Chapter XLII: Front Matter (42)

Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and
electoral blocs elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 March 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 46.1%, Democratic
Moldova Bloc 28.4%, PPCD 9.1%, other parties 16.4%; seats by party -
PCRM 56, Democratic Moldova Bloc 34, PPCD 11

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

Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic People's Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA];
Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir
VORONIN, first chairman]; Democratic Party or PD [Dumitru DIACOV];
National Liberal Party or NLP [Vitalia PAVLICENKO]; Our Moldova
Alliance or AMN [Serafim URECHEAN]; Party for Social Democracy or
PSD [Dumitru BRAGHIS]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Oleg SEREBRIAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU,
GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael D. KIRBY
embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [373] (22) 40-8300
FAX: [373] (22) 23-3044

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

Economy Moldova

Economy - overview:
Moldova remains 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. Moldova's dependence on Russian energy
was underscored at the end of 2005, when a Russian-owned electrical
station in Moldova's separatist Transnistria region cut off power to
Moldova and Russia's Gazprom cut off natural gas to Moldova in
disputes over pricing. The economy achieved six percent or more GDP
growth every year from 2000-2005, though this was based largely on
consumption fueled by remittances received from Moldovans working
abroad. Russia's decision to ban Moldovan wine and agricultural
products, coupled with its decision to double the price Moldova paid
for Russian natural gas, slowed GDP growth in 2006 and greatly
exacerbated Moldova's economic troubles. Economic reforms have been
slow because of corruption and strong political forces backing
government controls; nevertheless, the government's primary goal of
EU integration has resulted in some market-oriented progress. The
economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agricultural
weather, and the skepticism of foreign investors. Also, the presence
of an illegal separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region
continues to be a drag on the Moldovan economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$8.971 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.588 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
4.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 21.5%
industry: 22%
services: 56.5% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
1.339 million (2006 est.)

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

Unemployment rate:
8%; note - 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:
36.2 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
24.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.318 billion
expenditures: $1.335 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
84.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

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

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

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

Electricity - production:
3.506 billion kWh (2004)

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

Electricity - consumption:
6.731 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
130 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
3.6 billion kWh (2004)

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

Oil - consumption:
14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
2.17 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
2.17 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:
$-561 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$1.02 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Exports - partners:
Russia 32.9%, Italy 12.7%, Romania 10.6%, Ukraine 9.5%, Belarus
6.7%, Germany 4.5% (2005)

Imports:
$2.65 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

Imports - partners:
Ukraine 20.9%, Russia 11.7%, Romania 11.2%, Germany 8.3%, Italy
6.6%, Turkey 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$680 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$2.142 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$100 million (2000)

Currency (code):
Moldovan leu (MDL)

Currency code:
MDL

Exchange rates:
lei per US dollar - 13.1571 (2006), 12.6 (2005), 12.33 (2004),
13.945 (2003), 13.571 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Moldova

Telephones - main lines in use:
929,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.09 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside
Chisinau; some modernization is under way
domestic: depending on location, new subscribers may face long wait
for service; two private operators of GSM mobile cellular telephone
service are operating; GPRS system is being introduced; license for
one CDMA mobile telephone network currently being tendered.
international: country code - 373; service through Romania and
Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - Intelsat, Eutelsat,
and Intersputnik

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 29 (2004)

Radios:
3.22 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
40 (2004)

Televisions:
1.26 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.md

Internet hosts:
58,886 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (1999)

Internet users:
406,000 (2005)

Transportation Moldova

Airports:
12 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 606 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 1,138 km
broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 12,733 km
paved: 10,976 km
unpaved: 1,757 km (2004)

Waterways:
424 km (on Dniester River) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 13,831 GRT/15,003 DWT
by type: cargo 7
foreign-owned: 3 (Ukraine 3) (2006)

Military Moldova

Military branches:
National Army: Ground Forces, Rapid Reaction Forces, Air and Air
Defense Forces (2006)

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
females age 18-49: 1,117,070 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 693,913
females age 18-49: 911,568 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 43,729
females age 18-49: 42,354 (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 operate joint customs posts to monitor the
transit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away
Transnistria region which remains under OSCE supervision

