) 293 billion cu m (1 January 2004) $119.8 billion (2005 est.) $1.016 trillion f.o.b. (2005 est.) France 10.3%, US 8.8%, UK 8.3%, Italy 7.2%, Netherlands 6.2%, Belgium 5.6%, Austria 5.4%, Spain 5% (2004) $801 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) France 9%, Netherlands 8.3%, US 7%, Italy 6.1%, UK 5.9%, China 5.6%, Belgium 4.9%, Austria 4.2% (2004) $97.17 billion (2004 est.) $3.626 trillion (30 June 2005) ODA, $5.6 billion (1998) euro (EUR) on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries euros per US dollar - 0.79697 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001) calendar year 54.35 million (2003) 64.8 million (2003) Germany has one of the world's most technologically advanced telecommunications systems; as a result of intensive capital expenditures since reunification, the formerly backward system of the eastern part of the country, dating back to World War II, has been modernized and integrated with that of the western part Germany is served by an extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges connected by modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic satellite system; cellular telephone service is widely available, expanding rapidly, and includes roaming service to many foreign countries country code - 49; Germany's international service is excellent worldwide, consisting of extensive land and undersea cable facilities as well as earth stations in the Inmarsat, Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems (2001) AM 51, FM 787, shortwave 4 (1998) 373 (plus 8,042 repeaters) (1995) .de 2,686,119 (2004) 39 million (2003) 550 (2004 est.) 332 12 55 58 73 134 (2005 est.) 220 1 3 33 183 (2005 est.) 33 (2005 est.) condensate 325 km; gas 25,293 km; oil 3,540 km; refined products 3,827 km (2004) 46,142 km (20,100 km electrified) 45,928 km 1.435-m gauge (20,084 km electrified) 214 km 1.000-m gauge (16 km electrified); 24 km 0.750-m gauge (2004) 231,581 km 231,581 km (including 12,037 km of expressways) (2003) 7,300 km Rhine River carries most goods; Main-Danube Canal links North Sea and Black Sea (2004) 332 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,721,495 GRT/6,810,631 DWT cargo 69, chemical tanker 13, container 208, liquefied gas 3, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 25, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 4 5 (Finland 2, Netherlands 1, Switzerland 1, UAE 1) 2,289 (2005) Bremen, Bremerhaven, Brunsbuttel, Duisburg, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Mainz, Rostock, Wilhemshaven Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr): Army (Heer), Navy (Deutsche Marine, includes naval air arm), Air Force (Luftwaffe), Joint Support Service, Central Medical Service 18 years of age (conscripts serve a nine-month tour of compulsory military service) (2004) 18 18,917,537 (2005 est.) 18 15,258,931 (2005 est.) 497,048 (2005 est.) $35.063 billion (2003) 1.5% (2003) none source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asian heroin, Latin American cocaine, and European-produced synthetic drugs; major financial center Ghana Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. A long series of coups resulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981 and a ban on political parties. A new constitution, restoring multiparty politics, was approved in 1992. Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS, head of state since 1981, won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR, who defeated former Vice President Atta MILLS in a free and fair election, succeeded him. Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo 8 00 N 2 00 W Africa 239,460 sq km 230,940 sq km 8,520 sq km slightly smaller than Oregon 2,094 km Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km 539 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area Atlantic Ocean 0 m Mount Afadjato 880 m gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone 16.26% 9.67% 74.07% (2001) 110 sq km (1998 est.) dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands Marine Life Conservation Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake 21,029,853 estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.) 37.1% (male 3,946,326/female 3,862,390) 59.1% (male 6,203,035/female 6,235,107) 3.7% (male 366,472/female 416,523) (2005 est.) 20.45 years 20.2 years 20.7 years (2005 est.) 1.25% (2005 est.) 23.97 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 10.84 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.88 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 51.43 deaths/1,000 live births 54.25 deaths/1,000 live births 48.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 58.47 years 57.7 years 59.26 years (2005 est.) 3.02 children born/woman (2005 est.) 3.1% (2003 est.) 350,000 (2003 est.) 30,000 (2003 est.) very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations schistosomiasis meningococcal meningitis (2004) Ghanaian(s) Ghanaian black African 98.5% (major tribes - Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%, Gurma 3%, Yoruba 1%), European and other 1.5% (1998) Christian 63%, Muslim 16%, indigenous beliefs 21% English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga) age 15 and over can read and write 74.8% 82.7% 67.1% (2003 est.) Republic of Ghana Ghana Gold Coast constitutional democracy Accra 10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western 6 March 1957 (from UK) Independence Day, 6 March (1957) approved 28 April 1992 based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal President John Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January 2001); Vice President Alhaji Aliu MAHAMA (since 7 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President John Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January 2001); Vice President Alhaji Aliu MAHAMA (since 7 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by Parliament president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 December 2004 (next to be held December 2008) John Agyekum KUFUOR reelected president in election; percent of vote - John KUFUOR 53.4%, John Atta MILLS 43.7% unicameral Parliament (230 seats; note - increased from 200 seats in last election; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held 7 December 2004 (next to be held December 2008) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 128, NDC 92, other 10 Supreme Court Convention People's Party or CPP [Nii Noi DOWUONA, general secretary]; Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere or EGLE [Owuraku AMOFA, chairman]; Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [Dan LARTY]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sarpong KUMA-KUMA]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Huudu YAHAYA, general secretary]; New Patriotic Party or NPP [Samuel Arthur ODOI-SYKES]; People's Convention Party or PCP [P. K. DONKOH-AYIFI, acting chairman]; People's Heritage Party or PHP [Emmanuel Alexander ERSKINE]; People's National Convention or PNC [Edward MAHAMA]; Reform Party [Kyeretwie OPUKU, general secretary] NA ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Fritz Kwabena POKU 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 686-4520 [1] (202) 686-4527 consulate(s) general: New York Ambassador Mary Carlin YATES 6th and 10th Lanes, 798/1 Osu, Accra P. O. Box 194, Accra [233] (21) 775-347, 775-348 [233] (21) 701-813 three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 34% of GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders. Ghana opted for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) program in 2002, but was included in a G8 debt relief program decided upon at the Gleneagles Summit in July 2005. Priorities under its current $38 million PRGF include tighter monetary and fiscal policies, accelerated privatization, and improvement of social services. Receipts from the gold sector helped sustain GDP growth in 2005 along with record high prices for Ghana's largest cocoa crop to date. Inflation should ease, but remain a major internal problem. Ghana also remains a candidate country to benefit from Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funding that could assist in transforming Ghana's agricultural export sector. A final decision on its MCC bid is expected for spring 2006. $51.8 billion (2005 est.) $9.464 billion (2005 est.) 4.3% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,500 (2005 est.) 35.5% 25.6% 39% (2005 est.) 10.62 million (2005 est.) agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25% (1999 est.) 20% (1997 est.) 31.4% (1992 est.) 2.2% 30.1% (1999) 30 (1999) 15% (2005 est.) 24.6% of GDP (2005 est.) $3.216 billion $3.506 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 80.1% of GDP (2005 est.) cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building 3.8% (2000 est.) 5.356 billion kWh (2003) 5.081 billion kWh (2003) 400 million kWh (2003) 500 million kWh (2003) 7,433 bbl/day (2003 est.) 39,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) 8.255 million bbl (1 January 2002) 11.89 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $57 million (2005 est.) $2.911 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Netherlands 12.3%, UK 10%, France 6.9%, US 6.4%, Belgium 4.7%, Germany 4.6%, Japan 4.2% (2004) $4.273 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Nigeria 12.6%, China 11.4%, UK 6.6%, US 6.4%, France 4.9%, Netherlands 4.2% (2004) $1.732 billion (2005 est.) $7.084 billion (2005 est.) $6.9 billion (1999) cedi (GHC) cedis per US dollar - 9,127.42 (2005), 9,004.6 (2004), 8,677.4 (2003), 7,932.7 (2002), 7,170.8 (2001) calendar year 302,300 (2003) 799,900 (2003) poor to fair system; Internet accessible; many rural communities not yet connected; expansion of services is underway primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed country code - 233; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors; fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia AM 0, FM 49, shortwave 3 (2001) 10 (2001) .gh 407 (2004) 170,000 (2002) 12 (2004 est.) 7 1 4 2 (2005 est.) 5 3 2 (2005 est.) refined products 74 km (2004) 953 km 953 km 1.067-m gauge (2004) 47,787 km 8,563 km 39,224 km (2003) 1,293 km 168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta (2003) 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 19,086 GRT/26,185 DWT petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3 1 (Brazil 1) (2005) Takoradi, Tema Army, Navy, Air Force 18 years of age for compulsory and volunteer military service (2001) 18 4,761,226 (2005 est.) 18 2,721,239 (2005 est.) 250,782 (2005 est.) $49.2 million (2004) 0.6% (2004) Ghana struggles to accommodate returning nationals who worked in the cocoa plantations and escaped rebel fighting in Cote d'Ivoire refugees (country of origin): 42,466 (Liberia) (2004) illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to a lesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US; widespread crime and money laundering problem, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center Gibraltar Strategically important, Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In referendums held in 1967 and 2002, Gibraltarians ignored Spanish pressure and voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain 36 8 N 5 21 W Europe 6.5 sq km 6.5 sq km 0 sq km about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC 1.2 km Spain 1.2 km 12 km 3 nm Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar Mediterranean Sea 0 m Rock of Gibraltar 426 m none 0% 0% 100% (2001) NA sq km NA limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking water) and adequate desalination plant strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea 27,884 (July 2005 est.) 17.8% (male 2,529/female 2,426) 66% (male 9,442/female 8,970) 16.2% (male 2,008/female 2,509) (2005 est.) 39.4 years 39.12 years 39.63 years (2005 est.) 0.17% (2005 est.) 10.87 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 9.18 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.8 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 5.13 deaths/1,000 live births 5.71 deaths/1,000 live births 4.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 79.67 years 76.8 years 82.7 years (2005 est.) 1.65 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA% NA NA Gibraltarian(s) Gibraltar Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, German, North Africans Roman Catholic 78.1%, Church of England 7%, other Christian 3.2%, Muslim 4%, Jewish 2.1%, Hindu 1.8%, other or unspecified 0.9%, none 2.9% (2001 census) English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese NA above 80% NA% NA% none Gibraltar overseas territory of the UK NA none (overseas territory of the UK) none (overseas territory of the UK) National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go with Spain 30 May 1969 English law 18 years of age; universal, plus other British citizens who have been residents six months or more Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor and Commander-in-Chief Sir Francis RICHARDS (since 27 May 2003) Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996) Council of Ministers appointed from among the 15 elected members of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation with the chief minister none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats - 15 elected by popular vote, one appointed for the Speaker, and two ex officio members; members serve four-year terms) last held 27 November 2003 (next to be held not later than February 2008) percent of vote by party - GSD 58%, GSLP 41%; seats by party - GSD 8, GSLP 7 Supreme Court; Court of Appeal Gibraltar Liberal Party [Joseph GARCIA]; Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Joseph John BOSSANO] Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization; Women's Association Interpol (subbureau), UPU none (overseas territory of the UK) none (overseas territory of the UK) two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band Self-sufficient Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 7% to the local economy, compared with 60% in 1984. The financial sector, tourism (almost 5 million visitors in 1998), shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. The financial sector, the shipping sector, and tourism each contribute 25%-30% of GDP. Telecommunications accounts for another 10%. In recent years, Gibraltar has seen major structural change from a public to a private sector economy, but changes in government spending still have a major impact on the level of employment. $769 million (2000 est.) NA NA% purchasing power parity - $27,900 (2000 est.) NA% NA% NA% (2002 est.) 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) (1999) agriculture negligible, industry 40%, services 60% 2% (2001 est.) NA NA% NA% 1.5% (1998) $307 million $284 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY00/01 est.) none tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco NA% 106.1 million kWh (2003) 98.69 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 23,500 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $271 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) France 19.4%, Spain 14.1%, Turkmenistan 12.1%, Switzerland 11.7%, Germany 10.1%, UK 9.1%, Greece 6.8% (2004) $2.967 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.) Spain 19.9%, Russia 18.4%, UK 10.8%, Italy 8.8%, Germany 7.5%, US 5.1%, Sweden 4.7%, France 4.2% (2004) $NA (2000 est.) $NA Gibraltar pound (GIP) Gibraltar pounds per US dollar - 0.54 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001) the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound 1 July - 30 June 24,512 (2002) 9,797 (2002) adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities automatic exchange facilities country code - 350; radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998) 1 (plus three low-power repeaters) (1997) .gi 6,200 (2002) 1 (2004 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 29 km 29 km (2002) 161 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 980,636 GRT/1,254,661 DWT barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 2, cargo 96, chemical tanker 21, container 22, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off 2 142 (Belgium 1, Cyprus 1, Finland 1, France 1, Germany 105, Greece 12, Iceland 1, Ireland 1, Italy 1, Latvia 1, Norway 8, Sweden 2, Switzerland 1, Taiwan 1, United Kingdom 3, United States 2) (2005) Royal Gibraltar Regiment defense is the responsibility of the UK; the last British regular infantry forces left Gibraltar in 1992, replaced by the Royal Gibraltar Regiment in 2003, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to remain a British colony and against a "total shared sovereignty" arrangement while demanding participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar even greater autonomy Glorioso Islands Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar 11 30 S 47 20 E Africa 5 sq km 5 sq km 0 sq km includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC 0 km 35.2 km 12 nm 200 nm tropical low and flat Indian Ocean 0 m unnamed location 12 m guano, coconuts 0% 0% 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms) (2001) 0 sq km (1998 est.) periodic cyclones NA the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system no indigenous inhabitants there is a small French military garrison along with a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2005 est.) none Glorioso Islands none Iles Glorieuses possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands the laws of France, where applicable, apply the flag of France is used no economic activity 1 meteorological station 1 (2004 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) none; offshore anchorage only defense is the responsibility of France claimed by Madagascar Greece Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between royalist supporters of the king and communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece was able to join NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. Greece joined the European Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992); it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001. Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey 39 00 N 22 00 E Europe 131,940 sq km 130,800 sq km 1,140 sq km slightly smaller than Alabama 1,228 km Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, Macedonia 246 km 13,676 km 12 nm 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands Mediterranean Sea 0 m Mount Olympus 2,917 m lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential 21.1% 8.78% 70.12% (2001) 14,220 sq km (1998 est.) severe earthquakes air pollution; water pollution Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands 10,668,354 (July 2005 est.) 14.4% (male 791,227/female 744,178) 66.8% (male 3,561,689/female 3,564,675) 18.8% (male 884,497/female 1,122,088) (2005 est.) 40.5 years 39.39 years 41.65 years (2005 est.) 0.19% (2005 est.) 9.72 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 10.15 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.79 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 5.53 deaths/1,000 live births 6.08 deaths/1,000 live births 4.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 79.09 years 76.59 years 81.76 years (2005 est.) 1.33 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.2% (2001 est.) 9,100 (2001 est.) less than 100 (2003 est.) Greek(s) Greek Greek 98%, other 2% the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7% Greek 99% (official), English, French age 15 and over can read and write 97.5% 98.6% 96.5% (2003 est.) women, men, and children are trafficked to and within Greece for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor Hellenic Republic Greece Elliniki Dhimokratia Ellas or Ellada Kingdom of Greece parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974 Athens 51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous region*; Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Achaia, Aitolia kai Akarmania, Argolis, Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chanion, Chios, Dodekanisos, Drama, Evros, Evrytania, Evvoia, Florina, Fokidos, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ileia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Karditsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Kyklades, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkas, Lesvos, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethynnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire) Independence Day, 25 March (1821) 11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001 based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts 18 years of age; universal and compulsory President Karolos PAPOULIAS (since 12 March 2005) Prime Minister Konstandinos KARAMANLIS (since 7 March 2004) Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister president elected by parliament for a five-year term; election last held 8 February 2005 (next to be held by February 2010); according to the Greek Constitution, presidents may only serve two terms; president appoints leader of the party securing plurality of vote in election to become prime minister and form a government Karolos PAPOULIAS elected president; number of parlimentary votes, 279 out of 300 unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections last held 7 March 2004 (next to be held by March 2008) percent of vote by party - ND 45.4%, PASOK 40.6%, KKE 5.9%, Synaspismos 3.3%; seats by party - ND 165, PASOK 117, KKE 12, Synaspismos 6 Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Alekos ALAVANOS]; Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; New Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Yiorgos PAPANDREOU]; Popular Orthodox Rally or LAOS [Yeoryios KARATZAFERIS] General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [Khristos POLYZOGOPOULOS]; Federation of Greek Industries or SEV [Odysseas KYRIAKOPOULOS]; Civil Servants Confederation or ADEDY [Spyros PAPASPYROS] ACCT (associate), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC Ambassador Alexandros MALLIAS 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 939-1300 [1] (202) 939-1324 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tampa consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans Ambassador Charles P. RIES 91 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108 [30] (210) 721-2951 [30] (210) 645-6282 consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country Greece has a capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about 40% of GDP and with per capita GDP 70% of the leading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 15% of GDP. Immigrants make up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in menial jobs. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of annual GDP. The Greek economy grew by about 4.0% for the past three years, largely because of an investment boom and infrastructure upgrades for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Economic growth slowed to about 3% in 2005 and, Greece has not met the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit criteria of 3% of GDP since 2000. Public debt, inflation, and unemployment are above the eurozone average. To overcome these challenges, the Greek government is expected to continue cutting government spending, reducing the size of the public sector, and reforming the labor and pension systems. $242.8 billion (2005 est.) $215.9 billion (2005 est.) 3.3% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $22,800 (2005 est.) 6.2% 22.1% 71.7% (2005 est.) 4.72 million (2005 est.) agriculture 12%, industry 20%, services 68% (2004 est.) 10.8% (2005 est.) NA 3% 28.3% (1998 est.) 35.1 (2003) 3.8% (2005 est.) 25.3% of GDP (2005 est.) $94.13 billion $103.4 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 108.9% of GDP (2005 est.) wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles; chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum 1.7% (2005 est.) 54.56 billion kWh (2003) 53.5 billion kWh (2005 est.) 2.1 billion kWh (2002) 4.2 billion kWh (2002) 5,805 bbl/day (2003 est.) 435,700 bbl/day (2005 est.) 84,720 bbl/day (2001) 468,300 bbl/day (2001) 4.5 million bbl (1 January 2002) 35 million cu m (2001 est.) 2.34 billion cu m (2005 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 2.018 billion cu m (2001 est.) 254.9 million cu m (1 January 2002) $-14.5 billion (2005 est.) $18.54 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Germany 13.1%, Italy 10.3%, UK 7.5%, Bulgaria 6.3%, US 5.3%, Cyprus 4.6%, Turkey 4.5%, France 4.2% (2004) $48.2 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Germany 13.3%, Italy 12.8%, France 6.4%, Netherlands 5.5%, Russia 5.5%, US 4.4%, UK 4.2%, South Korea 4.1% (2004) $2.3 billion (2005 est.) $75.1 billion (2005 est.) $8 billion from EU (2000-06) euro (EUR) on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries euros per US dollar - 0.79697 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001) calendar year 5,205,100 (2003) 8,936,200 (2003) adequate, modern networks reach all areas; good mobile telephone and international service microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open-wire connections; submarine cable to offshore islands country code - 30; tropospheric scatter; 8 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region) AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998) 36 (plus 1,341 low-power repeaters); also two stations in the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995) .gr 208,977 (2004) 1,718,400 (2003) 80 (2004 est.) 67 5 16 19 17 10 (2005 est.) 15 3 12 (2005 est.) 8 (2005 est.) gas 1,166 km; oil 94 km (2004) 2,571 km (764 km electrified) 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge 23 km combined 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three rail system) (2004) 116,470 km 106,920 km (including 880 km of expressways) 9,550 km (1999) 6 km Corinth Canal (6 km) crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; shortens sea voyage by 325 km (2004) 861 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 30,186,624 GRT/52,943,968 DWT bulk carrier 296, cargo 65, chemical tanker 47, combination ore/oil 2, container 46, liquefied gas 2, passenger 13, passenger/cargo 121, petroleum tanker 252, roll on/roll off 17 25 (Chile 1, China 1, Cyprus 5, Norway 6, Sweden 1, United Kingdom 11) 2,208 (2005) Agioitheodoroi, Aspropyrgos, Irakleion, Pachi, Peiraiefs, Thessaloniki Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force (Polemiki Aeroporia, EPA) 18 years of age for compulsory military service; during wartime the law allows for recruitment after reaching January of the year of inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17 year olds; 17 years of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation - 12 months for the Army and Air Force, 15 months for Navy (2005) 18 2,459,988 (2005 est.) 18 2,018,557 (2005 est.) 58,399 (2005 est.) $5.89 billion (2004) 4.3% (2003) Greece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey; Greece rejects the use of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking and organized crime Greenland The world's largest island, Greenland is about 81% ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century and Greenland was made an integral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European Community (now the European Union) with Denmark in 1973 but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute over stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament. The law went into effect the following year. Denmark continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs. Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada 72 00 N 40 00 W Arctic Region 2,166,086 sq km 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq km ice-covered) (2000 est.) slightly more than three times the size of Texas 0 km 44,087 km 3 nm 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast Atlantic Ocean 0 m Gunnbjorn 3,700 m coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas 0% 0% 100% (2001) NA sq km continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast, but close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; world's second largest ice cap 56,375 (July 2005 est.) 25% (male 7,216/female 6,888) 68.7% (male 20,897/female 17,823) 6.3% (male 1,672/female 1,879) (2005 est.) 33.83 years 35.15 years 32.14 years (2005 est.) -0.02% (2005 est.) 15.93 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 7.77 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -8.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.02 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.17 male(s)/female 0.89 male(s)/female 1.12 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 15.82 deaths/1,000 live births 17.15 deaths/1,000 live births 14.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 69.65 years 66.07 years 73.31 years (2005 est.) 2.41 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA% 100 (1999) NA Greenlander(s) Greenlandic Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 12% (January 2000) Evangelical Lutheran Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English NA NA% NA% NA% similar to Denmark proper none Greenland none Kalaallit Nunaat part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979 parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy Nuuk (Godthab) 3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland) there are 18 municipalities in Greenland none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland) June 21 (longest day) 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution) Danish 18 years of age; universal Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Peter LAURITEEN (since NA 2002) Prime Minister Hans ENOKSEN (since 14 December 2002) Home Rule Government is elected by the parliament (Landstinget) on the basis of the strength of parties the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister is elected by parliament (usually the leader of the majority party); election last held 3 December 2002 (next to be held December 2006) Hans ENOKSEN elected prime minister government coalition - Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit unicameral Parliament or Landstinget (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) last held on 15 November 2005 (next to be held by December 2009) percent of vote by party - Siumut 30.8%, Demokratiit 23%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 22.7%, Atassut Party 19.2%; seats by party - Siumut 10, Demokratiit 7, Inuit Ataqatigiit 7, Atassut 6, other 1 two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 8 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Siumut 1, Inuit Ataqatigiit 1 High Court or Landsret (appeals can be made to the Ostre Landsret or Eastern Division of the High Court or Supreme Court in Copenhagen) Atassut Party (Solidarity, a conservative party favoring continuing close relations with Denmark) [Augusta SALLING]; Demokratiit [Per BERTHELSEN]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a leftist party favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule) [Josef MOTZFELDT]; Issituup (Polar Party) [Nicolai HEINRICH]; Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List, an independent right-of-center party with no official platform [leader NA]; Siumut (Forward Party, a social democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark) [Hans ENOKSEN] NA NC, NIB, UPU none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white The economy remains critically dependent on exports of fish and substantial support from the Danish Government, which supplies about half of government revenues. The public sector, including publicly-owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in the economy. Despite several interesting hydrocarbon and minerals exploration activities, it will take several years before production can materialize. Tourism is the only sector offering any near-term potential, and even this is limited due to a short season and high costs. $1.1 billion (2001 est.) NA 1.8% (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $20,000 (2001 est.) NA% NA% NA% 24,500 (1999 est.) 10% (2000 est.) NA NA% NA% 1.6% (1999 est.) $646 million $629 million, including capital expenditures of $85 million (1999) forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables; sheep, reindeer; fish fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut); gold, niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron and diamond mining; handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards NA% 242.2 million kWh (2003) 225.3 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 3,850 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $480 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) Denmark 63.7%, Japan 12.6%, China 3.9% (2004) $601 million c.i.f. (2004 est.) Denmark 78.4%, Sweden 11.9%, Norway 2.7% (2004) $25 million (1999) $380 million subsidy from Denmark (1997) Danish krone (DKK) Danish kroner per US dollar - NA (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002), 8.3228 (2001) calendar year 26,000 (2001) 16,747 (2001) adequate domestic and international service provided by satellite, cables and microwave radio relay; totally digitalized in 1995 microwave radio relay and satellite country code - 299; satellite earth stations - 12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean) AM 5, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998) 1 publicly-owned station, some local low-power stations, and three AFRTS (US Air Force) stations (1997) .gl 2,642 (2004) 20,000 (2002) 14 (2004 est.) 9 2 1 1 5 (2005 est.) 5 1 2 2 (2005 est.) 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,593 GRT/3,640 DWT cargo 1, passenger 2 1 (Denmark 1) 1 (2005) Sisimiut defense is the responsibility of Denmark uncontested dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland Grenada One of the smallest independent countries in the western hemisphere, Grenada was seized by a Marxist military council on 19 October 1983. Six days later the island was invaded by US forces and those of six other Caribbean nations, which quickly captured the ringleaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers. Free elections were reinstituted the following year. Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago 12 07 N 61 40 W Central America and the Caribbean 344 sq km 344 sq km 0 sq km twice the size of Washington, DC 0 km 121 km 12 nm 200 nm tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds volcanic in origin with central mountains Caribbean Sea 0 m Mount Saint Catherine 840 m timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors 5.88% 29.41% 64.71% (2001) NA sq km lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November NA Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling none of the selected agreements the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada 89,502 (July 2005 est.) 33.9% (male 15,329/female 14,997) 62.7% (male 29,711/female 26,436) 3.4% (male 1,431/female 1,598) (2005 est.) 21.26 years 21.73 years 20.76 years (2005 est.) 0.19% (2005 est.) 22.3 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 7.17 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -13.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.12 male(s)/female 0.9 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 14.62 deaths/1,000 live births 14.18 deaths/1,000 live births 15.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 64.53 years 62.74 years 66.31 years (2005 est.) 2.37 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA NA NA Grenadian(s) Grenadian black 82%, mixed black and European 13%, European and East Indian 5%, and trace of Arawak/Carib Amerindian Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2% English (official), French patois age 15 and over can read and write 98% 98% 98% (1970 est.) none Grenada constitutional monarchy with Westminster-style parliament Saint George's 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick 7 February 1974 (from UK) Independence Day, 7 February (1974) 19 December 1973 based on English common law 18 years of age; universal Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Daniel WILLIAMS (since 9 August 1996) Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 22 June 1995) Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 13-member body, 10 appointed by the government and three by the leader of the opposition) and the House of Representatives (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held on 27 November 2003 (next to be held by November 2008) House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NNP 8, NDC 7 West Indies Associate States Supreme Court (an associate judge resides in Grenada) Grenada United Labor Party or GULP [Gloria Payne BANFIELD]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Tillman THOMAS]; New National Party or NNP [Keith MITCHELL]; People Labor Movement or PLM [Dr. Francis ALEXIS] NA ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Ambassador Denis G. ANTOINE 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 265-2561 [1] (202) 265-2468 consulate(s) general: New York the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada Lance-aux-Epines Stretch, Saint George's P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, West Indies [1] (473) 444-1173 through 1176 [1] (473) 444-4820 a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven administrative divisions Grenada relies on tourism as its main source of foreign exchange, especially since the construction of an international airport in 1985. Strong performances in construction and manufacturing, together with the development of an offshore financial industry, have also contributed to growth in national output. $440 million (2002 est.) NA 2.5% (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2002 est.) 7.7% 23.9% 68.4% (2000) 42,300 (1996) agriculture 24%, industry 14%, services 62% (1999 est.) 12.5% (2000) 32% (2000) NA NA 2.8% (2001 est.) $85.8 million $102.1 million, including capital expenditures of $28 million (1997) bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction 0.7% (1997 est.) 159.8 million kWh (2003) 148.6 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 1,800 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $40 million (2004 est.) Saint Lucia 12.7%, US 12.2%, Antigua and Barbuda 8.7%, Netherlands 7.9%, Saint Kitts and Nevis 7.8%, Dominica 7.8%, Germany 7.1%, France 4.6% (2004) $276 million (2004 est.) Trinidad and Tobago 29.6%, US 27.8%, UK 4.8% (2004) $196 million (2000) $8.3 million (1995) East Caribbean dollar (XCD) East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - NA (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001) calendar year 33,500 (2002) 7,600 (2002) automatic, islandwide telephone system interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links country code - 1-473; new SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad AM 2, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998) 2 (1997) .gd 18 (2003) 15,000 (2002) 3 (2004 est.) 3 1 1 1 (2005 est.) 1,127 km 687 km 440 km (1999) Saint George's no regular military forces; Royal Grenada Police Force NA NA none small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point for marijuana and cocaine to US Guadeloupe Guadeloupe has been a French possession since 1635. The island of Saint Martin is shared with the Netherlands; its southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles and its northern portion is named Saint-Martin and is part of Guadeloupe Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico 16 15 N 61 35 W Central America and the Caribbean 1,780 sq km 1,706 sq km 74 sq km Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands, including Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Desirade, Iles des Saintes (2), Saint-Barthelemy, Iles de la Petite Terre, and Saint-Martin (French part of the island of Saint Martin) 10 times the size of Washington, DC 10.2 km Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 10.2 km 306 km 12 nm 200 nm subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin Caribbean Sea 0 m Soufriere 1,484 m cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism 11.24% 3.55% 85.21% (2001) 20 sq km (1998 est.) hurricanes (June to October); Soufriere de Guadeloupe is an active volcano NA a narrow channel, the Riviere Salee, divides Guadeloupe proper into two islands: the larger, western Basse-Terre and the smaller, eastern Grande-Terre 448,713 (July 2005 est.) 24% (male 55,072/female 52,677) 66.9% (male 148,880/female 151,238) 9.1% (male 17,032/female 23,814) (2005 est.) 31.81 years 30.91 years 32.73 years (2005 est.) 0.92% (2005 est.) 15.42 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 6.06 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.72 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 8.6 deaths/1,000 live births 9.81 deaths/1,000 live births 7.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 77.9 years 74.74 years 81.21 years (2005 est.) 1.91 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA% NA NA Guadeloupian(s) Guadeloupe black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5% Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%, Protestant 1% French (official) 99%, Creole patois age 15 and over can read and write 90% 90% 90% (1982 est.) Department of Guadeloupe Guadeloupe Departement de la Guadeloupe Guadeloupe overseas department of France NA Basse-Terre none (overseas department of France) none (overseas department of France) Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) French legal system 18 years of age; universal President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Paul GIROT DE LANGLADE (since 17 August 2004) President of the General Council Jacques GILLOT (since 26 March 2001); President of the Regional Council Victorin LUREL (since 2 April 2004) NA French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils NA unicameral General Council or Conseil General (42 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) General Council - last held March 2004 (next to be held by NA 2010); Regional Council - last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held NA 2010) General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - left-wing candidates 11, PS 8, RPR 8, PPDG 6, right-wing candidates 5, PCG 3, UDF 1; Regional Council (second round) - percent of vote by party - PS 58.4%, UMP 41.6%; seats by party - PS 29, UMP 12 Guadeloupe elects two representatives to the French Senate; elections last held September 2004 (next to be held September 2013); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA, Guadeloupe elects four representatives to the French National Assembly; elections last held 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR 2, PS 1, different right parties 1 Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique Communist Party of Guadeloupe or PCG [Mona CADOCE]; FGPS [Dominique LARIFLA]; Left Radical Party or PRG [Flavien FERRANT]; Progressive Democratic Party or PPDG [Henri BANGOU]; Socialist Party or PS [Marlene MELISSE and Favrot DAVRAIN]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Marcel ESDRAS]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP (including RPR) [Robert JOYEUX] Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG; General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; General Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG; Movement for Independent Guadeloupe or MPGI; The Socialist Renewal Movement WCL, WFTU none (overseas department of France) none (overseas department of France) the flag of France is used The Caribbean economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It also depends on France for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US; an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditional sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, mainly from France. Light industry features sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young. Hurricanes periodically devastate the economy. $3.513 billion (2003 est.) NA NA% purchasing power parity - $7,900 (2003 est.) 15% 17% 68% (1997 est.) 125,900 (1997) NA 27.8% (1998) NA NA% NA% NA% $225 million $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1996) bananas, sugarcane, tropical fruits and vegetables; cattle, pigs, goats construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism NA% 1.165 billion kWh (2003) 1.084 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 13,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $140 million f.o.b. (1997) France 60%, Martinique 18%, US 4% (2004) $1.7 billion c.i.f. (1997) France 63%, Germany 4%, US 3%, Japan 2%, Netherlands Antilles 2% (2004) $NA (yearend 2003 est.) NA; note - substantial annual French subsidies (2004) euro (EUR) euros per US dollar - 0.79697 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 j(2001) calendar year 210,000 (2001) 323,500 (2002) domestic facilities inadequate NA country code - 590; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Martinique AM 1, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998) 5 (plus several low-power repeaters) (1997) .gp 20,000 (2002) 9 (2004 est.) 8 1 2 5 (2005 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 947 km (2002) 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,240 GRT/109 DWT passenger 1 1 (France 1) (2005) Basse-Terre, Gustavia, Pointe-a-Pitre no regular military forces defense is the responsibility of France none Guam Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the Japanese in 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The military installation on the island is one of the most strategically important US bases in the Pacific. Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines 13 28 N 144 47 E Oceania 549 sq km 549 sq km 0 sq km three times the size of Washington, DC 0 km 125.5 km 12 nm 200 nm tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low hills in center, mountains in south Pacific Ocean 0 m Mount Lamlam 406 m fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan) 9.09% 16.36% 74.55% (2001) NA frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (June - December) extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean 168,564 (July 2005 est.) 29.4% (male 25,645/female 23,887) 64.1% (male 55,115/female 52,935) 6.5% (male 5,157/female 5,825) (2005 est.) 28.38 years 28.16 years 28.61 years (2005 est.) 1.46% (2005 est.) 19.03 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 4.41 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.07 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.88 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 6.94 deaths/1,000 live births 7.61 deaths/1,000 live births 6.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 78.4 years 75.34 years 81.64 years (2005 est.) 2.6 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA NA NA Guamanian(s) Guamanian Chamorro 37.1%, Filipino 26.3%, other Pacific islander 11.3%, white 6.9%, other Asian 6.3%, other ethnic origin or race 2.3%, mixed 9.8% (2000 census) Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.) English 38.3%, Chamorro 22.2%, Philippine languages 22.2%, other Pacific island languages 6.8%, Asian languages 7%, other languages 3.5% (2000 census) age 15 and over can read and write 99% 99% 99% (1990 est.) Territory of Guam Guam Guahan organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior NA Hagatna (Agana) none (territory of the US) none (territory of the US) Discovery Day, first Monday in March (1521) Organic Act of 1 August 1950 modeled on US; US federal laws apply 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) Governor Felix P. P. CAMACHO (since 6 January 2003) and Lieutenant Governor Kaleo MOYLAN (since 6 January 2003) executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for a four-year term; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held November 2006) Felix P. P. CAMACHO elected governor; percent of vote - Felix P. P. CAMACHO (Republican Party) 55.4%, Robert A. UNDERWOOD (Democratic Party) 44.6% unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 6, Republican Party 9 Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006); results - Madeleine BORDALLO (Democratic Party) was elected as delegate; percent of vote by party - Democratic Party 64.6%, Republican Party 35.4%; seats by party - Democratic Party 1 Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president); Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor) Democratic Party [leader Michael PHILLIPS]; Republican Party (controls the legislature) [leader Philip J. FLORES] NA IOC, SPC, UPU none (territory of the US) none (territory of the US) territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the national flag The economy depends on US military spending, tourism, and the export of fish and handicrafts. Total US grants, wage payments, and procurement outlays amounted to $1 billion in 1998. Over the past 20 years, the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. More than 1 million tourists visit Guam each year. The industry had recently suffered setbacks because of the continuing Japanese slowdown; the Japanese normally make up almost 90% of the tourists. Most food and industrial goods are imported. Guam faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing. $3.2 billion (2000 est.) NA NA purchasing power parity - $21,000 (2000 est.) 7% 15% 78% (2002 est.) 60,000 (2000 est.) private 74% (industry 10%, trade 24%, other services 40%), federal and territorial government 26% (2000 est.) 15% (2000 est.) 23% (2001 est.) NA NA 0% (1999 est.) $340 million $445 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.) fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles NA 840.1 million kWh (2003) 781.3 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 19,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $45 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) Japan 66.1%, South Korea 9.9%, Singapore 8.4% (2004) $701 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) Singapore 39.5%, South Korea 20.8%, Japan 19%, Hong Kong 9%, Philippines 4.3% (2004) NA Guam receives large transfer payments from the US Federal Treasury ($143 million in 1997) into which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under the provisions of a special law of Congress, the Guam Treasury, rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam (2001 est.) US dollar (USD) the US dollar is used 1 October - 30 September 84,134 (2001) 32,600 (2001) modern system, integrated with US facilities for direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers modern digital system, including cellular mobile service and local access to the Internet country code - 1-671; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to US and Japan (Guam is a trans-Pacific communications hub for MCI, Sprint, AT&T, IT&E, and GTE, linking the US and Asia) AM 4, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2003) 3 (2004) .gu 50,000 (2002) 5 (2004 est.) 4 2 1 1 (2005 est.) 1 1 (2005 est.) 977 km 962 km 15 km (2004) Apra Harbor defense is the responsibility of the US none Guatemala The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the conflict, which had left more than 100,000 people dead and had created some 1 million refugees. Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize 15 30 N 90 15 W Central America and the Caribbean 108,890 sq km 108,430 sq km 460 sq km slightly smaller than Tennessee 1,687 km Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km 400 km 12 nm 200 nm 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten) Pacific Ocean 0 m Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower 12.54% 5.03% 82.43% (2001) 1,250 sq km (1998 est.) numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands none of the selected agreements no natural harbors on west coast 14,655,189 (July 2005 est.) 42.4% (male 3,185,037/female 3,033,947) 54.2% (male 4,019,052/female 3,928,984) 3.3% (male 226,745/female 261,424) (2005 est.) 18.47 years 18.25 years 18.71 years (2005 est.) 2.57% (2005 est.) 34.11 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 6.81 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -1.