Chapter XVII: Front Matter (17)

Environment - international agreements:
party to: 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
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note:
controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and
Turkish Straits

People Croatia

Population:
4,495,904 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.4% (male 378,615/female 359,231)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,497,355/female 1,514,993)
65 years and over: 16.6% (male 283,460/female 462,250) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 39.97 years
male: 38.01 years
female: 41.76 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
-0.02% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:
9.57 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:
11.38 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:
1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.84 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.45 years
male: 70.79 years
female: 78.31 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.39 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
200 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 10 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Croat(s), Croatian(s)
adjective: Croatian

Ethnic groups:
Croat 89.6%, Serb 4.5%, other 5.9% (including Bosniak, Hungarian,
Slovene, Czech, and Roma) (2001 census)

Religions:
Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim
1.3%, other and unspecified 0.9%, none 5.2% (2001 census)

Languages:
Croatian 96.1%, Serbian 1%, other and undesignated 2.9% (including
Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German) (2001 census)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.5%
male: 99.4%
female: 97.8% (2003 est.)

Government Croatia

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Croatia
conventional short form: Croatia
local long form: Republika Hrvatska
local short form: Hrvatska
former: People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia

Government type:
presidential/parliamentary democracy

Capital:
Zagreb

Administrative divisions:
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

Independence:
25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday:
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

Constitution:
adopted on 22 December 1990; revised 2000, 2001

Legal system:
based on civil law system

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Stjepan (Stipe) MESIC (since 18 February
2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Ivo SANADER (since 9 December
2003); Deputy Prime Ministers Jadranka KOSOR (since 23 December
2003) and Damir POLANEC (since NA February 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and
approved by the parliamentary Assembly
elections: 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
election results: Stjepan MESIC reelected president; percent of vote
- Stjepan MESIC (HNS) 66%, Jadranka KOSOR (HDZ) 34%

Legislative branch:
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)
elections: Assembly - last held 23 November 2003 (next to be held in
2007)
election results: 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
note: minority government coalition - HDZ, DC, HSLS, HSU, SDSS

Judicial branch:
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

Political parties and leaders:
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 [Zlatko TOMCIC]; 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 Assembly or IDS [Ivan JAKOVCIC];
Liberal Party or LS [Zlatko BENASIC]; Party of Liberal Democrats or
Libra [Jozo RADOS] (in 2005 merged with HNS); Social Democratic
Party of Croatia or SDP [Ivica RACAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ABEDA, 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, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UPU,
WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Neven JURICA
chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899
FAX: [1] (202) 588-8936
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph FRANK
embassy: 2 Thomas Jefferson, 10010 Zagreb
mailing address: use street address
telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200
FAX: [385] (1) 661-2373

Flag description:
red, white, and blue horizontal bands with Croatian coat of arms
(red and white checkered)

Economy Croatia

Economy - overview:
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 14 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 4% for the last
several years, has been achieved through high fiscal and current
account deficits. The government is gradually reducing a heavy back
log of civil cases, many involving land tenure. The EU accession
process should accelerate fiscal and structural reform.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$50.33 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
3.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $11,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.2%
industry: 30.1%
services: 61.7% (2004 est.)

Labor force:
1.71 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 2.7%, industry 32.8%, services 64.5% (2004)

Unemployment rate:
13.8% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:
11% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 24.5% (2003 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
28.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $14.14 billion
expenditures: $15.65 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2004 est.)

Public debt:
41.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, barley, alfalfa, clover,
olives, citrus, grapes, soybeans, potatoes; livestock, dairy products

Industries:
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

Industrial production growth rate:
2.7% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:
12.51 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 33.6%
hydro: 66%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
15.2 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:
406 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:
3.966 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:
21,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
89,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA

Oil - imports:
NA

Oil - proved reserves:
93.6 million bbl (1 January 2002)

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

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

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

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

Natural gas - proved reserves:
34.36 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:
$-1.925 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:
$7.845 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels

Exports - partners:
Italy 23%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 13.4%, Germany 11.4%, Austria
9.6%, Slovenia 7.6% (2004)

Imports:
$16.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, transport and electrical equipment, chemicals, fuels and
lubricants, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Italy 17.1%, Germany 15.5%, Russia 7.3%, Slovenia 7.1%, Austria
6.9%, France 4.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$8.563 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:
$26.4 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
ODA $166.5 million (2002)

Currency (code):
kuna (HRK)

Currency code:
HRK

Exchange rates:
kuna per US dollar - 6.0358 (2004), 6.7035 (2003), 7.8687 (2002),
8.34 (2001), 8.2766 (2000)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Croatia