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 8 February, 2007

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

@Monaco

Introduction Monaco

Background:
The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present-day Monaco in
1215. The current ruling Grimaldi family secured control in the late
13th century, and a principality was established in 1338. 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) (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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:
32,543 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.2% (male 2,539/female 2,417)
15-64 years: 62.1% (male 9,959/female 10,266)
65 years and over: 22.6% (male 3,015/female 4,347) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 45.4 years
male: 43.3 years
female: 47.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.4% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
9.19 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
12.91 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
7.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.69 years
male: 75.85 years
female: 83.74 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.76 children born/woman (2006 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: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

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:
name: Monaco
geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 25 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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:
18 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 [Guy MAGNAN]; Union for Monaco
or UPM (including National Union for the Future of Monaco or UNAM)

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador to the US and UN Gilles NOGHES
chancery: 565 Fifth Avenue, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone: (212) 286-0500
FAX: (212) 286-1574

Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador to
France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille
(France), under the authority of the US ambassador to France,
handles routine diplomatic and consular matters concerning 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$870 million
note: Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates
are extremely rough (2000 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
NA

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

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$27,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0%
industry: 4.9%
services: 95.1% (2005)

Labor force:
41,110
note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2004)

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: $719.2 million
expenditures: $864.1 million; including capital expenditures of
$283.1 million (2004 est.)

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:
$656.5 million
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France (2004)

Imports:
$636.6 million
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France (2004)

Debt - external:
$18 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$NA

Currency (code):
euro (EUR)

Currency code:
EUR

Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.7967 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

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:
12,720 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)

Internet users:
16,000 (2002)

Transportation Monaco

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 50 km
paved: 50 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 77 (Bahamas 17, Barbados 1, Bermuda
2, France 1, Georgia 13, Isle of Man 3, Liberia 10, Malta 1,
Marshall Islands 8, Norway 4, Panama 9, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Switzerland 2, unknown 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Monaco

Military Monaco

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,256 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 4,971 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 148 (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

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

@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. The ex-Communist Mongolian
People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992,
but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996
parliamentary election. 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: 0.76%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.24% (2005)

Irrigated land:
840 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

People Mongolia

Population:
2,832,224 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.9% (male 402,448/female 387,059)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 967,546/female 969,389)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 45,859/female 59,923) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 24.6 years
male: 24.3 years
female: 25 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.46% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
21.59 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.95 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 52.12 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 55.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 48.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.89 years
male: 62.64 years
female: 67.25 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.25 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Ulaanbaatar
geographic coordinates: 47 55 N, 106 53 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Saturday in March; ends last
Saturday in September

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,
Govisumber, 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 Miegombyn ENKHBOLD (since 25
January 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Mendsaikhan ENKHSAIKHAN (since
28 January 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister in consultation
with the president and confirmed by the State Great Hural
(parliament)
elections: presidential candidates nominated by political parties
represented in State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a
four-year term (eligible for a second term); 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%; Miegombyn ENKHBOLD elected prime
minister by the State Great Hural 56 to 10

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 MDC collapsed; note - seats by party as of 1 December 2005
- MPRP 38, DP 25, M-MNSDP 6, CWRP 2, MRP 1, PP 1, independents 3

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 [Tsakhiagiyn ELBEGDORJ]; Motherland-Mongolian New Socialist
Democratic Party or M-MNSDP [Badarchyn ERDENEBAT]; Mongolian
People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Miegombyn ENKHBOLD]; Mongolian
Republican Party or MRP [Bazarsadyn JARGALSAIKHAN]; People's Party
or PP [Lamjav GUNDALAI]
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, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SCO (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

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

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark C. MINTON
embassy: Big Ring Road, 11th Micro Region, Ulaanbaatar
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002; P.O. Box 1021,
Ulaanbaatar-13
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 because of
reform-embracing, free-market economics and extensive privatization
of the formerly state-run economy. Severe winters and summer
droughts in 2000-2002 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 was 10.6% in 2004, 5.5% in 2005, and 7.5% in
2006, largely because of high copper prices and new gold production.
Mongolia's economy continues to be heavily influenced 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, but the former's actual size 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 are sizeable, and money
laundering is a growing concern. Mongolia settled its $11 billion
debt with Russia at the end of 2003 on 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):
$5.781 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.54 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
7.5% according to official estimate (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,000 (2006 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 42%, manufacturing 6%, trade 4%,
services 29%, public sector 6% (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):
9.5% (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $702 million
expenditures: $651 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)

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

Industries:
construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper,
molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, 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:
3.24 billion kWh (2005 est.)

