Budget:revenues: $12.76 billionexpenditures: $14.31 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:69.1% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, barley, alfalfa, clover,olives, citrus, grapes, soybeans, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Industries:chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal,electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper,wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding,petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:3.9% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:12.12 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:14.27 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:386 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:3.386 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:29,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:89,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:93.6 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:1.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.84 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:1.08 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:34.36 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-2.039 billion (2003)
Exports:$6.355 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels
Exports - partners:Italy 26.1%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 14.6%, Germany 12%, Slovenia8.3%, Austria 7.9% (2003)
Imports:$12.86 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, transport and electrical equipment, chemicals, fuels andlubricants, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Italy 17.9%, Germany 15.7%, Slovenia 7.4%, Austria 6.6%, France5.3%, Russia 4.7% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$8.191 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$23.56 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA $66 million (2000)
Currency:kuna (HRK)
Currency code:HRK
Exchange rates:kuna per US dollar - 6.7035 (2003), 7.8687 (2002), 8.34 (2001),8.2766 (2000), 7.1124 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Croatia
Telephones - main lines in use:1.825 million (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2.553 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: reconstruction plan calls for replacement of all analogcircuits with digital and enlarging the network; a backup will beincluded in the plan for the main trunkinternational: country code - 385; digital international service isprovided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates inthe Trans-Asia-Europe (TEL) fiber-optic project, which consists oftwo fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optictrunk line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik; Croatia is alsoinvesting in ADRIA 1, a joint fiber-optic project with Germany,Albania, and Greece (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999)
Radios:1.51 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:36 (plus 321 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:1.22 million (1997)
Internet country code:.hr
Internet hosts:29,644 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):9 (2000)
Internet users:1.014 million (2003)
Transportation Croatia
Railways: total: 2,726 km standard gauge: 2,726 km 1.435-m gauge (984 km electrified) (2003)
Highways:total: 28,123 kmpaved: 23,792 km (including 410 km of expressways)unpaved: 4,331 km (2000)
Waterways:785 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 1,340 km; oil 583 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Dubrovnik, Dugi Rat, Omisalj, Ploce, Pula, Rijeka, Sibenik, Split,Vukovar (inland waterway port on Danube), Zadar
Merchant marine:total: 51 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 750,579 GRT/1,178,786 DWTby type: bulk 16, cargo 14, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 5,multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 4, short-sea/passenger 3registered in other countries: 44 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Hong Kong 3, Russia 1
Airports:68 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 23 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 9 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 37 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2003 est.)
Military Croatia
Military branches:Ground Forces (Hrvatska Vojska, HKoV), Naval Forces (Hrvatska RatnaMornarica, HRM), Air and Air Defense Forces (Hrvatsko RatnoZrakoplovstvo i Protuzrakoplovna Obrana, HRZiPZO)
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service, with 6-monthservice obligation; 16 years of age with consent for voluntaryservice (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,100,132 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 873,994 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 30,639 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$520 million (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.39% (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues Croatia
Disputes - international:discussions continue with Bosnia and Herzegovina over disputedterritory around Kostajnica on the Una River and villages at thebase of Mount Pljesevica; the Croatia-Slovenia land and maritimeboundary agreement, which would have ceded most of Pirin Bay andmaritime access to Slovenia and several villages to Croatia, remainscontroversial, has not been ratified, and has been complicated byCroatia's declaration of an ecological-fisheries zone in theAdriatic Sea
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 12,600 (Croats and Serbs displaced in 1992-1995 war) (2004)
Illicit drugs:transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin toWestern Europe; has been used as a transit point for maritimeshipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Cuba
Introduction Cuba
Background:The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after theEuropean discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 andfollowing its development as a Spanish colony during the nextseveral centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported towork the coffee and sugar plantations and Havana became thelaunching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain fromMexico and Peru. Spanish rule was severe and exploitative andoccasional rebellions were harshly suppressed. It was USintervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 that finallyoverthrew Spanish rule. The subsequent Treaty of Paris establishedCuban independence, which was granted in 1902 after a three-yeartransition period. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959;his iron rule has held the regime together since then. Cuba'sCommunist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughoutLatin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Thecountry is now slowly recovering from a severe economic recession in1990, following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4billion to $6 billion annually. Cuba portrays its difficulties asthe result of the US embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migrationto the US - using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, air flights, orvia the southwest border - is a continuing problem. Some 2,500Cubans attempted the crossing of the Straits of Florida in 2003; theUS Coast Guard apprehended about 60% of the individuals.
