Chapter XXXIX: Front Matter (39)

Disputes - international:
prolonged drought, population growth, and outmoded practices and
infrastructure in the border region have strained water-sharing
arrangements with the US; nationals from Central America slip into
Mexico seeking work or transit into the US; undocumented Mexican
nationals continue to enter the United States

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 12,000 (government's quashing of Zapatero uprising in 1994 in
eastern Chiapas Region) (2004)

Illicit drugs:
illicit cultivation of opium poppy (cultivation in 2001 - 4,400
hectares; potential heroin production - 7 metric tons) and of
cannabis (in 2001 - 4,100 hectares); government eradication efforts
have been key in keeping illicit crop levels low; major supplier of
heroin and largest foreign supplier of marijuana and methamphetamine
to the US market; continues as the primary transshipment country for
US-bound cocaine from South America, accounting for about 70 percent
of estimated annual cocaine movement to the US; major drug
syndicates control majority of drug trafficking throughout the
country; producer and distributor of ecstasy; significant
money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

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@Micronesia, Federated States of

Introduction Micronesia, Federated States of

Background:
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 2003. Present concerns
include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on
US aid.

Geography Micronesia, Federated States of

Location:
Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia

Geographic coordinates:
6 55 N, 158 15 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 702 sq km
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands,
and Kosrae (Kosaie)
water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)
land: 702 sq km

Area - comparative:
four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
6,112 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern
islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with
occasionally severe damage

Terrain:
islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low,
coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m

Natural resources:
forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Land use:
arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 45.71%
other: 48.58% (2001)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
typhoons (June to December)

Environment - current issues:
overfishing, climate change, pollution

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
four major island groups totaling 607 islands

People Micronesia, Federated States of

Population:
108,155 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.7% (male 20,830; female 19,993)
15-64 years: 59.2% (male 32,055; female 31,927)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 1,505; female 1,845) (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
-0.02% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
25.8 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
4.97 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
-20.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 31.28 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 34.45 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.44 years
male: 67.68 years
female: 71.29 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
3.37 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese

Ethnic groups:
nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Religions:
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%

Languages:
English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese,
Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.)

Government Micronesia, Federated States of

Country name:
conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia
conventional short form: none
abbreviation: FSM
former: Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands)

Government type:
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

Capital:
Palikir

Administrative divisions:
4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap

Independence:
3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

National holiday:
Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

Constitution:
10 May 1979

Legal system:
based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,
municipal, common, and customary laws

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: 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
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: Cabinet
elections: 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 NA May 2007); note - a proposed
constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for
president and vice president failed
election results: Joseph J. URUSEMAL elected president; percent of
Congress vote - NA; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent
of Congress vote - NA

Legislative branch:
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: elections for four-year term seats last held 4 March 2003
(next to be held NA March 2007); elections for two-year term seats
last held 4 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2005)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 14

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:
no formal parties

International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITU,
MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383
consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)
FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391
chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Suzanne K. HALE
embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States
of Micronesia 96941
telephone: [691] 320-2187
FAX: [691] 320-2186

Flag description:
light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars
are arranged in a diamond pattern

Economy Micronesia, Federated States of

Economy - overview:
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. In
November 2002, the country experienced a further reduction in future
revenues from the Compact of Free Association - the agreement with
the US in which Micronesia received $1.3 billion in financial and
technical assistance over a 15-year period until 2001. 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.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $277 million
note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100
million annually (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 50%
industry: 4%
services: 46% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:
26.7%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
NA (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
two-thirds are government employees

Unemployment rate:
16% (1999 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $161 million ($69 million less grants)
expenditures: $160 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(1998 est.)

Agriculture - products:
black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava
(tapioca), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens

Industries:
tourism, construction, fish processing, specialized aquaculture,
craft items from shell, wood, and pearls

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Electricity - production:
NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh

Exports:
$22 million (f.o.b.) (FY99/00 est.)

Exports - commodities:
fish, garments, bananas, black pepper

Exports - partners:
Japan, US, Guam (2000)

Imports:
$149 million f.o.b. (FY99/00 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Imports - partners:
US, Australia, Japan (2000)

Debt - external:
$53.1 million (FY02/03 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US pledged $1.3
billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001

Currency:
US dollar (USD)

Currency code:
USD

Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Communications Micronesia, Federated States of

Telephones - main lines in use:
10,100 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,800 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate system
domestic: 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
international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:
9,400 (1996)

Television broadcast stations:
3; note - cable TV also available (2004)

Televisions:
2,800 (1999)

Internet country code:
.fm

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
6,000 (2002)

Transportation Micronesia, Federated States of

Highways:
total: 240 km
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:
Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen

Merchant marine:
none (2004 est.)

