Geography - note:the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop along-extinct, submerged volcano
People Bassas da India
Population: uninhabited (July 2003 est.)
Government Bassas da India
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Bassas da India
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 Bassas da India
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Transportation Bassas da India
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Military Bassas da India
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Bassas da India
Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Belarus
Introduction Belarus
Background:After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarusattained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer politicaland economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Sovietrepublics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state unionon 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economicintegration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out theaccord, serious implementation has yet to take place.
Geography Belarus
Location:Eastern Europe, east of Poland
Geographic coordinates:53 00 N, 28 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 207,600 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 207,600 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:total: 2,900 kmborder countries: Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 407 km,Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional betweencontinental and maritime
Terrain:generally flat and contains much marshland
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Nyoman River 90 mhighest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m
Natural resources:forests, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas,granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay
Land use: arable land: 29.76% permanent crops: 0.69% other: 69.55% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:1,150 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues: soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness ofBelarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes; the country isgeologically well endowed with extensive deposits of granite,dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, and clay
People Belarus
Population:10,322,151 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16.8% (male 885,265; female 848,516)15-64 years: 68.9% (male 3,456,769; female 3,652,766)65 years and over: 14.3% (male 490,529; female 988,306) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 36.7 yearsmale: 34.1 yearsfemale: 39.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:-0.12% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:10.18 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:14.05 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:2.66 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: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 13.87 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 12.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 15.13 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 68.43 yearsmale: 62.54 yearsfemale: 74.6 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.34 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:15,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:1,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Belarusian(s)adjective: Belarusian
Ethnic groups:Belarusian 81.2%, Russian 11.4%, Polish, Ukrainian, and other 7.4%
Religions:Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant,Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
Languages:Belarusian, Russian, other
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.6%male: 99.8%female: 99.5% (2003 est.)
Government Belarus
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Belarusconventional short form: Belaruslocal short form: noneformer: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republiclocal long form: Respublika Byelarus'
Government type:republic
Capital:Minsk
Administrative divisions:6 voblastsi (singular - voblasts') and one municipality* (harady,singular - horad); Brestskaya (Brest), Homyel'skaya (Homyel'), HoradMinsk*, Hrodzyenskaya (Hrodna), Mahilyowskaya (Mahilyow), Minskaya,Vitsyebskaya (Vitsyebsk); note - when using a place name with theadjectival ending 'skaya,' the word voblasts' should be added to theplace namenote: voblasti have the administrative center name following inparentheses
Independence:25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note - 3 July 1944 was the dateMinsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the dateof independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:30 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24 November 1996giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and became effective27 November 1996
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994)head of government: Prime Minister Sergei SIDORSKY (acting; since 10July 2003); Deputy Prime Ministers Andrei KOBYAKOV (since 13 March2000), Sergei SIDORSKY (since 24 September 2001), Vladimir DRAZHIN(since 24 September 2001), Roman VNUCHKO (since 10 July 2003)cabinet: Council of Ministerselection results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO reelected president; percentof vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 75.6%, Vladimir GONCHARIK 15.4%elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;first election took place 23 June and 10 July 1994; according to the1994 constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999,however LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via a November 1996referendum; new election held 9 September 2001 (next election to beheld by September 2006); prime minister and deputy prime ministersappointed by the president
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Natsionalnoye Sobranie consists of theCouncil of the Republic or Soviet Respubliki (64 seats; 56 memberselected by regional councils and 8 members appointed by thepresident, all for 4-year terms) and the Chamber of Representativesor Palata Pretsaviteley (110 seats; members elected by universaladult suffrage to serve 4-year terms)election results: party affiliation data unavailable; under presentpolitical conditions party designations are meaninglesselections: last held October 2000 (next to be held NA 2004)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president);Constitutional Court (half of the judges appointed by the presidentand half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives)
Political parties and leaders:Agrarian Party or AP [Mikhail SHIMANSKY]; Belarusian CommunistParty or KPB [Viktor CHIKIN, chairman]; Belarusian Ecological GreenParty (merger of Belarusian Ecological Party and Green Party ofBelarus) [leader NA]; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (BelarusianPatriotic Party) or BPR [Anatoliy BARANKEVICH, chairman]; BelarusianPopular Front or BNF [Vintsuk VYACHORKA]; Belarusian Social-DemocratParty or SDBP [Nikolay STATKEVICH, chairman]; BelarusianSocial-Democratic Party or Hromada [Stanislav SHUSHKEVICH,chairman]; Belarusian Socialist Party [Vyacheslav KUZNETSOV]; CivicAccord Bloc (United Civic Party) or CAB [Anatol LIABEDZKA]; LiberalDemocratic Party or LDPB [Sergei GAYDUKEVICH, chairman]; Party ofCommunists Belarusian or PKB [Sergei KALYAKIN, chairman]; RepublicanParty of Labor and Justice or RPPS [Anatoliy NETYLKIN, chairman];Social-Democrat Party of Popular Accord or PPA [Leanid SECHKA];Women's Party or "Nadezhda" [Valentina POLEVIKOVA, chairperson]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, NAM (observer),NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Mikhail KHVOSTOVchancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009consulate(s) general: New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 986-1805telephone: [1] (202) 986-1604
