Internet Service Providers (ISPs):17 (2000)
Internet users:120,000 (2002)
Transportation Trinidad and Tobago
Railways:minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando; commoncarrier railway service was discontinued in 1968 (2001)
Highways: total: 8,320 km paved: 4,252 km unpaved: 4,068 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:none
Pipelines:condensate 253 km; gas 1,117 km; oil 478 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain,Scarborough, Tembladora
Merchant marine:total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,032 GRT/5,106 DWTships by type: cargo 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleumtanker 1, short-sea passenger 1note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag ofconvenience: US 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:6 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 3914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Trinidad and Tobago
Military branches:Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (including Ground Force, CoastGuard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 327,823 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 233,488 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$90 million (1999)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (1999)
Transnational Issues Trinidad and Tobago
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the USand Europe; producer of cannabis
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Tromelin Island
Introduction Tromelin Island
Background:First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under thejurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a seaturtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorologicalstation.
Geography Tromelin Island
Location:Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:15 52 S, 54 25 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 1 sq km
Area - comparative:about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:3.7 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical
Terrain:low, flat, and sandy; likely volcanic
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 7 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (grasses; scattered bushes) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones;wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)
People Tromelin Island
Population: uninhabited, except for visits by scientists (July 2003 est.)
Government Tromelin Island
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Tromelin Islandlocal short form: Ile Tromelinlocal long form: none
Dependency status:possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of theRepublic, resident in Reunion
Legal system:the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy Tromelin Island
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Communications Tromelin Island
Communications - note: important meteorological station
Transportation Tromelin Island
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Tromelin Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Tromelin Island
Disputes - international: claimed by Mauritius
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Tunisia
Introduction Tunisia
Background:Following independence from France in 1956, President HabibBOURGUIBA established a strict one-party state. He dominated thecountry for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism andestablishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. Inrecent years, Tunisia has taken a moderate, non-aligned stance inits foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse risingpressure for a more open political society.
Geography Tunisia
Location:Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeriaand Libya
Geographic coordinates:34 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 163,610 sq kmwater: 8,250 sq kmland: 155,360 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries: total: 1,424 km border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Coastline: 1,148 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 NMterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers;desert in south
Terrain:mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south mergesinto the Sahara
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 mhighest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
Natural resources:petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Land use:arable land: 18.67%permanent crops: 12.87%other: 68.46% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:3,800 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses healthrisks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh waterresources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia arediscussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelfbetween their countries, particularly for oil exploration
People Tunisia
Population:9,924,742 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27% (male 1,388,839; female 1,297,313)15-64 years: 66.6% (male 3,306,782; female 3,299,883)65 years and over: 6.4% (male 309,103; female 322,822) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 26.2 yearsmale: 25.7 yearsfemale: 26.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.09% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:16.53 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 26.91 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 23.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 29.89 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.4 yearsmale: 72.77 yearsfemale: 76.15 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.9 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.04% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Tunisian(s)adjective: Tunisian
Ethnic groups:Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Religions:Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Languages:Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French(commerce)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 74.2%male: 84%female: 64.4% (2003 est.)