Airports:
6 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military Micronesia, Federated States of

Military - note:
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

Transnational Issues Micronesia, Federated States of

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

======================================================================

@Midway Islands

Introduction Midway Islands

Background:
The US took formal possession of the islands in 1867. The laying of
the trans-Pacific cable, which passed through the islands, brought
the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and 1947, Midway was used
as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights. The US naval victory
over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of the turning
points of World War II. The islands continued to serve as a naval
station until closed in 1993. Today the islands are a national
wildlife refuge. From 1996 to 2001 the refuge was open to the
public; it is now temporarily closed.

Geography Midway Islands

Location:
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the
way from Honolulu to Tokyo

Geographic coordinates:
28 13 N, 177 22 W

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 6.2 sq km
note: includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Island
water: 0 sq km
land: 6.2 sq km

Area - comparative:
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
15 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
subtropical; moderated by prevailing easterly winds

Terrain:
low, nearly level

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 13 m

Natural resources:
wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to the
public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife
observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scuba
diving; the refuge is temporarily closed for reorganization at
present (2004)

People Midway Islands

Population:
no indigenous inhabitants; approximately 40 people make up the
staff of US Fish and Wildlife Service and their services contractor
living at the atoll (July 2004 est.)

Government Midway Islands

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Midway Islands

Dependency status:
unincorporated territory of the US; formerly administered from
Washington, DC, by the US Navy, under Naval Facilities Engineering
Command, Pacific Division; this facility has been operationally
closed since 10 September 1993; on 31 October 1996, through a
presidential executive order, the jurisdiction and control of the
atoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US
Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge
system

Legal system:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description:
the flag of the US is used

Economy Midway Islands

Economy - overview:
The economy is based on providing support services for the national
wildlife refuge activities located on the islands. All food and
manufactured goods must be imported.

Transportation Midway Islands

Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Ports and harbors:
Sand Island

Airports:
3 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Transportation - note:
airfield serves as an emergency landing site for commercial
aircraft crossing the Pacific Ocean

Military Midway Islands

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues Midway Islands

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

======================================================================

@Moldova

Introduction Moldova

Background:
Formerly part of Romania, Moldova was incorporated into the Soviet
Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the
USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory
east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority
population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a
"Transnistria" republic. The poorest nation in Europe, Moldova
became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its
president in 2001.

Geography Moldova

Location:
Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Geographic coordinates:
47 00 N, 29 00 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 33,843 sq km
water: 472 sq km
land: 33,371 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries:
total: 1,389 km
border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
moderate winters, warm summers

Terrain:
rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dniester River 2 m
highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m

Natural resources:
lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone

Land use:
arable land: 55.3%
permanent crops: 10.79%
other: 33.91% (2001)

Irrigated land:
3,070 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
landslides (57 cases in 1998)

Environment - current issues:
heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides
such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil
erosion from poor farming methods

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:
landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and
minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone

People Moldova

Population:
4,446,455 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.6% (male 466,485; female 449,645)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 1,478,220; female 1,595,695)
65 years and over: 10.3% (male 169,026; female 287,384) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 32.1 years
male: 29.9 years
female: 34.3 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.18% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
14.81 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
12.76 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
-0.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 41 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 37.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 43.96 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.03 years
male: 60.88 years
female: 69.39 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.78 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 300 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Moldovan(s)
adjective: Moldovan

Ethnic groups:
Moldovan/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Jewish 1.5%,
Bulgarian 2%, Gagauz and other 5.2% (1989 est.)
note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region

Religions:
Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)

Languages:
Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language),
Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.6%
female: 98.7% (2003 est.)