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.87 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 35.93 deaths/1,000 live births 36.74 deaths/1,000 live births 35.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 69.06 years 67.37 years 70.84 years (2005 est.) 4.53 children born/woman (2005 est.) 1.1% (2003 est.) 78,000 (2003 est.) 5,800 (2003 est.) Guatemalan(s) Guatemalan Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1% (2001 census) Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca) age 15 and over can read and write 70.6% 78% 63.3% (2003 est.) Republic of Guatemala Guatemala Republica de Guatemala Guatemala constitutional democratic republic 22 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa 15 September 1821 (from Spain) Independence Day, 15 September (1821) 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; note - suspended 25 May 1993 by former President SERRANO; reinstated 5 June 1993 following ouster of president; amended November 1993 civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal (active duty members of the armed forces may not vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day) President Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER Perdomo (since 14 January 2004); Vice President Eduardo STEIN Barillas (since 14 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER Perdomo (since 14 January 2004); Vice President Eduardo STEIN Barillas (since 14 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government Council of Ministers appointed by the president president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 9 November 2003; runoff held 28 December 2003 (next to be held November 2007) Oscar BERGER Perdomo elected president; percent of vote - Oscar BERGER Perdomo (GANA) 54.1%, Alvarado COLOM (UNE) 45.9% unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (158 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held 9 November 2003 (next to be held November 2007) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - GANA 49, FRG 41, UNE 33, PAN 17, other 18 for the 9 November 2003 election, the number of congressional seats increased from 113 to 158 Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitutcionalidad is Guatemala's highest court (five judges are elected for concurrent five-year terms by Congress, each serving one year as president of the Constitutional Court; one is elected by Congress, one elected by the Supreme Court of Justice, one appointed by the President, one elected by Superior Counsel of Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala, and one by Colegio de Abogados); Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (13 members serve concurrent five-year terms and elect a president of the Court each year from among their number; the president of the Supreme Court of Justice also supervises trial judges around the country, who are named to five-year terms) Authentic Integral Development or DIA [Eduardo SUGER]; Grand National Alliance or GANA (an alliance of smaller parties) [Alfredo VILA Giron, secretary general]; Green Party or LOV [Rodolfo ROSALES Garcis-Salaz]; Guatemalan Christian Democracy or DCG [Vinicio CEREZO Arevalo]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Alba ESTELA Maldonado, secretary general]; Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG [Efrain RIOS Montt]; Movement for Guatemalan Unity or MGU [Jacobo ARBENZ Villanueva]; Movement for Principals and Values or MPV [Francisco BIANCHI]; National Advancement Party or PAN [Leonel LOPEZ Rodas, secretary general]; National Unity for Hope or UNE [Alvarado COLOM Caballeros]; New Nation Alliance or ANN (formed by an alliance of DIA, URNG, and several splinter groups most of whom subsequently defected) [led by three co-equal partners - Nineth Varenca MONTENEGRO Cottom, Rodolfo BAUER Paiz, and Jorge Antonio BALSELLS TUT]; Patriot Party or PP [retired General Otto PEREZ Molina]; Progressive Liberator Party or PLP [Acisclo VALLADARES Molina]; Reform Movement or MR [Alfredo SKINNER-KLEE, secretary general]; Unionista Party [leader NA] Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO; Alliance Against Impunity or AAI; Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC; Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or CACIF; Mutual Support Group or GAM BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Guillermo CASTILLO 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 745-4952 [1] (202) 745-1908 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco Ambassador James M. DURHAM 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City APO AA 34024 [502] 2326-4000 [502] 2334-8477 three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and light blue with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird) and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed swords and framed by a wreath Guatemala is the largest and most populous of the Central American countries with a GDP per capita roughly one-half that of Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. The agricultural sector accounts for about one-fourth of GDP, two-thirds of exports, and half of the labor force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products. The 1996 signing of peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, but widespread political violence and corruption scandals continue to dampen investor confidence. The distribution of income remains highly unequal, with perhaps 75% of the population below the poverty line. Other ongoing challenges include increasing government revenues, negotiating further assistance from international donors, upgrading both government and private financial operations, curtailing drug trafficking, and narrowing the trade deficit. $62.78 billion (2005 est.) $28.27 billion (2005 est.) 3.1% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $4,300 (2005 est.) 22.8% 19.1% 58.1% (2005 est.) 3.76 million (2005 est.) agriculture 50%, industry 15%, services 35% (1999 est.) 7.5% (2003 est.) 75% (2004 est.) 1.6% 46% (1998) 48.3 (2000) 9.1% (2005 est.) 15.5% of GDP (2005 est.) $3.374 billion $4.041 billion, including capital expenditures of $750 million (2005 est.) 26.9% of GDP (2005 est.) sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism 4.1% (1999) 6.898 billion kWh (2003) 6.025 billion kWh (2003) 425 million kWh (2003) 35 million kWh (2003) 22,300 bbl/day (2005 est.) 66,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) 3,104 bbl/day (2003) NA (2001) 263 million bbl (1 January 2002) 1.543 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $-1.236 billion (2005 est.) $3.94 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 53%, El Salvador 11.4%, Honduras 7.1%, Mexico 4.1% (2004) $7.744 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 34%, Mexico 8.1%, South Korea 6.8%, China 6.6%, Japan 4.4% (2004) $3.764 billion (2005 est.) $5.503 billion (2005 est.) $250 million (2000 est.) quetzal (GTQ), US dollar (USD), others allowed quetzales per US dollar - 7.65 (2005), 7.9465 (2004), 7.9409 (2003), 7.8216 (2002), 7.8586 (2001) calendar year 846,000 (2002) 1,577,100 (2002) fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala NA country code - 502; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) AM 130, FM 487, shortwave 15 (2000) 26 (plus 27 repeaters) (1997) .gt 20,360 (2003) 400,000 (2002) 452 (2004 est.) 11 3 2 4 2 (2005 est.) 438 1 8 110 319 (2005 est.) oil 480 km (2004) 886 km 886 km 0.914-m gauge (2004) 14,095 km 4,863 km (including 75 km of expressways) 9,232 km (1999) 990 km 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season (2004) Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are liable for military service; conscript service obligation varies from 12 to 24 months (2005) 18 3,020,292 (2005 est.) 18 2,106,847 (2005 est.) 161,964 (2005 est.) $201.9 million (2004) 0.8% (2003) Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in the rain forests of Belize's border region; OAS is attempting to revive the 2002 failed Differendum that created a small adjustment to land boundary, a Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, a joint ecological park for the disputed Sapodilla Cays, and a substantial US-UK financial package; Guatemalans enter Mexico illegally seeking work or transit to the US 250,000 (government's scorched-earth offensive in 1980s against indigenous people) (2004) major transit country for cocaine and heroin; minor producer of illicit opium poppy and cannabis for mostly domestic consumption; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (particularly for cocaine); money laundering is a serious problem; corruption is a major problem; remains on Financial Action Task Force Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories List for continued failure to address deficiencies in money-laundering control regime Guernsey The island of Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France 49 28 N 2 35 W Europe 78 sq km 78 sq km 0 sq km includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands about one-half the size of Washington, DC 0 km 50 km 3 nm 12 nm temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast mostly level with low hills in southwest Atlantic Ocean 0 m unnamed location on Sark 114 m cropland NA% NA% NA% NA sq km NA NA large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port 65,228 (July 2005 est.) 15.4% (male 5,084/female 4,937) 66.9% (male 21,611/female 22,002) 17.8% (male 4,882/female 6,712) (2005 est.) 40.99 years 40.03 years 41.91 years (2005 est.) 0.29% (2005 est.) 9.01 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 9.95 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 3.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.73 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 4.71 deaths/1,000 live births 5.26 deaths/1,000 live births 4.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 80.3 years 77.3 years 83.41 years (2005 est.) 1.38 children born/woman (2005 est.) NA% NA NA Channel Islander(s) Channel Islander UK and Norman-French descent with small percentages from other European countries Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts NA NA% NA% NA% Bailiwick of Guernsey Guernsey British crown dependency NA Saint Peter Port none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 10 parishes including Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson, Vale, Castel, Saint Saviour, Saint Pierre du Bois, Torteval, Forest, Saint Martin, Saint Andrew none (British crown dependency) Liberation Day, 9 May (1945) unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice English law and local statutes; justice is administered by the Royal Court 18 years of age; universal Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Fabian MALBON (since 28 October 2005) Chief Minister Laurie MORGAN (since 1 May 2004) Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister is elected by States of Delibertion Laurie MORGAN elected chief minister, percent of vote of the States of Deliberation NA% unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote for 4 years); note - Alderney and Sark have their own parliaments last held 21 April 2004 (next to be held NA 2008) percent of vote - NA%; seats - all independents Royal Court none; all independents none UPU none (British crown dependency) none (British crown dependency) white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account for about 55% of total income in this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the environment under which Guernsey operates. $2.59 billion (2003 est.) NA 3% (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $40,000 (2003 est.) 3% 10% 87% (2000) 32,290 (2001) 0.5% (1999 est.) NA NA% NA% 4.9% (2004 est.) $539.2 million $448.3 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2002 est.) tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle tourism, banking NA% NA kWh NA kWh 0 kWh (2002) 0 kWh (2002) $NA UK (regarded as internal trade) (2004) $NA UK (regarded as internal trade) (2004) $NA NA British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Guernsey pound Guernsey pounds per US dollar - 0.54 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001) the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound calendar year 55,000 (2001) 31,500 (2001) NA NA 1 submarine cable AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) 1 (1997) .gg 2 (2004 est.) 2 1 1 (2005 est.) Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson defense is the responsibility of the UK none Guinea-Bissau Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established authoritarian dictator Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. Despite setting a path to a market economy and multiparty system, VIEIRA's regime was characterized by the suppression of political opposition and the purging of political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him and in 1994 VIEIRA was elected president in the country's first free elections. A military mutiny and resulting civil war in 1998 eventually led to VIEIRA's ouster in May 1999. In February 2000, a transitional government turned over power to opposition leader Kumba YALA after he was elected president in transparent polling. In September 2003, after only three years in office, YALA was ousted by the military in a bloodless coup and businessman Henrique ROSA was sworn in as interim President. In August 2005 former President VIEIRA was re-elected President in the second round of presidential polling. Since formally assuming office in October 2005, Vieira has pledged to pursue economic development and national reconciliation. Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal 12 00 N 15 00 W Africa 36,120 sq km 28,000 sq km 8,120 sq km slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut 724 km Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km 350 km 12 nm 200 nm tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east Atlantic Ocean 0 m unnamed location in the northeast corner of the country 300 m fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum 10.67% 8.82% 80.51% (2001) 170 sq km (1998 est.) hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Wetlands none of the selected agreements this small country is swampy along its western coast and low-lying further inland 1,416,027 (July 2005 est.) 41.5% (male 293,280/female 294,483) 55.5% (male 376,719/female 409,402) 3% (male 17,865/female 24,278) (2005 est.) 18.97 years 18.37 years 19.57 years (2005 est.) 1.96% (2005 est.) 37.65 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 16.53 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.92 male(s)/female 0.74 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 107.17 deaths/1,000 live births 117.78 deaths/1,000 live births 96.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 46.61 years 44.77 years 48.52 years (2005 est.) 4.93 children born/woman (2005 est.) 10% (2003 est.) 17,000 (2001 est.) 1,200 (2001 est.) very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations schistosomiasis meningococcal meningitis (2004) Guinean(s) Guinean African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1% indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%, Christian 5% Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages age 15 and over can read and write 42.4% 58.1% 27.4% (2003 est.) Republic of Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Republica da Guine-Bissau Guine-Bissau Portuguese Guinea republic, multiparty since mid-1991 Bissau 9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali; note - Bolama may have been renamed Bolama/Bijagos 24 September 1973 (unilaterally declared by Guinea-Bissau); 10 September 1974 (recognized by Portugal) Independence Day, 24 September (1973) 16 May 1984; amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26 February 1993, 9 June 1993, and 1996 NA 18 years of age; universal President Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA (since 1 October 2005) Prime Minister Aristides GOMES (since 2 November 2005) NA president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 24 July 2005 (next to be held NA 2010); prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the legislature Joao Bernardo VIEIRA elected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52.4%, Malan Bacai SANHA 47.6% unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (100 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve a maximum of four years) last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held NA 2008) percent of vote by party - PAIGC 31.5%, PRS 24.8%, PUSD 16.1%, UE 4.1%, APU 1.3%, 13 other parties 22.2%; seats by party - PAIGC 45, PRS 35, PUSD 17, UE 2, APU 1 Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal da Justica (consists of nine justices appointed by the president and serve at his pleasure; final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases); Regional Courts (one in each of nine regions; first court of appeals for Sectoral Court decisions; hear all felony cases and civil cases valued at over $1,000); 24 Sectoral Courts (judges are not necessarily trained lawyers; they hear civil cases under $1,000 and misdemeanor criminal cases) African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde or PAIGC [Carlos GOMES Junior]; Front for the Liberation and Independence of Guinea or FLING [Francois MENDY]; Guinea-Bissau Resistance-Ba Fata Movement or RGB-MB [Helder Vaz LOPES]; Guinean Civic Forum or FCG [Antonieta Rosa GOMES]; International League for Ecological Protection or LIPE [Alhaje Bubacar DJALO, president]; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Abubacer BALDE, secretary general]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Victor MANDINGA]; Social Renovation Party or PRS [Alberto NAMBEIA ]; Union for Change or UM [Jorge MANDINGA, president, Dr. Anne SAAD, secretary general]; United Platform or UP [coalition formed by PCD, FDS, FLING, and RGB-MB]; United Social Democratic Party or PUSD [Francisco Jose FADUL] NA ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Henrique Adriano DA SILVA 1511 K Street NW, Suite 519, Washington, DC 20005 [1] (202) 347-3950 [1] (202) 347-3954 the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998 in the midst of violent conflict between forces loyal to then President VIEIRA and military-led junta; US embassy Dakar is responsible for covering Guinea-Bissau: telephone - [221] 823-4296; FAX - [221] 822-5903 two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia One of the 10 poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau depends mainly on farming and fishing. Cashew crops have increased remarkably in recent years, and the country now ranks sixth in cashew production. Guinea-Bissau exports fish and seafood along with small amounts of peanuts, palm kernels, and timber. Rice is the major crop and staple food. However, intermittent fighting between Senegalese-backed government troops and a military junta destroyed much of the country's infrastructure and caused widespread damage to the economy in 1998; the civil war led to a 28% drop in GDP that year, with partial recovery in 1999-2002. Before the war, trade reform and price liberalization were the most successful part of the country's structural adjustment program under IMF sponsorship. The tightening of monetary policy and the development of the private sector had also begun to reinvigorate the economy. Because of high costs, the development of petroleum, phosphate, and other mineral resources is not a near-term prospect. However, offshore oil prospecting has begun and could lead to much-needed revenue in the long run. The inequality of income distribution is one of the most extreme in the world. The government and international donors continue to work out plans to forward economic development from a lamentably low base. In December 2003, the World Bank, IMF, and UNDP were forced to step in to provide emergency budgetary support in the amount of $107 million for 2004, representing over 80% of the total national budget. Government drift and indecision, however, have resulted in continued low growth in 2002-05. $1.101 billion (2005 est.) $287.1 million (2005 est.) 2.8% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $800 (2005 est.) 62% 12% 26% (1999 est.) 480,000 (1999) agriculture 82% (2000 est.) NA (1998) NA 0.5% 42.4% (1991) 4% (2002 est.) NA NA, including capital expenditures of NA rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks 4.7% (2003 est.) 56 million kWh (2003) 52.08 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 2,450 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $116 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) India 52.2%, US 22.2%, Nigeria 13.2% (2004) $176 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) Senegal 44.6%, Portugal 13.8%, China 4.2% (2004) $941.5 million (2000 est.) $115.4 million (1995) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States; previously the Guinea-Bissau peso (GWP) was used Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.28 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001) since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro calendar year 10,600 (2003) 1,300 (2003) small system combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and cellular communications country code - 245 AM 1 (transmitter out of service), FM 4, shortwave 0 (2002) NA (1997) .gw 2 (2004) 19,000 (2003) 28 (2004 est.) 3 1 1 1 (2005 est.) 25 1 4 20 (2005 est.) 4,400 km 453 km 3,947 km (1999) 4 largest rivers are navigable for some distance; many inlets and creeks give shallow-water access to much of interior (2004) Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary force 18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001) 18 288,770 (2005 est.) 18 152,760 (2005 est.) $8.9 million (2004) 3.1% (2004) attempts to stem refugees and cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and political instability from a separatist movement in Senegal's Casamance region Guinea Guinea has had only two presidents since gaining its independence from France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to power in 1984, when the military seized the government after the death of the first president, Sekou TOURE. Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998 and again in 2003. Unrest in Sierra Leone and Liberia has spilled over into Guinea on several occasions over the past decade, threatening stability and creating humanitarian emergencies. Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone 11 00 N 10 00 W Africa 245,857 sq km 245,857 sq km 0 sq km slightly smaller than Oregon 3,399 km Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km 320 km 12 nm 200 nm generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior Atlantic Ocean 0 m Mont Nimba 1,752 m bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt 3.63% 2.58% 93.79% (2001) 950 sq km (1998 est.) hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to environmental damage Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling none of the selected agreements the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their sources in the Guinean highlands 9,467,866 (July 2005 est.) 44.4% (male 2,123,207/female 2,079,475) 52.4% (male 2,478,820/female 2,486,300) 3.2% (male 131,130/female 168,934) (2005 est.) 17.67 years 17.42 years 17.93 years (2005 est.) 2.37% (2005 est.) 42.03 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 15.38 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -2.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population as a result of conflict in neighboring countries, Guinea is host to approximately 150,000 Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.78 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 90.37 deaths/1,000 live births 95.82 deaths/1,000 live births 84.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 49.36 years 48.19 years 50.57 years (2005 est.) 5.83 children born/woman (2005 est.) 3.2% (2003 est.) 140,000 (2003 est.) 9,000 (2003 est.) very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations schistosomiasis meningococcal meningitis Lassa fever (2004) Guinean(s) Guinean Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10% Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7% French (official), each ethnic group has its own language age 15 and over can read and write 35.9% 49.9% 21.9% (1995 est.) Republic of Guinea Guinea Republique de Guinee Guinee French Guinea republic Conakry 33 prefectures and 1 special zone (zone special)*; Beyla, Boffa, Boke, Conakry*, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Dubreka, Faranah, Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia, Kissidougou, Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma, Lola, Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele, Tougue, Yomou 2 October 1958 (from France) Independence Day, 2 October (1958) 23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale) based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal President Lansana CONTE (head of military government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993) Prime Minister Cellou Dalein DIALLO (since 4 December 2004) Council of Ministers appointed by the president president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected president; election last held 21 December 2003 (next to be held December 2010); the prime minister is appointed by the president Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of vote - Lansana CONTE (PUP) 95.3%, Mamadou Boye BARRY (UPR) 4.6% unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held 30 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007) percent of vote by party - PUP 61.6%, UPR 26.6%, other 11.8%; seats by party - PUP 85, UPR 20, other 9 Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally or PDG-RDA [El Hadj Ismael Mohamed Gassim GUSHEIN]; National Union for Progress or UPN [Mamadou Bhoye BARRY]; Party for Unity and Progress or PUP [Lansana CONTE] - the governing party; People's Party of Guinea or PPG [Pascal TOLNO]; Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE]; Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Mamadou BA]; Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]; Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR [Ousmane BAH]; Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general] Student and teacher unions ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Rafiou Alpha Oumar BARRY 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 986-4300 [1] (202) 478-3010 Ambassador Jackson MCDONALD Rue Ka 038, Conakry B. P. 603, Conakry [224] 41 15 20, 41 15 21, 41 15 23 [224] 41 15 22 three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains an underdeveloped nation. The country possesses almost half of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for over 70% of exports in 2004. Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. Fighting along the Sierra Leonean and Liberian borders, as well as refugee movements, have caused major economic disruptions, aggravating a loss in investor confidence. Panic buying has created food shortages and inflation and caused riots in local markets. Guinea is not receiving multilateral aid. The IMF and World Bank cut off most assistance in 2003. Growth rose slightly in 2005, primarily due to increases in global demand and commodity prices on world markets. $20.74 billion (2005 est.) $3.786 billion (2005 est.) 2% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2005 est.) 23.7% 36.2% 40.1% (2005 est.) 3 million (1999) agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (2000 est.) NA 40% (2003 est.) 2.6% 32% (1994) 40.3 (1994) 25% (2005 est.) 17.3% of GDP (2005 est.) $305.6 million $590.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries 3.2% (1994) 775 million kWh (2003) 720.8 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 8,400 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $-268.4 million (2005 est.) $612.1 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) France 17.7%, Belgium 14.7%, UK 14.7%, Switzerland 12.8%, Ukraine 4.2% (2004) $680 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) Cote d''Ivoire 15.5%, France 9%, Belgium 6.1%, China 6%, South Africa 4.8% (2004) $69.83 million (2005 est.) $3.46 billion (2003 est.) $237.5 million (2003) Guinean franc (GNF) Guinean francs per US dollar - 2,810 (2005), 2,550 (2004), 1,984.9 (2003), 1,975.8 (2002), 1,950.6 (2001) calendar year 26,200 (2003) 111,500 (2003) poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay system microwave radio relay and radiotelephone communication country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) AM 4 (one station is inactive), FM 1 (plus 7 repeaters), shortwave 3 (2001) 6 low-power stations (2001) .gn 380 (2004) 40,000 (2003) 16 (2004 est.) 5 1 1 3 (2005 est.) 11 6 3 2 (2005 est.) 837 km 175 km 1.435-m gauge 662 km 1.000-m gauge (2004) 44,348 km 4,342 km 40,006 km (2003) 1,295 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft) (2003) Kamsar Army (includes Presidential Guard, Republican Guard), Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, General Directorate of National Police 18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004) 18 1,853,316 (2005 est.) 18 1,038,036 (2005 est.) $56.7 million (2004) 1.7% (2004) conflicts among rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in neighboring states has spilled over into Guinea, resulting in domestic instability; Sierra Leone pressures Guinea to remove its forces from the town of Yenga occupied since 1998 refugees (country of origin): 133,175 (Liberia) 13,633 (Sierra Leone) 7,064 (Cote d'Ivoire) 100,000 (cross-border incursions from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire) (2004) Guyana Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. This ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, but until the early 1990s it was ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president, in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. Upon his death five years later, he was succeeded by his wife Janet, who resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001. Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela 5 00 N 59 00 W South America 214,970 sq km 196,850 sq km 18,120 sq km slightly smaller than Idaho 2,462 km Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km 459 km 12 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January) mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south Atlantic Ocean 0 m Mount Roraima 2,835 m bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish 2.44% 0.15% 97.41% (2001) 1,500 sq km (1998 est.) flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 none of the selected agreements the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay; substantial portions of its western and eastern territories are claimed by Venezuela and Suriname respectively 765,283 estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.) 26.4% (male 103,054/female 99,279) 68.5% (male 263,953/female 260,000) 5.1% (male 16,801/female 22,196) (2005 est.) 26.91 years 26.44 years 27.4 years (2005 est.) 0.26% (2005 est.) 18.45 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 8.32 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -7.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.76 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 33.26 deaths/1,000 live births 36.94 deaths/1,000 live births 29.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 65.5 years 62.86 years 68.28 years (2005 est.) 2.05 children born/woman (2005 est.) 2.5% (2003 est.) 11,000 (2003 est.) 1,100 (2003 est.) Guyanese (singular and plural) Guyanese East Indian 50%, black 36%, Amerindian 7%, white, Chinese, and mixed 7% Christian 50%, Hindu 35%, Muslim 10%, other 5% English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi, Urdu age 15 and over has ever attended school 98.8% 99.1% 98.5% (2003 est.) Co-operative Republic of Guyana Guyana British Guiana republic within the Commonwealth Georgetown 10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo 26 May 1966 (from UK) Republic Day, 23 February (1970) 6 October 1980 based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 11 August 1999); note - assumed presidency after resignation of President Janet JAGAN and reelected in 2001 Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since December 1997) Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature president elected by the majority party in the National Assembly following legislative elections, which must be held at least every five years; elections last held 19 March 2001 (next to be called by March 2006); prime minister appointed by the president President Bharrat JAGDEO reelected; percent of legislative vote - NA% unicameral National Assembly (68 seats, 65 elected by popular vote, 1 elected Speaker of the National Assembly, and 2 nonvoting members appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) last held 19 March 2001 (next to be called by March 2006); note - national elections will likely take place in Summer 2006 percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PPP/C 34, PNC 27, GAP and WPA 2, ROAR 1, TUF 1 Supreme Court of Judicature; Judicial Court of Appeal; High Court Alliance for Guyana or AFG (includes Guyana Labor Party or GLP and Working People's Alliance or WPA) [Rupert ROOPNARAINE]; Guyana Action Party or GAP [Paul HARDY]; Guyana Labor Party or GLP [leader NA]; People's National Congress or PNC [Robert Herman Orlando CORBIN]; People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C [Bharrat JAGDEO]; Rise, Organize, and Rebuild or ROAR [Ravi DEV]; The United Force or TUF [Manzoor NADIR]; Working People's Alliance or WPA [Rupert ROOPNARAINE] Civil Liberties Action Committee or CLAC; Guyana Council of Indian Organizations or GCIO; Trades Union Congress or TUC the GCIO and the CLAC are small and active but not well organized ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Ambassador Bayney KARRAN 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 265-6900 [1] (202) 232-1297 consulate(s) general: New York Ambassador Roland W. BULLEN 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown [592] 225-4900 through 4909 [592] 225-8497 green, with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a long, yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow, black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow, white border between the yellow and the green The Guyanese economy exhibited moderate economic growth in 2001-02, based on expansion in the agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiatives, a more realistic exchange rate, fairly low inflation, and the continued support of international organizations. Growth then slowed in 2003 and came back gradually in 2004, buoyed largely by increased export earnings, and slowed again in 2005. Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure. The government is juggling a sizable external debt against the urgent need for expanded public investment. The bauxite mining sector should benefit in the near term from restructuring and partial privatization. Export earnings from agriculture and mining have fallen sharply, while the import bill has risen, driven by higher energy prices. $3.002 billion (2005 est.) $822.4 million (2005 est.) 0.5% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2005 est.) 36.8% 20.2% 43% (2005 est.) 418,000 (2001 est.) agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% 9.1% (understated) (2000) NA NA NA 5.5% (2005 est.) 36.2% of GDP (2005 est.) $320.1 million $362.6 million, including capital expenditures of $93.4 million (2005 est.) sugarcane, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish, shrimp bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining NA 779 million kWh (2003) 724.5 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 11,300 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $-92.72 million (2005 est.) $587.2 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) Canada 23.2%, US 19.2%, UK 10.9%, Portugal 9%, Belgium 6.4%, Jamaica 5.2% (2004) $681.6 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) Trinidad and Tobago 24.8%, US 24.5%, Cuba 6.8%, UK 5.4% (2004) $248.8 million (2005 est.) $1.2 billion (2002) $84 million (1995), Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPC) $253 million (1997) Guyanese dollar (GYD) Guyanese dollars per US dollar - 200.79 (2005), 198.33 (2004), 193.88 (2003), 190.67 (2002), 187.32 (2001) calendar year 80,400 (2002) 87,300 (2002) fair system for long-distance service microwave radio relay network for trunk lines country code - 592; tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998) 3 (one public station; two private stations which relay US satellite services) (1997) .gy 613 (2003) 125,000 (2002) 49 (2004 est.) 8 3 5 (2005 est.) 61 2 12 47 (2005 est.) 187 km 139 km 1.435-m gauge 48 km 0.914-m gauge all dedicated to ore transport (2001 est.) 7,970 km 590 km 7,380 km (1999) 1,077 km Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km respectively (2004) 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,475 GRT/8,758 DWT cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 1 3 (2005) Georgetown Guyana Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Corps, Guyana People's Militia 18 206,098 (2005 est.) 18 137,964 (2005 est.) $6.5 million (2003) 0.9% (2004) all of the area west of the Essequibo (river) is claimed by Venezuela preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before UNCLOS that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks UNCLOS arbitration to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters transshipment point for narcotics from South America - primarily Venezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis Haiti The native Arawak Amerindians - who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when it was discovered by Columbus in 1492 - were virtually annihilated by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola, and in 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island - Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean, but only through the heavy importation of African slaves and considerable environmental degradation. In the late 18th century, Haiti's nearly half million slaves revolted under Toussaint L'OUVERTURE and after a prolonged struggle, became the first black republic to declare its independence in 1804. Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history. It is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic 19 00 N 72 25 W Central America and the Caribbean 27,750 sq km 27,560 sq km 190 sq km slightly smaller than Maryland 360 km Dominican Republic 360 km 1,771 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm to depth of exploitation tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds mostly rough and mountainous Caribbean Sea 0 m Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower 28.3% 11.61% 60.09% (2001) 750 sq km (1998 est.) lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection Hazardous Wastes shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic) 8,121,622 estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.) 42.6% (male 1,741,622/female 1,721,436) 53.9% (male 2,137,225/female 2,242,639) 3.4% (male 124,383/female 154,317) (2005 est.) 18.03 years 17.63 years 18.44 years (2005 est.) 2.26% (2005 est.) 36.59 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 12.34 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -1.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.81 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 73.45 deaths/1,000 live births 79.92 deaths/1,000 live births 66.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 52.92 years 51.58 years 54.31 years (2005 est.) 5.02 children born/woman (2005 est.) 5.6% (2003 est.) 280,000 (2003 est.) 24,000 (2003 est.) Haitian(s) Haitian black 95%, mulatto and white 5% Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982) roughly half of the population practices Voodoo French (official), Creole (official) age 15 and over can read and write 52.9% 54.8% 51.2% (2003 est.) Republic of Haiti Haiti Republique d'Haiti Haiti elected government Port-au-Prince 9 departments (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand 'Anse, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est 1 January 1804 (from France) Independence Day, 1 January (1804) approved March 1987; suspended June 1988 with most articles reinstated March 1989; in October 1991 government claimed to be observing the constitution; returned to constitutional rule in October 1994 based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal Interim President Boniface ALEXANDRE (since 29 February 2004) Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE resigned as president on 29 February 2004; ALEXANDRE, as Chief of the Supreme Court, constitutionally succeeded Aristide Interim Prime Minister Gerald LATORTUE (since 12 March 2004), chosen by extraconstitutional Council of Eminent Persons representing cross-section of political and civic interests Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 26 November 2000 (next to be held in November 2005); prime minister appointed by the president, ratified by the National Assembly Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE elected president; percent of vote - Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE 92% bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consists of the Senate (27 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of Deputies (83 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - the National Assembly stopped functioning in January 2004 when the terms of all Deputies and two-thirds of sitting Senators expired; no replacements have been elected; the President is currently ruling by decree Senate - last held for two-thirds of seats 21 May 2000 with runoffs on 9 July boycotted by the opposition; seven seats still disputed; election for remaining one-third held on 26 November 2000 (next to be held in 2005); Chamber of Deputies - last held 21 May 2000 with runoffs on 30 July boycotted by the opposition; one vacant seat rerun 26 November 2000 (next to be held in November 2005) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FL 26, independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FL 73, MOCHRENA 3, PLB 2, OPL 1, vacant 1, other minor parties and independents 3 Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation Alliance for the Liberation and Advancement of Haiti or ALAH [Reynold GEORGES]; Assembly of Progressive National Democrats or RDNP [Leslie MANIGAT]; Ayiti Kapab [Ernst VERDIEU]; Convention for Democratic Unity or KID [Evans PAUL]; National Congress of Democratic Movements or KONAKOM [Victor BENOIT]; Nationalist Progressive Revolutionary Party or PANPRA [Serge GILLES]; Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Haiti or MODELH [Francois LATORTUE]; Grand Center Right Front coalition (composed of MDN, MRN, and PDCH) [Hubert de RONCERAY, Jean BUTEAU, Osner FEVRY and Marie-Denise CLAUDE]; Haitian Christian Democratic Party or PDCH [Osner FEVRY and Marie-Denise CLAUDE]; Haitian Democratic Party or PADEMH [Clark PARENT]; Haitian Democratic and Reform Movement or MODEREH [Dany TOUSSAINT and Pierre Soncon PRINCE]; Heads Together [Dr. Gerard BLOT]; Lavalas Family or FL [leader NA]; Liberal Party of Haiti or PLH [Michael MADSEN]; Mobilization for National Development or MDN [Hubert DE RONCERAY]; Movement for National Reconstruction or MRN [Jean Henold BUTEAU]; Movement for the Installation of Democracy in Haiti or MIDH [Marc BAZIN]; National Front for the Reconstruction of Haiti or FRON [Guy PHILIPPE]; National Progressive Democratic Party or PNDPH [Turneb DELPE]; New Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MOCHRENA [Luc MESADIEU]; Open the Gate Party (Parti Louvri Bayre) or PLB [leader NA]; Popular Party for the Renewal of Haiti, or Generation 2000 [Claude ROMAIN and Daniel SUPPLICE]; Struggling People's Organization or OPL [Edgard LEBLANC]; MNP28 [Dejean BELIZAIRE]; KOMBA [Evans LESCOUFLAIR] Autonomous Organizations of Haitian Workers or CATH [Fignole ST-CYR]; Confederation of Haitian Workers or CTH; Federation of Workers Trade Unions or FOS; Group of 184 Civil Society Organization, or G-184 [Andy APAID]; National Popular Assembly or APN; Papaye Peasants Movement or MPP [Chavannes JEAN-BAPTISTE]; Popular Organizations Gathering Power or PROP; Roman Catholic Church; Protestant Federation of Haiti ACCT, ACP, Caricom, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Charge d'Affaires Raymond JOSEPH (as of November 2004) 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 332-4090 [1] (202) 745-7215 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) Ambassador Timothy M. CARNEY 5 Harry S Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince [509] 222-0200 [509] 223-9038 two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength) In this poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, 80% of the population lives in abject poverty, and natural disasters frequently sweep the nation. Two-thirds of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, which consists mainly of small-scale subsistence farming. Following legislative elections in May 2000, fraught with irregularities, international donors - including the US and EU - suspended almost all aid to Haiti. The economy grew 3.5% in 2005. Suspended aid and loan disbursements totaled more than $500 million at the start of 2003. Haiti suffers from rampant inflation, a lack of investment, and a severe trade deficit. Civil strife in 2004 combined with extensive damage from flooding in southern Haiti in May 2004 and Tropical Storm Jeanne in northwestern Haiti in September 2004 further impoverished Haiti. In early 2005 Haiti paid its arrears to the World Bank, paving the way to reengagement with the Bank. The resumption of aid flows from all donors is alleviating but not ending the nation's bitter economic problems. $12.94 billion (2005 est.) $5.191 billion (2005 est.) 3.5% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2005 est.) 30% 20% 50% (2001 est.) 3.6 million shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1995) agriculture 66%, industry 9%, services 25% widespread unemployment and underemployment; more than two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs (2002 est.) 80% (2003 est.) NA NA 13.3% (2005 est.) 27.4% of GDP (2004 est.) $400 million $600.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum, wood sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, light assembly industries based on imported parts NA 546 million kWh (2003) 507.8 million kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 11,800 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $34.08 million (2005 est.) $390.7 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 81.2%, Dominican Republic 7.3%, Canada 4.1% (2004) $1.471 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 34.8%, Netherlands Antilles 18%, Malaysia 5.1%, Colombia 4.7% (2004) $95.26 million (2005 est.) $1.3 billion (2005 est.) $150 million (FY04 est.) gourde (HTG) gourdes per US dollar - 39.14 (2005), 38.352 (2004), 42.367 (2003), 29.251 (2002), 24.429 (2001) 1 October - 30 September 130,000 (2002) 140,000 (2002) domestic facilities barely adequate; international facilities slightly better coaxial cable and microwave radio relay trunk service country code - 509; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) AM 41, FM 26, shortwave 0 (1999) 2 (plus a cable TV service) (1997) .ht 80,000 (2002) 13 (2004 est.) 4 1 3 (2005 est.) 8 1 7 (2005 est.) 4,160 km 1,011 km 3,149 km (1999) Cap-Haitien the regular Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH) - Army, Navy, and Air Force - have been demobilized but still exist on paper until or unless they are constitutionally abolished 18 years of age for voluntary recruitment into the police force (2001) 18 1,626,491 (2005 est.) 18 948,320 (2005 est.) 98,554 (2005 est.) $26 million (2003) 0.9% (2003) since 2004, about 8,000 peacekeepers from the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) maintain civil order in Haiti; despite efforts to control illegal migration, Haitians fleeing economic privation and civil unrest continue to cross into Dominican Republic and to sail to neighboring countries; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island major Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to the US and Europe; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Haiti for illicit financial transactions; pervasive corruption Heard Island and McDonald Islands These uninhabited, barren, sub-Antarctic islands were transferred from the UK to Australia in 1947. Populated by large numbers of seal and bird species, the islands have been designated a nature preserve. islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica 53 06 S 72 31 E Antarctic Region 412 sq km 412 sq km 0 sq km slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC 0 km 101.9 km 12 nm 200 nm antarctic Heard Island - 80% ice-covered, bleak and mountainous, dominated by a large massif (Big Ben) and an active volcano (Mawson Peak); McDonald Islands - small and rocky Indian Ocean 0 m Mawson Peak, on Big Ben 2,745 m fish 0% 0% 100% (2001) 0 sq km Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island NA uninhabited (July 2005 est.) Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands Heard Island and McDonald Islands territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment and Heritage the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply none (territory of Australia) none (territory of Australia) the flag of Australia is used No indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Government allows limited fishing around the islands. .hm none; offshore anchorage only defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols none Vatican City Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of "prisoner" popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include religious freedom, international development, the Middle East, terrorism, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith. Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy) 41 54 N 12 27 E Europe 0.44 sq km 0.44 sq km 0 sq km about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC 3.2 km Italy 3.2 km 0 km (landlocked) none (landlocked) temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September) low hill unnamed location 19 m unnamed location 75 m none 0% 0% 100% (urban area) (2001) 0 sq km (1998 est.) NA NA none of the selected agreements Air Pollution, Environmental Modification urban; landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights 921 (July 2005 est.) 0.01% (2005 est.) NA% NA NA none none Italians, Swiss, other Roman Catholic Italian, Latin, French, various other languages NA 100% 100% 100% The Holy See (State of the Vatican City) Holy See (Vatican City) Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano) Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano) ecclesiastical Vatican City none 11 February 1929 (from Italy); note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over the years have varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to the 8th century Coronation Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI, 24 April (2005) new Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II on 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaces the first Fundamental Law of 1929) based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it limited to cardinals less than 80 years old Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005) Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo SODANO (since 1 December 1990) Pontifical Commission appointed by the pope pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held 19 April 2005 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI unicameral Pontifical Commission there are three tribunals responsible for civil and criminal matters within Vatican City; three other tribunals rule on issues pertaining to the Holy See judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio of Pius XII on 1 May 1946 none none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers) CE (observer), IAEA, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer), WTO (observer) Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel MONTALVO 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 333-7121 [1] (202) 337-4036 Ambassador Francis ROONEY Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome PSC 59, Box 66, APO AE 09624 [39] (06) 4674-3428 [39] (06) 575-8346 two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by an annual contribution from Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the world (known as Peter's Pence); by the sale of postage stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; by fees for admission to museums; and by the sale of publications. Investments and real estate income also account for a sizable portion of revenue. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome. NA essentially services with a small amount of industry; note - dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican NA NA% NA% $245.2 million $260.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2002) printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities NA kWh NA kWh 0 kWh NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy none euro (EUR) euros per US dollar - 0.79697 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001) calendar year NA automatic exchange tied into Italian system country code - 39; uses Italian system AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 2 (1998) 1 (1996) .va 9 (2004) 0 (2004 est.) Pontifical Swiss Guard (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia) defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard none Honduras Once part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras became an independent nation in 1821. After two and a half decades of mostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came to power in 1982. During the 1980s, Honduras proved a haven for anti-Sandinista contras fighting the Marxist Nicaraguan Government and an ally to Salvadoran Government forces fighting leftist guerrillas. The country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which killed about 5,600 people and caused approximately $2 billion in damage. Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean), between El Salvador and Nicaragua 15 00 N 86 30 W Central America and the Caribbean 112,090 sq km 111,890 sq km 200 sq km slightly larger than Tennessee 1,520 km Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua 922 km 820 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm natural extension of territory or to 200 nm subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains Caribbean Sea 0 m Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropower 9.55% 3.22% 87.23% (2001) 760 sq km (1998 est.) frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely susceptible to damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water), as well as several rivers and streams, with heavy metals Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands none of the selected agreements has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast 6,975,204 estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.) 40.8% (male 1,452,646/female 1,393,271) 55.5% (male 1,921,432/female 1,948,656) 3.7% (male 122,146/female 137,053) (2005 est.) 19.15 years 18.75 years 19.56 years (2005 est.) 2.16% (2005 est.) 30.38 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 6.87 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -1.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.89 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 29.32 deaths/1,000 live births 32.84 deaths/1,000 live births 25.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 69.3 years 67.71 years 70.97 years (2005 est.) 3.87 children born/woman (2005 est.) 1.8% (2003 est.) 63,000 (2003 est.) 4,100 (2003 est.) Honduran(s) Honduran mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1% Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3% Spanish, Amerindian dialects age 15 and over can read and write 76.2% 76.1% 76.3% (2003 est.) Republic of Honduras Honduras Republica de Honduras Honduras democratic constitutional republic Tegucigalpa 18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro 15 September 1821 (from Spain) Independence Day, 15 September (1821) 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982; amended 1995 rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law with increasing influence of English common law; recent judicial reforms include abandoning Napoleonic legal codes in favor of the oral adversarial system; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations 18 years of age; universal and compulsory President Ricardo (Joest) MADURO (since 27 January 2002); First Vice President Vicente WILLIAMS Agasse (since 27 January 2002); Second Vice President Armida Villela Maria DE LOPEZ Contreras (since 27 January 2002); Third Vice President Alberto DIAZ Lobo (since 27 January 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Ricardo (Joest) MADURO (since 27 January 2002); First Vice President Vicente WILLIAMS Agasse (since 27 January 2002); Second Vice President Armida Villela Maria DE LOPEZ Contreras (since 27 January 2002); Third Vice President Alberto DIAZ Lobo (since 27 January 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government Cabinet appointed by president president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 27 November 2005 (next to be held November 2009) Manuel "Mel" ZELAYA (PL) elected president - 49.8%, Porfirio "Pepe" LOBO Sosa (PN) 46.1%, others 4.1%; note - Manuel "Mel" ZELAYA will take office on 27 January 2006 unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats; members are elected proportionally to the number of votes their party's presidential candidate receives to serve four-year terms) last held 27 November 2005 (next to be held November 2009) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PL 62, PN 55, PUD 5, CD 4, PINU 2 Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges are elected for seven-year terms by the National Congress) Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Saul ESCOBAR Andrade]; Democratic Unification Party or PUD [Matias FUNES]; Liberal Party or PL [Patricia RODAS]; National Innovation and Unity Party or PINU [Olban F. VALLADARES]; National Party of Honduras or PN [Gilberto GOLDSTEIN] Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras or CODEH; Confederation of Honduran Workers or CTH; Coordinating Committee of Popular Organizations or CCOP; General Workers Confederation or CGT; Honduran Council of Private Enterprise or COHEP; National Association of Honduran Campesinos or ANACH; National Union of Campesinos or UNC; Popular Bloc or BP; United Federation of Honduran Workers or FUTH BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Norman GARCIA Paz Suite 4-M, 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 966-7702 [1] (202) 966-9751 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco honorary consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, Jacksonville Ambassador Charles A. FORD Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa [504] 236-9320 [504] 236-9037 three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with five blue, five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band Honduras, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere with an extraordinarily unequal distribution of income and massive unemployment, is banking on expanded trade under the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and on debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. The country has met most of its macroeconomic targets, and began a three-year IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PGRF) program in February 2004. Growth remains dependent on the economy of the US, its largest trading partner, on commodity prices, particularly coffee, and on reduction of the high crime rate. $20.56 billion (2005 est.) $8.038 billion (2005 est.) 4% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2005 est.) 12.7% 31.2% 56.1% (2005 est.) 2.54 million (2005 est.) agriculture 34%, industry 21%, services 45% (2001 est.) 28% (2005 est.) 53% (1993 est.) 0.6% 42.7% (1998) 55 (1999) 9.2% (2005 est.) 27% of GDP (2005 est.) $1.693 billion $1.938 billion, including capital expenditures of $106 million (2005 est.) 70.5% of GDP (2005 est.) bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber; shrimp sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products 7.7% (2003 est.) 4.338 billion kWh (2003) 4.369 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 335 million kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 37,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA (2001) NA (2001) $-456 million (2005 est.) $1.726 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 54.4%, El Salvador 8.1%, Germany 5.9%, Guatemala 5.4% (2004) $4.161 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 37.5%, Guatemala 6.9%, Mexico 5.4%, Costa Rica 4.3%, El Salvador 4% (2004) $2.23 billion (2005 est.) $4.675 billion (2005 est.) $557.8 million (1999) lempira (HNL) lempiras per US dollar - 18.92 (2005), 18.206 (2004), 17.345 (2003), 16.433 (2002), 15.474 (2001) calendar year 322,500 (2002) 326,500 (2002) inadequate system NA country code - 504; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System AM 241, FM 53, shortwave 12 (1998) 11 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997) .hn 1,944 (2003) 168,600 (2002) 115 (2004 est.) 11 3 2 3 3 (2005 est.) 105 2 19 84 (2005 est.) 699 km 279 km 1.067-m gauge; 420 km 0.914-m gauge (2004) 13,603 km 2,775 km 10,828 km (1999) 465 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2004) 137 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 598,600 GRT/616,158 DWT bulk carrier 10, cargo 67, chemical tanker 6, container 2, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 30, refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1 44 (Canada 1, China 3, Egypt 1, Greece 4, Hong Kong 2, Israel 1, Japan 4, Lebanon 1, Mexico 1, Singapore 12, South Korea 6, Taiwan 2, Tanzania 1, Turkey 1, United States 2, Vanuatu 1, Vietnam 1) 1 (2005) Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air Force 18 years of age for voluntary 2-3 year military service (2004) 18 1,448,369 (2005 est.) 18 955,019 (2005 est.) 77,399 (2005 est.) $100.6 million (2004) 1.4% (2004) in 1992, ICJ ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras border, but despite OAS intervention and a further ICJ ruling in 2003, full demarcation of the border remains stalled; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca with consideration of Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned in the ICJ ruling, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca; Honduras claims Sapodilla Cays off the coast of Belize, but agreed to creation of a joint ecological park and Guatemalan corridor in the Caribbean in the failed 2002 Belize-Guatemala Differendum, which the OAS is attempting to revive; Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in 1999 and against Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over a complex dispute over islands and maritime boundaries in the Caribbean Sea transshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption; corruption is a major problem; some money-laundering activity Hong Kong Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by China the following year; various adjacent lands were added later in the 19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997. In this agreement, China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not be imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years. Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China 22 15 N 114 10 E Southeast Asia 1,092 sq km 1,042 sq km 50 sq km six times the size of Washington, DC 30 km China 30 km 733 km 3 nm subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north South China Sea 0 m Tai Mo Shan 958 m outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar 5.05% 1.01% 93.94% (2001) 20 sq km (1998 est.) occasional typhoons air and water pollution from rapid urbanization Marine Dumping (associate member) more than 200 islands 6,898,686 (July 2005 est.) 13.8% (male 498,771/female 454,252) 73.5% (male 2,479,656/female 2,591,170) 12.7% (male 404,308/female 470,529) (2005 est.) 39.4 years 39.3 years 39.6 years (2005 est.) 0.65% (2005 est.) 7.23 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 5.98 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 5.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.1 male(s)/female 1.1 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 0.86 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 2.97 deaths/1,000 live births 3.16 deaths/1,000 live births 2.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 81.5 years 78.81 years 84.41 years (2005 est.) 0.91 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.1% (2003 est.) 2,600 (2003 est.) less than 200 (2003 est.) Chinese/Hong Konger Chinese/Hong Kong Chinese 95%, other 5% eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10% Chinese (Cantonese), English; both are official age 15 and over has ever attended school 93.5% 96.9% 89.6% (2002) Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Hong Kong Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu Xianggang HK special administrative region of China limited democracy none (special administrative region of China) none (special administrative region of China) National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July 1997 is celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day Basic Law, approved in March 1990 by China's National People's Congress, is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution" based on English common law direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election limited to about 200,000 members of functional constituencies and an 800-member election committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003) Chief Executive Donald TSANG (since 24 June 2005) Executive Council consists of four official members and 15 non-official members previous chief executive TUNG Chee-hwa was elected to second five-year term in March 2002 by 800-member election committee dominated by pro-Beijing forces, resignation accepted 12 March 2005; Donald TSANG acted as chief executive between 12 March 2005 and 25 May 2005; Henry TANG acted as chief executive between 25 May 2005 and 24 June 2005; TSANG was elected on 16 June 2005 to fill final two years of TUNG's term (next election to be held in March 2007) unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60 seats; in 2004 30 seats indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 30 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) last held 12 September 2004 (next to be held in September 2008) percent of vote by party - pro-democracy group 62%; seats by party - (pro-Beijing 34) DAB 12, Liberal Party 10, independents 11, FTU 1; (pro-democracy 25) independents 11, Democratic Party 9, CTU 2, ADPL 1, Frontier Party 1, NWSC 1; other 1 Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood or ADPL [Frederick FUNG Kin-kee, chairman]; Citizens Party [Alex CHAN Kai-chung]; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong or DAB [MA Lik, chairman]; Democratic Party [LEE Wing-tat, chairman]; Frontier Party [Emily LAU Wai-hing, chairwoman]; Liberal Party [James TIEN Pei-chun, chairman] political blocs include: pro-democracy - ADPL, Democratic Party, Frontier Party; pro-Beijing - DAB, Liberal Party Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Confederation of Trade Unions or CTU (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; LEE Cheuk-yan, general secretary]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Federation of Trade Unions or FTU (pro-China) [CHENG Yiu-tong, executive councilor]; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China [Szeto WAH, chairman]; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union [CHEUNG Man-kwong, president]; Neighborhood and Workers' Service Center or NWSC (pro-democracy); The Alliance [Bernard CHAN, exco member] APEC, AsDB, BIS, ICC, ICFTU, IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), IOC, ISO (correspondent), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO none (special administrative region of China) Consul General James B. CUNNINGHAM consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521-0006 [852] 2523-9011 [852] 2845-1598 red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center Hong Kong has a free market, entrepot economy, highly dependent on international trade. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Gross imports and exports (i.e., including reexports to and from third countries) each exceed GDP in dollar value. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese administration on 1 July 1997, it had extensive trade and investment ties with China. Hong Kong has been further integrating its economy with China because China's growing openness to the world economy has made manufacturing in China much more cost effective. Hong Kong's reexport business to and from China is a major driver of growth. Per capita GDP is comparable to that of the four big economies of Western Europe. GDP growth averaged a strong 5% from 1989 to 2005, but Hong Kong suffered two recessions in the past eight years because of the Asian financial crisis in 1997-1998 and the global downturn in 2001-2002. Although the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak also battered Hong Kong's economy, a solid rise in exports, a boom in tourism from the mainland because of China's easing of travel restrictions, and a return of consumer confidence resulted in the resumption of strong growth from late 2003 through 2005. $254.2 billion (2005 est.) $181.6 billion (2005 est.) 7% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $36,800 (2005 est.) 0.1% 10% 89.9% (2005 est.) 3.58 million (October 2005) manufacturing 7.5%, construction 2.9%, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 43.7%, financing, insurance, and real estate 19.2%, transport and communications 7.9%, community and social services 18.5% above data exclude public sector (2004 est.) 5.8% (October 2005) NA NA NA 0.9% (2005 est.) 21.2% of GDP (2005 est.) $31.31 billion $32.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.9 billion (2005 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2005 est.) fresh vegetables, poultry, fish, pork textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks 1% (2005 est.) 33.38 billion kWh (2003) 38.43 billion kWh (2003) 3.008 billion kWh (2003) 10.4 billion kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 260,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) NA NA NA (2001 est.) 680.9 million cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 680.9 million cu m (2001 est.) $23.85 billion (2005 est.) $286.3 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2005 est.) China 44%, US 17%, Japan 5.3% (2004) $291.6 billion (2005 est.) China 43.5%, Japan 12.1%, Taiwan 7.3%, US 5.3%, Singapore 5.3%, South Korea 4.8% (2004) $122.3 billion (2005 est.) $416.5 billion (30 June 2005 est.) Hong Kong dollar (HKD) Hong Kong dollars per US dollar - 7.79 (2005), 7.788 (2004), 7.7868 (2003), 7.7989 (2002), 7.7988 (2001) 1 April - 31 March 3,801,300 (2003) 7,241,400 (2003) modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network country code - 852; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access to 5 international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2004) 4 (2004) .hk 591,993 (2003) 3,212,800 (2003) 4 (2004 est.) 3 1 1 1 (2005 est.) 3 (2005 est.) 1,831 km 1,831 km (1999) 837 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,478,042 GRT/34,554,455 DWT barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 446, cargo 119, chemical tanker 44, combination ore/oil 2, container 105, liquefied gas 20, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 75, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 8 453 (Australia 1, Bahamas 1, Belgium 3, Canada 9, China 246, Denmark 3, France 5, Germany 13, Greece 19, India 1, Indonesia 1, Israel 1, Japan 51, Norway 16, Philippines 13, Singapore 17, South Korea 8, Taiwan 5, Thailand 4, UAE 1, United Kingdom 32, United States 3) 373 (2005) no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes elements of the PLA Ground Forces, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou Military Region 18 years of age (2004) 18 1,743,972 (2005 est.) 18 1,403,088 (2005 est.) 40,343 (2005 est.) Hong Kong garrison is funded by China; figures are NA NA defense is the responsibility of China none makes strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces difficult challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to regional and world markets; modern banking system provides conduit for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs, especially among young people Howland Island Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the island was officially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companies mined for guano until about 1890. Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt; it is named in memory of the famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART. The island is administered by the US Department of the Interior as a National Wildlife Refuge. Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia 0 48 N 176 38 W Oceania 1.6 sq km 1.6 sq km 0 sq km about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC 0 km 6.4 km 12 nm 200 nm equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area Pacific Ocean 0 m unnamed location 3 m guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife 0% 0% 100% (2001) 0 sq km the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard no natural fresh water resources almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife uninhabited American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2005 est.) none Howland Island unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system the laws of the US, where applicable, apply the flag of the US is used no economic activity 0 airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia EARHART and Fred NOONAN - they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable (2004 est.) none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area along the middle of the west coast Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard none Hungary Hungary was part of the polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed during World War I. The country fell under Communist rule following World War II. In 1956, a revolt and announced withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact were met with a massive military intervention by Moscow. Under the leadership of Janos KADAR in 1968, Hungary began liberalizing its economy, introducing so-called "Goulash Communism." Hungary held its first multiparty elections in 1990 and initiated a free market economy. It joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004. Central Europe, northwest of Romania 47 00 N 20 00 E Europe 93,030 sq km 92,340 sq km 690 sq km slightly smaller than Indiana 2,171 km Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km, Serbia and Montenegro 151 km, Slovakia 677 km, Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km 0 km (landlocked) none (landlocked) temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border Tisza River 78 m Kekes 1,014 m bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land 50.09% 2.06% 47.85% (2001) 2,100 sq km (1998 est.) the upgrading of Hungary's standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution to meet EU requirements will require large investments Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands Air Pollution-Sulfur 94 landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin; the north-south flowing Duna (Danube) and Tisza Rivers divide the country into three large regions 10,006,835 (July 2005 est.) 15.8% (male 813,203/female 769,687) 69.1% (male 3,405,559/female 3,511,141) 15.1% (male 547,323/female 959,922) (2005 est.) 38.57 years 36.1 years 41.24 years (2005 est.) -0.26% (2005 est.) 9.76 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 13.19 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.57 male(s)/female 0.91 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 8.57 deaths/1,000 live births 9.27 deaths/1,000 live births 7.