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

Electricity - consumption:
3.37 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - exports:
18 million kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - imports:
130 million kWh (2005 est.)

Oil - production:
548.8 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
11,220 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports:
515 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:
11,210 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$852 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

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

Exports - partners:
China 48.1%, US 14.2%, Canada 11.6%, UK 8.3%, South Korea 6.2%
(2005)

Imports:
$1.011 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 34.5%, China 27.4%, Japan 7.1%, South Korea 5.3% (2005)

Debt - external:
$1.36 billion (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:
$215 million (2003)

Currency (code):
togrog/tugrik (MNT)

Currency code:
MNT

Exchange rates:
togrogs/tugriks per US dollar - 1,187.17 (2005), 1,185.3 (2004),
1,146.5 (2003), 1,110.3 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Mongolia

Telephones - main lines in use:
156,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
557,200 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: network is improving with international direct
dialing available in many areas
domestic: very low density of about 5.5 main lines per 100 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:
272 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)

Internet users:
268,300 (2005)

Transportation Mongolia

Airports:
44 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 32
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Heliports:
2 (2006)

Railways:
total: 1,810 km
broad gauge: 1,810 km 1.524-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 49,250 km
paved: 1,724 km
unpaved: 47,526 km (2002)

Waterways:
580 km
note: only waterway in operation is Lake Hovsgol (135 km); Selenge
River (270 km) and Orhon 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: 61 ships (1000 GRT or over) 319,053 GRT/479,190 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 49, passenger/cargo 1, roll on/roll
off 3
foreign-owned: 49 (China 4, Japan 1, North Korea 3, Lebanon 1,
Malaysia 1, Russia 13, Singapore 10, Syria 1, Thailand 1, UAE 5,
Ukraine 1, Vietnam 8) (2006)

Military Mongolia

Military branches:
Mongolian People's Army (MPA), Mongolian People's Air Force (MPAF);
there is no navy (2005)

Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 12 months in land or air defense forces or
police; a small portion of Mongolian land forces (2.5 percent) is
comprised of contract soldiers; women cannot be deployed overseas
for military operations (2006)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 736,182
females age 18-49: 734,679 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 570,435
females age 18-49: 607,918 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 34,674
females age 18-49: 34,251 (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 8 February, 2007

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

@Montenegro

Introduction Montenegro

Background:
The use of the name Montenegro began in the 15th century when the
Crnojevic dynasty began to rule the Serbian principality of Zeta;
over subsequent centuries Montenegro was able to maintain its
independence from the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th
centuries, Montenegro became a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop
princes; in 1852, it was transformed into a secular principality.
After World War I, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs,
Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in
1929; at the conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent
republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the
latter dissolved in 1992, Montenegro federated with Serbia, first as
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, in a looser
union of Serbia and Montenegro. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its
right under the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro to
hold a referendum on independence from the state union. The vote for
severing ties with Serbia exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU
- allowing Montenegro to formally declare its independence on 3 June
2006.

Geography Montenegro

Location:
Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia

Geographic coordinates:
42 30 N, 19 18 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 14,026 sq km
land: 13,812 sq km
water: 214 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:
total: 625 km
border countries: Albania 172 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 225 km,
Croatia 25 km, Serbia 203 km

Coastline:
293.5 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: defined by treaty

Climate:
Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively
cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland

Terrain:
highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by
rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Bobotov Kuk 2,522 m

Natural resources:
bauxite, hydroelectricity

Land use:
arable land: 13.7%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 85.3%

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes

Environment - current issues:
pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in
tourist-related areas such as Kotor

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping

Geography - note:
strategic location along the Adriatic coast

People Montenegro

Population:
630,548 (2004)

Population growth rate:
3.5% (2004)

Birth rate:
12.6 births/1,000 population (2004)

Death rate:
9.2 deaths/1,000 population (2004)

Nationality:
noun: Montenegrin(s)
adjective: Montenegrin

Ethnic groups:
Montenegrin 43%, Serbian 32%, Bosniak 8%, Albanian 5%, other
(Muslims, Croats, Roma) 12%

