Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Euripides L. EVRIVIADESchancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is OsmanERTUG; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1](202) 887-6198consulate(s): New Yorkconsulate(s) general: New Yorktelephone: [1] (202) 462-5772
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Michael KLOSSONembassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, 2407Nicosiamailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nikosiatelephone: [357] (22) 776400FAX: [357] (22) 780944
Flag description:white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the nameCyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two greencrossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branchessymbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greekand Turkish communitiesnote: the Turkish Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at thetop and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on awhite field
Economy Cyprus
Economy - overview:The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible toexternal shocks. Erratic growth rates over the past decade reflectthe economy's vulnerability to swings in tourist arrivals, caused bypolitical instability in the region and fluctuations in economicconditions in Western Europe. Economic policy is focused on meetingthe criteria for admission to the EU. As in the Turkish sector,water shortages are a perennial problem; a few desalination plantsare now online. The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly one-third ofthe per capita GDP of the south. Because it is recognized only byTurkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing andinvestment. It remains heavily dependent on agriculture andgovernment service, which together employ about half of the workforce. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey providesgrants and loans to support economic development. Ankara provided$200 million in 2002 and pledged $450 million for the 2003-05period. Future events throughout the island will be highlyinfluenced by the outcome of negotiations on the UN-sponsoredagreement to unite the Greek and Turkish areas and by thearrangements under which the island joins the EU.
GDP:Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $9.4 billion (2001est.); Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $787 million(2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:Greek Cypriot area: 1.7% (2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 2.6%(2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2001 est.);Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $6,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:Greek Cypriot area: agriculture 4.6%; industry 19.9%; services 19.9%Turkish Cypriot area: agriculture 75.5%; industry 20.7%; services71% (2001)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):Greek Cypriot area: 2.8% (2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 24.5%(2002 est.)
Labor force:Greek Cypriot area: 291,000; Turkish Cypriot area: 86,300 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:Greek Cypriot area: services 73%, industry 22%, agriculture 5%(2000); Turkish Cypriot area: services 56.4%, industry 22.8%,agriculture 20.8% (1998)
Unemployment rate:Greek Cypriot area: 3.3%; Turkish Cypriot area: 5.6% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: Greek Cypriot area - $4.4 billion, Turkish Cypriot area -$231.3 million (2002 est.)expenditures: $3.7 billion, Greek Cypriot area - $539 million,including capital expenditures of $539 million, Turkish Cypriot area- $432.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)
Industries:food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, woodproducts
Industrial production growth rate:Greek Cypriot area: -1.4% (2002); Turkish Cypriot area: -0.3% (2002)
Electricity - production:3.401 billion kWh; Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% other: 0% (2001) hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: Greek Cypriot area: 3.163 billion kWh; Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:49,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:potatoes, citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables
Exports:Greek Cypriot area: $1.03 billion f.o.b. Turkish Cypriot area: $46million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:Greek Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement,clothing and cigarettes; Turkish Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes,textiles
Exports - partners:UK 28.2%, Greece 7%, UAE 5.3%, France 5.2% (2002)
Imports:Greek Cypriot area: $3.9 billion f.o.b.; Turkish Cypriot area: $301million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:Greek Cypriot area: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants,intermediate goods, machinery, transport equipment; Turkish Cypriotarea: food, minerals, chemicals, machinery
Imports - partners:Russia 17.9%, Greece 7.4%, Germany 6.7%, France 6.6%, UK 6.6%,Italy 6.6%, South Korea 5.7%, Japan 5.3% (2002)
Debt - external:Greek Cypriot area: $8 billion; Turkish Cypriot area: $NA (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:Greek Cypriot area - $17 million (1998);; Turkish Cypriot area -$700 million from Turkey in grants and loans (1990-97), which areusually forgiven (1998)
Currency:Greek Cypriot area: Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish Cypriot area:Turkish lira (TRL)
Currency code:CYP; TRL