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Michael G. KOZAKembassy: 46 Starovilenskaya St., Minsk 220002mailing address: PSC 78, Box B Minsk, APO 09723telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83FAX: [375] (17) 234-7853
Flag description:red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half thewidth of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist sidebears a Belarusian national ornament in red
Economy Belarus
Economy - overview:Belarus has seen little structural reform since 1995, whenPresident LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of "marketsocialism." In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO reimposedadministrative controls over prices and currency exchange rates andexpanded the state's right to intervene in the management of privateenterprise. In addition to the burdens imposed by high inflation andpersistent trade deficits, businesses have been subject to pressureon the part of central and local governments, e.g., arbitrarychanges in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, retroactiveapplication of new business regulations, and arrests of "disruptive"businessmen and factory owners. A wide range of redistributivepolicies has helped those at the bottom of the ladder. Closerelations with Russia, possibly leading to reunion, color thepattern of economic developments. For the time being, Belarusremains self-isolated from the West and its open-market economies.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $90.19 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $8,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 40% services: 45% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 22% (1995 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 5.1% highest 10%: 20% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:21.7 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):42.8% (2002 est.)
Labor force:4.8 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:industry and construction NA%, agriculture and forestry NA%,services NA%
Unemployment rate:2.1% officially registered unemployed (December 2000); large numberof underemployed workers
Budget:revenues: $4 billionexpenditures: $4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $180million (1997 est.)
Industries:metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers,motorcycles, television sets, chemical fibers, fertilizer, textiles,radios, refrigerators
Industrial production growth rate:2.5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:24.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.5% hydro: 0.1% other: 0.4% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:26.69 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:300 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:4.3 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:37,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:230,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:200 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:18 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:17.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk
Exports:$7.7 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals;textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:Russia 50.8%, Latvia 7.3%, Ukraine 6.3%, Lithuania 4.1%, Germany4.1% (2002)
Imports:$8.8 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:mineral products, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs,metals
Imports - partners:Russia 68.2%, Germany 9.4%, Ukraine 3.2% (2002)
Debt - external:$851 million (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$194.3 million (1995)
Currency:Belarusian ruble (BYB/BYR)
Currency code:BYB/BYR
Exchange rates:Belarusian rubles per US dollar - NA (2002), 1,390 (2001), 876.75(2000), 248.8 (1999), 46.13 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Belarus
Telephones - main lines in use:2.313 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:8,167 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: the Ministry of Telecommunications controls alltelecommunications through its carrier (a joint stock company)Beltelcom which is a monopolydomestic: local - Minsk has a digital metropolitan network and acellular NMT-450 network; waiting lists for telephones are long;local service outside Minsk is neglected and poor; intercity -Belarus has a partly developed fiber-optic backbone system presentlyserving at least 13 major cities (1998); Belarus's fiber optics formsynchronous digital hierarchy rings through other countries'systems; an inadequate analog system remains operationalinternational: Belarus is a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL),Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line, and has access to theTrans-Siberia Line (TSL); three fiber-optic segments provideconnectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine; worldwideservice is available to Belarus through this infrastructure;additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat, andIntersputnik earth stations
Radio broadcast stations:AM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11 (1998)
Radios:3.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:47 (plus 27 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:2.52 million (1997)
Internet country code:.by
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):23 (2002)
Internet users:422,000 (2002)
Transportation Belarus
Railways: total: 5,523 km broad gauge: 5,523 km 1.520-m gauge (875 km electrified) (2002)
Highways: total: 74,385 km paved: 66,203 km unpaved: 8,182 km (2000)
Waterways:NA km; note - Belarus has extensive and widely used canal and riversystems
Pipelines:gas 4,519 km; oil 1,811 km; refined products 1,686 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Mazyr
Airports:124 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 28 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 96 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 67 (2002)
Military Belarus
Military branches:Army, Air Force (including air defense), Interior Ministry Troops,Border Guards
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,756,572 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,158,875 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 86,654 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$176.1 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Belarus
Disputes - international:1997 boundary treaty with Ukraine remains unratified overunresolved financial claims, preventing demarcation and encouragingillegal border crossing; boundaries with Latvia and Lithuania remainundemarcated despite European Union financial support
Illicit drugs:limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for thedomestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to and viaRussia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe; lax money-launderingand banking regulations
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Belgium
Introduction Belgium
Background:Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and wasoccupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has prospered inthe past half century as a modern, technologically advanced Europeanstate and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between theDutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speakingWalloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutionalamendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.