Government Moldova

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
conventional short form: Moldova
local long form: Republica Moldova
former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic; Moldovan Soviet
Socialist Republic
local short form: none

Government type:
republic

Capital:
Chisinau

Administrative divisions:
32 raions (raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities
(municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala
autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)
: counties: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir,
Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari,
Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova,
Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti,
Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni
: municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau
: territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului
: autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia

Independence:
27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

Constitution:
new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old Soviet
constitution of 1979

Legal system:
based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of
legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; it is
unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but accepts
many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) documents

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April 2001)
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term;
election last held 4 April 2001 (next to be held NA 2005); note -
presidential elections were scheduled for December 2000, but in July
2000, Parliament canceled direct, popular elections; Parliament's
failure to choose a new president in December 2000 led to early
parliamentary elections in February 2001; prime minister designated
by the president, upon consultation with Parliament; note - within
15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must request
a vote of confidence from the Parliament regarding his/her work
program and entire cabinet; prime minister designated 15 April 2001,
cabinet received a vote of confidence 19 April 2001
election results: Vladimir VORONIN elected president; parliamentary
votes - Vladimir VORONIN 71, Dumitru BRAGHIS 15, Valerian CRISTEA 3;
Vasile TARLEV designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of
confidence - 75 of 101
cabinet: selected by president, subject to approval of Parliament
head of government: Prime Minister Vasile TARLEV (since 15 April
2001), First Deputy Prime Minister Vasile IOVV (since 29 January
2002)

Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and
electoral blocs elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 February 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 50.1%, Braghis
Alliance (now Our Moldova Alliance) 13.4%, PPCD 8.2%, other parties
28.3%; seats by party - PCRM 71, Braghis Alliance (now Our Moldova
Alliance) 19, PPCD 11

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for
constitutional judicature)

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Modova Bloc [Serafim URECHEANU] includes: Democratic
Party [Dumitru DIACOV], Our Moldova Alliance [Dumitru BRAGHIS,
Serafim URECHEANU], Social Liberal Party [Oleg SEREBRIAN]; Communist
Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN, first
chairman]; Popular Christian Democratic Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PFP,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mihail MANOLI
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204
telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130
chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Heather M. HODGES
embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [373] (22) 408-300
FAX: [373] (22) 23-30-44

Flag description:
same color scheme as Romania - three equal vertical bands of blue
(hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a
Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons
carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its
right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast
is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox
head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow

Economy Moldova

Economy - overview:
Moldova remains the poorest country in Europe despite recent
progress from its small economic base. It enjoys a favorable climate
and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result,
the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits,
vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import almost all of its
energy supplies from Russia. Energy shortages contributed to sharp
production declines after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.
As part of an ambitious reform effort, Moldova introduced a
convertible currency, freed prices, stopped issuing preferential
credits to state enterprises, backed steady land privatization,
removed export controls, and freed interest rates. The government
entered into agreements with the World Bank and the IMF to promote
growth and reduce poverty. The economy returned to positive growth,
of 2.1% in 2000, 6.1% in 2001, 7.2% in 2002, and 6.3% in 2003.
Further reforms will come slowly because of strong political forces
backing government controls. The economy remains vulnerable to
higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the skepticism of
foreign investors.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $7.792 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
6.3% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 21%
industry: 27%
services: 52% (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):
17.2% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
80% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 30.7% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.6 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.6% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
1.383 million (2003)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 40%, industry 14%, services 46% (1998)

Unemployment rate:
8% (roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad) (2002
est.)

Budget:
revenues: $474.8 million
expenditures: $443.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003 est.)

Public debt:
88.4% of GDP (2003)

Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed,
tobacco; beef, milk

Industries:
food processing, agricultural machinery, foundry equipment,
refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery, sugar,
vegetable oil, shoes, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:
17% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
3.394 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
3.216 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
60 million kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
2.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
2.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:
$-135 million (2003)

Exports:
$790 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Exports - partners:
Russia 39%, Romania 11.4%, Italy 10.4%, Germany 7.1%, Ukraine 7.1%,
Belarus 5.2%, US 4.3% (2003)

Imports:
$1.34 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:
mineral products and fuel 32%, machinery and equipment, chemicals,
textiles (2000)

Imports - partners:
Ukraine 22%, Russia 13%, Germany 9.7%, Italy 8.3%, Romania 7% (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$302.3 million (2003)

Debt - external:
$1.515 billion (2003)

Economic aid - recipient:
$100 million (2000)

Currency:
Moldovan leu (MDL)

Currency code:
MDL

Exchange rates:
lei per US dollar - 13.9449 (2003), 13.5705 (2002), 12.8651 (2001),
12.4342 (2000), 10.5158 (1999)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Moldova