Geography Cuba
Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
Geographic coordinates:21 30 N, 80 00 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 110,860 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 110,860 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:total: 29 kmborder countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 kmnote: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remainspart of Cuba
Coastline:3,735 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April);rainy season (May to October)
Terrain:mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains inthe southeast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m
Natural resources:cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica,petroleum, arable land
Land use: arable land: 33.05% other: 59.35% (2001) permanent crops: 7.6%
Irrigated land:870 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (ingeneral, the country averages about one hurricane every other year);droughts are common
Environment - current issues:air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the GreaterAntilles
People Cuba
Population:11,308,764 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20% (male 1,163,741; female 1,102,391)15-64 years: 69.8% (male 3,949,197; female 3,948,196)65 years and over: 10.1% (male 528,162; female 617,077) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 34.8 yearsmale: 34.2 yearsfemale: 35.5 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.34% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:12.18 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:7.17 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 6.45 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 7.25 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.04 yearsmale: 74.77 yearsfemale: 79.44 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.66 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:3,300 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Cuban(s) adjective: Cuban
Ethnic groups:mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%
Religions:nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power;Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are alsorepresented
Languages:Spanish
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writefemale: 96.9% (2003 est.)male: 97.2%total population: 97%
People - note:illicit migration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to departthe island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers,direct flights, or falsified visas; some 2,500 Cubans took to theStraits of Florida in 2002; the US Coast Guard interdicted about 60%of these migrants; Cubans also use non-maritime routes to enter theUS; some 1,500 Cubans arrived overland via the southwest border anddirect flights to Miami in 2002
Government Cuba
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Cubaconventional short form: Cubalocal short form: Cubalocal long form: Republica de Cuba
Government type:Communist state
Capital:Havana
Administrative divisions:14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 specialmunicipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila,Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Islade la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio,Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara
Independence:20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the USfrom 1898 to 1902)
National holiday:Independence Day, 10 December (1898); note - 10 December 1898 isthe date of independence from Spain, 20 May 1902 is the date ofindependence from US administration; Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953)
Constitution:24 February 1976, amended July 1992 and June 2002
Legal system:based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communistlegal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President of the Council of State and President ofthe Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister fromFebruary 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished;president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of theCouncil of State and First Vice President of the Council ofMinisters Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmentelections: president and vice presidents elected by the NationalAssembly for a term of five years; election last held 6 March 2003(next to be held in 2008)election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz reelected president; percent oflegislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president;percent of legislative vote - 100%cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of theCouncil of State and appointed by the National Assembly or the31-member Council of State, elected by the Assembly to act on itsbehalf when it is not in sessionhead of government: President of the Council of State and Presidentof the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister fromFebruary 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished;president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of theCouncil of State and First Vice President of the Council ofMinisters Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacionaldel Poder Popular (609 seats, elected directly from slates approvedby special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms)elections: last held 19 January 2003 (next to be held in NA 2008)election results: percent of vote - PCC 97.6%; seats - PCC 609
Judicial branch:People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vicepresident, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:only party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, firstsecretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS(excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note - Cuba has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Dagoberto RODRIGUEZ Barrera; address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss Embassy, 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: [1] (202) 797-8518
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer James C. CASON; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado, Havana; telephone: [53] (7) 833-3551 through 3559 (operator assistance required); FAX: [53] (7) 833-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland
Flag description:five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) alternatingwith white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bearsa white, five-pointed star in the center; design influenced by theUS flag
Economy Cuba
Economy - overview:The government continues to balance the need for economic looseningagainst a desire for firm political control. It has undertakenlimited reforms to increase enterprise efficiency and alleviateserious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services. A majorfeature of the economy is the dichotomy between relatively efficientexport enclaves and inefficient domestic sectors. The averageCuban's standard of living remains at a lower level than before thedepression of the 1990s, which was caused by the loss of Soviet aidand domestic inefficiencies. The government reluctantly allows alarge dollar market sector, fueled by tourism and remittances fromCubans abroad.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $32.13 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.6% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.5% industry: 26.9% services: 67.6% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):10.1% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.1% (2003 est.)