Geography Belgium
Location:Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and theNetherlands
Geographic coordinates:50 50 N, 4 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 30,510 sq kmland: 30,230 sq kmwater: 280 sq km
Area - comparative:about the size of Maryland
Land boundaries:total: 1,385 kmborder countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km,Netherlands 450 km
Coastline:66 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: median line with neighborsterritorial sea: 12 NMexclusive economic zone: median line with neighbors (extends about68 km from coast)
Climate:temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
Terrain:flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, ruggedmountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: North Sea 0 mhighest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m
Natural resources:coal, natural gas
Land use:arable land: 25%permanent crops: 0%note: includes Luxembourg (1998 est.)other: 75%
Irrigated land:40 sq km (includes Luxembourg) (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protectedfrom the sea by concrete dikes
Environment - current issues:the environment is exposed to intense pressures from humanactivities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry,extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and waterpollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries;uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (nowresolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, AntarcticTreaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, KyotoProtocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitalswithin 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union andNATO
People Belgium
Population:10,289,088 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.2% (male 905,856; female 865,589)15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,400,419; female 3,346,182)65 years and over: 17.2% (male 725,162; female 1,045,880) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 40 yearsmale: 38.7 yearsfemale: 41.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.14% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:10.45 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:10.07 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0.97 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: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.57 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.29 yearsmale: 74.97 yearsfemale: 81.78 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.62 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:8,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Belgian(s)adjective: Belgian
Ethnic groups:Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
Religions:Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%
Languages:Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) lessthan 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: NA%female: NA%
Government Belgium
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgiumconventional short form: Belgiumlocal short form: Belgique/Belgielocal long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie
Government type:federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch
Capital:Brussels
Administrative divisions:10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch:provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions;Dutch: gewesten); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Brussels* (Bruxelles),Flanders*, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur,Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant, Wallonia*, West-Vlaanderen
Independence:4 October 1830 a provisional government declared independence fromthe Netherlands; 21 July 1831 the ascension of King Leopold I to thethrone
National holiday:21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I
Constitution:7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved aconstitutional package creating a federal state
Legal system:civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory;judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir ApparentPrince PHILIPPE, son of the monarchhead of government: Prime Minister Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July1999)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approvedby Parliamentelections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following legislativeelections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of themajority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by themonarch and then approved by Parliamentnote: government coalition - VLD, MR, PS, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senatin French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected by popularvote, 31 are indirectly elected; members serve four-year terms) anda Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch,Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members are directlyelected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representationto serve four-year terms)elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 18 June 2003(next to be held in NA May 2007)note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthereddevolution into a federal state, there are now three levels ofgovernment (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with acomplex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves sixgovernments each with its own legislative assembly; for otheracronyms of the listed parties see the Political parties and leadersentryelection results: Senate - percent of vote by party - SP.A-Spirit15.5%, VLD 15.4%, CD & V 12.7%, PS 12.8%, MR 12.1%, VB 9.4%, CDH5.6%; seats by party - SP.A-Spirit 7, VLD 7, CD & V 6, PS 6, MR 5,VB 5, CDH 2, other 2 (note - there are also 31 indirectly electedsenators); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD15.4%, SP.A-Spirit 14.9%, CD & V 13.3%, PS 13.0%, VB 11.6%, MR11.4%, CDH 5.5%, Ecolo 3.1%; seats by party - VLD 25, SP.A-Spirit23, CD & V 21, PS 25, VB 18, MR 24, CDH 8 Ecolo 4, other 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour deCassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the monarch,although selected by the Government)
Political parties and leaders:AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [Dirk HOLEMANS]; Christian Democrats andFlemish or CD & V [Yves LETERME]; note - used to be the FlemishChristian Democrats or CVP; Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-MichelJAVAUK, Evelyne HUYTEBROECK, Claude BROUIR]; Flemish LiberalDemocrats or VLD [Karel DE GUCHT]; Francophone Humanist andDemocratic Center of CDH (used to be Social Christian Party or PSC)[Joelle MILQUET]; Francophone Reformist Movement or MR (used to beLiberal Reformation Party or PRL) [Antoine DUQUESNE]; FrancophoneSocialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]; National Front or FN [DanielFERET]; New Flemish Alliance or NVA [Geert BOURGEOIS]; note - newparty that emerged after the demise of the People's Union or VU;Social Progressive Alternative Party or SP.A [Steve STEVAERT]; note- was Flemish Socialist Party or SP; Spirit [Els VAN WEERT]; note -new party that emerged after the demise of the People's Union or VU;Vlaams Blok or VB [Frank VANHECKE]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: Christian and Socialist Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as Pax Christi and groups representing immigrants
International organization participation:ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC,EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL,WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Franciskus VAN DAELEchancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 333-3079telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen Franklin BRAUERembassy: Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brusselsmailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red;the design was based on the flag of France
Economy Belgium