Telephones - main lines in use:
706,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
338,200 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside
Chisinau; some effort to modernize is under way
domestic: new subscribers face long wait for service; mobile
cellular telephone service being introduced
international: country code - 373; service through Romania and
Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - Intelsat, Eutelsat,
and Intersputnik

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 50, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios:
3.22 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 30 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:
1.26 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.md

Internet hosts:
11,984 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (1999)

Internet users:
150,000 (2002)

Transportation Moldova

Railways:
total: 1,138 km
broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)

Highways:
total: 12,657 km
paved: 11,012 km
unpaved: 1,645 km (1999)

Waterways:
424 km (2004)

Pipelines:
gas 606 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
none

Merchant marine:
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,636 GRT/1,088 DWT
foreign-owned: 2 Russia 1
registered in other countries: 4
by type: cargo 1

Airports:
24 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 11 (2003 est.)

Military Moldova

Military branches:
National Army: Ground Forces, Air Force

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; national service
obligation - 12 months (2004)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,186,818 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 942,071 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 44,466 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$9.5 million (FY03)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.4% (FY02)

Transnational Issues Moldova

Disputes - international:
difficulties with the Transnistria region complicate controlling
border crossing and customs regimes with Ukraine, despite
concordance on 2003 delimitation and customs protocols and OSCE
assistance

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 1,000 (internal secessionist uprising in Transdniestrian
region in 1991) (2004)

Illicit drugs:
limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS
consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest
Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly the
US; widespread crime and underground economic activity

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

======================================================================

@Monaco

Introduction Monaco

Background:
Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with a
railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then,
the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling
facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation
center.

Geography Monaco

Location:
Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern
coast of France, near the border with Italy

Geographic coordinates:
43 44 N, 7 24 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 1.95 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1.95 sq km

Area - comparative:
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
total: 4.4 km
border countries: France 4.4 km

Coastline:
4.1 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate:
Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

Terrain:
hilly, rugged, rocky

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Agel 140 m

Natural resources:
none

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (2001)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
NA

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note:
second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See);
almost entirely urban

People Monaco

Population:
32,270 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.5% (male 2,554; female 2,453)
15-64 years: 62.1% (male 9,860; female 10,165)
65 years and over: 22.4% (male 2,959; female 4,279) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 45.1 years
male: 43.1 years
female: 47.1 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.44% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
9.36 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
12.74 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
7.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.42 years
male: 75.53 years
female: 83.5 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.76 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
adjective: Monegasque or Monacan

Ethnic groups:
French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%

Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%

Languages:
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque

Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 99%
male: NA
female: NA

Government Monaco

Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
conventional short form: Monaco
local short form: Monaco
local long form: Principaute de Monaco

Government type:
constitutional monarchy

Capital:
Monaco

Administrative divisions:
none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined
by the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers,
singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville,
Monte-Carlo

Independence:
1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi)

National holiday:
National Day (Prince of Monaco Holiday), 19 November

Constitution:
17 December 1962

Legal system:
based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince RAINIER III (since 9 May 1949); Heir
Apparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre, son of the monarch
(born 14 March 1958)
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state
appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national
candidates presented by the French Government
cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch
head of government: Minister of State Patrick LECLERCQ (since 5
January 2000)

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16
members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportional
representation; to serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
UNAM 21, UND 3
elections: last held 9 February 2003 (next to be held NA February
2008)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarch
on the basis of nominations by the National Council)

Political parties and leaders:
National and Democratic Union or UND [Jean-Louis CAMPORA]; Union
for Monaco or UPM (including National Union for the Future of Monaco
or UNAM [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACCT, CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNITAR, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
Monaco does not have an embassy in the US
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Consul General in
Marseille (France) is accredited to Monaco

Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the
flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is
white (top) and red

Economy Monaco

Economy - overview:
Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular
resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. In
2001, a major construction project extended the pier used by cruise
ships in the main harbor. The principality has successfully sought
to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting
industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and
thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established
residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and
offices. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors,
including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service.
Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous
French metropolitan areas. Monaco does not publish national income
figures; the estimates below are extremely rough.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $870 million (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
NA (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $27,000 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA (2000)

Labor force:
30,540 (January 1994)

Unemployment rate:
3.1% (1998)

Budget:
revenues: $518 million
expenditures: $531 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(1995)

