note: government coalition - CSV and DP
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 13 June 1999 (next to be held by NA June 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - CSV 29.79%, DP 21.58%, LSAP 23.75%, ADR 10.36%, Green Party 9.09%, the Left 3.77%; seats by party - CSV 19, DP 15, LSAP 13, ADR 6, Green Party 5, the Left 2
note: the Council of State or Conseil d'Etat, which has 21 members who are appointed and dismissed by the Grand Duke based on proposals from the government, the Chamber of Deputies, or the Council of State, is an advisory body whose views are considered by the Chamber of Deputies
Judicial branch: judicial courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2 district courts, and 1 Supreme Court of Appeals); administrative courts and tribunals (State Prosecutor's Office, administrative courts and tribunals, and the Constitutional Court); judges for all courts are appointed for life by the monarch
Political parties and leaders: Action Committee for Democracy andJustice or ADR [Robert MEHLEN]; Christian Social People's Party orCSV (known also as Christian Social Party or PCS) [ErnaHENNICOT-SCHOEPGES]; Democratic Party or DP [Lydie POLFER]; GreenParty [Abbes JACOBY and Felix BRAS]; Luxembourg Socialist Workers'Party or LSAP [Jean ASSELBORN]; Marxist and Reformed Communist PartyDEI LENK (the Left) [no formal leadership]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: ABBL (bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sector trade union); Centrale Paysanne (federation of agricultural producers); CEP (professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade union representing civil service); Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of Commerce); Chambre des Metiers (Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL (federation of industrialists); LCGP (center-right trade union); OGBL (center-left trade union)
International organization participation: ACCT, Australia Group,Benelux, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW,OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorArlette CONZEMIUS
chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171
consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorJames C. HORMEL
embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City
mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail)
telephone: [352] 46 01 23
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of France
Luxembourg Economy
Economy - overview: The stable, high-income economy features solid growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, initially dominated by steel, has become increasingly diversified to include chemicals, rubber, and other products. Growth in the financial sector has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Services, especially banking, account for a substantial proportion of the economy. Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms. The economy depends on foreign and trans-border workers for 30% of its labor force. Luxembourg has a custom union with Belgium and the Netherlands, and, as a member of the EU, enjoys the advantages of the open European market. It joined with 10 other EU members to launch the euro on 1 January 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $15.9 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.7% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $36,400 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1%
industry: 30%
services: 69% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.8% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 248,000 (of whom 70,200 are foreign cross-border workers primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany) (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: services 83.2%, industry 14.3%, agriculture 2.5% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2.7% (2000 est.)
Budget: revenues: $5.6 billion
expenditures: $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
Industrial production growth rate: 7.8% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 648 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 36.88%
hydro: 53.09%
nuclear: 0%
other: 10.03% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 6.149 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 655 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 6.201 billion kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock products
Exports: $7.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass
Exports - partners: EU 75% (Germany 25%, France 21%, Belgium 13%, UK 8%, Italy 6%, Netherlands 5%), US 4% (1999)
Imports: $10 billion (c.i.f., 2000)
Imports - commodities: minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
Imports - partners: EU 81% (Belgium 35%, Germany 26%, France 12%,Netherlands 4%), US 9% (1999)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $160 million (1999)
Currency: Luxembourg franc (LUF); euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced the euro as a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in Luxembourg at a fixed rate of 40.3399 Luxembourg francs per euro and will replace the local currency for all transactions in 2002
Currency code: LUF; EUR
Exchange rates: euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Luxembourg francs per US dollar - 34.77 (January 1999), 36.299 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996); note - the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg
Fiscal year: calendar year
Luxembourg Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 314,700 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 215,741 (2000)
Telephone system: general assessment: highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable
international: 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios: 285,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (1999)
Televisions: 285,000 (1998 est.)
Internet country code: .lu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 8 (2000)
Internet users: 86,000 (1999)
Luxembourg Transportation
Railways: total: 274 km
standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km electrified; 178 km double track) (1998)
Highways: total: 5,166 km
paved: 5,166 km (including 118 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Waterways: 37 km (on the Moselle)
Pipelines: petroleum products 48 km
Ports and harbors: Mertert
Merchant marine: total: 50 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 988,450 GRT/1,313,498 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, chemical tanker 11, container 2, liquefied gas 18, passenger 4, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 7
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belgium 4 (2000 est.)
Airports: 2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2000 est.)
Luxembourg Military
Military branches: Army; note - the government abolished theGendarmerie
Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 112,714 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 92,817 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 2,565 (2001 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $131 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1% (FY98/99)
Luxembourg Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
======================================================================
@Macau
Macau Introduction
Background: Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was the first European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December 1999. China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not be practiced in Macau and that Macau will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs.