Labor force: 4.58 million note: state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 24%, industry 25%, services 51% (1999)
Unemployment rate:2.6% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $17.21 billionexpenditures: $18.28 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock
Industries:sugar, petroleum, tobacco, construction, nickel, steel, cement,agricultural machinery, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:2.4% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:14.38 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:13.38 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:50,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:163,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:532 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:600 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:600 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:42.62 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-273 million (2003)
Exports:$1.467 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee
Exports - partners:Netherlands 21.8%, Canada 16.2%, Russia 10.7%, Spain 8.7%, China7.3% (2003)
Imports:$4.531 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners:Spain 16.6%, Venezuela 12.5%, Italy 8.6%, US 8.5%, China 7.7%,Canada 5.4%, Mexico 5.3%, France 4.9% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$582 million (2003)
Debt - external:$12.52 billion (convertible currency); another $15 billion -$20billion owed to Russia (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$68.2 million (1997 est.)
Currency:Cuban peso (CUP)
Currency code:CUP
Exchange rates:Cuban pesos per US dollar - 1.0000 (nonconvertible, official rate,for international transactions, pegged to the US dollar);convertible peso sold for domestic use at a rate of 27 pesos per USdollar by the Government of Cuba (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Cuba
Telephones - main lines in use:574,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:17,900 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: greater investment beginning in 1994 and theestablishment of a new Ministry of Information Technology andCommunications in 2000 has resulted in improvements in the system;cellular service, initially restricted, was opened to public accessin 2003domestic: national fiber-optic system scheduled to be completed byend of 2003; 85% of switches digitized by end of 2002 with entiresystem by end 2003; telephone line density remains low; cellularservice expandinginternational: country code - 53; fiber-optic cable laid to but notlinked to US network; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik(Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:3.9 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:58 (1997)
Televisions:2.64 million (1997)
Internet country code:.cu
Internet hosts:1,529 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2001)
Internet users:120,000 (2001)
Transportation Cuba
Railways:total: 4,226 kmstandard gauge: 4,226 km 1.435-m gauge (140 km electrified)note: an additional 7,742 km of track is used by sugar plantations;about 65% of this track is standard gauge; the rest is narrow gauge(2003)
Highways:total: 60,858 kmpaved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)unpaved: 31,038 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:240 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 49 km; oil 230 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas, Nuevitas,Santiago de Cuba
Merchant marine:total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 54,818 GRT/81,850 DWTregistered in other countries: 35 (2004 est.)by type: bulk 3, cargo 4, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 3,refrigerated cargo 2
Airports:170 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 79 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 37 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 91 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 62 (2004 est.)
Military Cuba
Military branches:Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR): Revolutionary Army (ER),Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR),Territorial Militia Troops (MTT), Youth Labor Army (EJT)
Military manpower - military age and obligation:17 years of age; both sexes are eligible for military service (2004est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 3,134,622females age 15-49: 3,075,534 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,929,370females age 15-49: 1,888,498 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 83,992females: 91,901 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$572.3 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.8% (2003)
Military - note:Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier ofCuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993
Transnational Issues Cuba
Disputes - international:US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutualagreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease
Illicit drugs:territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone forcocaine and heroin bound for the US and Europe; established thedeath penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Cyprus
Introduction Cyprus
Background:A former British colony, Cyprus received independence in 1960following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between theGreek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a headin December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia.Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadicintercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots intoenclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek-sponsored attemptto seize the government was met by military intervention fromTurkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish Republic ofNorthern Cyprus," but it is recognized only by Turkey. The latesttwo-year round of UN-brokered direct talks - between the leaders ofthe Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach anagreement to reunite the divided island - ended when the GreekCypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in an April 2004referendum. Although only the internationally recognized GreekCypriot-controlled Republic of Cyprus joined the EU on 1 May 2004,every Cypriot carrying a Cyprus passport will have the status of aEuropean citizen. EU laws, however, will not apply to north Cyprus.Nicosia continues to oppose EU efforts to establish direct trade andeconomic links to north Cyprus as a way of encouraging the TurkishCypriot community to continue to support reunification.