Agriculture - products:
none

Industries:
tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh

Electricity - imports:
NA kWh
note: electricity supplied by France

Exports:
$NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France

Imports:
$NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France

Debt - external:
NA (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
NA

Currency:
euro (EUR)

Currency code:
EUR

Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.8860 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001),
1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Monaco

Telephones - main lines in use:
33,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
19,300 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations;
connected by cable into the French communications system

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM NA, shortwave 8 (1998)

Radios:
34,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
5 (1998)

Televisions:
25,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.mc

Internet hosts:
533 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)

Internet users:
16,000 (2002)

Transportation Monaco

Highways:
total: 50 km
paved: 50 km
unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:
Monaco

Merchant marine:
none

Airports:
none; linked to the airport at Nice, France by helicopter service
(2003) (2003 est.)

Heliports:
1 (shuttle service between the international airport at Nice,
France, and Monaco's heliport at Fontvieille) (2003 est.)

Military Monaco

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues Monaco

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

======================================================================

@Mongolia

Introduction Mongolia

Background:
The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis
KHAN they conquered a huge Eurasian empire. After his death the
empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these
broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to
their original steppe homelands and later came under Chinese rule.
Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing. A
Communist regime was installed in 1924. During the early 1990s, the
ex-Communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) gradually
yielded its monopoly on power to the Democratic Union Coalition
(DUC), which defeated the MPRP in a national election in 1996. Since
then, parliamentary elections returned the MPRP overwhelmingly to
power in 2000 and produced a coalition government in 2004.

Geography Mongolia

Location:
Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Geographic coordinates:
46 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references:
Asia

Area:
total: 1,564,116 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alaska

Land boundaries:
total: 8,220 km
border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Terrain:
vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west
and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m
highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m

Natural resources:
oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel,
zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron

Land use:
arable land: 0.77%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.23% (2001)

Irrigated land:
840 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and "zud," which
is harsh winter conditions

Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the policies
of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and
industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the
burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of
environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar;
deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to
agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain;
desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on
the environment

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

People Mongolia

Population:
2,751,314 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.7% (male 415,735; female 400,560)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 916,445; female 918,235)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 43,205; female 57,134) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 23.9 years
male: 23.6 years
female: 24.3 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.43% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
21.44 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 55.45 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 51.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 58.97 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.17 years
male: 61.97 years
female: 66.48 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.27 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 500 (2003 est)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Mongolian(s)
adjective: Mongolian

Ethnic groups:
Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other
(including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000)

Religions:
Buddhist Lamaist 50%, none 40%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim
4% (2004)

Languages:
Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: 98%
female: 97.5% (2002)

Government Mongolia

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Mongolia
local short form: Mongol Uls
former: Outer Mongolia
local long form: none

Government type:
mixed parliamentary/presidential

Capital:
Ulaanbaatar

Administrative divisions:
21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality*
(singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan
Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan, Govi-Altay, Govi-Sumber,
Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay, Selenge,
Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs

Independence:
11 July 1921 (from China)

National holiday:
Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)

Constitution:
12 February 1992

Legal system:
blend of Soviet, German, and US systems that combine "continental"
or "civil" code and case-precedent; constitution ambiguous on
judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (since 20 June 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Tsakhiagiyn ELBEGDORJ (since 20
August 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Chultem ULAAN (since 28
September 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the State Great Hural (parliament) in
consultation with the president
elections: presidential candidates nominated by political parties
represented in State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a
four-year term; presidential tenure limited to two four-year terms;
election last held 20 May 2001 (next to be held in May 2005);
following legislative elections, leader of majority party or
majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by State Great
Hural; election last held 27 June 2004 (next to be held in June 2008)
election results: Natsagiyn BAGABANDI reelected president in 2001;
percent of vote - Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (MPRP) 58.13%,
Radnaasumbereliyn GONCHIGDORJ (DP) 36.58%, Luvsandamba DASHNYAM
(CWP) 3.54%, other 1.75%; Tsakkhiagiyn ELBEGDORJ elected prime
minister by the State Great Hural 74 to 0

Legislative branch:
unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms
elections: last held 27 June 2004 (next to be held in June 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPRP 48.78%, MDC 44.8%,
independents 3.5%, Republican Party 1.5%, others 1%; seats by party
- MPRP 36, MDC 34, others 4; note - following the June 2004
election, two seats in dispute and unoccupied

