Chapter XL: Front Matter (40)

Economy - overview:
Moldova remains one of the poorest countries 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 December 1991. As part of an ambitious reform effort after
independence, 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, 6.3% in 2003, and 6.8% in 2004. 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):
$8.581 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
6.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 22.4%
industry: 24.8%
services: 52.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:
1.36 million (2004 est.)

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.)

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):
11.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
17.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $648.1 million
expenditures: $634.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2004 est.)

Public debt:
63.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

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:
3.876 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 90.6%
hydro: 9.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
4.605 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:
1 billion kWh (2002)

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

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

Oil - exports:
NA

Oil - imports:
NA

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:
$-148.4 million (2004 est.)

Exports:
$1.03 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Exports - partners:
Russia 35.8%, Italy 13.9%, Romania 10%, Germany 7.3%, Ukraine 6.6%,
Belarus 6%, US 4.6% (2004)

Imports:
$1.83 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

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

Imports - partners:
Ukraine 24.6%, Russia 12.2%, Romania 9.3%, Germany 8.5%, Italy 7.4%
(2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$390 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.4 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$100 million (2000)

Currency (code):
Moldovan leu (MDL)

Currency code:
MDL

Exchange rates:
lei per US dollar - 12.33 (2004), 13.945 (2003), 13.571 (2002),
12.865 (2001), 12.434 (2000)

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 (2004)

Highways:
total: 12,719 km
paved: 10,977 km
unpaved: 1,742 km (2002)

Waterways:
424 km (2004)

Pipelines:
gas 606 km (2004)

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,636 GRT/1,088 DWT
by type: cargo 2 (2005)

Airports:
23 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 17
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)

Military Moldova

Military branches:
National Army: Ground Forces, Air Force

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

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,066,459 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 693,913 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 43,729 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$8.7 million (2004)

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

Transnational Issues Moldova

Disputes - international:
Moldova and Ukraine have established joint customs posts to monitor
transit through Moldova's break-away Transnistria Region which
remains under OSCE supervision

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 20 October, 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
land: 1.95 sq km
water: 0 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:
32,409 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.5% (male 2,563/female 2,445)
15-64 years: 62.1% (male 9,909/female 10,217)
65 years and over: 22.4% (male 2,972/female 4,303) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 45.25 years
male: 43.27 years
female: 47.19 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.43% (2005 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
7.71 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: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.57 years
male: 75.7 years
female: 83.63 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.76 children born/woman (2005 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 long form: Principaute de Monaco
local short form: 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 ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)
head of government: Minister of State Jean-Paul PROUST (since 1 June
2005)
cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch
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

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)
elections: last held 9 February 2003 (next to be held February 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
UNAM 21, UND 3

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 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
0.9% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $27,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (2001 est.)

Labor force:
30,540 (January 1994)

Unemployment rate:
22% (1999)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2000)

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:
$18 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
NA

Currency (code):
euro (EUR)

Currency code:
EUR

Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002),
1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

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:
registered in other countries: 54 (2005)

Airports:
none; linked to the airport at Nice, France by helicopter service
(2004 est.)

Heliports:
1 (shuttle service between the international airport at Nice,
France, and Monaco's heliport at Fontvieille) (2004 est.)

Military Monaco

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France; the Palace Guard performs
ceremonial duties (2003)

Transnational Issues Monaco

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 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:
2,791,272 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.7% (male 407,547/female 392,440)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 943,418/female 945,063)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 44,413/female 58,391) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 24.28 years
male: 23.93 years
female: 24.64 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.45% (2005 est.)