Government Tunisia
Country name:conventional long form: Tunisian Republicconventional short form: Tunisialocal short form: Tunislocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
Government type:republic
Capital:Tunis
Administrative divisions:24 governorates; Ariana (Aryanah), Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba(Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili(Qibili), Kef (Al Kaf), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah),Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax(Safaqis), Sidi Bou Zid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse(Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan(Zaghwan)
Independence:20 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 20 March (1956)
Constitution:1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988
Legal system:based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicialreview of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session
Suffrage:20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November1987)head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since 17November 1999)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); primeminister appointed by the presidentelection results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for athird term without opposition; percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BENALI nearly 100%
Legislative branch:unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (182 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)election results: percent of vote by party - RCD 92%; seats by party- RCD 148, MDS 13, UDU 7, PUP 7, Al-Tajdid 5, PSL 2; note - reformsenabled opposition parties to win up to 20% of seats, increasing thenumber of seats they hold from 19 in the last election to 34 now
Judicial branch:Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation
Political parties and leaders:Al-Tajdid Movement [Adel CHAOUCH]; Constitutional Democratic RallyParty (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD [PresidentZine El Abidine BEN ALI (official ruling party)]; Liberal SocialParty or PSL [Mounir BEJI]; Movement of Democratic Socialists or MDS[Khamis CHAMMARI]; Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed Belhaj AMOR];Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Abderrahmane TLILI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:the Islamic fundamentalist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), isoutlawed
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, BSEC (observer), ECA, FAO,G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIPONUH,MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner),UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UPU, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Hatem ATALLAHFAX: [1] (202) 862-1858telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Rust M. DEMINGembassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis, 2045 LaGoulette, Tunisiamailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [216] 71 782-566FAX: [216] 71 789-719
Flag description:red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearlyencircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star aretraditional symbols of Islam
Economy Tunisia
Economy - overview:Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining,energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control ofeconomic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over thepast decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the taxstructure, and a prudent approach to debt. Real growth averaged 5.4%in 1997-2001 but slowed to 1.9% in 2002 because of agriculturaldrought, slow investment, and lackluster tourism. Increased rainfallportends higher growth levels for 2003, but continued regionaltension from the war in Iraq will most likely continue to suppresstourism earnings. Tunisia has agreed to gradually remove barriers totrade with the European Union over the next decade. Broaderprivatization, further liberalization of the investment code toincrease foreign investment, improvements in government efficiency,and reduction of the trade deficit are among the challenges for thefuture.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $67.13 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $6,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 32% services: 56% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line: 6% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 31.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:41.7 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 2.69 million note: shortage of skilled labor (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:services 55%, industry 23%, agriculture 22% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate:15.4% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $5.2 billionexpenditures: $5.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.6billion (2002 est.)
Industries:petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism,textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:3.5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:10.48 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.5% hydro: 0.5% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:9.748 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:1 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:72,580 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:87,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:417 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:2.25 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:3.83 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:1.58 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:77.16 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: olives, olive oil, grain, dairy products, tomatoes, citrus fruit, beef, sugar beets, dates, almonds
Exports:$6.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:textiles, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, agriculturalproducts, hydrocarbons
Exports - partners:France 31.3%, Italy 21.6%, Germany 11.5%, Spain 4.8%, Libya 4.7%,Belgium 4.3% (2002)
Imports:$8.7 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, food
Imports - partners:France 25.6%, Italy 19.5%, Germany 8.9%, Spain 5% (2002)
Debt - external:$13.6 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$222.7 million (2000)
Currency:Tunisian dinar (TND)
Currency code:TND
Exchange rates:Tunisian dinars per US dollar - 1.42 (2002), 1.44 (2001), 1.37(2000), 1.19 (1999), 1.14 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Tunisia
Telephones - main lines in use:654,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:50,000 (1998)
Telephone system:general assessment: above the African average and continuing to beupgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; Internetaccess availabledomestic: trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxialcable, and microwave radio relayinternational: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwaveradio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; twointernational gateway digital switches
Radio broadcast stations:AM 7, FM 20, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:2.06 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:920,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.tn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:400,000 (2002)
Transportation Tunisia
Railways:total: 2,152 kmstandard gauge: 468 km 1.435-m gaugedual gauge: 10 km 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three rails) (2002)narrow gauge: 1,674 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)
Highways:total: 18,997 kmpaved: 12,310 km (including 142 km of expressways)unpaved: 6,687 km (2000)
Waterways:none
Pipelines:gas 3,059 km; oil 1,203 km; refined products 345 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Sfax, Sousse, Tunis, Zarzis
Merchant marine:total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 139,990 GRT/148,394 DWTships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 1,petroleum tanker 1, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1(2002 est.)
Airports:30 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Military Tunisia
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces, National Guard
Military manpower - military age:20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,866,984 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,629,241 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 106,513 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$356 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.5% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Tunisia
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Turkey
Introduction Turkey
Background:Present-day Turkey was created in 1923 from the Turkish remnants ofthe Ottoman Empire. Soon thereafter, the country instituted secularlaws to replace traditional religious fiats. In 1945 Turkey joinedthe UN, and in 1952 it became a member of NATO. Turkey intervenedmilitarily on Cyprus in 1974 to protect Turkish Cypriots and preventa Greek takeover of the island; the northern 37 percent of theisland remains under Turkish Cypriot control. Relations between thetwo countries remain strained, but have begun to improve over thepast few years. In 1984, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), aMarxist-Leninist, separatist group, initiated an insurgency insoutheast Turkey, often using terrorist tactics to try to attain itsgoal of an independent Kurdistan. The group - whose leader, AbdullahOCALAN, was captured in Kenya in February 1999 - has observed aunilateral cease-fire since September 1999, although there have beenoccasional clashes between Turkish military units and some of the4,000-5,000 armed PKK militants, most of whom currently are encampedin northern Iraq. The PKK changed its name to the Kurdistan Freedomand Democracy Congress (KADEK) in April 2002.