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (serves as appeals court for people's and provincial
courts but rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts; judges are
nominated by the General Council of Courts and approved by the
president)

Political parties and leaders:
Citizens' Will Republican Party or CWRP (also called Civil Courage
Republican Party or CCRP) [Sanjaasurengiin OYUN]; Democratic Party
or DP [R. GONCHIKDORJ]; Motherland-Mongolian New Socialist
Democratic Party or M-MNSDP [B. ERDENEBAT]; Mongolian People's
Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR]; Mongolian
Republican Party or MRP [B. JARGALSAIKHAN]
note: DP and M-MNSDP formed Motherland-Democracy Coalition (MDC) in
2003 and with CWRP contested June 2004 elections as single party;
MDC's leadership dissolved coalition in December 2004

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ARF, AsDB, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU,
MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SCO (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ravdangiyn BOLD
chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela J. SLUTZ
embassy: Micro Region 11, Big Ring Road, C.P.O. 1021, Ulaanbaatar 13
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [976] (11) 329095
FAX: [976] (11) 320776

Flag description:
three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red;
centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem
("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric
representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang
symbol)

Economy Mongolia

Economy - overview:
Economic activity traditionally has been based on agriculture and
breeding of livestock. Mongolia also has extensive mineral deposits;
copper, coal, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a
large part of industrial production. Soviet assistance, at its
height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990-91 at
the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. Mongolia was driven into
deep recession, prolonged by the Mongolian People's Revolutionary
Party's (MPRP) reluctance to undertake serious economic reform. The
Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) government embraced free-market
economics, eased price controls, liberalized domestic and
international trade, and attempted to restructure the banking system
and the energy sector. Major domestic privatization programs were
undertaken, as well as the fostering of foreign investment through
international tender of the oil distribution company, a leading
cashmere company, and banks. Reform was held back by the
ex-Communist MPRP opposition and by the political instability
brought about through four successive governments under the DUC.
Economic growth picked up in 1997-99 after stalling in 1996 due to a
series of natural disasters and declines in world prices of copper
and cashmere. In August and September 1999, the economy suffered
from a temporary Russian ban on exports of oil and oil products, and
Mongolia remains vulnerable in this sector. Mongolia joined the
World Trade Organization (WTrO) in 1997. The international donor
community pledged over $300 million per year at the Consultative
Group Meeting, held in Ulaanbaatar in June 1999. The MPRP
government, elected in July 2000, was anxious to improve the
investment climate; it also had to deal with a heavy burden of
external debt. Falling prices for Mongolia's mainly primary sector
exports, widespread opposition to privatization, and adverse effects
of weather on agriculture in early 2000 and 2001 restrained real GDP
growth. Despite drought problems in 2002, GDP rose 4.0%, followed by
a solid 5.0% increase in 2003. The first applications under the land
privatization law have been marked by a number of disputes over
particular sites. Russia claims Mongolia owes it $11 billion from
the Soviet period; any settlement could substantially increase
Mongolia's foreign debt burden.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $4.882 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20.6%
industry: 21.4%
services: 58% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:
33% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 37% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
44 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.5% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
1.4 million (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:
herding/agriculture 46%, manufacturing 6%, trade 10.3%, public
sector 4.7%, other/unemployed 33% (2001)

Unemployment rate:
4.6% (2001)

Budget:
revenues: $387 million
expenditures: $428 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2001 est.)

Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, potatoes, forage crops, sheep, goats, cattle,
camels, horses

Industries:
construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum,
fluorspar, and gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal
products

Industrial production growth rate:
4.1% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:
2.225 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
2.194 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
25 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
196 million kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Exports:
$524 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:
copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides,
fluorspar, other nonferrous metals

Exports - partners:
China 46.1%, US 23.2%, Russia 6.7%, Singapore 5.7%, Australia 5.5%,
UK 4.2% (2003)

Imports:
$691 million c.i.f. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer
goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea

Imports - partners:
Russia 33.1%, China 21.5%, South Korea 8.5%, Japan 7.9%, Germany
4.7% (2003)

Debt - external:
$885 million (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$332 million (2003 est.)