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

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

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

Infant mortality rate:
total: 53.79 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 57.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 50.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.52 years
male: 62.3 years
female: 66.86 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.26 children born/woman (2005 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 long form: none
local short form: Mongol Uls
former: Outer Mongolia

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 Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (since 24 June 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Tsakhi 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 22 May 2005 (next to be held in May 2009);
following legislative elections, leader of majority party or
majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by State Great
Hural
election results: Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR elected president; percent of
vote - Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (MPRP) 53.44%, Mendsaikhanin ENKHSAIKHAN
(DP) 20.05%, Bazarsadyn JARGALSAIKHAN (MRP) 13.92%, Badarchyn
ERDENEBAT (M-MNSDP) 12.59%; Tsakhi 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 1.42%; seats by
party - MPRP 36, MDC 34, others 4; note - following 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 [Badarchyn ERDENEBAT]; Mongolian
People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR]; Mongolian
Republican Party or MRP [Bazarsadyn 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
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117
FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227
consulate(s) general: New York

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 in Mongolia has traditionally been based on
herding and agriculture. Mongolia 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 and 1991 at
the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw
Mongolia endure both deep recession due to political inaction and
natural disasters, as well as economic growth due to reform
embracing free-market economics and extensive privatization of the
formerly state-run economy. Severe winters and summer droughts in
2000, 2001, and 2002 resulted in massive livestock die-off and zero
or negative GDP growth. This was compounded by falling prices for
Mongolia's primary sector exports and widespread opposition to
privatization. Growth improved from 2002 at 4% to 2003 at 5%, due
largely to high copper prices and new gold production, with the
government claiming a 10.6% growth rate for 2004 that is
unconfirmed. Mongolia's economy continues to be heavily impacted by
its neighbors. For example, Mongolia purchases 80% of its petroleum
products and a substantial amount of electric power from Russia,
leaving it vulnerable to price increases. China is Mongolia's chief
export partner and a main source of the "shadow" or "grey" economy.
The World Bank and other international financial institutions
estimate the grey economy to be at least equal to that of the
official economy. The actual size of this grey - largely cash -
economy is difficult to calculate since the money does not pass
through the hands of tax authorities or the banking sector.
Remittances from Mongolians working abroad both legally and
illegally constitute a sizeable portion. Money laundering is growing
as an accompanying concern. Mongolia settled its $11 billion debt
with Russia at the end of 2003 on very favorable terms. Mongolia,
which joined the World Trade Organization in 1997, seeks to expand
its participation and integration into Asian regional economic and
trade regimes.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.332 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
10.6% according to official estimate (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20.6%
industry: 21.4%
services: 58% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
1.488 million (2003)

Labor force - by occupation:
herding/agriculture 42%, mining 4%, manufacturing 6%, trade 14%,
services 29%, public sector 5%, other 3.7% (2003)

Unemployment rate:
6.7% (2003)

Population below poverty line:
36.1% (2004 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):
11% (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $582 million
expenditures: $602 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2004 est.)

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

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

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

Electricity - production:
2.692 billion kWh (2004 est.)

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

Electricity - consumption:
2.209 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - exports:
8.2 million kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - imports:
130.5 million kWh (2004 est.)

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

Oil - consumption:
11,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
497 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:
11,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Exports:
$853 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

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

Exports - partners:
China 47.8%, US 17.9%, UK 15.7% (2004)

Imports:
$1 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.)

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

Imports - partners:
Russia 33.3%, China 23.6%, Japan 7.4%, South Korea 6%, US 4.6%
(2004)

Debt - external:
$1.191 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$215 million (2003)

Currency (code):
togrog/tugrik (MNT)

Currency code:
MNT

Exchange rates:
togrogs/tugriks per US dollar - 1,185.3 (2004), 1,146.5 (2003),
1,110.3 (2002), 1,097.7 (2001), 1,076.7 (2000)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Mongolia

Telephones - main lines in use:
142,300 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
404,400 (2004)

Telephone system:
general assessment: network is improving with international direct
dialing available in many areas
domestic: very low density of about 6.5 telephones for each thousand
persons; two wireless providers cover all but two provinces
international: country code - 976; satellite earth station - 1
Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 62, shortwave 3 (2004)

Radios:
155,900 (1999)

Television broadcast stations:
52 (plus 21 provincial repeaters and many low power repeaters)
(2004)

Televisions:
168,800 (1999)

Internet country code:
.mn

Internet hosts:
1,000 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)

Internet users:
220,000 (2004)

Transportation Mongolia

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

Highways:
total: 49,256 km
paved: 8,874 km
unpaved: 40,376 km (2002)

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)

Merchant marine:
total: 65 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 339,423 GRT/533,853 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 54, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo
1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 38 (China 2, Lebanon 1, Philippines 1, Russia 10,
Singapore 10, South Korea 1, Syria 1, Thailand 1, Ukraine 1, UAE 4,
Vietnam 6) (2005)

Airports:
46 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 31
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Heliports:
2 (2004 est.)