Exchange rates:Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.61 (2002), 0.64 (2001), 0.62(2000), 0.54 (1999), 0.52 (1998), Turkish lira per US dollar NA(2002), 1,225,590 (2001), 625,218 (2000), 418,783 (1999), 260,724(1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Cyprus
Telephones - main lines in use:Greek Cypriot area: 405,000 (1998);; Turkish Cypriot area: 83,162(1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:Greek Cypriot area: 68,000 (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: 70,000(1999)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent in both the Greek Cypriot and TurkishCypriot areasdomestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relayinternational: tropospheric scatter; 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-opticsubmarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 AtlanticOcean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:Greek Cypriot area: AM 7, FM 60, shortwave 1 (1998); TurkishCypriot area: AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:Greek Cypriot area: 310,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 56,450(1994)
Television broadcast stations:Greek Cypriot area: 4 (plus 225 low-power repeaters) (September1995);; Turkish Cypriot area: 4 (plus 5 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:Greek Cypriot area: 248,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 52,300(1994)
Internet country code:.cy
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6 (2000)
Internet users:150,000 (2002)
Transportation Cyprus
Railways:0 km
Highways:total: 13,491 kmnote: Greek Cypriot area: 11,141 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 2,350 kmunpaved: Greek Cypriot area: 4,713 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 980 km(2000/1996)paved: Greek Cypriot area: 6,428 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 1,370 km
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Vasilikos
Merchant marine:total: 1,180 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 23,106,229 GRT/37,032,163 DWTships by type: bulk 421, cargo 325, chemical tanker 25, combinationbulk 24, combination ore/oil 2, container 151, liquefied gas 2,passenger 8, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 124, refrigeratedcargo 45, roll on/roll off 37, short-sea passenger 9, specializedtanker 3, vehicle carrier 3note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Austria 12, Belgium 2, Bulgaria 2, Canada 3, Chile 2,China 16, Croatia 2, Cuba 11, Finland 1, Germany 229, Greece 607,Guam 1, Hong Kong 6, India 6, Iran 1, Ireland 1, Israel 5, Italy 1,Japan 26, Latvia 14, Lebanon 1, Lithuania 2, Mexico 1, Monaco 10,Netherlands 30, Norway 23, Panama 1, Philippines 2, Poland 19,Portugal 2, Russia 57, Singapore 2, Slovenia 2, South Korea 4, Spain7, Sudan 2, Sweden 6, Switzerland 4, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1, UnitedArab Emirates 13, United Kingdom 6, United States 4, Vietnam 1 (2002est.)
Airports:16 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 3
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 3914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Heliports:10 (2002)
Military Cyprus
Military branches:Greek Cypriot area: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includingair and naval elements), Greek Cypriot PoliceTurkish Cypriot area: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (GKK)
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 201,606 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 138,336 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 6,638 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$384 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.8% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Cyprus
Disputes - international:hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomousareas, a Greek Cypriot area controlled by the internationallyrecognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot area, separatedby a UN buffer zone; UN deadline on sides accepting a federationplan for reunification have expired, diminishing chances ofTurkish-Cypriot participation in EU membership in 2004
Illicit drugs:minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes andcontainer traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey;some cocaine transits as well; anti-money-laundering lawsstrengthened but few convictions
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Czech Republic
Introduction Czech Republic
Background:Following the First World War, the closely related Czechs andSlovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to formCzechoslovakia. During the interwar years, the new country's leaderswere frequently preoccupied with meeting the demands of other ethnicminorities within the republic, most notably the Sudeten Germans andthe Ruthenians (Ukrainians). After World War II, a truncatedCzechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of influence. In 1968,an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country'sleaders to liberalize Communist party rule and create "socialismwith a human face." Anti-Soviet demonstrations the following yearushered in a period of harsh repression. With the collapse of Sovietauthority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom through apeaceful "Velvet Revolution." On 1 January 1993, the countryunderwent a "velvet divorce" into its two national components, theCzech Republic and Slovakia. Now a member of NATO, the CzechRepublic has moved toward integration in world markets, adevelopment that poses both opportunities and risks. In December2002, the Czech Republic was invited to join the European Union(EU). It is expected that the Czech Republic will accede to the EUin 2004.