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 72.4 years 68.18 years 76.89 years (2005 est.) 1.32 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.1% (2001 est.) 2,800 (2001 est.) less than 100 (2001 est.) Hungarian(s) Hungarian Hungarian 92.3%, Roma 1.9%, other or unknown 5.8% (2001 census) Roman Catholic 51.9%, Calvinist 15.9%, Lutheran 3%, Greek Catholic 2.6%, other Christian 1%, other or unspecified 11.1%, unaffiliated 14.5% (2001 census) Hungarian 93.6%, other or unspecified 6.4% (2001 census) age 15 and over can read and write 99.4% 99.5% 99.3% (2003 est.) Republic of Hungary Hungary Magyar Koztarsasag Magyarorszag parliamentary democracy Budapest 19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 20 urban counties (singular - megyei varos), and 1 capital city (fovaros) Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Csongrad, Fejer, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Gyor, Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszeg Budapest 1001 (unification by King Stephen I) Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August 18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949; revised 19 April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister and also established the principle of parliamentary oversight; 1997 amendment streamlined the judicial system rule of law based on Western model 18 years of age; universal Laszlo SOLYOM (since 5 August 2005) Prime Minister Ferenc GYURCSANY (since 29 September 2004) Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 6-7 June 2005 (next to be held by June 2010); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president; election last held 29 September 2004 Laszlo SOLYOM elected president by a simple majority in the third round of voting, 185 to 182; Ferenc GYURCSANY elected prime minister; result of legislative vote - 197 to 12 to be elected, the president must win two-thirds of legislative vote in the first two rounds or a simple majority in the third round unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of proportional and direct representation to serve four-year terms) last held 7 and 21 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2006) percent of vote by party (5% or more of the vote required for parliamentary representation in the first round) - Fidesz/MDF 48.70%, MSzP 46.11%, SzDSz 4.92%, other 0.27%; seats by party - Fidesz 164, MSzP 178, MDF 24, SzDSz 20 Constitutional Court (judges are elected by the National Assembly for nine-year terms) Alliance of Free Democrats or SzDSz [Gabor KUNCZE]; Hungarian Civic Alliance or Fidesz [Viktor ORBAN, chairman]; Hungarian Democratic Forum or MDF [Ibolya DAVID]; Hungarian Democratic People's Party or MDNP [Erzsebet PUSZTAI, chairman]; Hungarian Socialist Party or MSzP [Istvan HILLER, chairman]; Hungarian Workers' Party or MMP [Gyula THURMER, chairman] NA ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU (new member), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC Ambassador Andras SIMONYI 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 362-6730 [1] (202) 966-8135 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York Ambassador George Herbert WALKER Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054 Budapest pouch: American Embassy Budapest, 5270 Budapest Place, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270 [36] (1) 475-4400 [36] (1) 475-4764 three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green Hungary has made the transition from a centrally planned to a market economy, with a per capita income one-half that of the Big Four European nations. Hungary continues to demonstrate strong economic growth and acceded to the European Union in May 2004. The private sector accounts for over 80% of GDP. Foreign ownership of and investment in Hungarian firms are widespread, with cumulative foreign direct investment totaling more than $23 billion since 1989. Hungarian sovereign debt was upgraded in 2000 and together with the Czech Republic holds the highest rating among the Central European transition economies; however, ratings agencies have expressed concerns over Hungary's unsustainable budget and current account deficits. Inflation has declined from 14% in 1998 to 3.7% in 2005. Unemployment has persisted around the 6% level, but Hungary's labor force participation rate of 57% is one of the lowest in the OECD. Germany is by far Hungary's largest economic partner. Policy challenges include cutting the public sector deficit to 3% of GDP by 2008, from about 6.5% in 2005, and orchestrating an orderly interest rate reduction without sparking capital outflows. $159 billion (2005 est.) $106.9 billion (2005 est.) 3.7% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $15,900 (2005 est.) 3.9% 30.9% 65.3% (2005 est.) 4.18 million (2005 est.) agriculture 6.2%, industry 27.1%, services 66.7% (2002) 7.1% (2005 est.) 8.6% (1993 est.) 4.1% 20.5% (1998) 24.4 (1999) 3.7% (2005 est.) 23.1% of GDP (2005 est.) $51.4 billion $58.34 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 60.9% of GDP (2005 est.) wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets; pigs, cattle, poultry, dairy products mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles 7.5% (2005 est.) 32.21 billion kWh (2003) 36.96 billion kWh (2003) 7.1 billion kWh (2003) 14.1 billion kWh (2003) 43,920 bbl/day (2003 est.) 134,100 bbl/day (2003 est.) 47,180 bbl/day (2001) 136,600 bbl/day (2001) 110.7 million bbl (1 January 2002) 3.231 billion cu m (2001 est.) 13.37 billion cu m (2001 est.) 4 million cu m (2001 est.) 9.587 billion cu m (2001 est.) 50.45 billion cu m (1 January 2002) $-8.667 billion (2005 est.) $61.75 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Germany 31.4%, Austria 6.8%, France 5.7%, Italy 5.6%, UK 5.1% (2004) $64.83 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Germany 29.2%, Austria 8.3%, Russia 5.7%, Italy 5.5%, Netherlands 4.9%, China 4.8%, France 4.7% (2004) $18.49 billion (2005 est.) $76.23 billion (30 June 2005 est.) $4.2 billion in available EU structural adjustment and cohesion funds (2004-06) forint (HUF) forints per US dollar - 196.83 (2005), 202.75 (2004), 224.31 (2003), 257.89 (2002), 286.49 (2001) calendar year 3,666,400 (2002) 6,862,800 (2002) the telephone system has been modernized and is capable of satisfying all requests for telecommunication service the system is digitalized and highly automated; trunk services are carried by fiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay; a program for fiber-optic subscriber connections was initiated in 1996; heavy use is made of mobile cellular telephones country code - 36; Hungary has fiber-optic cable connections with all neighboring countries; the international switch is in Budapest; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Inmarsat, 1 very small aperture terminal (VSAT) system of ground terminals AM 17, FM 57, shortwave 3 (1998) 35 (plus 161 low-power repeaters) (1995) .hu 383,071 (2004) 1.6 million (2002) 44 (2004 est.) 19 2 8 4 4 1 (2005 est.) 25 2 3 11 9 (2005 est.) 5 (2005 est.) gas 4,397 km; oil 990 km; refined products 335 km (2004) 7,937 km 36 km 1.524-m gauge 7,682 km 1.435-m gauge (2,628 km electrified) 219 km 0.760-m gauge (2004) 159,568 km 70,050 km (including 527 km of expressways) 89,518 km (2002) 1,622 km (most on Danube River) (2004) Budapest, Dunaujvaros, Gyor-Gonyu, Csepel, Baja, Mohacs (2003) Ground Forces, Air Forces 18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in June 2004 (June 2004) 18 2,303,116 (2005 est.) 18 1,780,513 (2005 est.) 63,847 (2005 est.) $1.08 billion (2002 est.) 1.75% (2002 est.) in 2004, Hungary amended the status law extending special social and cultural benefits and voted down a referendum to extend dual citizenship to ethnic Hungarians living in neighboring states, which have objected to such measures; consultations continue between Slovakia and Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Hungary must implement the strict Schengen border rules transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and for South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamine and methamphetamine; improving, but remains vulnerable to money laundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking Iceland Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limited home rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards. Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK 65 00 N 18 00 W Arctic Region 103,000 sq km 100,250 sq km 2,750 sq km slightly smaller than Kentucky 0 km 4,970 km 12 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords Atlantic Ocean 0 m Hvannadalshnukur 2,110 m fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite 0.07% 0% 99.93% (2001) NA sq km earthquakes and volcanic activity water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlands Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe 296,737 (July 2005 est.) 22.1% (male 33,302/female 32,257) 66.2% (male 99,513/female 96,886) 11.7% (male 15,723/female 19,056) (2005 est.) 34 years 33.53 years 34.49 years (2005 est.) 0.91% (2005 est.) 13.73 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 6.68 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.04 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.82 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 3.31 deaths/1,000 live births 3.45 deaths/1,000 live births 3.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 80.19 years 78.13 years 82.34 years (2005 est.) 1.92 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.2% (2001 est.) 220 (2001 est.) less than 100 (2003 est.) Icelander(s) Icelandic homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%, population of foreign origin 6% Lutheran Church of Iceland 85.5%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.1%, Roman Catholic Church 2%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church 1.5%, other Christian 2.7%, other or unspecified 3.8%, unaffiliated 2.4% (2004) Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken age 15 and over can read and write 99.9% (1997 est.) NA% NA% Republic of Iceland Iceland Lydhveldidh Island Island constitutional republic Reykjavik 8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra, Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland 1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark) Independence Day, 17 June (1944) 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944; amended many times civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August 1996) Prime Minister Halldor ASGRIMSSON (since 15 September 2004); note - Former Prime Minister David ODDSSON switched positions with former Foreign Minister Halldor ASGRIMMSON Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by parliament president, which is largely a ceremonial post, elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 26 June 2004 (next to be held June 2008); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually the prime minister Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON wins with 85.6% of the vote, Baldur AGUSTSSON 12.5%, Astthor MAGNUSSON 1.9% unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held 10 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2007) percent of vote by party - Independence Party 33.7%, Social Democratic Alliance 31.0%, Progressive Party 17.7%, Left-Green Alliance 8.8%, Liberal Party 7.4%; seats by party - Independence Party 22, Social Democratic Alliance 20, Progressive Party 12, Left-Green Alliance 5, Liberal Party 4 Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice); eight district courts (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice) Independence Party or IP [David ODDSSON]; Left-Green Alliance or LGP [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party or LP [Gudjon KRISTJANSSON]; Progressive Party or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON]; Social Democratic Alliance (includes People's Alliance or PA, Social Democratic Party or SDP, Women's List) or SDA [Ingibjorg Solrun GISLADOTTIR] NA Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Ambassador Helgi AGUSTSSON Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1704 [1] (202) 265-6653 [1] (202) 265-6656 consulate(s) general: New York Ambassador-designate Carol VAN VOORST Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340 [354] 562-9100 [354] 562-9118 blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system (including generous housing subsidies), low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income. In the absence of other natural resources (except for abundant geothermal power), the economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 70% of export earnings and employs 8% of the work force. The economy remains sensitive to declining fish stocks as well as to fluctuations in world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. Government policies include reducing the budget and current account deficits, limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying the economy, and privatizing state-owned industries. The government remains opposed to EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, and new developments in software production, biotechnology, and financial services are taking place. The tourism sector is also expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism and whale watching. Growth had been remarkably steady in 1996-2001 at 3%-5%, but could not be sustained in 2002 in an environment of global recession. Growth resumed in 2003, and estimates call for strong growth until 2007, slowly dropping until the end of the decade. $10.26 billion (2005 est.) $13.64 billion (2005 est.) 5.9% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $34,600 (2005 est.) 11.8% 22.3% 65.9% (2005 est.) 160,000 (2005 est.) agriculture, fishing and fish processing 10.3%, industry 18.3%, services 71.4% (2003) 2.1% (2005 est.) NA NA% NA% 4.1% (2005 est.) 27.1% of GDP (2005 est.) $6.995 billion $6.761 billion, including capital expenditures of $467 million (2005 est.) 34% of GDP (2005 est.) potatoes, green vegetables, mutton, dairy products, fish fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power; tourism 14.2% (2005 est.) 8.354 billion kWh (2003) 7.769 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) 17,280 bbl/day (2003 est.) 0 bbl/day (2001) 15,470 bbl/day (2001) $-2.009 billion (2005 est.) $3.215 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) UK 19.1%, Germany 17.3%, Netherlands 10.7%, US 9.3%, Spain 7%, Denmark 4.8%, France 4.1% (2004) $4.582 billion (2005 est.) Germany 12.6%, US 10.1%, Norway 9.5%, Denmark 7.6%, UK 6.8%, Sweden 6.3%, Netherlands 5.7% (2004) $1.074 billion (2004 est.) $3.073 billion (2002) $NA Icelandic krona (ISK) Icelandic kronur per US dollar - 63.65 (2005), 70.192 (2004), 76.709 (2003), 91.662 (2002), 97.425 (2001) calendar year 190,700 (2003) 279,100 (2003) extensive domestic service the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic cables and microwave radio relay links country code - 354; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden) AM 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998) 14 (plus 156 low-power repeaters) (1997) .is 122,175 (2004) 195,000 (2003) 98 (2004 est.) 5 1 3 1 (2005 est.) 92 3 29 60 (2005 est.) 13,004 km 4,331 km 8,673 km (2004) 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,341 GRT/6,019 DWT cargo 2, passenger/cargo 1 30 (2005) Grundartangi, Hafnarfjordur, Hornafjordhur, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur no regular armed forces; Icelandic National Police, Icelandic Coast Guard (Islenska Landhelgisgaeslan) 18 69,038 (2005 est.) 18 56,777 (2005 est.) 0 defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik Iceland disputes Denmark's alignment of the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but larger than the Southern Ocean and Arctic Ocean). Four critically important access waterways are the Suez Canal (Egypt), Bab el Mandeb (Djibouti-Yemen), Strait of Hormuz (Iran-Oman), and Strait of Malacca (Indonesia-Malaysia). The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Indian Ocean south of 60 degrees south. body of water between Africa, the Southern Ocean, Asia, and Australia 20 00 S 80 00 E Political Map of the World 68.556 million sq km includes Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Flores Sea, Great Australian Bight, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Java Sea, Mozambique Channel, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Savu Sea, Strait of Malacca, Timor Sea, and other tributary water bodies about 5.5 times the size of the US 66,526 km northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon (June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and October/November in the northern Indian Ocean and January/February in the southern Indian Ocean surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the southern Indian Ocean; unique reversal of surface currents in the northern Indian Ocean; low atmospheric pressure over southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and currents, while high pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter air results in the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and currents; ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninetyeast Ridge Java Trench -7,258 m sea level 0 m oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules occasional icebergs pose navigational hazard in southern reaches endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the Lombok Strait The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. It carries a particularly heavy traffic of petroleum and petroleum products from the oilfields of the Persian Gulf and Indonesia. Its fish are of great and growing importance to the bordering countries for domestic consumption and export. Fishing fleets from Russia, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the Indian Ocean, mainly for shrimp and tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being tapped in the offshore areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and western Australia. An estimated 40% of the world's offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean. Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and offshore placer deposits are actively exploited by bordering countries, particularly India, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Chennai (Madras; India), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Durban (South Africa), Jakarta (Indonesia), Kolkata (Calcutta; India) Melbourne (Australia), Mumbai (Bombay; India), Richards Bay (South Africa) some maritime disputes (see littoral states) India The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest invaded about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkish in the 12th were followed by those of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century. By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the British army played a vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU brought independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. Despite impressive gains in economic investment and output, India faces pressing problems such as the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife. Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan 20 00 N 77 00 E Asia 3,287,590 sq km 2,973,190 sq km 314,400 sq km slightly more than one-third the size of the US 14,103 km Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463 km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km 7,000 km 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north Indian Ocean 0 m Kanchenjunga 8,598 m coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land 54.4% 2.74% 42.86% (2001) 590,000 sq km (1998 est.) droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is overstraining natural resources Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling none of the selected agreements dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes 1,080,264,388 (July 2005 est.) 31.2% (male 173,634,432/female 163,932,475) 63.9% (male 356,932,082/female 333,283,590) 4.9% (male 26,542,025/female 25,939,784) (2005 est.) 24.66 years 24.64 years 24.67 years (2005 est.) 1.4% (2005 est.) 22.32 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 8.28 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.07 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 56.29 deaths/1,000 live births 56.86 deaths/1,000 live births 55.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 64.35 years 63.57 years 65.16 years (2005 est.) 2.78 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.9% (2001 est.) 5.1 million (2001 est.) 310,000 (2001 est.) high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis are high risks in some locations rabies (2004) Indian(s) Indian Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3% (2000) Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census) English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication; Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people; there are 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit; Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language age 15 and over can read and write 59.5% 70.2% 48.3% (2003 est.) Republic of India India federal republic New Delhi 28 states and 7 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*, Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry*, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal 15 August 1947 (from UK) Republic Day, 26 January (1950) 26 January 1950; amended many times based on English common law; limited judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; separate personal law codes apply to Muslims, Christians, and Hindus 18 years of age; universal President A.P.J. Abdul KALAM (since 26 July 2002); Vice President Bhairon Singh SHEKHAWAT (since 19 August 2002) Prime Minister Manmohan SINGH (since 22 May 2004) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister president elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures of the states for a five-year term; election last held July 2002 (next to be held 18 July 2007); vice president elected by both houses of Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 12 August 2002 (next to be held August 2007); prime minister chosen by parliamentary members of the majority party following legislative elections; election last held April - May 2004 (next to be held May 2009) Abdul KALAM elected president; percent of electoral college vote - 89.6%; Bhairon Singh SHEKHAWAT elected vice president; percent of Parliament vote - 59.8% bicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of the Council of States or Rajya Sabha (a body consisting of not more than 250 members, up to 12 of whom are appointed by the president, the remainder are chosen by the elected members of the state and territorial assemblies; members serve six-year terms) and the People's Assembly or Lok Sabha (545 seats; 543 elected by popular vote, 2 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) People's Assembly - last held 20 April through 10 May 2004 (next must be held before May 2009) People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - INC 145, BJP 138, CPI(M) 43, SP 36, RJD 24, BSP 19, DMK 16, SS 12, BJD 11, CPI 10, NCP 9, JDU 8, SAD 8, PMK 6, TDP 5, TRS 5, JMM 5, LJSP 4, MDMK 4, independents 5, other 30 Supreme Court (one chief justice and 25 associate justices are appointed by the president and remain in office until they reach the age of 65 or are removed for "proved misbehavior") note - India has dozens of national and regional political parties; only parties with four or more seats in the People's Assembly are listed; Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP [MAYAWATI]; Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP [Lal Krishna ADVANI]; Biju Janata Dal or BJD [Naveen PATNAIK]; Communist Party of India or CPI [Ardhendu Bhushan BARDHAN]; Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI (M) [Prakash KARAT]; Dravida Munnetra Kazagham or DMK [M. KARUNANIDHI]; Eqtedar-e-Melli-Eslami (Naional Islamic Empowerment) [Ahmad Shah AHMADZAI]; Indian National Congress or INC [Sonia GANDHI]; Janata Dal (United) or JDU [George FERNANDEZ]; Jharkhand Mukti Morcha or JMM [Shibu SOREN]; Lok Jan Shakti Party or LJSP [Ram Vilas PASWAN]; Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or MDMK [VAIKO]; Nahzat-e-Faragir-e-Democracy Wa Taraqi-e-Afghanistan (Afghanistan's Democracy and Progress Movement) [Sher Mohammad BUZGAR]; Nationalist Congress Party or NCP [Sharad PAWAR]; Pattali Makkal Katchi or PMK [S. RAMADOSS]; Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD [Laloo Prasad YADAV]; Samajwadi Party or SP [Mulayam Singh YADAV]; Shiromani Akali Dal or SAD [Prakash Singh BADAL]; Shiv Sena or SS [Bal THACKERAY]; Telangana Rashtra Samithi or TRS [K. Chandrashekar RAO]; Telugu Desam Party or TDP [Chandrababu NAIDU] numerous religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations, including Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh; various separatist groups seeking greater communal and/or regional autonomy, including the All Parties Hurriyat Conference in the Kashmir Valley and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland in the Northeast AfDB, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, C, CERN (observer), CP, EAS, FAO, G- 6, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Ambassador Ranendra SEN 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; note - Consular Wing located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 939-7000 [1] (202) 265-4351 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco Ambassador David C. MULFORD Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021 use embassy street address [91] (11) 2419-8000 [91] (11) 2419-0017 consulate(s) general: Chennai (Madras), Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay) three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange) (top), white, and green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk centered in the white band India's diverse economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of services. Services are the major source of economic growth, accounting for half of India's output with less than one quarter of its labor force. About two-thirds of the workforce is in agriculture, leading the UPA government to articulate an economic reform program that includes developing basic infrastructure to improve the lives of the rural poor and boost economic performance. Government controls on foreign trade and investment have been reduced in some areas, but high tariffs (averaging 20% on non-agricultural items in 2004) and limits on foreign direct investment are still in place. The government in 2005 liberalized investment in the civil aviation, telecom, and construction sectors. Privatization of government-owned industries essentially came to a halt in 2005, and continues to generate political debate; continued social, political, and economic rigidities hold back needed initiatives. The economy has posted an excellent average growth rate of more than 6.8% in the decade since 1994, reducing poverty by about 10 percentage points. India probably achieved greater than 7 percent GDP growth in 2005, significantly expanding manufacturing. India is capitalizing on its large numbers of well-educated people skilled in the English language to become a major exporter of software services and software workers. Despite strong growth, the World Bank and others worry about the combined state and federal budget deficit, running at approximately 9% of GDP. The huge and growing population is the fundamental social, economic, and environmental problem. $3.678 trillion (2005 est.) $735.6 billion (2005 est.) 7.1% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,400 (2005 est.) 20.6% 28.1% 51.4% (2005 est.) 496.4 million (2005 est.) agriculture 60%, industry 17%, services 23% (1999) 9% (2005 est.) 25% (2002 est.) 3.5% 33.5% (1997) 32.5 (2000) 4.4% (2005 est.) 24.8% of GDP (2005 est.) $111.2 billion $135.