Military Mongolia

Military branches:
Mongolian Armed Forces: Mongolian People's Army (MPA), Mongolian
People's Air Force (MPAF) (2005)

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

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 736,182 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 570,435 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 34,674 (2005 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 20 October, 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. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity
since, with the last eruption occurring in July 2003.

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
land: 102 sq km
water: 0 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:
NEGL

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:
9,341
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the
resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned
(July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.3% (male 1,109/female 1,072)
15-64 years: 65.6% (male 2,923/female 3,201)
65 years and over: 11.1% (male 536/female 500) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 28.56 years
male: 28.29 years
female: 28.79 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.04% (2005 est.)

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

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

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.71 years
male: 76.54 years
female: 80.98 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.78 children born/woman (2005 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:
effective 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)
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
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party usually becomes chief minister

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)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NPLM 7, NPP 2
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

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

Economy - overview:
Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a
damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June
1997 closed the airports and seaports, causing further economic and
social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the
island. Some began to return in 1998, but lack of housing limited
the number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the
lack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops.
Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation
to the volcano and on public sector construction activity. The UK
has launched a three-year $122.8 million aid program to help
reconstruct the economy. Half of the island is expected to remain
uninhabitable for another decade.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$29 million (2002 est.)

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

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.4%
industry: 13.6%
services: 81% (1996 est.)

Labor force:
4,521 (lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity) (2000
est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate:
6% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (2002 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $31.4 million
expenditures: $31.6 million, including capital expenditures of $8.4
million (1997 est.)

Agriculture - products:
cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers, livestock
products

Industries:
tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
1.8 million kWh (2002)

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

Electricity - consumption:
1.674 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)

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

Oil - consumption:
400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA

Oil - imports:
NA

Exports:
$700,000 (2001)

Exports - commodities:
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live
plants, cattle

Exports - partners:
US, Antigua and Barbuda

Imports:
$17 million (2001)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured
goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials

Imports - partners:
US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada

Debt - external:
$8.9 million (1997)

Economic aid - recipient:
Country Policy Plan (2001) is a three-year program for spending
$122.8 million in British budgetary assistance (2002 est.)

Currency (code):
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:
XCD

Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7
(2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000)
note: fixed rate since 1976

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Montserrat

Telephones - main lines in use:
NA

Telephones - mobile cellular:
70 (1994)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern and fully digitalized
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-664

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
7,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)

Televisions:
3,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.ms

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
17 (2000)

Internet users:
NA

Transportation Montserrat

Highways:
total: 227 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
note: volcanic eruptions beginning in 1995 destroyed most of the
road system (2003)

Ports and harbors:
Plymouth

Airports:
1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military Montserrat

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force (2005)

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues Montserrat

Disputes - international:
none

Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the
US and Europe

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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

@Morocco

Introduction Morocco

Background:
In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa,
successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th
century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad AL-MANSUR
(1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age.
In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half
century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's
sovereignty steadily eroded; in 1912, the French imposed a
protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle
with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city
of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new
country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara
during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the
territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s
resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature in 1997.
Parliamentary elections were held for the second time in September
2002 and municipal elections were held in September 2003.

Geography Morocco

Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the
Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara

Geographic coordinates:
32 00 N, 5 00 W

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 446,550 sq km
land: 446,300 sq km
water: 250 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:
total: 2,017.9 km
border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain
(Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km

Coastline:
1,835 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:
Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior

Terrain:
northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of
bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m

Natural resources:
phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt

Land use:
arable land: 19.61%
permanent crops: 2.17%
other: 78.22% (2001)

Irrigated land:
12,910 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to
earthquakes; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:
land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from
farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation);
water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs;
oil pollution of coastal waters

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

Geography - note:
strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

People Morocco

Population:
32,725,847 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.1% (male 5,349,247/female 5,150,497)
15-64 years: 63% (male 10,259,808/female 10,346,608)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 708,921/female 910,766) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 23.61 years
male: 23.11 years
female: 24.13 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.57% (2005 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
-0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 41.62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 45.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 37.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.66 years
male: 68.35 years
female: 73.07 years (2005 est.)