Geography Czech Republic
Location:Central Europe, southeast of Germany
Geographic coordinates:49 45 N, 15 30 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 78,866 sq kmwater: 1,590 sq kmland: 77,276 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:total: 1,881 kmborder countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km,Slovakia 215 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain:Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaussurrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of veryhilly country
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Elbe River 115 m highest point: Snezka 1,602 m
Natural resources: hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber
Land use: arable land: 40% permanent crops: 3.04% other: 56.96% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:240 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding
Environment - current issues: air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests; efforts to bring industry up to EU code should improve domestic pollution
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, AirPollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Geography - note:landlocked; strategically located astride some of oldest and mostsignificant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditionalmilitary corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube incentral Europe
People Czech Republic
Population:10,249,216 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 15.4% (male 809,697; female 768,747)15-64 years: 70.6% (male 3,617,214; female 3,614,060)65 years and over: 14% (male 554,922; female 884,576) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 38.4 yearsmale: 36.6 yearsfemale: 40.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:-0.08% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:9.01 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:10.74 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.37 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 5.85 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.18 yearsmale: 71.69 yearsfemale: 78.87 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.18 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 10 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Czech(s)adjective: Czech
Ethnic groups:Czech 81.2%, Moravian 13.2%, Slovak 3.1%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%,Silesian 0.4%, Roma 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 0.5% (1991)
Religions:Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%,atheist 39.8%
Languages:Czech
Literacy:definition: NAtotal population: 99.9% (1999 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government Czech Republic
Country name:conventional long form: Czech Republicconventional short form: Czech Republiclocal short form: Ceska Republikalocal long form: Ceska Republika
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Prague
Administrative divisions:13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavnimesto); Jihocesky Kraj, Jihomoravsky Kraj, Karlovarsky Kraj,Kralovehradecky Kraj, Liberecky Kraj, Moravskoslezsky Kraj,Olomoucky Kraj, Pardubicky Kraj, Plzensky Kraj, Praha*, StredoceskyKraj, Ustecky Kraj, Vysocina, Zlinsky Kraj
Independence:1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic andSlovakia)
National holiday:Czech Founding Day, 28 October (1918)
Constitution:ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993
Legal system:civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring it in linewith Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003)note: the Czech Republic's first president Vaclav HAVEL stepped downfrom office on 2 February 2003 having served exactly 10 years;parliament finally elected a successor on 28 February 2003 after twoinconclusive elections in January 2003head of government: Prime Minister Vladimir SPIDLA (since 12 July2002), Deputy Prime Ministers Bohuslav SOBOTKA (since 20 August2003), Cyril SVOBODA (since July 2002), Stanislav GROSS (since July2002), Petr MARES (since July 2002)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation ofthe prime ministerelection results: Vaclav KLAUS elected president on 28 February2003; Vaclav KLAUS 142 votes, Jan SOKOL 124 votes (third round;combined votes of both chambers of parliament)elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;last successful election held 28 February 2003 (after earlierelections held 15 and 24 January 2003 were inconclusive); primeminister appointed by the president
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat(81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-yearterms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber ofDeputies or Poslanecka Snemovna (200 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - ODS 26, KDU-CSL 14, CSSD 11, US 9, KSCM 3, independents 18;Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CSSD 30.2%, ODS24.5%, KSCM 18.5%, KDU-CSL & US-DEU coalition 14.3%, other minor12.5%; seats by party - CSSD 70, ODS 58, KSCM 41, KDU-CSL 21, US-DEU10elections: Senate - last held in two rounds 25-26 October and 1-2November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004); Chamber ofDeputies - last held 14-15 June 2002 (next to be held by NA June2006)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; chairman and deputy chairmenare appointed by the president for a 10-year term