Macau Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates: 22 10 N, 113 33 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 21 sq km
land: 21 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0.34 km
border countries: China 0.34 km
Coastline: 40 km
Maritime claims: not specified
Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain: generally flat
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Coloane Alto 174 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 98% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the two islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland
Macau People
Population: 453,733 (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.68% (male 53,291; female 49,615)
15-64 years: 70.08% (male 150,538; female 167,431)
65 years and over: 7.24% (male 13,287; female 19,571) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.79% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 12.36 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 3.71 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: 9.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.69 years
male: 78.88 years
female: 84.64 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.31 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry), Portuguese, other
Religions: Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)
Languages: Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90%
male: 93%
female: 86% (1981 est.)
Macau Government
Country name: conventional long form: Macau Special AdministrativeRegion
conventional short form: Macau
local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)
Dependency status: special administrative region of China
Government type: NA
Administrative divisions: none (special administrative region ofChina)
Independence: none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday: National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of thePeople's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December1999 is celebrated as Macau Special Administrative RegionEstablishment Day
Constitution: Basic Law, approved in March 1993 by China's NationalPeople's Congress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"
Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage: direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies
Executive branch: chief of state: President of China JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993)
head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20 December 1999)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of all five government secretaries, three legislators, and two businessmen
elections: NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (23 seats; 8 elected by popular vote, 8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the chief executive; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held by 15 October 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - APPEM 2, UNIPRO 2, CODEM 1, UDM 1, UPD 1, ANMD 1
Judicial branch: The Court of Final Appeal in the Macau SpecialAdministrative Region
Political parties and leaders: the following is a listing of thoseassociations that participated in the last legislative elections:Associacao de Novo Macau Democratico or ANMD [leader NA]; AssociacaoPromotora para a Economia de Macau or APPEM [leader NA];Convergencia para o Desenvolvimento or CODEM [leader NA]; UniaoGeral para o Desenvolvimento de Macau or UDM [leader NA]; Uniao parao Desenvolvimento or UPD [leader NA]; Uniao Promotora para oProgresso or UNIPRO [leader NA]
note: there are no formal political parties, but civic associations are used instead
Political pressure groups and leaders: Catholic Church [DomingosLAM, bishop]; Macau Society of Tourism and Entertainment or STDM[Stanley HO, managing director]; Union for Democracy Development[Antonio NG Kuok-cheong, leader]
International organization participation: CCC, ESCAP (associate), IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), UNESCO (associate), WMO, WToO (associate), WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US has no offices inMacau, and US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General inHong Kong
Flag description: light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large in center of arc and four smaller
Macau Economy
Economy - overview: The economy is based largely on tourism (including gambling) and textile and fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to diversify have spawned other small industries - toys, artificial flowers, and electronics. The tourist sector has accounted for roughly 25% of GDP, and the clothing industry has provided about three-fourths of export earnings; the gambling industry probably represents over 40% of GDP. More than 8 million tourists visited Macau in 2000. Macau depends on China for most of its food, fresh water, and energy imports. Japan and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw materials and capital goods. Output dropped 5% in 1998 and 3% in 1999, with a small 2% gain in 2000. Macau reverted to Chinese administration on 20 December 1999. Gang violence, a dark spot in the economy, probably will be reduced in 2000-01 to the advantage of the tourism sector.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.82 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,500 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1%
industry: 25%
services: 74% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -1.8% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 283,450 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: restaurants and hotels 26%, manufacturing 22%, other services 52% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6.6% (2000)
Budget: revenues: $1.26 billion
expenditures: $1.22 billion, including capital expenditures of $175 million (1999 est.)
Industries: clothing, textiles, toys, electronics, footwear, tourism, gambling
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.355 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 1.422 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 3 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 165 million kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: rice, vegetables
Exports: $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities: textiles, clothing, toys, electronics, cement, footwear, machinery
Exports - partners: US 47%, EU 30%, China 9.2%, Hong Kong 6.7% (1999)
Imports: $2.4 billion (c.i.f., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities: raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods, fuels, consumer goods
Imports - partners: China 36%, Hong Kong 18%, EU 13%, Taiwan 10%,Japan 7% (1999)
Debt - external: $1.7 billion (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: pataca (MOP)
Currency code: MOP
Exchange rates: patacas per US dollar - 8.033 (January 2001), 8.025 (2000), 7.990 (1999), 7.978 (1998), 7.974 (1997), 7.966 (1996); note - linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
Macau Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 176,837 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 120,957 (2000)
Telephone system: general assessment: fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services
domestic: NA
international: HF radiotelephone communication facility; access to international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and China; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 160,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (receives Hong Kong broadcasts) (1997)
Televisions: 49,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .mo
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000)
Internet users: 40,000 (2000)
Macau Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 50 km
paved: 50 km
unpaved: 0 km (2001)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Macau
Merchant marine: none (2000 est.)