Religions:
Orthodox, Muslim, Roman Catholic

Languages:
Serbian (Ijekavian dialect - official), Bosnian, Albanian, Croatian

Government Montenegro

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Montenegro
conventional short form: Montenegro
local long form: Republika Crna Gora
local short form: Crna Gora
former: People's Republic of Montenegro, Socialist Republic of
Montenegro

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Podgorica (administrative capital)
geographic coordinates: 42 26 N, 19 16 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Cetinje (capital city)

Administrative divisions:
21 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Andrijevia, Bar,
Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Herceg Novi,
Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Plav, Pluzine, Pljevlja,
Podgornica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Ulcinj, Zabljak

Independence:
3 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)

National holiday:
National Day, 13 July

Constitution:
12 October 1992 (was approved by the Assembly); note - Montenegro
is currently writing a new constitution set to be presented to
Parliament in spring 2007

Legal system:
based on civil law system

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Filip VUJANOVIC (since 11 May 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Zeljko STURANOVIC (since 13
November 2006)
cabinet: Ministries act as cabinet
elections: president elected by direct vote for five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 11 May 2003 (next
to be held in 2008); prime minister proposed by president, accepted
by Assembly
election results: Filip VUJANOVIC elected on the third round; Filip
VUJANOVIC 63.3%, Miodrag ZIVKOVIC 30.8%

Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly (81 seats, elected by direct vote for four-year
terms; changed from 74 seats in 2006)
elections: last held 10 September 2006 (next to be held 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Coalition for a European Montenegro 41, SNS 12, Coalition SPP/NS/DSS
11, PZP 11, Liberals and Bosniaks 3, Democratic League-Democratic
Prosperity 1, Democratic Union of Albanians 1, Albanian Alternative 1

Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court (five judges with nine-year terms); Supreme
Court (judges have life tenure)

Political parties and leaders:
Albanian Alternative or AA [Vesel SINISHTAJ]; Bosniak Party or BS
[Rafet HUSOVIC]; Democratic League-Party of Democratic Prosperity or
SPP [Mehmet BARHDI]; Democratic Party of Socialists or DPS [Milo
DJUKANOVIC]; Democratic Serbian Party of Montenegro or DSS [Ranko
KADIC]; Democratic Union of Albanians or DUA [Ferhat DINOSA];
Liberal Party of Montenegro or LP [Miodrag ZIVKOVIC]; Movement for
Changes or PZP [Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC]; Party of Serb Radicals or SSR
[Dusko SEKULIC]; People's Party of Montenegro or NS [Predrag
POPOVIC]; People's Socialist Party or NSS [Emilo LABUDOVIC]; Serbian
People's Party of Montenegro or SNS [Andrija MANDIC]; Social
Democratic Party or SDP [Ranko KRIVOKAPIC]; Socialist People's Party
or SNP [Srdjan MILIC]

International organization participation:
CEI, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICCt, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOM,
IPU, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Miodrag VLAHOVIC

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Arlene
FERRILL
embassy: Ljubljanska bb, 82000 Podgorica, Montenegro
mailing address: (use street address)
telephone: [381] 81 225 417
FAX: [381] 81 241 358

Flag description:
a red field bordered by a narrow golden-yellow stripe with the
Montenegrin coat of arms centered

Economy Montenegro

Economy - overview:
The republic of Montenegro severed its economy from federal control
and from Serbia during the MILOSEVIC era and continues to maintain
its own central bank, uses the euro instead of the Yugoslav dinar as
official currency, collects customs tariffs, and manages its own
budget. The dissolution of the loose political union between Serbia
and Montenegro in 2006 led to separate membership in several
international financial institutions, such as the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development. On January 18, 2007, Montenegro
joined the World Bank and IMF. Montenegro is pursuing its own
membership in the World Trade Organization as well as negotiating a
Stabilization and Association agreement with the European Union in
anticipation of eventual membership. Severe unemployment remains a
key political and economic problem for this entire region.
Montenegro has privatized its large aluminum complex - the dominant
industry - as well as most of its financial sector, and has begun to
attract foreign direct investment in the tourism sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.394 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.744 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
NA

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,800 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Labor force:
259,100 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 30%
services: 68% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
27.7% (2005)

Population below poverty line:
12.2% (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2004)