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

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
15,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locations
during the transmission season (typically April through November)
(2004)

Nationality:
noun: Moroccan(s)
adjective: Moroccan

Ethnic groups:
Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%

Religions:
Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%

Languages:
Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of
business, government, and diplomacy

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.7%
male: 64.1%
female: 39.4% (2003 est.)

Government Morocco

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
conventional short form: Morocco
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
local short form: Al Maghrib

Government type:
constitutional monarchy

Capital:
Rabat

Administrative divisions:
14 regions: Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Doukkala-Abda,
Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara,
Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental,
Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal,
Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate
note: Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the political
status of which is considered undetermined by the United States
Government; one additional region, Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, falls
entirely within Western Sahara; another region,
Laayoune-Boujdour-Sahia El Hamra, falls mostly within Western
Sahara; a small portion of this region, in the southwestern part of
the country, falls within Moroccan-administered territory as
recognized by the United States; the province of Guelmim-Es Smara
lies in both entities

Independence:
2 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday:
Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30 July
(1999)

Constitution:
10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create
bicameral legislature) September 1996

Legal system:
based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system;
judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of
Supreme Court

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)

Executive branch:
chief of state: King MOHAMED VI (since 30 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Driss JETTOU (since 9 October
2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
by the monarch following legislative elections

Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Chamber of
Counselors (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils,
professional organizations, and labor syndicates for nine-year
terms; one-third of the members are renewed every three years) and a
lower house or Chamber of Representatives (325 seats; 295 by
multi-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of women;
members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 6 October 2003 (next to
be held NA 2006); Chamber of Representatives - last held 27
September 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - RNI 42, MDS 33, UC 28, MP 27, PND 21, PI 21,
USFP 16, MNP 15, PA 13, FFD 12, other 42; Chamber of Representatives
- percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - USFP 50, PI 48,
PJD 42, RNI 41, MP 27, MNP 18, UC 16, PND 12, PPS 11, UD 10, other 50

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed on the recommendation of the
Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:
Action Party or PA [Muhammad EL IDRISSI]; Alliance of Liberties or
ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; Annahj Addimocrati or Annahj [Abdellah EL HARIF];
Avant Garde Social Democratic Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN];
Citizen Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizen's Initiatives
for Development [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional Union or UC
[Mohamed ABIED (interim)]; Democratic and Independence Party or PDI
[Abdelwahed MAACH]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud
ARCHANE]; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI];
Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development
Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Front of Democratic Forces or FFD
[Thami EL KHYARI]; Istiqlal Party (Independence Party) or PI [Abbas
El FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [Saad Eddine
OTHMANI]; Moroccan Liberal Party or PML [Mohamed ZIANE]; National
Democratic Party or PND [Abdallah KADIRI]; National Ittihadi
Congress Party or CNI [Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA]; National Popular
Movement or MNP [Mahjoubi AHERDANE]; National Rally of Independents
or RNI [Ahmed OSMAN]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP
[Abdellah IBRAHIM]; Parti Al Ahd or Al Ahd [Najib EL OUAZZANI,
chairman]; Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI];
Party of Renewal and Equity or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]; Party of the
Unified Socialist Left or GSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]; Popular
Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Reform and Development Party or
PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen
MADIH]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Mohammed
El-YAZGHI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI]; General
Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL]; Moroccan
Employers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National Labor Union
of Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan Workers or
UMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]

International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA,
MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner),
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR
chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 through 7982
FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas T. RILEY
embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat
mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718
telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65
FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61
consulate(s) general: Casablanca

Flag description:
red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as
Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green
are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is
more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf;
design dates to 1912

Economy Morocco

Economy - overview:
Morocco faces problems typical for developing countries:
restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private
activity and foreign trade, and achieving sustainable growth.
Despite structural adjustment programs supported by the IMF, the
World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is only fully convertible
for current account transactions. In 2004 Moroccan authorities
instituted measures to boost foreign direct investment and trade by
signing a free trade agreement with the US and selling government
shares in the state telecommunications company and in the largest
state-owned bank. Favorable rainfall over the past two years has
boosted agricultural output and GDP growth passed 4% in 2004. In
2005 the budget deficit is expected to rise sharply - from 1.9% of
GDP in 2004 - because of substantial increases in wages and oil
subsidies. Long-term challenges include preparing the economy for
freer trade with the US and European Union, improving education and
job prospects for Morocco's youth, and raising living standards.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$134.6 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
4.4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 21.2%
industry: 35.8%
services: 43% (2004 est.)