Airports: 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Macau Military
Military branches: Macau garrison of China's People's LiberationArmy (PLA) includes about 500 troops
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 125,737 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 69,191 (2001 est.)
Military - note: responsibility for defense reverted to China on 20December 1999
Macau Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
======================================================================
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Introduction Top ofPage
Background: International recognition of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 was delayed by Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols. Greece finally lifted its trade blockade in 1995, and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, despite continued disagreement over FYROM's use of "Macedonia." FYROM's large Albanian minority and the de facto independence of neighboring Kosovo continue to be sources of ethnic tension.
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates: 41 50 N, 22 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 25,333 sq km
land: 24,856 sq km
water: 477 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries: total: 748 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 228 km, Yugoslavia 221 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
Terrain: mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,753 m
Natural resources: chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber, arable land
Land use: arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 830 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: high seismic risks
Environment - current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: landlocked; major transportation corridor fromWestern and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe toWestern Europe
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of People
Population: 2,046,209 (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.92% (male 243,715; female 225,349)
15-64 years: 66.94% (male 688,484; female 681,225)
65 years and over: 10.14% (male 92,043; female 115,393) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.43% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 13.5 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.02 years
male: 71.79 years
female: 76.43 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.79 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.01% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: less than 100 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic groups: Macedonian 66.6%, Albanian 22.7%, Turkish 4%, Roma 2.2%, Serb 2.1%, other 2.4% (1994)
Religions: Macedonian Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%
Languages: Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%
Literacy: definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Government
Country name: conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republika Makedonija
local short form: Makedonija
abbreviation: FYROM
Government type: emerging democracy
Capital: Skopje
Administrative divisions: 123 municipalities (opstini, singular -opstina); Aracinovo, Bac, Belcista, Berovo, Bistrica, Bitola,Blatec, Bogdanci, Bogomila, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Cair(Skopje), Capari, Caska, Cegrane, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa,Cesinovo, Cucer-Sandevo, Debar, Delcevo, Delogozdi, Demir Hisar,Demir Kapija, Dobrusevo, Dolna Banjica, Dolneni, Dorce Petrov(Skopje), Drugovo, Dzepciste, Gazi Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija,Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Izvor, Jegunovce, Kamenjane, Karbinci,Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kisela Voda (Skopje), Klecevce,Kocani, Konce, Kondovo, Konopiste, Kosel, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka,Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kuklis, Kukurecani, Kumanovo, Labunista,Lipkovo, Lozovo, Lukovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski Brod,Mavrovi Anovi, Meseista, Miravci, Mogila, Murtino, Negotino,Negotino-Poloska, Novaci, Novo Selo, Oblesevo, Ohrid, Orasac,Orizari, Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnia, Podares, Prilep,Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Rostusa, Samokov,Saraj, Sipkovica, Sopiste, Sopotnika, Srbinovo, Star Dojran,Staravina, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani,Suto Orizari (Skopje), Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Topolcani,Valandovo, Vasilevo, Velesta, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vitoliste,Vranestica, Vrapciste, Vratnica, Vrutok, Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zileno,Zitose, Zletovo, Zrnovci
note: the seven municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses collectively constitute "greater Skopje"
Independence: 17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: Uprising Day, 2 August (1903)
Constitution: adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
note: Democratic Party for Albanians (DPA), which is now a member party of the government, is calling for a rewrite of the constitution to declare ethnic Albanians a constituent national group and allow for greater regional autonomy
Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Boris TRAJKOVSKI (since 15 December 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI (since 30 November 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all the deputies in the Assembly; note - current cabinet formed by the government coalition parties VMRO-DPMNE, LDP, and DPA
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 November 1999 (next to be held NA October 2004); prime minister elected by parliament; election last held NA November 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: Boris TRAJKOVSKI elected president on second-round ballot; percent of vote - Boris TRAJKOVSKI 52.4%, Tito PETKOVSKI 46.2%
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly or Sobranje (120 seats - 85 members are elected by popular vote, 35 members come from lists of candidates submitted by parties based on the percentage that parties gain from the overall vote; all serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 18 October and 1 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - VMRO-DPMNE 43, SDSM 27, PDP 14, DA 13, DPA 11, VMRO-VMRO 6, LDP 4, SP 1, Roma Party 1
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court; Judicial Court of theRepublic; judges for both courts are elected by the Judicial Council
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Alternative or DA [VasilTUPURKOVSKI, president]; Democratic Party for Albanians or DPA[Arben XHAFERI, president]; Internal Macedonian RevolutionaryOrganization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity orVMRO-DPMNE [Ljubcho GEORGIEVSKI, president]; Internal MacedonianRevolutionary Organization-True Macedonian Reform Option orVMRO-VMRO [Boris STOJMANOV]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [RistoGUSTERVO]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PDP [Imeri IMERI,president]; Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM (formerCommunist Party) [Branko CRVENKOVSKI, president]; Socialist Party ofMacedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV, president]; Union of Romanies ofMacedonia or SRM [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ACCT (associate), BIS,CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorLjubica Z. ACEVSKA