Economy - overview:This modern private enterprise economy has capitalized on itscentral geographic location, highly developed transport network, anddiversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentratedmainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. With few naturalresources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of rawmaterials and export a large volume of manufactures, making itseconomy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Roughlythree-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debtis about 100% of GDP, and the government has succeeded in balancingits budget. Belgium, together with 11 of its EU partners, begancirculating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in2001-03 dropped sharply due to the global economic slowdown.Prospects for 2004 again depend largely on recovery in the EU andthe US.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $299.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $29,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.3% industry: 24.4% services: 74.3% (2001)
Population below poverty line: 4%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 23% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:28.7 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:4.44 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:services 73%, industry 25%, agriculture 2% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:7.2% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $113.4 billionexpenditures: $106 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.17billion (2000)
Industries:engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processedfood and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass,petroleum, coal
Industrial production growth rate:4.5% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:74.28 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 38.4% hydro: 0.6% other: 1.8% (2001) nuclear: 59.3%
Electricity - consumption:78.18 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:6.712 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:15.82 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:595,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:450,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:1.042 million bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:15.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:15.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products: sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk
Exports: $162 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metalproducts, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:Germany 18.6%, France 16.3%, Netherlands 11.6%, UK 9.6%, US 7.9%,Italy 5.4% (2002)
Imports:$152 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals and metal products,foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Germany 17.2%, Netherlands 15.6%, France 12.8%, UK 7.3%, Ireland7%, US 6.4%, Italy 4% (2002)
Debt - external:$28.3 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $764 million (1997)
Currency:euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94(1999), 36.3 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Belgium
Telephones - main lines in use:4.769 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:974,494 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: highly developed, technologically advanced, andcompletely automated domestic and international telephone andtelegraph facilitiesdomestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cablenetwork; limited microwave radio relay networkinternational: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat
Radio broadcast stations:FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:8.075 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:4.72 million (1997)
Internet country code:.be
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):61 (2000)
Internet users:3.76 million (2002)
Transportation Belgium
Railways: total: 3,471 km standard gauge: 3,471 km 1.435-m gauge (2,631 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:total: 148,216 kmpaved: 116,687 km (including 1,727 km of expressways)unpaved: 31,529 km (2000)
Waterways:1,570 km (route length in regular commercial use) (2001)
Pipelines:gas 1,485 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports), Brugge, Gent, Hasselt,Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge
Merchant marine:total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 32,215 GRT/55,725 DWTships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 10, petroleum tanker 4,includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Finland 1, Netherlands 3 (2002 est.)
Airports:42 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 25 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 7 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 15 (2002)
Heliports: 1 (2002)
Military Belgium
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Components, Federal Police
Military manpower - military age:19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,497,423 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,059,131 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 60,921 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$3.077 billion (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (FY01/02)
Transnational Issues Belgium
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:growing producer of synthetic drugs; transit point for US-boundecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaineprocessors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, andmarijuana entering Western Europe; money laundering related totrafficking of drugs, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Belize
Introduction Belize
Background:Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed theindependence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981.Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourismhas become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plaguedby high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drugtrade, and increased urban crime.
Geography Belize
Location:Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala andMexico
Geographic coordinates:17 15 N, 88 45 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 22,966 sq kmwater: 160 sq kmland: 22,806 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 516 km border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Coastline:386 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 12 NM in the north, 3 NM in the south; note - fromthe mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize'sterritorial sea is 3 NM; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act,1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework forthe negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differenceswith Guatemala
Climate:tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dryseason (February to May)
Terrain:flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 2.81% permanent crops: 1.1% other: 96.09% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastalflooding (especially in south)
Environment - current issues:deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents,agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:only country in Central America without a coastline on the NorthPacific Ocean
People Belize
Population:266,440 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41.1% (male 55,880; female 53,706)15-64 years: 55.3% (male 74,612; female 72,813)65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,571; female 4,858) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 18.9 yearsmale: 18.8 yearsfemale: 19 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.44% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:30.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.05 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: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 27.07 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 23.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 30.56 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 67.36 yearsmale: 65.19 yearsfemale: 69.63 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.86 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:2,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:300 (2001 est.)