Telephones - main lines in use:
1.825 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.553 million (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: 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
international: 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)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999)

Radios:
1.51 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
36 (plus 321 repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions:
1.22 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.hr

Internet hosts:
29,644 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
9 (2000)

Internet users:
1.014 million (2003)

Transportation Croatia

Railways:
total: 2,726 km
standard gauge: 2,726 km 1.435-m gauge (984 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:
total: 28,344 km
paved: 23,979 km (including 455 km of expressways)
unpaved: 4,365 km (2002)

Waterways:
785 km (2004)

Pipelines:
gas 1,340 km; oil 583 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Omisalj, Ploce, Rijeka, Sibenik, Vukovar (on Danube)

Merchant marine:
total: 73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 750,579 GRT/1,178,786 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 12, chemical tanker 2,
passenger/cargo 25, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 1, roll
on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 1 (Denmark 1)
registered in other countries: 31 (2005)

Airports:
68 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 23
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 9 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 37 (2004 est.)

Heliports:
1 (2004 est.)

Military Croatia

Military branches:
Ground Forces (Hrvatska Vojska, HKoV), Naval Forces (Hrvatska Ratna
Mornarica, HRM), Air and Air Defense Forces (Hrvatsko Ratno
Zrakoplovstvo i Protuzrakoplovna Obrana, HRZiPZO)

Military service age and obligation:
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)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,005,058 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 725,914 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 29,020 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$620 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.39% (2002 est.)

Transnational Issues Croatia

Disputes - international:
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

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 12,600 (Croats and Serbs displaced in 1992-1995 war) (2004)

Illicit drugs:
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

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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

@Cuba

Introduction Cuba

Background:
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 was severe and exploitative and
occasional rebellions 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 revolution, with Soviet support, was exported 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 1,498 individuals attempting to cross the Straits
of Florida in 2004.

Geography Cuba

Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida

Geographic coordinates:
21 30 N, 80 00 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 110,860 sq km
land: 110,860 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries:
total: 29 km
border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains
part of Cuba

Coastline:
3,735 km

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

Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April);
rainy season (May to October)

Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in
the southeast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m

Natural resources:
cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica,
petroleum, arable land

Land use:
arable land: 33.05%
permanent crops: 7.6%
other: 59.35% (2001)

Irrigated land:
870 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
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

Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:
party to: 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
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:
largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater
Antilles

People Cuba

Population:
11,346,670 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.6% (male 1,139,644/female 1,079,412)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 3,977,110/female 3,975,818)
65 years and over: 10.4% (male 540,720/female 633,966) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 35.36 years
male: 34.73 years
female: 35.98 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.33% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:
12.03 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:
7.19 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:
-1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.33 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.23 years
male: 74.94 years
female: 79.65 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.66 children born/woman (2005 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,300 (2003 est.)

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

Nationality:
noun: Cuban(s)
adjective: Cuban

Ethnic groups:
mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%

Religions:
nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power;
Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also
represented

Languages:
Spanish

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97.2%
female: 96.9% (2003 est.)

People - note:
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

Government Cuba

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
conventional short form: Cuba
local long form: Republica de Cuba
local short form: Cuba

Government type:
Communist state

Capital:
Havana

Administrative divisions:
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

Independence:
20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US
from 1898 to 1902)

National holiday:
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)

Constitution:
24 February 1976; amended July 1992 and June 2002

Legal system:
based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist
legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: 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
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
cabinet: 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
elections: 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)
election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz reelected president; percent of
legislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president;
percent of legislative vote - 100%

Legislative branch:
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)
elections: last held 19 January 2003 (next to be held in NA 2008)
election results: percent of vote - PCC 97.6%; seats - PCC 609

Judicial branch:
People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice
president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:
only party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first
secretary]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
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

Diplomatic representation from the US:
none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy,
headed by Principal Officer James C. CASON; 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

Flag description:
five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) alternating
with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears
a white, five-pointed star in the center; design influenced by the
US flag

Economy Cuba

Economy - overview:
The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening
against a desire for firm political control. It has undertaken
limited reforms to increase enterprise efficiency and alleviate
serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services. A major
feature of the economy is the dichotomy between relatively efficient
export enclaves and inefficient domestic sectors. The average
Cuban's standard of living remains at a lower level than before the
depression of the 1990s, which was caused by the loss of Soviet aid
and domestic inefficiencies. The government in 2004 strengthened its
controls over dollars coming into the economy from tourism,
remittances, and trade.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$33.92 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.6%
industry: 25.5%
services: 67.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:
4.55 million
note: state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 24%, industry 25%, services 51% (1999)

Unemployment rate:
2.5% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
11.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $18.01 billion
expenditures: $19.06 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:
sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock

Industries:
sugar, petroleum, tobacco, construction, nickel, steel, cement,
agricultural machinery, pharmaceuticals

Industrial production growth rate:
1.4% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:
14.41 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 93.9%
hydro: 0.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 5.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
13.4 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:
77,900 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
163,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA

Oil - imports:
NA

Oil - proved reserves:
532 million bbl (1 January 2002)

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

Natural gas - consumption:
600 million cu m (2001 est.)