Investment (gross fixed):
% of GDP NA

Budget:
revenues: NA
expenditures: NA

Public debt:
% of GDP NA

Agriculture - products:
grains, tobacco, potatoes, citrus fruits, olives, grapes;
sheepherding; commercial fishing negligible

Industries:
steelmaking, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism

Electricity - production:
2.864 billion kWh 2.864 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - consumption:
18.6 million kWh

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day

Oil - consumption:
450 bbl/day

Natural gas - consumption:
NA

Current account balance:
NA

Exports:
$171.3 million (2003)

Exports - partners:
Switzerland 83.9%, Italy 6.1%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.3% (2003)

Imports:
$601.7 million (2003)

Imports - partners:
Greece 10.2%, Italy 10.2%, Germany 9.6%, Bosnia and Herzegovina
9.2% (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
NA

Debt - external:
NA

Economic aid - recipient:
NA

Currency (code):
euro (EUR)

Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8089 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Montenegro

Telephones - main lines in use:
177,663 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
543,220 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern telecommunications system with access to
European satellites
domestic: GSM wireless service, available through two providers with
national coverage, is growing rapidly
international: country code - 382 (the old code of 381 used by
Serbia and Montenegro will also remain in use until Feb 2007); two
international switches connect the national system

Radio broadcast stations:
31 (2004)

Television broadcast stations:
13 (2004)

Internet country code:
.me

Internet users:
50,000 (2004)

Transportation Montenegro

Airports:
5 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Railways:
total: 250 km
standard gauge: 250 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 169 km) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 7,353 km
paved: 4,274 km
unpaved: 3,079 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1000 GRT or over) 9,458 GRT/10,172 DWT
by type: cargo 4
registered in other countries: 4 (Bahamas 2, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Bar

Military Montenegro

Military service age and obligation:
compulsory national military service abolished August 2006

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2.306 billion

Military - note:
Montenegrin plans call for the establishment of a fully
professional armed forces

Transnational Issues Montenegro

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Montserrat

Introduction Montserrat

Background:
English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled on
Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three decades
later. The British and French fought for possesion of the island for
most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as a British
possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy was
converted to small farm landholdings in the mid 19th century. 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: lava dome in English's Crater (in the Soufriere Hills
volcanic complex) estimated at over 930 m (2006)

Natural resources:
NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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 comprised of three
major volcanic centers of differing ages

People Montserrat

Population:
9,439
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the
resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned
(July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.3% (male 1,125/female 1,079)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 2,957/female 3,245)
65 years and over: 10.9% (male 532/female 501) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 28.9 years
male: 28.6 years
female: 29.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.05% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
17.59 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.19 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.85 years
male: 76.67 years
female: 81.14 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.77 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Plymouth
geographic coordinates: 16 44 N, 62 14 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Plymouth was 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 Lowell LEWIS (since 2 June 2006)
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 31 May 2006 (next to be held by 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - MCAP 36.1%, NPLM 29.4%,
MDP 24.4%, independents 10.1%; seats by party - MCAP 4, NPLM 3, MDP
1, independents 1
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:
Montserrat Democratic Party or MDP [Lowell LEWIS]; Movement for
Change and Prosperity or MCAP [Roselyn CASSELL-SEALY]; New People's
Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
Caricom, CDB, 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 volcanic activity 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 (official exchange rate):
NA

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

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.2%
industry: 23.1%
services: 75.7% (1999 est.)

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

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:
2 million kWh (2003)

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

Electricity - consumption:
1.86 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:
380 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$700,000 (2001)

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

Exports - partners:
US, Antigua and Barbuda (2004)

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 (2004)

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 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7
(2003), 2.7 (2002), 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 hosts:
386 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
17 (2000)

Internet users:
NA

Transportation Montserrat

Airports:
2 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 227 km
note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the
road system (2003)

Ports and terminals:
Plymouth

Military Montserrat

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

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 2,298 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,899 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 84 (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

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

@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 erode; 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, which
first met in 1997. Lower house elections were last held held in
September 2002 and upper house elections were last held in September
2006.

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%
permanent crops: 2%
other: 79% (2005)

Irrigated land:
14,450 sq km (2003)

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:
33,241,259 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.6% (male 5,343,976/female 5,145,019)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 10,505,018/female 10,580,599)
65 years and over: 5% (male 725,116/female 941,531) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 23.9 years
male: 23.4 years
female: 24.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.55% (2006 est.)