Geography Turkey
Location:southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkeywest of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), borderingthe Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering theAegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria
Geographic coordinates:39 00 N, 35 00 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 780,580 sq kmwater: 9,820 sq kmland: 770,760 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries:total: 2,648 kmborder countries: Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km,Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 352 km, Syria 822 km
Coastline:7,200 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the maritimeboundary agreed upon with the former USSRterritorial sea: 6 NM in the Aegean Sea; 12 NM in Black Sea and inMediterranean Sea
Climate:temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher ininterior
Terrain:high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; severalmountain ranges
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 mhighest point: Mount Ararat 5,166 m
Natural resources:antimony, coal, chromium, mercury, copper, borate, sulfur, ironore, arable land, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 34.53% permanent crops: 3.36% other: 62.11% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:42,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:very severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along anarc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van
Environment - current issues: water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Environmental Modification
Geography - note:strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Seaof Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas; MountArarat, the legendary landing place of Noah's Ark, is in the fareastern portion of the country
People Turkey
Population:68,109,469 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27.2% (male 9,422,242; female 9,082,840)15-64 years: 66.4% (male 22,978,251; female 22,243,477)65 years and over: 6.4% (male 2,013,926; female 2,368,733) (2003est.)
Median age: total: 26.8 years male: 26.7 years female: 27 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.16% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:17.59 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:5.95 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 44.2 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 40.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 47.91 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.8 yearsmale: 69.41 yearsfemale: 74.3 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.03 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% - note: no country specific models provided (2001est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Turk(s)adjective: Turkish
Ethnic groups:Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20% (estimated)
Religions:Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)
Languages:Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic, Armenian, Greek
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 86.5%male: 94.3%female: 78.7% (2003 est.)
Government Turkey
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Turkeyconventional short form: Turkeylocal long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyetilocal short form: Turkiye
Government type:republican parliamentary democracy
Capital:Ankara
Administrative divisions:81 provinces (iller, singular - il); Adana, Adiyaman, Afyon, Agri,Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya, Ardahan, Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir,Bartin, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik, Bingol, Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur,Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Duzce,Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Giresun,Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Igdir, Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir,Kahramanmaras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kilis,Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli, Konya, Kutahya, Malatya,Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir, Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye,Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanliurfa, Siirt, Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas,Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon, Tunceli, Usak, Van, Yalova, Yozgat,Zonguldak
Independence:29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:Independence Day, 29 October (1923)
Constitution:7 November 1982
Legal system:derived from various European continental legal systems; acceptscompulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ahmet Necdet SEZER (since 16 May 2000)elections: president elected by the National Assembly for aseven-year term; election last held 5 May 2000 (next to be held NAMay 2007); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed bythe presidentnote: a National Security Council serves as an advisory body to thegovernment composed of top military and cabinet officials andpresided over by the presidentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on thenomination of the prime ministerhead of government: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (14 March2003); note - Abdullah GUL resigned 11 March 2003; Recep TayyipERDOGAN was given a mandate to form a new governmentelection results: Ahmed Necdet SEZER elected president on the thirdballot; percent of National Assembly vote - 60%note: president must have a two-thirds majority of the NationalAssembly on the first two ballots and a simple majority on the thirdballot
Legislative branch:unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkiye BuyukMillet Meclisi (550 seats; members are elected by popular vote toserve five-year terms)elections: last held 3 November 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); note- a special rerun of the General Election in the province of Siirton 9 March 2003 resulted in the election of Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN toa seat in parliament, a prerequisite for becoming prime minister on13 March 2003election results: percent of vote by party - AKP 34.3%, CHP 19.4%,DYP 9.6%, MHP 8.3%, ANAP 5.1%, DSP 1.1%, and others; seats by party- AKP 363, CHP 178, independents 9; note - parties surpassing the10% threshold are entitled to parliamentary seats