chancery: 3050 K Street, NW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 337 3063
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorMichael M. EINIK
embassy: Bul. Ilinden bb, 91000 Skopje
mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
telephone: [389] (91) 116-180
Flag description: a rising yellow sun with eight rays extending to the edges of the red field
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Economy
Economy - overview: At independence in November 1991, Macedonia was the least developed of the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the total federal output of goods and services. The collapse of Yugoslavia ended transfer payments from the center and eliminated advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence of infrastructure, UN sanctions on its largest market Yugoslavia, and a Greek economic embargo hindered economic growth until 1996. GDP has subsequently increased each year, rising by 5% in 2000. Successful privatization in 2000 boosted the country's reserves to over $700 million. Also, the leadership demonstrated a continuing commitment to economic reform, free trade, and regional integration. Inflation jumped to 11% in 2000, largely due to higher oil prices.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $9 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,400 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12%
industry: 25%
services: 63% (2000)
Population below poverty line: 25% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 1 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, servicesNA%
Unemployment rate: 32% (2000)
Budget: revenues: $1.06 billion
expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $107 million (1996 est.)
Industries: coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood products, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (2000)
Electricity - production: 6.395 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 82.25%
hydro: 17.75%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 5.992 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 30 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 75 million kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton
Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities: food, beverages, tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel
Exports - partners: Germany 22%, Yugoslavia 22%, US 12%, Greece 7%,Italy 6% (2000)
Imports: $2 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; food products
Imports - partners: Germany 13%, Ukraine 13%, Russia 10%, Yugoslavia 8%, Greece 8% (2000)
Debt - external: $1.4 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient: $100 million from the EU (2000)
Currency: Macedonian denar (MKD)
Currency code: MKD
Exchange rates: Macedonian denars per US dollar - 64.757 (January 2001), 65.904 (2000), 56.902 (1999), 54.462 (1998), 50.004 (1997), 39.981 (1996)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Communications Top ofPage
Telephones - main lines in use: 408,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 12,362 (1997)
Telephone system: general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 410,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 31 (plus 166 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions: 510,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .mk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (2000)
Internet users: 30,000 (2000)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Transportation Top ofPage
Railways: total: 699 km
standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified)
note: a 56-km extension of the Kumanovo-Beljakovci line to the Bulgarian border at Gyveshevo is under construction (2001)
Highways: total: 8,684 km
paved: 5,540 km (including 133 km of expressways)
unpaved: 3,144 km (1997)
Waterways: note: lake transport only, on the Greek and Albanian borders
Pipelines: 10 km
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 16 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Military
Military branches: Army (includes Air and Air Defense Forces),Police Force
Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 548,183 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 442,053 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 17,905 (2001 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $76.3 million (FY00/01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.17% (FY00/01)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Transnational Issues Top of Page
Disputes - international: dispute with Greece over its name; February 2001 agreement with Yugoslavia settled alignment of boundary, stipulating implementation within two years
Illicit drugs: increasing transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe
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@Madagascar
Madagascar Introduction
Background: Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1886, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997 in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency.
Madagascar Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east ofMozambique
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 587,040 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4,828 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or 100 NM from the 2,500-m deep isobath
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Natural resources: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 41%
forests and woodland: 40%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,870 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues: soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity,Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, HazardousWastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel
Madagascar People
Population: 15,982,563 (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45.02% (male 3,607,803; female 3,587,532)
15-64 years: 51.77% (male 4,093,720; female 4,180,430)
65 years and over: 3.21% (male 239,839; female 273,239) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.02% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 42.66 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 12.42 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 83.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.35 years
male: 53.08 years
female: 57.68 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.8 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.15% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 11,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 870 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective: Malagasy
Ethnic groups: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo),Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry -Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian,Creole, Comoran
Religions: indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages: French (official), Malagasy (official)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 80%
male: 88%
female: 73% (1990 est.)