Geography Cyprus
Location:Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey
Geographic coordinates:35 00 N, 33 00 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus)water: 10 sq kmland: 9,240 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:NA; boundaries with Akrotiri and Dhekelia are being resurveyed
Coastline:648 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Terrain:central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered butsignificant plains along southern coast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 mhighest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 m
Natural resources:copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earthpigment
Land use: arable land: 7.79% permanent crops: 4.44% other: 87.77% (2001)
Irrigated land:382 sq km (2001 est.)
Natural hazards:moderate earthquake activity; droughts
Environment - current issues:water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonaldisparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largestaquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution fromsewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlifehabitats from urbanization
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily andSardinia)
People Cyprus
Population:775,927 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21.4% (male 84,850; female 81,235)15-64 years: 67.4% (male 264,441; female 258,150)65 years and over: 11.2% (male 38,058; female 49,193) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 34.4 yearsmale: 33.4 yearsfemale: 35.5 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.55% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:12.66 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 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: 0.77 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 7.36 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 9.19 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.46 yearsmale: 75.11 yearsfemale: 79.92 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.85 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 1,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Cypriot(s)adjective: Cypriot
Ethnic groups:Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001)
Religions:Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, andother 4%
Languages:Greek, Turkish, English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.6%male: 98.9%female: 96.3% (2003 est.)
Government Cyprus
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Cyprusconventional short form: Cyprusnote: the Turkish Cypriot community (north Cyprus) refers to itselfas the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)
Government type:republicnote: a separation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting theisland began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; thisseparation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention inJuly 1974 that followed a Greek junta-supported coup attempt gavethe Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriotscontrol the only internationally recognized government; on 15November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declaredindependence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of NorthernCyprus" (TRNC), recognized only by Turkey; both sides publiclysupport a settlement based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation.
Capital:Nicosia
Administrative divisions:6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia,Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisionsinclude Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small partsof Lefkosia (Nicosia) and Larnaca
Independence:16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimedself-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but theseproclamations are only recognized by Turkey
National holiday:Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriotscelebrates 15 November (1983) as Independence Day
Constitution:16 August 1960; from December 1963, the Turkish Cypriots no longerparticipated in the government; negotiations to create the basis fora new or revised constitution to govern the island and to betterrelations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been heldintermittently since the mid-1960s; in 1975, following the 1974Turkish intervention, Turkish Cypriots created their ownconstitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish FederatedState of Cyprus," which became the "Turkish Republic of NorthernCyprus" when the Turkish Cypriots declared their independence in1983; a new constitution for the "TRNC" passed by referendum on 5May 1985
Legal system:based on common law, with civil law modifications
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriothead of government: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriotcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president andvice presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 16 February 2003 (next to be held NA February2008)note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of north Cyprus since 13February 1975 ("president" elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm); elections last held 15 April 2000 (next to be held April2005); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH reelected president after theother contender withdrew; Mehmet Ali TALAT, who had been "primeminister" of north Cyprus since mid-January 2004, currently servingin a caretaker capacity following the failure of the governingcoalition to pass a budget; "parliamentary" elections are plannedfor 20 February 2005; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) innorth Cyprus, appointed by the "prime minister"election results: Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected president; percent ofvote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%, Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, AlekosMARKIDIS 6.6%