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court (judges are appointed by the president); Courtof Appeals and Council of State (judges are elected by the SupremeCouncil of Judges and Prosecutors)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Left Party or DSP [Bulent ECEVIT]; Justice andDevelopment Party or AKP [Recep Tayip ERDOGAN]; Motherland Party orANAP [Ahmet Mesut YILMAZ]; Nationalist Action Party or MHP [DevletBAHCELI]; Republican People's Party or CHP [Deniz BAYKAL]; True PathParty (sometimes translated as Correct Way Party) or DYP [TansuCILLER]; Young Party or GP [Cem UZAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Confederation of Public Sector Unions or KESK [Sami EVREN];Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions or DISK [SuleymanCELEBI]; Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Associationor MUSIAD [Erol YARAR]; Moral Rights Workers Union or Hak-Is [SalimUSLU]; Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association orTUSIAD [Muharrem KAYHAN]; Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unionsor TISK [Refik BAYDUR]; Turkish Confederation of Labor or Turk-Is[Bayram MERAL]; Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen and Craftsmen orTESK [Dervis GUNDAY; Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce andCommodity Exchanges or TOBB [M. Rifat HISARCIKLIOGLU]
International organization participation:AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN (observer), EAPC, EBRD,ECE, ECO, ESCAP, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WEU(associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Osman Faruk LOGOGLU FAX: [1] (202) 612-6744 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York chancery: 2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 612-6700
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Eric S. EDELMAN embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Kavaklidere, 06100 Ankara mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823 telephone: [90] (312) 455-5555 FAX: [90] (312) 467-0019 consulate(s) general: Istanbul consulate(s): Adana; note - there is a Consular Agent in Izmir
Flag description:red with a vertical white crescent (the closed portion is towardthe hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outsidethe crescent opening
Economy Turkey
Economy - overview:Turkey's dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern industry andcommerce along with a traditional agriculture sector that in 2001still accounted for 40% of employment. It has a strong and rapidlygrowing private sector, yet the state still plays a major role inbasic industry, banking, transport, and communication. The mostimportant industry - and largest exporter - is textiles andclothing, which is almost entirely in private hands. In recent yearsthe economic situation has been marked by erratic economic growthand serious imbalances. Real GNP growth has exceeded 6% in manyyears, but this strong expansion has been interrupted by sharpdeclines in output in 1994, 1999, and 2001. Meanwhile, the publicsector fiscal deficit has regularly exceeded 10% of GDP - due inlarge part to the huge burden of interest payments, which accountfor more than 50% of central government spending. Inflation, inrecent years in the high double-digit range, fell to 26% in 2003.Perhaps because of these problems, foreign direct investment inTurkey remains low - less than $1 billion annually. In late 2000 andearly 2001 a growing trade deficit and serious weaknesses in thebanking sector plunged the economy into crisis - forcing Turkey tofloat the lira and pushing the country into recession. Results in2002-03 were much better, because of strong financial support fromthe IMF and tighter fiscal policy. Continued slow global growth andserious political tensions in the Middle East could result innegative growth in 2004.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $489.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $7,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 12.9%industry: 30.4%services: 56.7% (2001)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 32.3% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:41.5 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):45.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:23.8 millionnote: about 1.2 million Turks work abroad (2001 3rd quarter)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 39.7%, services 37.9%, industry 22.4% (3rd quarter,2001)
Unemployment rate:10.8% (plus underemployment of 6.1%) (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $42.4 billionexpenditures: $69.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001)
Industries:textiles, food processing, autos, mining (coal, chromite, copper,boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper
Industrial production growth rate:8.5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:116.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 79.3% hydro: 20.4% other: 0.3% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:112.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:433 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:4.579 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:48,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:619,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:46,110 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:616,500 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:288.4 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:312 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:15.94 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:15.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:8.685 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, pulse, citrus; livestock
Exports: $35.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities: apparel, foodstuffs, textiles, metal manufactures, transport equipment
Exports - partners:Germany 16.6%, US 9.2%, UK 8.5%, Italy 6.4%, France 6% (2002)
Imports:$50.8 billion c.i.f. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, chemicals, semi-finished goods, fuels, transportequipment
Imports - partners:Germany 13.7%, Italy 8.1%, Russia 7.6%, US 6%, France 5.9%, UK4.8%, Switzerland 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:$118.3 billion (Yearend 2001)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $300 million (2000)
Currency:Turkish lira (TRL)
Currency code:TRL
Exchange rates:NA (2002), 1,225,590 (2001), 625,218 (2000), 418,783 (1999),260,724 (1998), 151,865 (1997)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Turkey
Telephones - main lines in use:19.5 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:17.1 million (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: undergoing rapid modernization and expansion,especially with cellular telephonesdomestic: additional digital exchanges are permitting a rapidincrease in subscribers; the construction of a network oftechnologically advanced intercity trunk lines, using bothfiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay is facilitatingcommunication between urban centers; remote areas are reached by adomestic satellite system; the number of subscribers to mobilecellular telephone service is growing rapidlyinternational: international service is provided by three submarinefiber-optic cables in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, linkingTurkey with Italy, Greece, Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, and Russia;also by 12 Intelsat earth stations, and by 328 mobile satelliteterminals in the Inmarsat and Eutelsat systems (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 16, FM 107, shortwave 6 (2001)