Currency:
togrog/tugrik (MNT)

Currency code:
MNT

Exchange rates:
togrogs/tugriks per US dollar - 1,171 (2003), 1,110.31 (2002),
1,097.7 (2001), 1,076.67 (2000), 1,021.87 (1999)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Mongolia

Telephones - main lines in use:
128,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
216,000 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: very low density: about 3.5 telephones for each
thousand persons
domestic: NA
international: country code - 976; satellite earth station - 1
Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios:
155,900 (1999)

Television broadcast stations:
9 (plus 18 provincial repeaters and many low power repeaters) (2004)

Televisions:
168,800 (1999)

Internet country code:
.mn

Internet hosts:
40 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)

Internet users:
50,000 (2002)

Transportation Mongolia

Railways:
1,810 km
broad gauge: 1,810 km 1.524-m gauge (2004)

Highways:
total: 49,250 km
paved: 1,724 km
unpaved: 47,526 km (2003)

Waterways:
580 km
note: only waterway in operation is Lake Khovsgol (135 km); Selenge
River (270 km) and Orkhon River (175 km) are navigable but carry
little traffic; lakes and rivers freeze in winter, are open from May
to September (2004)

Ports and harbors:
none

Merchant marine:
total: 65 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 339,423 GRT/533,853 DWT
foreign-owned: Belize 1, Cambodia 1, China 4, Cuba 1, Hong Kong 2,
Indonesia 1, Japan 1, North Korea 1, Lebanon 1, Malaysia 1, Malta 1,
Marshall Islands 5, Moldova 1, Panama 3, Romania 1, Russia 14,
Singapore 13, Syria 4, Thailand 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1, United
States 3, Vietnam 4 (2004 est.)
by type: bulk 4, cargo 53, chemical tanker 1, container 2, liquefied
gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, specialized tanker 1

Airports:
36 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 (2003 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 25
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
under 914 m: 5 (2003 est.)
914 to 1,523 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
over 3,047 m: 2

Heliports:
2 (2003 est.)

Military Mongolia

Military branches:
Mongolian People's Army (comprising Ground Forces, Air Defense
Forces), Border Guards, Internal Security Forces, Construction Corps
Forces, Civil Defense Authority

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 12 months (2004)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 818,977 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 530,594 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 33,718 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$23.1 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.2% (FY02)

Transnational Issues Mongolia

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

======================================================================

@Montserrat

Introduction Montserrat

Background:
Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population
fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano
that began on 18 July 1995.

Geography Montserrat

Location:
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates:
16 45 N, 62 12 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 102 sq km

Area - comparative:
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
40 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:
volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Chances Peak (in the Soufriere Hills volcanic
complex) 914 m

Natural resources:
negligible

Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (2001)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere
Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)

Environment - current issues:
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation

Geography - note:
the island is entirely volcanic in origin and contains seven active
volcanoes

People Montserrat

Population:
9,245
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the
resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned
(July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.3% (male 1,092; female 1,062)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 2,889; female 3,162)
65 years and over: 11.2% (male 543; female 497) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 28.2 years
male: 28 years
female: 28.4 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.03% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
17.63 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
7.36 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.09 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.53 years
male: 76.39 years
female: 80.78 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Montserratian(s)
adjective: Montserratian

Ethnic groups:
black, white

Religions:
Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day
Adventist, other Christian denominations

Languages:
English

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1970 est.)

Government Montserrat

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montserrat

Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK

Government type:
NA

Capital:
Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity; interim
government buildings have been built at Brades Estate, in the Carr's
Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat)

Administrative divisions:
3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter

Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)

Constitution:
present constitution came into force 19 December 1989

Legal system:
English common law and statutory law

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor Deborah Barnes JONES (since 10 May 2004)
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party usually becomes chief minister
head of government: Chief Minister John OSBORNE (since 5 April 2001)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief
minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the
finance secretary

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 9 popularly elected;
members serve five-year terms)
note: expanded in 2001 from 7 to 9 elected members with attorney
general and financial secretary sitting as ex-officio members
elections: last held April 2001 (next to be held by November 2006)
note: in 2001, the Elections Commission instituted a single
constituency/voter-at-large system whereby all eligible voters cast
ballots for all nine seats of the Legislative Council
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NPLM 7, NPP 2

Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia, one judge of
the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the
High Court)

Political parties and leaders:
National Progressive Party or NPP [Reuben T. MEADE]; New People's
Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
Caricom, CDB, ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the
flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow
harp with her arm around a black cross

Economy Montserrat