Labor force:
11.02 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 40%, industry 15%, services 45% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:
12.1% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:
19% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 30.9% (1998-99)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39.5 (1998-99)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
22.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $12.86 billion
expenditures: $15.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.19
billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:
70.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock

Industries:
phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather
goods, textiles, construction, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Electricity - production:
13.91 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 95.4%
hydro: 4.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
14.24 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:
1.3 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:
1,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
167,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA

Oil - imports:
NA

Oil - proved reserves:
300 million bbl (2004 est.)

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

Natural gas - consumption:
50 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:
665.4 million cu m (2004)

Current account balance:
$765.4 million (2004 est.)

Exports:
$9.754 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals,
fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, fruits,
vegetables

Exports - partners:
France 33.6%, Spain 17.4%, UK 7.7%, Italy 4.7%, US 4.1% (2004)

Imports:
$15.63 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment,
wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics

Imports - partners:
France 18.2%, Spain 12.1%, Italy 6.6%, Germany 6%, Russia 5.7%,
Saudi Arabia 5.4%, China 4.2%, US 4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$15.14 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:
$17.07 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
ODA $218 million (2002)

Currency (code):
Moroccan dirham (MAD)

Currency code:
MAD

Exchange rates:
Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.868 (2004), 9.574 (2003), 11.021
(2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.626 (2000)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Morocco

Telephones - main lines in use:
1,219,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
7,332,800 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system with all important capabilities;
however, density is low with only 4.6 main lines available for each
100 persons
domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and
microwave radio relay links; Internet available but expensive;
principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national
network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural
service employs microwave radio relay
international: country code - 212; 7 submarine cables; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat;
microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara;
coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria; participant in
Medarabtel; fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to Algeria and
Tunisia (1998)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)

Radios:
6.64 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:
3.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.ma

Internet hosts:
3,627 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
8 (2000)

Internet users:
800,000 (2003)

Transportation Morocco

Railways:
total: 1,907 km
standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:
total: 57,694 km
paved: 32,551 km (including 481 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,143 km (2002)

Pipelines:
gas 695 km; oil 285 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Agadir, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Nador, Safi, Tangier

Merchant marine:
total: 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 236,131 GRT/252,367 DWT
by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 6, container 8, passenger/cargo
13, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 6 (France 1, Germany 2, Switzerland 2, United Kingdom
1) (2005)

Airports:
63 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)

Heliports:
1 (2004 est.)

Military Morocco

Military branches:
Royal Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (Force Aerienne Royale
Marocaine)

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

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 7,908,864 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,484,787 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 353,377 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2,305.6 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
5% (2004)

Transnational Issues Morocco

Disputes - international:
claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains
unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since
September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and
parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals; Morocco
protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta,
Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de
Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; discussions
have not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation setting
limits on exploration and refugee interdiction since Morocco's 2002
rejection of Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from
the Canary Islands; Morocco serves as one of the primary launching
areas of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa

Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of hashish; shipments of hashish mostly directed
to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America
destined for Western Europe

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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@Mozambique

Introduction Mozambique

Background:
Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close with
independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration by whites, economic
dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil
war hindered the country's development. The ruling Front for the
Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned Marxism
in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided for
multiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiated
peace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel Mozambique National
Resistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In December
2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO
stepped down after 18 years in office. His newly elected successor,
Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, has promised to continue the sound economic
policies that have encouraged foreign investment.

Geography Mozambique

Location:
South-eastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between
South Africa and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates:
18 15 S, 35 00 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 801,590 sq km
land: 784,090 sq km
water: 17,500 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of California