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $15 billion (2005 est.) 82% of GDP (federal and state debt combined) (2005 est.) rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry; fish textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software 8.2% (2005 est.) 556.8 billion kWh (2003) 519 billion kWh (2003) 187 million kWh (2003) 1.4 billion kWh (2003) 785,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) 2.32 million bbl/day (2003 est.) 350,000 bbl/day NA (2005 est.) 2.09 million bbl/day NA (2005 est.) 5.7 billion bbl (2005 est.) 22.75 billion cu m (2001 est.) 22.75 billion cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 0 cu m (2001 est.) 542.4 billion cu m (2005) $-13.19 billion (2005 est.) $76.23 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) US 17%, UAE 8.8%, China 5.5%, Hong Kong 4.7%, UK 4.5%, Singapore 4.5% (2004) $113.1 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) China 6.1%, US 6%, Switzerland 5.2%, Belgium 4.4% (2004) $145 billion (2005 est.) $119.7 billion (2005 est.) $2.9 billion (FY98/99) Indian rupee (INR) Indian rupees per US dollar - 43.6 (2005), 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003), 48.61 (2002), 47.186 (2001) 1 April - 31 March 48.917 million (2003) 26,154,400 (2003) recent deregulation and liberalization of telecommunications laws and policies have prompted rapid change; local and long distance service provided throughout all regions of the country, with services primarily concentrated in the urban areas; steady improvement is taking place with the recent admission of private and private-public investors, but telephone density remains low at about seven for each 100 persons nationwide but only one per 100 persons in rural areas and a national waiting list of over 1.7 million; fastest growth is in cellular service with modest growth in fixed lines expansion of domestic service, although still weak in rural areas, resulted from increased competition and dramatic reductions in price led in large part by wireless service; mobile cellular service (both CDMA and GSM) introduced in 1994 and organized nationwide into four metropolitan cities and 19 telecom circles each with about three private service providers and one state-owned service provider; in recent years significant trunk capacity added in the form of fiber-optic cable and one of the world's largest domestic satellite systems, the Indian National Satellite system (INSAT), with five satellites supporting 33,000 very small aperture terminals (VSAT) country code - 91; satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region); nine gateway exchanges operating from Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta), Chennai (Madras), Jalandhar, Kanpur, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, and Ernakulam; 5 submarine cables, including Sea-Me-We-3 with landing sites at Cochin and Mumbai (Bombay), Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) with landing site at Mumbai (Bombay), South Africa - Far East (SAFE) with landing site at Cochin, i2icn linking to Singapore with landing sites at Mumbai (Bombay) and Chennai (Madras), and Tata Indicom linking Singapore and Chennai (Madras), provide a significant increase in the bandwidth available for both voice and data traffic (2004) AM 153, FM 91, shortwave 68 (1998) 562 (of which 82 stations have 1 kW or greater power and 480 stations have less than 1 kW of power) (1997) .in 86,871 (2003) 18.481 million (2003) 333 (2004 est.) 239 17 48 75 79 20 (2005 est.) 95 2 6 39 48 (2005 est.) 27 (2005 est.) gas 6,171 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,195 km; oil 5,613 km; refined products 5,567 km (2004) 63,230 km (16,693 km electrified) 45,718 km 1.676-m gauge 14,406 km 1.000-m gauge; 3,106 km 0.762-m gauge and 0.610-m gauge (2004) 3,851,440 km 2,411,001 km 1,440,439 km (2002) 14,500 km 5,200 km on major rivers and 485 km on canals suitable for mechanized vessels (2004) 299 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,555,507 GRT/11,069,791 DWT bulk carrier 85, cargo 75, chemical tanker 13, combination ore/oil 1, container 7, liquefied gas 14, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 91, roll on/roll off 1 10 (Australia 1, China 1, Greece 1, UAE 6, United Kingdom 1) 30 (2005) Chennai, Haldia, Jawaharal Nehru, Kandla, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay), New Mangalore, Vishakhapatnam Army, Navy (includes naval air arm), Air Force, Coast Guard, various security or paramilitary forces (includes Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, National Security Guards, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Special Frontier Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Railway Protection Force, and Defense Security Corps) 16 years of age for voluntary military service (2001) 16 287,551,111 (2005 est.) 16 219,471,999 (2005 est.) 11,446,452 (2005 est.) $18.86 billion (2005) 2.93% (2005/06) China and India launched a security and foreign policy dialogue in 2005, consolidating discussions related to the dispute over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional nuclear proliferation, Indian claims that China transferred missiles to Pakistan, and other matters; recent talks and confidence-building measures have begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); in 2004, India and Pakistan instituted a cease fire in the Kashmir and in 2005, restored bus service across the highly militarized Line of Control; Pakistan has taken its dispute on the impact and benefits of India's building the Baglihar dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir to the World Bank for arbitration; UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; disputes persist with Pakistan over Indus River water sharing; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, in 2004, India and Pakistan resurveyed a portion of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch; Pakistani maps continue to show Junagadh claim in Indian Gujarat State; discussions with Bangladesh remain stalled to delimit a small section of river boundary, to exchange 162 miniscule enclaves in both countries, to allocate divided villages, and to stop illegal cross-border trade, migration, violence, and transit of terrorists through the porous border; Bangladesh protests India's attempts to fence off high-traffic sections; dispute with Bangladesh over New Moore/South Talpatty/Purbasha Island in the Bay of Bengal deters maritime boundary delimitation; India seeks cooperation from Bhutan and Burma to keep Indian Nagaland and Assam separatists from hiding in remote areas along the borders; Joint Border Committee with Nepal continues to demarcate minor disputed boundary sections; India has instituted a stricter border regime to keep out Maoist insurgents and control illegal cross-border activities from Nepal refugees (country of origin): 92,394 (Tibet/China) 60,922 (Sri Lanka) 650,000 (Jammu and Kashmir conflicts; most IDPs are Kashmiri Hindus); 113,000 (resulting from 26 December 2004 tsunami) (2004) world's largest producer of licit opium for the pharmaceutical trade, but an undetermined quantity of opium is diverted to illicit international drug markets; transit point for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries; illicit producer of methaqualone; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through the hawala system Indonesia The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early 17th century; the islands were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared its independence after Japan's surrender, but it required four years of intermittent negotiations, recurring hostilities, and UN mediation before the Netherlands agreed to relinquish its colony. Indonesia is the world's largest archipelagic state. Current issues include: alleviating widespread poverty, preventing terrorism, continuing the transition to popularly-elected governments after four decades of authoritarianism, implementing reforms of the banking sector, addressing charges of cronyism and corruption, and holding the military and police accountable for human rights violations. Indonesia has been dealing with armed separatist movements in Aceh and in Papua. Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean 5 00 S 120 00 E Southeast Asia 1,919,440 sq km 1,826,440 sq km 93,000 sq km slightly less than three times the size of Texas 2,830 km East Timor 228 km, Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km 54,716 km measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines 12 nm 200 nm tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains Indian Ocean 0 m Puncak Jaya 5,030 m petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver 11.32% 7.23% 81.45% (2001) 48,150 sq km (1998 est.) occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, forest fires deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest fires Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands Marine Life Conservation archipelago of 17,508 islands (6,000 inhabited); straddles equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean 241,973,879 (July 2005 est.) 29.1% (male 35,823,456/female 34,590,631) 65.7% (male 79,447,560/female 79,449,399) 5.2% (male 5,526,389/female 7,136,444) (2005 est.) 26.48 years 26.03 years 26.93 years (2005 est.) 1.45% (2005 est.) 20.71 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 6.25 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.77 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 35.6 deaths/1,000 live births 40.72 deaths/1,000 live births 30.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 69.57 years 67.13 years 72.13 years (2005 est.) 2.44 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.1% (2003 est.) 110,000 (2003 est.) 2,400 (2003 est.) high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever dengue fever, malaria, and chikungunya are high risks in some locations at present, H5N1 avian influenza poses a minimal risk; during outbreaks among birds, rare cases could occur among US personnel who have close contact with infected birds or poultry (2005) Indonesian(s) Indonesian Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%, other 26% Muslim 88%, Protestant 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%, other 1% (1998) Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects, the most widely spoken of which is Javanese age 15 and over can read and write 87.9% 92.5% 83.4% (2002 est.) Republic of Indonesia Indonesia Republik Indonesia Indonesia Netherlands East Indies; Dutch East Indies republic Jakarta 30 provinces (propinsi-propinsi, singular - propinsi), 2 special regions* (daerah-daerah istimewa, singular - daerah istimewa), and 1 special capital city district** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Banten, Bengkulu, Gorontalo, Irian Jaya Barat, Jakarta Raya**, Jambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan Barat, Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur, Kepulauan Bangka Belitung, Kepulauan Riau, Lampung, Maluku, Maluku Utara, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Papua, Riau, Sulawesi Barat, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat, Sumatera Selatan, Sumatera Utara, Yogyakarta*; note - with the implementation of decentralization on 1 January 2001, the 357 districts or regencies became the key administrative units responsible for providing most government services 17 August 1945 (independence proclaimed); 27 December 1949 (Netherlands recognizes Indonesian independence) Independence Day, 17 August (1945) August 1945; abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949 and Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959 based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures and election codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age President Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO (since 20 October 2004) and Vice President Muhammad Yusuf KALLA (since 20 October 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO (since 20 October 2004) and Vice President Muhammad Yusuf KALLA (since 20 October 2004); Cabinet appointed by the president president and vice president were elected for five-year terms by direct vote of the citizenry; last held 20 September 2004 (next to be held in September 2009) Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO elected president receiving 60.6% of vote; MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri received 39.4% unicameral House of Representatives or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) (550 seats; members elected to serve five-year terms); House of Regional Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Daerah or DPD), constitutionally mandated role includes providing legislative input to DPR on issues affecting regions; People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or MPR) has role in inaugurating and impeaching President and in amending constitution; consists of popularly-elected members in DPR and DPD; MPR does not formulate national policy last held 5 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2009) percent of vote by party - Golkar 21.6%, PDI-P 18.5%, PKB 10.6%, PPP 8.2%, PD 7.5%, PKS 7.3%, PAN 6.4%, others 19.9%; seats by party - Golkar 128, PDI-P 109, PPP 58, PD 55, PAN 53, PKB 52, PKS 45, others 50 because of election rules, the number of seats won does not always follow the number of votes received by parties Supreme Court or Mahkamah Agung (justices appointed by the president from a list of candidates approved by the legislature); a separate Constitutional Court or Makhama Konstitusi was invested by the president on 16 August 2003; in March 2004 the Supreme Court assumed administrative and financial responsibility for the lower court system from the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights Crescent Moon and Star Party or PBB [Yusril Ihza MAHENDRA, chairman]; Democratic Party or PD [Subur BUDHISANTOSO, chairman]; Functional Groups Party or Golkar [Yusuf KALLA, chairman]; Indonesia Democratic Party-Struggle or PDI-P [MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri, chairperson]; National Awakening Party or PKB [Alwi SHIHAB, chairman]; National Mandate Party or PAN [Sutrisno BACHIR, chairman]; Prosperous Justice Party or PKS [Tifatul SEMBIRING, chairman]; United Development Party or PPP [Hamzah HAZ, chairman] NA APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Charge Andri HADI 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 [1] (202) 775-5200 [1] (202) 775-5365 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco Ambassador B. Lynn PASCOE Jalan 1 Medan Merdeka Selatan 4-5, Jakarta 10110 Unit 8129, Box 1, FPO AP 96520 [62] (21) 3435-9000 [62] (21) 3435-9922 consulate(s) general: Surabaya two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland, which is white (top) and red Indonesia, a vast polyglot nation, has struggled to overcome the Asian financial crisis, and still grapples with high unemployment, a fragile banking sector, endemic corruption, inadequate infrastructure, a poor investment climate, and unequal resource distribution among regions. Indonesia became a net oil importer in 2004 because of declining production and lack of new exploration investment. The cost of subsidizing domestic fuel placed increasing strain on the budget in 2005, and combined with indecisive monetary policy, contributed to a run on the currency in August, prompting the government to enact a 126% average fuel price hike in October. The resulting inflation and interest rate hikes will dampen growth prospects in 2006. Keys to future growth remain internal reform, building up the confidence of international and domestic investors, and strong global economic growth. In late December 2004, the Indian Ocean tsunami took 131,000 lives with another 37,000 missing, left some 570,000 displaced persons, and caused an estimated $4.5 billion in damages and losses. Terrorist incidents in 2005 have slowed tourist arrivals. Indonesia experienced several human cases of avian influenza in late 2005, sparking concerns of a pandemic. $899 billion (2005 est.) $245.3 billion (2005 est.) 5.3% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2005 est.) 15.1% 44.5% 40.4% (2005 est.) 110.4 million (2005 est.) agriculture 45%, industry 16%, services 39% (1999 est.) 10% (2005 est.) 15.2% (2004) 3.6% 28.5% (2002) 34.3 (2002) 9.3% (2005 est.) 21.5% of GDP (2005 est.) $56.13 billion $58.72 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.) 52.6% of GDP (2005 est.) rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra, poultry, beef, pork, eggs petroleum and natural gas, textiles, apparel, footwear, mining, cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, food, tourism 2.1% (2005 est.) 109.5 billion kWh (2003) 101.8 billion kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003) 1.094 million bbl/day (2004) 1.155 million bbl/day (2003) 556,200 bbl/day (2004) 606,200 bbl/day (2004) 4.6 billion bbl (2005 est.) 77.6 billion cu m (2003 est.) 55.3 billion cu m (2003 est.) 39.7 billion cu m (2003 est.) 0 cu m (2003 est.) 2.549 trillion cu m (2005) $3.899 billion (2005 est.) $83.64 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Japan 22.3%, US 12.3%, Singapore 8.4%, South Korea 6.8%, China 6.4%, Malaysia 4.2% (2004) $62.02 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Singapore 13.1%, Japan 13.1%, China 8.8%, US 7%, Thailand 6%, Australia 4.8%, Saudi Arabia 4.2%, South Korea 4.2% (2004) $33.58 billion (2005 est.) $140.6 billion (2005 est.) $43 billion Indonesia finished its IMF program in December 2003 but still receives bilateral aid through the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI), which pledged $2.8 billion in grants and loans for 2004 and again in 2005; nearly $5 billion in aid money pledged by a variety bilateral, multilateral and NGO donors following the 2004 tsunami; money is slated for use in relief and rebuilding efforts in Aceh. Indonesian rupiah (IDR) Indonesian rupiahs per US dollar - 9,739.35 (2005), 8,938.9 (2004), 8,577.1 (2003), 9,311.2 (2002), 10,260.8 (2001) calendar year; note - previously was 1 April - 31 March, but starting with 2001, has been changed to calendar year 7.75 million (2002) 11.7 million (2002) domestic service fair, international service good interisland microwave system and HF radio police net; domestic satellite communications system country code - 62; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) AM 678, FM 43, shortwave 82 (1998) 41 (1999) .id 62,036 (2003) 8 million (2002) 667 (2004 est.) 161 4 15 48 51 43 (2005 est.) 507 6 26 475 (2005 est.) 23 (2005 est.) condensate 850 km; condensate/gas 128 km; gas 8,506 km; oil 7,472 km; oil/gas/water 66 km; refined products 1,329 km (2004) 6,458 km 5,961 km 1.067-m gauge (125 km electrified); 497 km 0.750-m gauge (2004) 368,360 km 213,648 km 154,711 km (2002) 21,579 km Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura 820 km, Kalimantan 10,460 km, Sulawesi (Celebes) 241 km, Irian Jaya 4,587 km (2004) 728 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,192,847 GRT/4,319,739 DWT bulk carrier 35, cargo 409, chemical tanker 19, container 36, liquefied gas 7, livestock carrier 1, passenger 41, passenger/cargo 36, petroleum tanker 125, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 13, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 2 19 (France 1, Japan 3, Philippines 1, Singapore 11, Switzerland 1, United Kingdom 2) 113 (2005) Banjarmasin, Belawan, Ciwandan, Krueg Geukueh, Palembang, Panjang, Sungai Pakning, Tanjung Perak, Tanjung Priok Indonesia Armed Forces (TNI): Army (TNI-AD), Navy (TNI-AL, includes Marines, Naval Air arm), Air Force (TNI-AU) 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2002) 18 60,543,028 (2005 est.) 18 48,687,234 (2005 est.) 2,201,047 (2005 est.) $1.3 billion (2004) 3% (2004) East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee continues to meet, survey and delimit land boundary, but several sections of the boundary remain unresolved; Indonesia and East Timor contest the sovereignty of the uninhabited coral island of Palau Batek/Fatu Sinai, which hinders a decision on a northern maritime boundary; a 1997 treaty between Indonesia and Australia settled some parts of their maritime boundary but outstanding issues remain; ICJ's award of Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia in 2002 left maritime boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Celebes Sea in dispute, culminating in hostile confrontations in March 2005 over concessions to the Ambalat oil block; the ICJ decision has prompted Indonesia to assert claims to and to establish a presence on its smaller outer islands; Indonesia and Singapore pledged in 2005 to finalize their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Batam Island; Indonesian secessionists, squatters, and illegal migrants create repatriation problems for Papua New Guinea; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait 535,000 (government offensives against rebels in Aceh; most IDPs in Aceh, Central Kalimantan, Maluku, and Central Sulawesi Provinces); 441,000 (resulting from 26 December 2004 tsunmai) (2004) illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; possible growing role as transshipment point for Golden Triangle heroin Iran Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and the shah was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority nominally vested in a learned religious scholar. Iranian-US relations have been strained since a group of Iranian students seized the US Embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979 and held it until 20 January 1981. During 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq that eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces between 1987-1988. Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism for its activities in Lebanon and elsewhere in the world and remains subject to US economic sanctions and export controls because of its continued involvement. Following the elections of a reformist president and Majlis in the late 1990s, attempts to foster political reform in response to popular dissatisfaction floundered as conservative politicians prevented reform measures from being enacted, increased repressive measures, and made electoral gains against reformers. Parliamentary elections in 2004 and the August 2005 inauguration of a conservative stalwart as president, completed the reconsolidation of conservative power in Iran's government. Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan 32 00 N 53 00 E Middle East 1.648 million sq km 1.636 million sq km 12,000 sq km slightly larger than Alaska 5,440 km Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km, Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km 2,440 km; note - Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km) 12 nm 24 nm bilateral agreements or median lines in the Persian Gulf natural prolongation mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts Caspian Sea -28 m Kuh-e Damavand 5,671 m petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur 8.72% 1.39% 89.89% (2001) 75,620 sq km (1998 est.) periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport 68,017,860 (July 2005 est.) 27.1% (male 9,465,475/female 8,973,828) 68% (male 23,556,970/female 22,701,065) 4.9% (male 1,637,512/female 1,683,010) (2005 est.) 24.23 years 24.03 years 24.44 years (2005 est.) 0.86% (2005 est.) 16.83 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 5.55 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -2.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 41.58 deaths/1,000 live births 41.75 deaths/1,000 live births 41.