Political parties and leaders:Christian and Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party orKDU-CSL [Miroslav KALOUSEK, chairman]; Civic Democratic Alliance orODA [Michael ZANTOVSKY, chairman]; Civic Democratic Party or ODS[Mirek TOPOLANEK, chairman]; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moraviaor KSCM [Miroslav GREBENICEK, chairman]; Communist Party ofCzechoslovakia or KSC [Miroslav STEPAN, chairman]; Czech NationalSocial Party of CSNS [Jan SULA, chairman]; Czech Social DemocraticParty or CSSD [Vladimir SPIDLA, chairman]; Freedom Union-DemocraticUnion or US-DEU [Petr MARES, chairman]; Quad Coalition [Karel KUHNL,chairman] (includes KDU-CSL, US, ODA, DEU)
Political pressure groups and leaders:Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions [Richard FALBR]
International organization participation:ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD,ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory),ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE,UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate),WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Martin PALOUSchancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 966-8540telephone: [1] (202) 274-9100
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Craig R. STAPLETONembassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1mailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [420] (2) 5753-0663FAX: [420] (2) 5753-0583
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blueisosceles triangle based on the hoist side (identical to the flag ofthe former Czechoslovakia)
Economy Czech Republic
Economy - overview:One of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states,the Czech Republic has been recovering from recession sincemid-1999. Growth in 2000-03 was supported by exports to the EU,primarily to Germany, and a near doubling of foreign directinvestment. Domestic demand is playing an ever more important rolein underpinning growth as interest rates drop and the availabilityof credit cards and mortgages increases. High current accountdeficits - averaging around 5% of GDP in the last several years -could be a persistent problem. Inflation is under control. The EUput the Czech Republic just behind Poland and Hungary inpreparations for accession, which will give further impetus anddirection to structural reform. Moves to complete banking,telecommunications, and energy privatization will encourageadditional foreign investment, while intensified restructuring amonglarge enterprises and banks and improvements in the financial sectorshould strengthen output growth. But revival in the Europeaneconomies remains essential to stepped-up growth.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $157.1 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $15,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 3.8%industry: 41%services: 55.2% (2001)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.3% highest 10%: 22.4% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:25.4 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:5.203 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 5%, industry 35%, services 60% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:9.8% (2002)
Budget:revenues: $16.7 billionexpenditures: $18 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001 est.)
Industries:metallurgy, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, glass,armaments
Industrial production growth rate:3.5% (2002)
Electricity - production:70.04 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 76.1% hydro: 2.9% other: 1% (2001) nuclear: 20%
Electricity - consumption:55.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:18.92 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:9.38 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:7,419 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:175,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:26,670 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:192,300 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:17.25 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:160 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:9.892 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:1 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:9.521 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:3.057 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, poultry
Exports:$40.8 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment 44%, intermediate manufactures25%, chemicals 7%, raw materials and fuel 7% (2000)
Exports - partners:Germany 40.2%, Slovakia 7.1%, Austria 5.8%, UK 5.1%, Poland 5%,France 4% (2002)
Imports:$43.2 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment 40%, intermediate manufactures21%, raw materials and fuels 13%, chemicals 11% (2000)
Imports - partners:Germany 39.1%, Slovakia 6%, Austria 5.6%, Italy 5.4%, France 5.3%,Poland 4.1%, UK 4.1%, Russia 4% (2002)
Debt - external:$23.8 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$108 million; EU structural adjustment funds (2002)
Currency:Czech koruna (CZK)
Currency code:CZK
Exchange rates:koruny per US dollar - 32.74 (2002), 38.04 (2001), 38.6 (2000),34.57 (1999), 32.28 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Czech Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:3.869 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:4.346 million (2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: privatization and modernization of the Czechtelecommunication system got a late start but is advancing steadily;growth in the use of mobile cellular telephones is particularlyvigorousdomestic: 86% of exchanges now digital; existing copper subscribersystems now being enhanced with Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line(ADSL) equipment to accommodate Internet and other digital signals;trunk systems include fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relayinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Atlanticand Indian Ocean regions), 1 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1Globalstar