Madagascar Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form: Madagascar
local long form: Republique de Madagascar
local short form: Madagascar
former: Malagasy Republic
Government type: republic
Capital: Antananarivo
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo,Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Independence: 26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Constitution: 19 August 1992 by national referendum
Legal system: based on French civil law system and traditionalMalagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Didier RATSIRAKA (since 10 February 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Tantely Rene Gabriot ANDRIANARIVO (since NA 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 29 December 1996 (next to be held NA November 2001); prime minister appointed by the president from a list of candidates nominated by the National Assembly
election results: Didier RATSIRAKA elected president; percent of vote - Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%, Albert ZAFY (AFFA) 49.3%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - the legislature is scheduled to become a bicameral Parliament with the establishment of a Senate; two-thirds of the seats of this Senate will be filled by regional assemblies whose members will be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of the seats will be appointed by the president; the total number of seats will be determined by the National Assembly; all members will serve four-year terms
elections: National Assembly - last held 17 May 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - AREMA 63, LEADER/Fanilo 16, AVI 14, RPSD 11, AFFA 6, MFM 3, AKFM/Fanavaozana 3, GRAD/Iloafo 1, Fihaonana 1, independents 32
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High ConstitutionalCourt or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle
Political parties and leaders: Action, Truth, Development, andHarmony or AFFA [Professor Albert ZAFY]; Association for the Rebirthof Madagascar or AREMA [leader vacant]; Congress Party for MalagasyIndependence or AKFM/Fanavaozana; Economic Liberalism and DemocraticAction for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [HerizoRAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Rally or Fihaonana [Guy RAZANAMASY]; Groupof Reflection and Action for the Development of Madagascar orGRAD/Iloafo; Judged by Your Work or AVI [Norbert RATSIRAHONANA];Movement for the Progress of Madagascar or MFM [ManandafyRAKOTONIRINA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD[Evariste MARSON]; Tranobe (Big House) [Ny Hasina ANDRIAMANJATO]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Federalist Movement; NationalCouncil of Christian Churches or FFKM
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorZina ANDRIANARIVELO-RAZAFY
chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorShirley E. BARNES
embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
telephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side
Madagascar Economy
Economy - overview: Madagascar faces problems of chronic malnutrition, underfunded health and education facilities, a roughly 3% annual population growth rate, and severe loss of forest cover, accompanied by erosion. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for 30% of GDP and contributing more than 70% to export earnings. Industry features textile manufacturing and the processing of agricultural products. Growth in output in 1992-97 averaged less than the growth rate of the population. Growth has been held back by antigovernment strikes and demonstrations, a decline in world coffee prices, and the erratic commitment of the government to economic reform. The extent of government reforms, outside financial aid, and foreign investment will be key determinants of future growth. For 2001, growth should again be about 5%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.8% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $800 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 30%
industry: 14%
services: 56% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: 70% (1994 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 36.7% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 7 million (1999)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $553 million
expenditures: $735 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 810 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 37.04%
hydro: 62.96%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 753.3 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Exports: $538 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar; cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum products
Exports - partners: France 41%, US 19%, Germany 13%, UK 8%, Japan 6% (1999)
Imports: $693 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: intermediate manufactures, capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food
Imports - partners: France 34%, Hong Kong 6%, China 6%, Japan 5%,Singapore 4% (1999)
Debt - external: $4.4 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $838 million (1997)
Currency: Malagasy franc (MGF)
Currency code: MGF
Exchange rates: Malagasy francs per US dollar - 6,656.3 (November 2000), 6,283.8 (1999), 5,441.4 (1998), 5,090.9 (1997), 4,061.3 (1996)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Madagascar Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 43,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,000 (1997)
Telephone system: general assessment: system is above average for the region
domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links
international: submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2 (plus 8 repeater stations), FM 7, shortwave 5 (1998)
Radios: 3.05 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus 36 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 325,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .mg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
Internet users: 8,000 (2000)
Madagascar Transportation
Railways: total: 883 km
narrow gauge: 883 km 1.000-m gauge (1994)
Highways: total: 49,837 km
paved: 5,781 km
unpaved: 44,056 km (1996)
Waterways: note: of local importance only
Ports and harbors: Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga,Toamasina, Toliara
Merchant marine: total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,819 GRT/34,173 DWT
ships by type: cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2 (2000 est.)
Airports: 130 (2000 est.)