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

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

Natural gas - proved reserves:
42.62 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:
$-185.1 million (2004 est.)

Exports:
$2.104 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee

Exports - partners:
Netherlands 22.7%, Canada 20.6%, China 7.7%, Russia 7.5%, Spain
6.4%, Venezuela 4.4% (2004)

Imports:
$5.296 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners:
Spain 14.7%, Venezuela 13.5%, US 11%, China 8.9%, Canada 6.4%,
Italy 6.2%, Mexico 4.9% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$738.6 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:
$12.09 billion (convertible currency); another $15-20 billion owed
to Russia (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$68.2 million (1997 est.)

Currency (code):
Cuban peso (CUP) and Convertible peso (CUC)

Currency code:
CUP (nonconvertible Cuban peso) and CUC (convertible Cuban peso)

Exchange rates:
Convertible pesos per US dollar - 0.93
note: 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.

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Cuba

Telephones - main lines in use:
574,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
17,900 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: 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
domestic: 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
international: country code - 53; fiber-optic cable laid to but not
linked to US network; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik
(Atlantic Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:
3.9 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
58 (1997)

Televisions:
2.64 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.cu

Internet hosts:
1,529 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)

Internet users:
120,000
note: 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)

Transportation Cuba

Railways:
total: 4,226 km
standard gauge: 4,226 km 1.435-m gauge (140 km electrified)
note: 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)

Highways:
total: 60,858 km
paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)
unpaved: 31,038 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
240 km (2004)

Pipelines:
gas 49 km; oil 230 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Cienfuegos, Havana, Matanzas

Merchant marine:
total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 54,818 GRT/81,850 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, passenger 2,
petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 20 (2005)

Airports:
170 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 79
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 37 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 91
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 62 (2004 est.)

Military Cuba

Military branches:
Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR): Revolutionary Army (ER),
Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR),
Territorial Militia Troops (MTT), Youth Labor Army (EJT)

Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age; both sexes are eligible for military service (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 17-49: 2,967,865
females age 17-49: 2,913,559 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 17-49: 2,441,927
females age 17-49: 2,396,741 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 91,901
females: 87,500 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$572.3 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.8% (2003)

Military - note:
Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of
Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993

Transnational Issues Cuba

Disputes - international:
US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual
agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease

Illicit drugs:
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

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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

@Cyprus

Introduction Cyprus

Background:
A former British colony, Cyprus received independence in 1960
following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the
Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head
in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia.
Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic
intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots into
enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek-sponsored attempt
to seize the government was met by military intervention from
Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In
1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus," but it is recognized only by Turkey. The latest
two-year round of UN-brokered direct talks - between the leaders of
the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach an
agreement to reunite the divided island - ended when the Greek
Cypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in an April 2004
referendum. Although only the internationally recognized Greek
Cypriot-controlled Republic of Cyprus joined the EU on 1 May 2004,
every Cypriot carrying a Cyprus passport will have the status of a
European citizen. EU laws, however, will not apply to north Cyprus.
Nicosia continues to oppose EU efforts to establish direct trade and
economic links to north Cyprus as a way of encouraging the Turkish
Cypriot community to continue to support reunification.

Geography Cyprus

Location:
Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey

Geographic coordinates:
35 00 N, 33 00 E

Map references:
Middle East

Area:
total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus)
land: 9,240 sq km
water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative:
about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries:
total: NA; note - boundary with Dhekelia is being resurveyed
border countries: Akrotiri 47.4 km, Dhekelia NA

Coastline:
648 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

Terrain:
central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but
significant plains along southern coast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 m

Natural resources:
copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth
pigment

Land use:
arable land: 7.79%
permanent crops: 4.44%
other: 87.77% (2001)

Irrigated land:
382 sq km (2001 est.)