Legislative branch:unicameral - Republic of Cyprus: House of Representatives or VouliAntiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots, 24 toTurkish Cypriots; note - only those assigned to Greek Cypriots arefilled; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-yearterms); north Cyprus: Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi(50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-yearterms)election results: Republic of Cyprus: House of Representatives -percent of vote by party - AKEL 34.71%, DISY 34%, DIKO 14.84%, KISOS6.51%, others 9.94%; seats by party - AKEL (Communist) 20, DISY 19,DIKO 9, KISOS 4, others 4; north Cyprus: Assembly of the Republic -percent of vote by party - CTP 35.8%, UBP 32.3%, Peace andDemocratic Movement 13.4%, DP 12.3%; seats by party - CTP 19, UBP18, Peace and Democratic Movement 6, DP 7elections: Republic of Cyprus: last held 27 May 2001 (next to beheld May 2006); north Cyprus: last held 14 December 2003 (next to beheld early 2005 because the government resigned)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president andvice president)note: there is also a Supreme Court in north Cyprus
Political parties and leaders:Republic of Cyprus: Democratic Party or DIKO [Tassos PAPADOPOULOS];Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; Fighting DemocraticMovement or ADIK [Dinos MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [GeorgePERDIKIS]; New Horizons [Nikolaus KOUTSOU]; Restorative Party of theWorking People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS];Social Democrats Movement or KISOS (formerly United Democratic Unionof Cyprus or EDEK) [Yiannakis OMIROU]; United Democrats Movement orEDE [George VASSILIOU]; north Cyprus: Democratic Party or DP [SerderDENKTASH]; National Birth Party or UDP [Enver EMIN]; National UnityParty or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Our Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU];Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH [Alpay DURDURAN]; Peace andDemocratic Movement [Mustafa AKINCI]; Republican Turkish Party orCTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West); Confederationof Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation of TurkishCypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation orPEO (Communist controlled)
International organization participation:Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW,OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU(observer affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
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 community in the US isOsman ERTUG; 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) 393939FAX: [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 Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag has ahorizontal red stripe at the top and bottom between which is a redcrescent and red star on a white 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. EU-driven tax reforms in 2003have introduced fiscal imbalances, which, coupled with a sluggishtourism sector, have resulted in growing fiscal deficits. As in theTurkish sector, water shortages are a perennial problem; a fewdesalination plants are now on-line. After 10 years of drought, thecountry received substantial rainfall from 2001-03, alleviatingimmediate concerns. The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughlyone-third of the per capita GDP of the south. Because it isrecognized only by Turkey, it has had much difficulty arrangingforeign financing and investment. It remains heavily dependent onagriculture and government service, which together employ about halfof the work force. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkeyprovides grants and loans to support economic development. Ankaraprovided $200 million in 2002 and pledged $450 million for the2003-05 period. Future events throughout the island will be highlyinfluenced by the outcome of negotiations on the UN-sponsoredagreement to unite the Greek and Turkish areas.
GDP:Republic of Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $14.82 billion (2003est.); north Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $1.217 billion (2003est.)
GDP - real growth rate:Republic of Cyprus: 1.9% (2003 est.); north Cyprus: 2.6% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:Republic of Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $19,200 (2003 est.);north Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 4.1%; industry 20.3%; services 75.6% north Cyprus: agriculture 10.6%; industry 20.5%; services 68.9% (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):19.9% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):Republic of Cyprus: 4.1% (2003 est.); north Cyprus: 12.6% (2003est.)
Labor force:330,000 Republic of Cyprus: 306,000; north Cyprus: 95,025 (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:Republic of Cyprus: services 75.6%, industry 19.4%, agriculture4.9% (2003); north Cyprus: services 68.9%, industry 20.5%,agriculture 10.6% (2003)
Unemployment rate:Republic of Cyprus: 3.4%; north Cyprus: 5.6% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: Republic of Cyprus - $3.971 billion, north Cyprus -$231.3 million (2002 est.)expenditures: $4.746 billion, Republic of Cyprus - $539 million,including capital expenditures of $539 million, north Cyprus -$432.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003)
Public debt:62.3% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:potatoes, citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables,poultry, pork, lamb, kids, dairy
Industries:food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, woodproducts
Industrial production growth rate:Republic of Cyprus: -0.6% (2002); north Cyprus: -0.3% (2003)
Electricity - production:3.401 billion kWh; north Cyprus: NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:Republic of Cyprus: 3.163 billion kWh; north Cyprus: NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:49,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Current account balance:$-545 million (2003)
Exports:Republic of Cyprus: $1.054 billion f.o.b. north Cyprus: $46 millionf.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:Republic of Cyprus: citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement,clothing and cigarettes; north Cyprus: citrus, potatoes, textiles
Exports - partners:UK 32.1%, Greece 9.2%, Lebanon 3.5% (2003)
Imports:Republic of Cyprus: $4.637 billion f.o.b.; north Cyprus: $301million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:Republic of Cyprus: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants,intermediate goods, machinery, transport equipment; north Cyprus:food, minerals, chemicals, machinery
Imports - partners:Greece 11.9%, Italy 9.8%, UK 8.3%, Germany 7.5%, Japan 5.6%, France5.1%, China 4.9%, US 4.2%, Spain 4% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$3.453 billion (2003)
Debt - external:Republic of Cyprus: $8.85 billion; north Cyprus: NA (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:Republic of Cyprus - $17 million (1998); north Cyprus - $700million from Turkey in grants and loans (1990-97), which are usuallyforgiven (1998)
Currency:Republic of Cyprus: Cypriot pound (CYP); north Cyprus: Turkish lira(TRL)
Currency code:CYP; TRL
Exchange rates:Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.5174 (2003), 0.6107 (2002), 0.6431(2001), 0.6224 (2000), 0.5429 (1999), Turkish lira per US dollar1.505 million (2003), 1.507 million (2002), 1,225,590 (2001),625,218 (2000), 418,783 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Cyprus
Telephones - main lines in use:Republic of Cyprus: 427,400 (2002); north Cyprus: 86,228 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:Republic of Cyprus: 417,900 (2002); north Cyprus: 143,178 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent in both Republic of Cyprus and northCyprus areasdomestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relayinternational: country code - 357; tropospheric scatter; 3 coaxialand 5 fiber-optic submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:Republic of Cyprus: AM 7, FM 60, shortwave 1 (1998); north Cyprus:AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:Greek Cypriot area: 310,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 56,450(1994)
Television broadcast stations:Republic of Cyprus: 4 (plus 225 low-power repeaters) (September1995);; north Cyprus: 4 (plus 5 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:Greek Cypriot area: 248,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 52,300(1994)
Internet country code:.cy
Internet hosts:5,901 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6 (2000)
Internet users:210,000 (2002)
Transportation Cyprus
Highways:total: 13,491 kmnote: Republic of Cyprus: 11,141 km; north Cyprus: 2,350 kmunpaved: Republic of Cyprus: 4,713 km; north Cyprus: 980 km(2000/1996)paved: Republic of Cyprus: 6,428 km; north Cyprus: 1,370 km
Ports and harbors:Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Vasilikos
Merchant marine:total: 1,066 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 22,016,374 GRT/35,760,004 DWTregistered in other countries: 100 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Austria 11, Belgium 1, Bulgaria 1, Canada 6, China13, Croatia 2, Cuba 8, Egypt 2, Estonia 2, Germany 210, Greece 499,Guam 1, Hong Kong 5, India 6, Iran 3, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Italy 2,Japan 20, South Korea 6, Latvia 11, Malta 1, Mexico 1, Monaco 3,Netherlands 18, Norway 7, Panama 1, Philippines 2, Poland 20,Portugal 2, Russia 51, Singapore 2, Slovenia 4, Spain 5, Sudan 2,Sweden 6, Switzerland 1, Ukraine 2, United Kingdom 16, United States4, Vietnam 1by type: bulk 403, cargo 276, chemical tanker 28, combination bulk21, combination ore/oil 2, container 145, liquefied gas 1,multi-functional large load carrier 2, passenger 8, passenger/cargo1, petroleum tanker 109, refrigerated cargo 30, roll on/roll off 29,short-sea/passenger 5, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 3
Airports:17 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 132,438 to 3,047 m: 71,524 to 2,437 m: 2under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)914 to 1,523 m: 3
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 4914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Heliports:10 (2003 est.)
Military Cyprus
Military branches:Republic of Cyprus: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includingair and naval elements), Greek Cypriot Policenorth Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (GKK)
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age (2004 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 202,966 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 139,255 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 6,614 (2004 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; March 2003 reunification talks failed, butTurkish Cypriots later opened their borders to temporary visits byGreek Cypriots
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 265,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced forover 30 years) (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; despite a strengthening of anti-moneylaundering legislation, remains highly vulnerable to moneylaundering; identification of benefiting owners and reporting ofsuspicious transactions by nonresident-controlled companies inoffshore sector remains weak
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@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. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999and the European Union in 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: 39.8% permanent crops: 3.05% other: 57.15% (2001)
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-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-VolatileOrganic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, OzoneLayer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
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:10,246,178 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 15% (male 789,987; female 748,476)15-64 years: 70.9% (male 3,643,574; female 3,622,276)65 years and over: 14.1% (male 557,496; female 884,369) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 38.6 yearsmale: 36.9 yearsfemale: 40.5 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.05% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:9.1 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:10.54 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.)