Radios:11.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:635 (plus 2,934 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:20.9 million (1997)
Internet country code:.tr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):50 (2001)
Internet users:2.5 million (2002)
Transportation Turkey
Railways: total: 8,607 km standard gauge: 8,607 km 1.435-m gauge (2,131 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:total: 385,960 kmpaved: 131,226 km (including 1,749 km of expressways)unpaved: 254,734 km (1999)
Waterways:1,200 km (approximately)
Pipelines:gas 3,177 km; oil 3,562 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Gemlik, Hopa, Iskenderun, Istanbul, Izmir, Kocaeli (Izmit), Icel(Mersin), Samsun, Trabzon
Merchant marine:total: 525 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,306,506 GRT/8,424,837 DWTships by type: bulk 125, cargo 229, chemical tanker 44, combinationbulk 3, combination ore/oil 3, container 34, liquefied gas 6,passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 35, refrigerated cargo 4, rollon/roll off 26, short-sea passenger 10, specialized tanker 5note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Belize 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark 2, Greece 1, Italy 1,Thailand 1, UK 11 (2002 est.)
Airports:120 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 86 over 3,047 m: 16 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 5 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 34 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 24 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 8
Heliports: 8 (2002)
Military Turkey
Military branches:Land Forces, Navy (includes Naval Air and Naval Infantry), AirForce, Coast Guard, Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age:20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 19,534,455 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 11,801,267 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 679,882 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$8.1 billion (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:4.5% (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues Turkey
Disputes - international:complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece in theAegean Sea; Cyprus question remains with Greece; Syria and Iraqprotest Turkish hydrological projects to control upper Euphrateswaters; Turkey is quick to rebuff any perceived Syrian claim toHatay province; border with Armenia remains closed overNagorno-Karabakh
Illicit drugs:key transit route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe and- to a far lesser extent the US - via air, land, and sea routes;major Turkish, Iranian, and other international traffickingorganizations operate out of Istanbul; laboratories to convertimported morphine base into heroin are in remote regions of Turkeyas well as near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls overareas of legal opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy strawconcentrate
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Turkmenistan
Introduction Turkmenistan
Background:Annexed by Russia between 1865 and 1885, Turkmenistan became aSoviet republic in 1925. It achieved its independence upon thedissolution of the USSR in 1991. President NIYAZOV retains absolutecontrol over the country and opposition is not tolerated. Extensivehydrocarbon/natural gas reserves could prove a boon to thisunderdeveloped country if extraction and delivery projects can beworked out.
Geography Turkmenistan
Location:Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan
Geographic coordinates:40 00 N, 60 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 488,100 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 488,100 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:total: 3,736 kmborder countries: Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km
Coastline:0 km; note - Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:subtropical desert
Terrain:flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in thesouth; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea inwest
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Vpadina Akchanaya -81 m; note - Sarygamysh Koli is alake in northern Turkmenistan with a water level that fluctuatesabove and below the elevation of Vpadina Akchanaya (the lake hasdropped as low as -110 m)highest point: Gora Ayribaba 3,139 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, coal, sulfur, salt
Land use: arable land: 3.47% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 96.39% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:17,500 sq km (2003 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals,pesticides; salination, water-logging of soil due to poor irrigationmethods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of theflow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river'sinability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; the western and central low-lying, desolate portions ofthe country make up the great Garagum (Kara-Kum) desert, whichoccupies over 80% of the country; eastern part is plateau
People Turkmenistan
Population:4,775,544 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 36.8% (male 899,954; female 855,293)15-64 years: 59.2% (male 1,386,606; female 1,438,333)65 years and over: 4.1% (male 74,958; female 120,400) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 21.1 yearsmale: 20.2 yearsfemale: 22 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.82% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:28.02 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:8.87 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 73.17 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 69.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 76.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 61.19 yearsmale: 57.72 yearsfemale: 64.84 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.5 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 100 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Turkmen(s)adjective: Turkmen
Ethnic groups:Turkmen 77%, Uzbek 9.2%, Russian 6.7%, Kazakh 2%, other 5.1% (1995)
Religions:Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%
Languages:Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: 99%female: 97% (1989 est.)