Natural hazards:
moderate earthquake activity; droughts

Environment - current issues:
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

Environment - international agreements:
party to: 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and
Sardinia)

People Cyprus

Population:
780,133 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 83,256/female 79,701)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 267,446/female 260,846)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male 38,766/female 50,118) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 34.68 years
male: 33.64 years
female: 35.7 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.54% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:
12.57 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:
7.64 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:
0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.18 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.65 years
male: 75.29 years
female: 80.13 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.83 children born/woman (2005 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 1,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot

Ethnic groups:
Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001)

Religions:
Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and
other 4%

Languages:
Greek, Turkish, English

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98.9%
female: 96.3% (2003 est.)

Government Cyprus

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
note: the Turkish Cypriot community (north Cyprus) refers to itself
as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)

Government type:
republic
note: 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

Capital:
Nicosia

Administrative divisions:
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

Independence:
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

National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots
celebrate 15 November (1983) as Independence Day

Constitution:
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

Legal system:
based on common law, with civil law modifications

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: 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
head of government: 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
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and
vice president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 16 February 2003 (next to be held February 2008)
election results: Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected president; percent of
vote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%, Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, Alekos
MARKIDIS 6.6%
note: 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"

Legislative branch:
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)
elections: 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)
election results: 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

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and
vice president)
note: there is also a Supreme Court in north Cyprus

Political parties and leaders:
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 Democrats Movement or KISOS (formerly United Democratic Union
of Cyprus or EDEK) [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]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
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)

International organization participation:
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, WEU
(observer affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Euripides L. EVRIVIADES
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772
FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710
consulate(s) general: New York
note: 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

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael KLOSSON
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, 2407
Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nikosia
telephone: [357] (22) 393939
FAX: [357] (22) 780944

Flag description:
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
note: 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

Economy Cyprus

Economy - overview:
The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible to
external shocks. The service sector, mainly tourism and financial
services, dominates the economy; 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. Economic policy is focused on meeting
the criteria to join the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2)
within the next two years although sluggish tourism and poor fiscal
management have resulted in growing budget deficits since 2001. 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 2.6% 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. Ankara provides around $300 million a year
directly into the "TRNC" budget and regularly provides additional
financing for large infrastructure projects. Agriculture and
government service, together employ almost half of the work force,
and the potential for tourism is promising, especially with the
easing of border restrictions with the Greek Cypriots in April 2003.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
Republic of Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $15.71 billion north
Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $4.54 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
Republic of Cyprus: 3.2% north Cyprus: 2.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:
Republic of Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $20,300 (2004 est.);
north Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $7,135 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 4.1%; industry 19.9%; services 76%
north Cyprus: agriculture 10.6%; industry 20.5%; services 68.9%
(2004)

Labor force:
Republic of Cyprus: 330,000, north Cyprus: 95,025 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 4.9%, industry 19.4%, services 75.6%
north Cyprus: agriculture 15.1%, industry 27%, services 57.9% (2003
est.)

Unemployment rate:
Republic of Cyprus: 3.2%; north Cyprus: 5.6% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Republic of Cyprus: 2.4% (2003 est.); north Cyprus: 12.6% (2003
est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
Republic of Cyprus: 17.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: Republic of Cyprus - $5.616 billion (2004 est.), north
Cyprus - $404.3 million (2003 est.)
expenditures: Republic of Cyprus - $685.7 million, including capital
expenditures of $685.7 million, north Cyprus - $775.7 million,
including capital expenditures of $91.4 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:
Republic of Cyprus: 74.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:
citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables, poultry,
pork, lamb, kids, dairy, cheese

Industries:
tourism, food and beverage processing; cement and gypsum
production; ship repair and refurbishment; textiles; light
chemicals; metal products; wood, paper, stone, and clay products

Industrial production growth rate:
Republic of Cyprus: 0.4% (2002); north Cyprus: -0.3% (2002)

Electricity - production:
4 billion kWh; north Cyprus: NA kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
Republic of Cyprus: 3.663 billion kWh (2003); north Cyprus: 602
million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:
300 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
Republic of Cyprus: 49,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA

Oil - imports:
NA

Current account balance:
$-619.9 million (2004 est.)