Radio broadcast stations:AM 31, FM 304, shortwave 17 (2000)
Radios:3,159,134 (December 2000)
Television broadcast stations:150 (plus 1,434 repeaters) (2000)
Televisions:3,405,834 (December 2000)
Internet country code:.cz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):more than 300 (2000)
Internet users:2.69 million (2001)
Transportation Czech Republic
Railways:total: 9,462 kmstandard gauge: 9,363 km 1.435-m gauge (1,745 km electrified)narrow gauge: 99 km 0.760-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 55,408 kmpaved: 55,408 km (including 499 km of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways: 303 km note: the Labe (Elbe) is the principal river (2000)
Pipelines:gas 7,020 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem
Airports:144 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 44 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 under 914 m: 19 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 2
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 100 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 62 (2002)
Heliports: 2 (2002)
Military Czech Republic
Military branches:Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Territorial Defense Force
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,622,192 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,002,202 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 67,777 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1,190.2 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.1% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Czech Republic
Disputes - international:Liechtenstein's royal family claims restitution for 1,600 sq km ofland in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1918; individual SudetenGerman claims for restitution of property confiscated in connectionwith their expulsion after World War II; Austria has minor disputewith Czech Republic over the Temelin nuclear power plant andpost-World War II treatment of German-speaking minorities
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and minor transitpoint for Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; producer ofsynthetic drugs for local and regional markets; susceptible to moneylaundering related to drug trafficking, organized crime
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Denmark
Introduction Denmark
Background:Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north Europeanpower, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that isparticipating in the general political and economic integration ofEurope. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973.However, the country has opted out of certain elements of theEuropean Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economicand Monetary Union (EMU) and issues concerning certain justice andhome affairs.
Geography Denmark
Location:Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on apeninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two majorislands (Sjaelland and Fyn)
Geographic coordinates:56 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 43,094 sq kmwater: 700 sq kmnote: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the restof metropolitan Denmark (the Jutland Peninsula, and the majorislands of Sjaelland and Fyn), but excludes the Faroe Islands andGreenlandland: 42,394 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 68 km border countries: Germany 68 km
Coastline:7,314 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain:low and flat to gently rolling plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Lammefjord -7 mhighest point: Yding Skovhoej 173 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, stone, gravel andsand
Land use: arable land: 55.74% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 44.07% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:4,760 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts ofJutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that areprotected from the sea by a system of dikes
Environment - current issues:air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions;nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking andsurface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law ofthe Sea
Geography - note:controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic andNorth Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greaterCopenhagen
People Denmark
Population:5,384,384 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.7% (male 516,872; female 490,543)15-64 years: 66.3% (male 1,809,138; female 1,762,577)65 years and over: 15% (male 338,141; female 467,113) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 39.1 yearsmale: 38.1 yearsfemale: 40.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.28% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:11.52 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:10.72 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:2.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.1 yearsmale: 74.48 yearsfemale: 79.87 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.73 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:3,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Dane(s)adjective: Danish
Ethnic groups:Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali
Religions:Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%,Muslim 2%
Languages:Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (smallminority)note: English is the predominant second language
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%male: NA%female: NA%
Government Denmark
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmarkconventional short form: Denmarklocal short form: Danmarklocal long form: Kongeriget Danmark
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:Copenhagen
Administrative divisions:metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 2boroughs* (amtskommuner, singular - amtskomunes); Arhus, Bornholm,Fredericksberg*, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kobenhavn, Kobenhavns*,Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjylland, Storstrom,Vejle, Vestsjalland, Viborgnote: see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland,which are part of the Kingdom of Denmark and are self-governingoverseas administrative divisions
Independence:first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 becamea constitutional monarchy
National holiday:none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June is generally viewed asthe National Day
Constitution:1849 was the original constitution; there was a major overhaul 5June 1953, allowing for a unicameral legislature and a female chiefof state
Legal system:civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; acceptscompulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); HeirApparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born 26May 1968)head of government: Prime Minister Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN (since 27November 2001)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved byParliamentelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislativeelections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of themajority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Folketing (179 seats, including 2 fromGreenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members are elected bypopular vote on the basis of proportional representation to servefour-year terms)elections: last held 20 November 2001 (next to be held by November2005)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -Liberal Party 56, Social Democrats 52, Danish People's Party 22,Conservative Party 16, Socialist People's Party 12, Social LiberalParty 9, Christian People's Party 4, Unity List 4; note - does notinclude the 2 seats from Greenland and the 2 seats from the FaroeIslands
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch for life)
Political parties and leaders:Center Democratic Party [Mimi JAKOBSEN]; Christian People's Party[Marianne KARLSMOSE]; Conservative Party (sometimes known asConservative People's Party) [Bendt BENDTSEN]; Danish People's Party[Pia KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Party [Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN]; SocialDemocratic Party [Mogens LYKKETOFT]; Social Liberal Party (sometimescalled the Radical Left) [Marianne JELVED, leader; Johannes LEBECH,chairman]; Socialist People's Party [Holger K. NIELSEN]; Red-GreenUnity List (bloc includes Left Socialist Party, Communist Party ofDenmark, Socialist Workers' Party) [collective leadership]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTSO,UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ulrik Andreas FEDERSPIELconsulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 328-1470telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Stuart A. BERNSTEINembassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagenmailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716telephone: [45] 35 55 31 44FAX: [45] 35 43 02 23
Flag description:red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; thevertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side, and thatdesign element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was subsequentlyadopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway,and Sweden
Economy Denmark
Economy - overview:This thoroughly modern market economy features high-techagriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry,extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards,a stable currency, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark isa net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balanceof payments surplus. Government objectives include streamlining thebureaucracy and further privatization of state assets. Thegovernment has been successful in meeting, and even exceeding, theeconomic convergence criteria for participating in the third phase(a common European currency) of the European Economic and MonetaryUnion (EMU), but Denmark has decided not to join the 12 other EUmembers in the euro; even so, the Danish Krone remains pegged to theeuro. Given the sluggish state of the European economy, growth in2003 was a mere 1.1%.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $155.3 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $28,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 3%industry: 26%services: 71% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 2%highest 10%: 24% (2000 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:24.7 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:2.856 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:services 79%, industry 17%, agriculture 4% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:5.1% (2002)
Budget:revenues: $52.9 billionexpenditures: $51.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $500million (2001 est.)