Nationality: noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean
Ethnic groups:mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
Religions:Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Anglican 5.3%, Methodist3.5%, Mennonite 4.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Pentecostal 7.4%,Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), none 9.4%, other 14% (2000)
Languages:English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94.1%male: 94.1%female: 94.1% (2003 est.)
Government Belize
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Belmopan
Administrative divisions:6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Independence:21 September 1981 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Constitution:21 September 1981
Legal system:English law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17November 1993)head of government: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September1998)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice ofthe prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalitionis usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; primeminister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 membersappointed by the governor general - six on the advice of the primeminister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, andone each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches andEvangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerceand Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the NationalTrade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee;members are appointed for five-year terms) and the House ofRepresentatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popularvote to serve five-year terms)elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (nextto be held NA March 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -PUP 21, UDP 8
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governorgeneral on the advice of the prime minister)
Political parties and leaders:People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Partyor UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [AdeleCATZIM]
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,IOM, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMANconsulate(s) general: Los AngelesFAX: [1] (202) 332-6888telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Russell F. FREEMANembassy: 29 Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize Citymailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025telephone: [501] 227-7161 through 7163FAX: [501] 30802
Flag description:blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges;centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat ofarms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahoganytree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in theShade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland
Economy Belize
Economy - overview:In this small, essentially private enterprise economy the tourismindustry is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by canesugar, citrus, marine products, bananas, and garments. Thegovernment's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated inSeptember 1998, led to GDP growth of 6.5% in 1999, 10.8% in 2000,4.6% in 2001, and 3.7% in 2002. Major concerns continue to be thesizable trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term objectiveremains the reduction of poverty with the help of internationaldonors.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $1.28 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 18% industry: 24% services: 58% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:33% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 90,000 note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:9.1% (2002)
Budget:revenues: $224 millionexpenditures: $209 million, including capital expenditures of $70million (2002 est.)
Industries:garment production, food processing, tourism, construction
Industrial production growth rate:4.6% (1999)
Electricity - production:199.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 59.9% hydro: 40.1% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:185.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments
Exports:$290 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Exports - partners:US 40.5%, UK 23.2%, Peru 8.3% (2002)
Imports:$430 million c.i.f. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels,chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco
Imports - partners:US 35.7%, Mexico 10.1%, Netherlands Antilles 6.1%, Japan 5.9%, Cuba5.7%, UK 5.4% (2002)
Debt - external:$475 million (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency:Belizean dollar (BZD)
Currency code:BZD
Exchange rates:Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000), 2(1999), 2 (1998)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Belize
Telephones - main lines in use:31,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:3,023 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: above-average systemdomestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relayinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:133,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (1997)
Televisions:41,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:18,000 (2002)
Transportation Belize
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,872 km paved: 488 km unpaved: 2,384 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:825 km (river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonallynavigable)
Ports and harbors:Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda
Merchant marine:total: 292 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,030,141 GRT/1,499,777 DWTships by type: bulk 15, cargo 200, chemical tanker 7, combinationore/oil 1, container 12, petroleum tanker 31, refrigerated cargo 18,roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Albania 2, Belgium 3, British Virgin Islands 6,Cambodia 1, China 38, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Egypt 1, EquatorialGuinea 1, Eritrea 1, Estonia 7, Germany 3, Greece 4, Grenada 1,Honduras 1, Hong Kong 20, Indonesia 6, Italy 2, Japan 4, Jordan 1,Lebanon 1, Liberia 5, Malaysia 3, Malta 2, Man, Isle of 1, MarshallIslands 13, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Nigeria 1, Panama 12,Philippines 4, Portugal 1, Romania 1, Russia 3, Saint Vincent andthe Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 22, South Korea 10,Spain 4, Switzerland 1, Taiwan 1, Thailand 6, Tunisia 1, Turkey 1,Ukraine 3, United Arab Emirates 9, United Kingdom 2, United States4, Virgin Islands (UK) 6, Yemen 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:42 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 382,438 to 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 10under 914 m: 27 (2002)
Military Belize
Military branches:Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, andVolunteer Guard)