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 69.96 years 68.58 years 71.4 years (2005 est.) 1.82 children born/woman (2005 est.) less than 0.1% (2001 est.) 31,000 (2001 est.) 800 (2003 est.) Iranian(s) Iranian Persian 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1% Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 9%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 2% Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2% age 15 and over can read and write 79.4% 85.6% 73% (2003 est.) Islamic Republic of Iran Iran Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran Iran Persia theocratic republic Tehran 30 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Janubi, Khorasan-e Razavi, Khorasan-e Shemali, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed) Republic Day, 1 April (1979) additional holidays celebrated widely in Iran include Revolution Day, 11 February (1979); Noruz (New Year's Day), 21 March; Constitutional Monarchy Day, 5 August (1925); and various Islamic observances which change in accordance with the lunar-based hejira calendar 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the presidency and eliminate the prime ministership the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of government 15 years of age; universal Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989) President Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD (since 3 August 2005) First Vice President Parviz DAVUDI (since 11 September 2005) Council of Ministers selected by the president with legislative approval; the Supreme Leader has some control over appointments to the more sensitive ministries leader of the Islamic Revolution appointed for life by the Assembly of Experts; president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 17 June 2005 with a two-candidate runoff on 24 June 2005 (next to be held NA 2009) Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD elected president; percent of vote - Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD 62%, Ali Akbar Hashemi RAFSANJANI 36%; note - 2% of ballots spoiled unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami (290 seats, note - changed from 270 seats with the 18 February 2000 election; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held 20 February 2004 with a runoff held 7 May 2004 (next to be held February 2008) percent of vote - NA%; seats by party - conservatives/Islamists 190, reformers 50, independents 43, religious minorities 5, and 2 seats unaccounted for Supreme Court - above a special clerical court, a revolutionary court, and a special administrative court formal political parties are a relatively new phenomenon in Iran and most conservatives still prefer to work through political pressure groups rather than parties; a loose pro-reform coalition called the 2nd Khordad front, which includes political parties as well as less formal pressure groups and organizations, achieved considerable success at elections to the sixth Majles in early 2000; groups in the coalition include: Islamic Iran Participation Front (IIPF); Executives of Construction Party (Kargozaran); Solidarity Party; Islamic Labor Party; Mardom Salari; Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization (MIRO); and Militant Clerics Society (Ruhaniyun); the coalition participated in the seventh Majles elections in early 2004; a new apparently conservative group, the Builders of Islamic Iran, took a leading position in the new Majles after winning a majority of the seats in February 2004 political pressure groups conduct most of Iran's political activities; groups that generally support the Islamic Republic include Ansar-e Hizballah, Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam, Tehran Militant Clergy Association (Ruhaniyat), Islamic Coalition Party (Motalefeh), and Islamic Engineers Society; active pro-reform student groups include the Organization for Strengthening Unity; opposition groups include Freedom Movement of Iran, the National Front, Marz-e Por Gohar, and various ethnic and Monarchist organizations; armed political groups that have been almost completely repressed by the government include Mujahidin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), People's Fedayeen, Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, and Komala ABEDA, CP, ECO, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer) none; note - Iran has an Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy; address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone: [1] (202) 965-4990; FAX [1] (202) 965-1073 none; note - protecting power in Iran is Switzerland three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah in the shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band Iran's economy is marked by a bloated, inefficient state sector, over reliance on the oil sector, and statist policies that create major distortions throughout. Most economic activity is controlled by the state. Private sector activity is typically small-scale - workshops, farming, and services. President KHATAMI has continued to follow the market reform plans of former President RAFSANJANI, with limited progress. Relatively high oil prices in recent years have enabled Iran to amass some $40 billion in foreign exchange reserves, but have not eased economic hardships such as high unemployment and inflation. The proportion of the economy devoted to the development of weapons of mass destruction remains a contentious issue with leading Western nations. $551.6 billion (2005 est.) $182.5 billion (2005 est.) 4.8% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $8,100 (2005 est.) 11.8% 43.3% 44.9% (2005 est.) 23.68 million shortage of skilled labor (2005 est.) agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (2001 est.) 11.2% (2004 est.) 40% (2002 est.) NA NA 16% (2005 est.) 30.5% of GDP (2005 est.) $48.82 billion $60.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.6 billion (2005 est.) 27.5% of GDP (2005 est.) wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), metal fabrication, armaments 3% excluding oil (2005 est.) 142.3 billion kWh (2003) 132.1 billion kWh (2003) 840 million kWh (2003) 600 million kWh (2003) 3.979 million bbl/day (2005 est.) 1.425 million bbl/day (2003 est.) 2.5 million bbl/day (2004 est.) NA (2001) 133.3 billion bbl (2005 est.) 79 billion cu m (2003 est.) 72.4 billion cu m (2003 est.) 3.4 billion cu m (2003 est.) 4.92 billion cu m (2003 est.) 26.7 trillion cu m (2005) $8.179 billion (2005 est.) $55.42 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Japan 18.4%, China 9.7%, Italy 6%, South Africa 5.8%, South Korea 5.4%, Taiwan 4.6%, Turkey 4.4%, Netherlands 4% (2004) $42.5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) Germany 12.8%, France 8.3%, Italy 7.7%, China 7.2%, UAE 7.2%, South Korea 6.1%, Russia 5.4% (2004) $40.06 billion (2005 est.) $16.94 billion (2005 est.) $408 million (2002 est.) Iranian rial (IRR) rials per US dollar - 9,040.26 (2005), 8,614 (2004), 8,193.9 (2003), 6,907 (2002), 1,753.6 (2001) Iran has been using a managed floating exchange rate regime since unifying multiple exchange rates in March 2002 21 March - 20 March 14,571,100 (2003) 3,376,500 (2003) inadequate but currently being modernized and expanded with the goal of not only improving the efficiency and increasing the volume of the urban service but also bringing telephone service to several thousand villages, not presently connected as a result of heavy investing in the telephone system since 1994, the number of long-distance channels in the microwave radio relay trunk has grown substantially; many villages have been brought into the net; the number of main lines in the urban systems has approximately doubled; and thousands of mobile cellular subscribers are being served; moreover, the technical level of the system has been raised by the installation of thousands of digital switches country code - 98; HF radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; submarine fiber-optic cable to UAE with access to Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line runs from Azerbaijan through the northern portion of Iran to Turkmenistan with expansion to Georgia and Azerbaijan; satellite earth stations - 9 Intelsat and 4 Inmarsat AM 72, FM 5, shortwave 5 (1998) 28 (plus 450 low-power repeaters) (1997) .ir 5,269 (2004) 4.3 million (2003) 305 (2004 est.) 129 40 26 25 33 5 (2005 est.) 181 1 8 130 42 (2005 est.) 15 (2005 est.) condensate/gas 212 km; gas 16,998 km; liquid petroleum gas 570 km; oil 8,256 km; refined products 7,808 km (2004) 7,203 km 94 km 1.676-m gauge 7,109 km 1.435-m gauge (189 km electrified) (2004) 178,152 km 118,115 km (including 751 km of expressways) 60,037 km (2002) 850 km (on Karun River and Lake Urmia) (2004) 144 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,715,242 GRT/8,240,069 DWT bulk carrier 38, cargo 49, chemical tanker 4, container 14, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 30, roll on/roll off 2 1 (UAE 1) 8 (2005) Assaluyeh, Bushehr Islamic Republic of Iran Regular Forces (Artesh): Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force (includes Air Defense) Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Sepah-e Pasdaran-e Enqelab-e Eslami, IRGC): Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Qods Force (special operations), and Basij Force (Popular Mobilization Army) Law Enforcement Forces: (2004) 18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; soldiers as young as 9 were recruited extensively during the Iran-Iraq War; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004) 18 18,319,545 (2005 est.) 18 15,665,725 (2005 est.) 862,056 (2005 est.) $4.3 billion (2003 est.) 3.3% (2003 est.) Iran protests Afghanistan's limiting flow of dammed tributaries to the Helmand River in periods of drought; Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Iran and UAE engage in direct talks and solicit Arab League support to resolve disputes over Iran's occupation of Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island; Iran stands alone among littoral states in insisting upon a division of the Caspian Sea into five equal sectors refugees (country of origin): 1,223,823 (Afghanistan) 124,014 (Iraq) (2004) despite substantial interdiction efforts, Iran remains a key transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe; domestic narcotics consumption remains a persistent problem and according to official Iranian statistics there are at least two million drug users in the country; lax anti-money-laundering regulations Iraq Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain during the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over the next dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of military strongmen ruled the country, the latest was SADDAM Husayn. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait, but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions over a period of 12 years resulted in the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. Coalition forces remain in Iraq, helping to restore degraded infrastructure and facilitating the establishment of a freely elected government, while simultaneously dealing with a robust insurgency. The Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government (IG) in June 2004. Iraqis voted on 30 January 2005 to elect a 275-member Transitional National Assembly and voted on 15 December 2005 to elect a 275-member Council of Representatives that will finalize a permanent constitution. Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait 33 00 N 44 00 E Middle East 437,072 sq km 432,162 sq km 4,910 sq km slightly more than twice the size of Idaho 3,650 km Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 352 km 58 km 12 nm not specified mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey Persian Gulf 0 m unnamed peak; 3,611 m petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur 13.15% 0.78% 86.07% (2001) 35,250 sq km (1998 est.) dust storms, sandstorms, floods government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh Arabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification Law of the Sea Environmental Modification strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf 26,074,906 (July 2005 est.) 40% (male 5,293,709/female 5,130,826) 57% (male 7,530,619/female 7,338,109) 3% (male 367,832/female 413,811) (2005 est.) 19.43 years 19.35 years 19.51 years (2005 est.) 2.7% (2005 est.) 32.5 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 5.49 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.89 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 50.25 deaths/1,000 live births 56.06 deaths/1,000 live births 44.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 68.7 years 67.49 years 69.97 years (2005 est.) 4.28 children born/woman (2005 est.) less than 0.1% (2001 est.) less than 500 (2003 est.) NA Iraqi(s) Iraqi Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5% Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3% Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian age 15 and over can read and write 40.4% 55.9% 24.4% (2003 est.) Republic of Iraq Iraq Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah Al Iraq none; note - the Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG) was elected on 30 January 2005 Baghdad 18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government Revolution Day, 17 July (1968); note - this holiday was celebrated under the SADDAM Husayn regime but the Iraqi Interim Government has yet to declare a new national holiday interim constitution signed 8 March 2004; note - the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL) was enacted 8 March 2004 to govern the country until an elected Iraqi Government can finalize a new constitution in 2006 based on civil and Islamic law under the Iraqi Interim Government (IG) and Transitional Administrative Law (TAL) formerly 18 years of age; universal Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG) President Jalal TALABANI (since 6 April 2005); Deputy Presidents Adil Abd AL-MAHDI and Ghazi al-Ujayl al-YAWR (since 6 April 2005); note - the President and Deputy Presidents comprise the Presidency Council) Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG) Prime Minister Ibrahim al-JAFARI (since April 2005); Deputy Prime Ministers Rowsch SHAWAYS, Ahmad CHALABI, and Abid al-Mutlaq al-JABBURI (since May 2005) 32 ministers appointed by the Presidency Council, plus Prime Minister Ibrahim al-JAFARI, Deputy Prime Ministers Rowsch SHAWAYS, Ahmad CHALABI, and Abid al-Mutlaq al-JABBURI held 15 December 2005 to elect a 275-member Council of Representatives that will finalize a permanent constitution unicameral Council of Representatives or Mejlis Watani (consisting of 275 members elected by a closed-list, proportional-representation system) held 15 December 2005 to elect a 275-member Council of Representatives that will finalize a permanent constitution Council of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; number of seats by party - NA Supreme Court appointed by the Prime Minister, confirmed by the Presidency Council Al-Sadr Movement [Muqtada Al-SADR]; Assyrian Democratic Movement [Yunadim KANNA]; Conference of Iraqi People [Adnan al-DULAYMI]; Constitutional Monarchy Movement or CMM [Sharif Ali Bin al-HUSAYN]; Da'wa Party [Ibrahim al-JA'FARI]; Independent Iraqi Alliance or IIA [Falah al-NAQIB]; Iraqi Communist Party [Hamid al-MUSA]; Iraqi Hizballah [Karim Mahud al-MUHAMMADAWI]; Iraqi Independent Democrats or IID [Adnan PACHACHI, Mahdi al-HAFIZ]; Iraqi Islamic Party or IIP [Muhsin Abd al-HAMID, Hajim al-HASSANI]; Iraqi National Accord or INA [Ayad ALLAWI]; Iraqi National Congress or INC [Ahmad CHALABI]; Iraqi National Council for Dialogue or INCD [Khalaf Ulayan al-Khalifawi al-DULAYMI]; Iraqi National Unity Movement or INUM [Ahmad al-KUBAYSI, chairman]; Islamic Action Organization or IAO [Ayatollah Muhammad al-MUDARRISI]; Jama'at al Fadilah or JAF [Ayatollah Muhammad ' Ali al-YAQUBI]; Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Masud BARZANI]; Muslim Ulama Council or MUC [Harith Sulayman al-DARI, secretary general]; National Iraqi Front [Salih al-MUTLAQ]; National Reconciliation and Liberation Party [Mishan al-JABBURI]; Patriotic Union of Kurdistan or PUK [Jalal TALABANI]; Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq or SCIRI [Abd al-Aziz al-HAKIM] the Kurdish Alliance, the National Iraqi List, the Iraqi Consensus Front, the Iraqi Front for National Dialogue, and the United Iraqi Alliance were only electoral slates consisting of the representatives from the various Iraqi political parties an insurgency against the Iraqi Transitional Government and Coalition forces is primarily concentrated in Baghdad and in areas west and north of the capital; the diverse, multigroup insurgency is led principally by Sunni Arabs whose only common denominator is a shared desire to oust the Coalition and end US influence in Iraq ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer) Ambassador (vacant) 1801 P Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036 [1] (202) 483-7500 [1] (202) 462-5066 Ambassador Zalmay KHALILZAD; Deputy Chief of Mission David M. SATTERFIELD Baghdad APO AE 09316 00-1-240-553-0584 ext. 5340 OR 5635; note - Consular Section NA three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star - was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria, which has two stars but no script, Yemen, which has a plain white band, and that of Egypt which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band; design is based upon the Arab Liberation colors Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic sanctions, and damage from military action by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically reduced economic activity. Although government policies supporting large military and internal security forces and allocating resources to key supporters of the regime hurt the economy, implementation of the UN's oil-for-food program beginning in December 1996 helped improve conditions for the average Iraqi citizen. Iraq was allowed to export limited amounts of oil in exchange for food, medicine, and some infrastructure spare parts. In December 1999, the UN Security Council authorized Iraq to export under the program as much oil as required to meet humanitarian needs. Per capita food imports increased significantly, while medical supplies and health care services steadily improved. Per capita output and living standards were still well below the pre-1991 level, but any estimates have a wide range of error. The military victory of the US-led coalition in March-April 2003 resulted in the shutdown of much of the central economic administrative structure. Although a comparatively small amount of capital plant was damaged during the hostilities, looting, insurgent attacks, and sabotage have undermined efforts to rebuild the economy. Attacks on key economic facilities - especially oil pipelines and infrastructure - have prevented Iraq from reaching projected export volumes, but total government revenues have been higher than anticipated due to high oil prices. Despite political uncertainty, Iraq has established the institutions needed to implement economic policy, has successfully concluded a three-stage debt reduction agreement with the Paris Club, and is working toward a Standby Arrangement with the IMF. The Standby Arrangement would clear the way for continued debt relief from the Paris Club. $94.1 billion (2005 est.) $46.5 billion (2005 est.) 2.4% (2005 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,400 (2005 est.) 7.3% 66.6% 26.1% (2004 est.) 7.4 million (2004 est.) agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA 25% to 30% (2005 est.) NA NA NA 40% (2005 est.) $19.3 billion $24 billion, including capital expenditures of $5 billion (2005 budget) wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep, poultry petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing NA 31.7 billion kWh (2005) 33.3 billion kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2005) 2.02 billion kWh (2005) 2.093 million bbl/day (2004 est.); note - prewar production (in 2002) was 2.03 million bbl/day (2005 est.) 351,500 bbl/day (2005 est.) 1.42 million bbl/day (2005 est.) NA (2005) 112.5 billion bbl (2005 est.) 2.35 billion cu m (2002 est.) 2.35 billion cu m (2002 est.) 0 cu m (2004 est.) 0 cu m (2004 est.) 3.149 trillion cu m (2005) $-9.447 billion (2004 est.) $17.78 billion f.o.b. (2004) US 51.9%, Spain 7.3%, Japan 6.6%, Italy 5.7%, Canada 5.2% (2004) $19.57 billion f.o.b. (2004) Syria 22.9%, Turkey 19.5%, US 9.2%, Jordan 6.7%, Germany 4.9% (2004) $8.4 billion (2005 est.) $82.1 billion (2005 est.) more than $33 billion in foreign aid pledged for 2004-07 (2004) New Iraqi dinar (NID) as of 22 January 2004 New Iraqi dinars per US dollar - 1,475 (2005), 1,890 (second half, 2003), 0.3109 (2002), 0.3109 (2001) calendar year 675,000; note - an unknown number of telephone lines were damaged or destroyed during the March-April 2003 war (2003) 20,000 (2002) the 2003 war severely disrupted telecommunications throughout Iraq including international connections; USAID is overseeing the repair of switching capability and the construction of mobile and satellite communication facilities repairs to switches and lines destroyed in the recent fighting continue, but sabotage remains a problem; cellular service is expected to be in place within two years country code - 964; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Arabsat (inoperative); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; Kuwait line is probably nonoperational after 17 months of unregulated media growth, there are approximately 80 radio stations on the air inside Iraq (2004) 21 (2004) .iq 25,000 (2002) 111; note - unknown number were damaged during the March-April 2003 war (2004 est.) 78 20 37 5 7 9 (2005 est.) 33 2 4 5 12 10 (2005 est.) 8 (2005 est.) gas 1,739 km; oil 5,418 km; refined products 1,343 km (2004) 2,200 km 2,200 km 1.435-m gauge (2004) 45,550 km 38,399 km 7,151 km (1999) 5,275 km (not all navigable) Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,895 km), and Third River (565 km) are principal waterways (2004) 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 83,221 GRT/125,255 DWT cargo 11, petroleum tanker 3 (2005) Al Basrah, Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr Iraqi Armed Forces: Iraqi Regular Army (includes Iraqi Special Operations Force, Iraqi Intervention Force), Iraqi Navy (former Iraqi Coastal Defense Force), Iraqi Air Force (former Iraqi Army Air Corps) (2005) 18 years of age; the Iraqi Interim Government is creating a new professional Iraqi military force of men aged 18 to 40 to defend Iraq from external threats and the current insurgency (2004) 18 5,870,640 (2005 est.) 18 4,930,074 (2005 est.) 298,518 (2005 est.) $1.3 billion (FY00) NA coalition forces assist Iraqis in monitoring boundary security; Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Turkey has expressed concern over the status of Kurds in Iraq refugees (country of origin): 150,000 (Palestinian Territories) 1,340,280 (ongoing US-led war and Kurds' subsequent return) (2004) Ireland Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the United Kingdom. In 1948 Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is being implemented with some difficulties. Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain 53 00 N 8 00 W Europe 70,280 sq km 68,890 sq km 1,390 sq km slightly larger than West Virginia 360 km UK 360 km 1,448 km 12 nm 200 nm temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast Atlantic Ocean 0 m Carrauntoohil 1,041 m natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite 15.2% 0.03% 84.77% (2001) NA sq km NA water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 100 km of Dublin 4,015,676 (July 2005 est.) 20.9% (male 434,225/female 406,730) 67.5% (male 1,358,086/female 1,354,148) 11.5% (male 203,614/female 258,873) (2005 est.) 33.7 years 32.9 years 34.49 years (2005 est.) 1.16% (2005 est.) 14.47 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 7.85 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 4.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.07 male(s)/female 1.07 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.79 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.) 5.39 deaths/1,000 live births 5.91 deaths/1,000 live births 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) 77.56 years 74.95 years 80.34 years (2005 est.) 1.87 children born/woman (2005 est.) 0.1% (2001 est.) 2,800 (2001 est.) less than 100 (2003 est.) Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural) Irish Celtic, English Roman Catholic 88.4%, Church of Ireland 3%, other Christian 1.6%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2%, none 3.5% (2002 census) English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (official) (Gaelic or Gaeilge) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard age 15 and over can read and write 98% (1981 est.) NA% NA% none Ireland none Eire parliamentary democracy Dublin 26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan are part of Ulster Province 6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty) Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937 based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 18 years of age; universal President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November 1997) Prime Minister Bertie AHERN (since 26 June 1997) Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 31 October 1997 (next scheduled for October 2011); note - Mary MCALEESE appointed to a second term when no other candidate qualified for the 2004 presidential election; prime minister nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed by the president Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote - Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6% government coalition - Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats - 49 elected by the universities and from candidates put forward by five vocational panels, 11 are nominated by the prime minister; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) Senate - last held 16 and 17 July 2002 (next to be held by July 2007); House of Representatives - last held 17 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 30, Fine Gael 15, Labor Party 5, Progressive Democrats 4, independents and others 6; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 41.5%, Fine Gael 22.5%, Labor Party 10.8%, Sinn Fein 6.5%, Progressive Democrats 4.0%, Green Party 3.8%, others 10.9%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 81, Fine Gael 31, Labor Party 21, Progressive Democrats 8, Green Party 6, Sinn Fein 5, others 14 Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet) Fianna Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party [Trevor SARGENT]; Labor Party [Pat RABITTE]; Progressive Democrats [Mary HARNEY]; Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Sean GARLAND] NA Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Ambassador Noel FAHEY 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 462-3939 [1] (202) 232-5993 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco Ambassador James C. KENNY