Industries:food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing,chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture and otherwood products, shipbuilding, windmills
Industrial production growth rate:1.4% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:35.47 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 82.7% hydro: 0.1% other: 17.3% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:32.41 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:8.775 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:8.199 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:346,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:218,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:332,100 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:195,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:1.23 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:8.38 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:5.28 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:3.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:81.98 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products; fish
Exports:$56.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products,fish, chemicals, furniture, ships, windmills
Exports - partners:Germany 17.1%, Sweden 11.6%, UK 7.8%, US 6.8%, France 5.8%, Norway5.7%, Japan 4.4% (2002)
Imports:$47.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures forindustry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:Germany 22.9%, Sweden 10.7%, UK 8.7%, Netherlands 7.8%, France 6%,Norway 4.9%, Italy 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:$21.7 billion (2000)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $1.63 billion (1999)
Currency:Danish krone (DKK)
Currency code:DKK
Exchange rates:Danish kroner per US dollar - 7.89 (2002), 8.32 (2001), 8.08(2000), 6.98 (1999), 6.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Denmark
Telephones - main lines in use:4.785 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,444,016 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent telephone and telegraph servicesdomestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay formtrunk network, 4 cellular mobile communications systemsinternational: 18 submarine fiber-optic cables linking Denmark withNorway, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Germany, Netherlands, UK, FaroeIslands, Iceland, and Canada; satellite earth stations - 6 Intelsat,10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat (Blaavand-Atlantic-East); note -the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)share the Danish earth station and the Eik, Norway, station forworldwide Inmarsat access (1997)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:6.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:26 (plus 51 repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:3.121 million (1997)
Internet country code:.dk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):13 (2000)
Internet users:3.37 million (2002)
Transportation Denmark
Railways:total: 3,164 kmstandard gauge: 2,324 km 1.435-m gauge (595 km electrified)note:: total includes 840 km of suburban track (2002)
Highways:total: 71,591 kmpaved: 71,591 km (including 880 km of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:417 km
Pipelines:condensate 12 km; gas 3,892 km; oil 455 km; oil/gas/water 2 km;unknown (oil/water) 64 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Abenra, Alborg, Arhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Fredericia,Frederikshavn, Hirtshals, Kolding, Odense, Roenne (Bornholm), Vejle
Merchant marine:total: 282 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,714,557 GRT/8,715,716 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Germany 1, Greenland 1, Indonesia 1, Netherlands 1,Norway 9, United Kingdom 1 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 85, chemical tanker 29, container 77,liquefied gas 19, livestock carrier 5, petroleum tanker 28, railcarcarrier 1, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 11, short-seapassenger 6, specialized tanker 4
Airports:104 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 28 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 76 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 71 (2002)
Military Denmark
Military branches:Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force, HomeGuard
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,282,315 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,094,611 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 28,198 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$2.47 billion (FY99/00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (FY99/00)
Transnational Issues Denmark
Disputes - international:Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, andthe UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in theRockall area); dispute with Iceland over the Faroe Islands'fisheries median line boundary within 200 NM; disputes with Iceland,the UK, and Ireland over the Faroe Islands continental shelfboundary outside 200 NM; Faroese are considering proposals for fullindependence; uncontested dispute with Canada over Hans Islandsovereignty in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island andGreenland
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Djibouti
Introduction Djibouti
Background:The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in1977. Hassan Gouled APTIDON installed an authoritarian one-partystate and proceeded to serve three consecutive six-year terms aspresident. Unrest among the Afars minority during the 1990's led tomulti-party elections resulting in President Ismail Omar GUELLEHattaining office in May 1999. A peace accord in 2001 ended the finalphases of a ten-year uprising by Afar rebels. Djibouti occupies avery strategic geographic location at the mouth of the Red Sea andserves as an important transshipment location for goods entering andleaving the east African highlands. GUELLEH favors close ties toFrance, which maintains a significant military presence in thecountry.
Geography Djibouti
Location:Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, betweenEritrea and Somalia
Geographic coordinates:11 30 N, 43 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 23,000 sq kmwater: 20 sq kmland: 22,980 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 516 km border countries: Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 km
Coastline: 314 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:desert; torrid, dry
Terrain:coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m
Natural resources: geothermal areas
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from theIndian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
Environment - current issues:inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land;desertification; endangered species
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close toArabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostlywasteland; Lac Assal (Lake Assal) is the lowest point in Africa
People Djibouti
Population:457,130 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43.1% (male 98,796; female 98,202)15-64 years: 53.9% (male 129,492; female 116,953)65 years and over: 3% (male 6,933; female 6,754) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 18.3 yearsmale: 18.9 yearsfemale: 17.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.13% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:40.78 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:19.45 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 106.96 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 98.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 114.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 43.13 yearsmale: 41.82 yearsfemale: 44.48 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.56 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:11.75% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:37,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:2,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Djiboutian(s)adjective: Djiboutian
Ethnic groups:Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5%
Religions:Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Languages:French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 67.9%male: 78%female: 58.4% (2003 est.)
Government Djibouti