Government Turkmenistan
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Turkmenistanlocal long form: noneformer: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republiclocal short form: Turkmenistan
Government type:republic
Capital:Ashgabat
Administrative divisions:5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat): Ahal Welayaty(Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Welayaty, LebapWelayaty (Turkmenabat), Mary Welayatynote: administrative divisions have the same names as theiradministrative centers (exceptions have the administrative centername following in parentheses)
Independence:27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
Constitution:adopted 18 May 1992
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of MinistersSaparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first directpresidential election occurred); note - the president is both thechief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President and Chairman of the Cabinet ofMinisters Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the firstdirect presidential election occurred); note - the president is boththe chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA); note -President NIYAZOV was unanimously approved as president for life bythe Assembly on 28 December 1999); deputy chairmen of the cabinet ofministers are appointed by the presidentelection results: Saparmurat NIYAZOV elected president withoutopposition; percent of vote - Saparmurat NIYAZOV 99.5%note: NIYAZOV's term in office was extended indefinitely on 28December 1999 by the Assembly (Majlis) during a session of thePeople's Council (Halk Maslahaty)
Legislative branch:under the 1992 constitution, there are two parliamentary bodies, aunicameral People's Council or Halk Maslahaty (more than 100 seats,some of which are elected by popular vote and some of which areappointed; meets at least yearly) and a unicameral Assembly orMajlis (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)election results: Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seatsby party - NA; note - all 50 elected officials preapproved byPresident NIYAZOV; most are from the DPTelections: People's Council - NA; Assembly - last held 12 December1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or DPT [Saparmurat NIYAZOV]note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, smallopposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries; thetwo most prominent opposition groups-in-exile have been Gundogar andErkin; Gundogar was led by former Foreign Minister BorisSHIKHUMRADOV until his arrest and imprisonment in the wake of the 25November 2002 assassination attempt on President NIYAZOV; Erkin isled by former Foreign Minister Abdy KULIEV and is based out of Moscow
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Mered Bairamovich ORAZOVFAX: [1] (202) 588-0697telephone: [1] (202) 588-1500chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Tracey A. JACOBSONembassy: 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 774000mailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [9] (9312) 35-00-45FAX: [9] (9312) 39-26-14
Flag description:green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side,containing five carpet guls (designs used in producing rugs) stackedabove two crossed olive branches similar to the olive branches onthe UN flag; a white crescent moon and five white stars appear inthe upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe
Economy Turkmenistan
Economy - overview:Turkmenistan is largely desert country with intensive agriculturein irrigated oases and large gas and oil resources. One-half of itsirrigated land is planted in cotton, making it the world'stenth-largest producer. With an authoritarian ex-Communist regime inpower and a tribally based social structure, Turkmenistan has takena cautious approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas and cottonsales to sustain its inefficient economy. Privatization goals remainlimited. In 1998-2003, Turkmenistan suffered from the continued lackof adequate export routes for natural gas and from obligations onextensive short-term external debt. At the same time, however, totalexports rose by 38% in 2003, largely because of higher internationaloil and gas prices. Overall prospects in the near future arediscouraging because of widespread internal poverty, the burden offoreign debt, and the unwillingness of the government to adoptmarket-oriented reforms. However, Turkmenistan's cooperation withthe international community in transporting humanitarian aid toAfghanistan may foreshadow a change in the atmosphere for foreigninvestment, aid, and technological support. Turkmenistan's economicstatistics are state secrets, and GDP and other figures are subjectto wide margins of error. In any event, GDP increased substantiallyin 2003 because of a strong recovery in agriculture and rapidindustrial growth.