Exports:
Republic of Cyprus: $1.094 billion f.o.b. north Cyprus: $49.3
million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
Republic of Cyprus: citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement,
clothing and cigarettes; north Cyprus: citrus, potatoes, textiles

Exports - partners:
UK 27.2%, Greece 11.9%, Germany 5%, UAE 4.8% (2004)

Imports:
Republic of Cyprus: $5.258 billion f.o.b. north Cyprus: $415.2
million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
Republic of Cyprus: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants,
intermediate goods, machinery, transport equipment; north Cyprus:
vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals, chemicals, machinery

Imports - partners:
Greece 15.2%, Italy 10.5%, Germany 8.9%, UK 8.6%, France 6.3%,
Japan 4.7%, Israel 4.4%, China 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Republic of Cyprus: $3.385 billion
north Cyprus: $941.6 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:
Republic of Cyprus: $7.327 billion; north Cyprus: $NA (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
Republic of Cyprus - $17 million (1998); north Cyprus - $700
million from Turkey in grants and loans, which are usually forgiven
(2003)

Currency (code):
Greek Cypriot area: Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish Cypriot area:
Turkish lira (TRL)

Currency code:
CYP; TRL

Exchange rates:
Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003), 0.6107
(2002), 0.6431 (2001), 0.6224 (2000), Turkish lira per US dollar
1.426 million (2004), 1.501 million (2003), 1.507 million (2002),
1.226 million (2001), 625,200 (2000)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Cyprus

Telephones - main lines in use:
Republic of Cyprus: 427,400 (2002); north Cyprus: 86,228 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
Republic of Cyprus: 417,900 (2002); north Cyprus: 143,178 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent in both Republic of Cyprus and north
Cyprus areas
domestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
international: 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

Radio broadcast stations:
Republic of Cyprus: AM 7, FM 60, shortwave 1 (1998); north Cyprus:
AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:
Greek Cypriot area: 310,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 56,450
(1994)

Television broadcast stations:
Republic of Cyprus: 4 (plus 225 low-power repeaters) (September
1995); north Cyprus: 4 (plus 5 repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions:
Greek Cypriot area: 248,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 52,300
(1994)

Internet country code:
.cy

Internet hosts:
5,901 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)

Internet users:
210,000 (2002)

Transportation Cyprus

Highways:
total: 13,943 km (Republic of Cyprus: 11,593 km; north Cyprus:
2,350 km)
paved: Republic of Cyprus: 7,211 km; north Cyprus: 1,370 km
unpaved: Republic of Cyprus: 4,382 km; north Cyprus: 980 km
(2002/1996 est.)

Ports and harbors:
Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos

Merchant marine:
total: 972 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 22,016,374 GRT/35,760,004 DWT
by type: 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
foreign-owned: 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)
registered in other countries: 54 (2005)

Airports:
17 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Heliports:
10 (2004 est.)

Military Cyprus

Military branches:
Republic of Cyprus: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes
air and naval elements)
north Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (GKK)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 184,352 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 150,750 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 6,578 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$384 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.8% (FY02)

Transnational Issues Cyprus

Disputes - international:
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

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 265,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced for
over 30 years) (2004)

Illicit drugs:
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

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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@Czech Republic

Introduction Czech Republic

Background:
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.

Geography Czech Republic

Location:
Central Europe, southeast of Germany

Geographic coordinates:
49 45 N, 15 30 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 78,866 sq km
land: 77,276 sq km
water: 1,590 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:
total: 1,881 km
border countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km,
Slovakia 215 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Terrain:
Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus
surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very
hilly country

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Elbe River 115 m
highest point: Snezka 1,602 m

Natural resources:
hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber

Land use:
arable land: 39.8%
permanent crops: 3.05%
other: 57.15% (2001)

Irrigated land:
240 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
flooding

Environment - current issues:
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

Environment - international agreements:
party to: 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
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

People Czech Republic

Population:
10,241,138 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.7% (male 773,028/female 731,833)
15-64 years: 71.1% (male 3,651,018/female 3,627,006)
65 years and over: 14.2% (male 565,374/female 892,879) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 38.97 years
male: 37.2 years
female: 40.82 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
-0.05% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:
9.07 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:
10.54 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.93 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.28 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.02 years
male: 72.74 years
female: 79.49 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.2 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 10 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Czech(s)
adjective: Czech

Ethnic groups:
Czech 90.4%, Moravian 3.7%, Slovak 1.9%, other 4% (2001 census)

Religions:
Roman Catholic 26.8%, Protestant 2.1%, other 3.3%, unspecified
8.8%, unaffiliated 59% (2001 census)

Languages:
Czech

Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 99.9% (1999 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government Czech Republic

Country name:
conventional long form: Czech Republic
conventional short form: Czech Republic
local long form: Ceska Republika
local short form: Ceska Republika

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
Prague

Administrative divisions:
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

Independence:
1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and
Slovakia)

National holiday:
Czech Founding Day, 28 October (1918)

Constitution:
ratified 16 December 1992, effective 1 January 1993

Legal system:
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

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal