Ports and harbors:Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Makassar, Palembang, Semarang,Surabaya
Merchant marine:total: 718 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,192,847 GRT/4,319,739 DWTby type: bulk 47, cargo 398, chemical tanker 13, container 57,liquefied gas 6, livestock carrier 1, passenger 10, passenger/cargo13, petroleum tanker 128, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 15,short-sea/passenger 9, specialized tanker 12, vehicle carrier 7registered in other countries: 109 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: France 1, Germany 1, Greece 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong2, Japan 3, Malaysia 1, Monaco 2, Panama 1, Philippines 2, Singapore12, Switzerland 1, United Kingdom 2, United States 1
Airports:661 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 154 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 49 under 914 m: 44 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 44
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 513 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 under 914 m: 480 (2004 est.) 914 to 1,523 m: 27
Heliports: 22 (2003 est.)
Military Indonesia
Military branches:Indonesia Armed Forces (TNI): Army (TNI-AD), Navy (TNI-AL,including Marines, Naval Air arm), Air Force (TNI-AU)
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;conscript service obligation - 2 years (2002)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 66,458,805 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 38,728,029 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 2,196,424 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1 billion (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.3% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Indonesia
Disputes - international:East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee continues to meet, surveyand delimit land boundary, but several sections of the boundaryremain unresolved; Indonesia and East Timor contest the sovereigntyof the uninhabited coral island of Palau Batek/Fatu Sinai, whichhinders a decision on a northern maritime boundary; numbers of EastTimor refugees in Indonesia refuse repatriation; a 1997 treatybetween Indonesia and Australia settled some parts of their maritimeboundary but outstanding issues remain; ICJ's award of Sipadan andLigitan islands to Malaysia in 2002 prompted Indonesia to assertclaims to and to establish a presence on its smaller outer islands;Indonesian secessionists, squatters, and illegal migrants createrepatriation problems for Papua New Guinea
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 535,000 (government offensives against rebels in Aceh; mostIDPs in Aceh, Central Kalimantan, Maluku, and Central SulawesiProvinces) (2004)
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; possiblegrowing role as transshipment point for Golden Triangle heroin
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Iran
Introduction Iran
Background:Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and the shah was forcedinto exile. Conservative clerical forces established a theocraticsystem of government with ultimate political authority nominallyvested in a learned religious scholar. Iranian-US relations havebeen strained since a group of Iranian students seized the USEmbassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979 and held it until 20 January1981. During 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraqthat eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashesbetween US Navy and Iranian military forces between 1987-1988. Iranhas been designated a state sponsor of terrorism for its activitiesin Lebanon and elsewhere in the world and remains subject to USeconomic sanctions and export controls because of its continuedinvolvement. Following the elections of a reformist President andMajlis in the late 1990s, attempts to foster political reform inresponse to popular dissatisfaction have floundered as conservativepoliticians have prevented reform measures from being enacted,increased repressive measures, and consolidated their control overthe government.
Geography Iran
Location:Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and theCaspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Geographic coordinates:32 00 N, 53 00 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 1.648 million sq kmland: 1.636 million sq kmwater: 12,000 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:total: 5,440 kmborder countries: Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km,Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km
Coastline:2,440 km; note - Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: natural prolongationcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median lines in thePersian Gulf
Climate:mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Terrain:rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts,mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 mhighest point: Kuh-e Damavand 5,671 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead,manganese, zinc, sulfur
Land use: arable land: 8.72% permanent crops: 1.39% other: 89.89% (2001)
Irrigated land:75,620 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes
Environment - current issues:air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions,refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation;overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf;wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination);inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from rawsewage and industrial waste; urbanization
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of theSea, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, whichare vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport
People Iran
Population:69,018,924 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28% (male 9,935,527; female 9,411,647)15-64 years: 67.2% (male 23,608,621; female 22,744,128)65 years and over: 4.8% (male 1,645,246; female 1,673,755) (2004est.)
Median age: total: 23.5 years male: 23.3 years female: 23.7 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.07% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:17.1 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:5.53 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 42.86 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 42.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 43.01 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.66 yearsmale: 68.31 yearsfemale: 71.07 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.93 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:20,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:290 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Iranian(s)adjective: Iranian
Ethnic groups:Persian 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%
Religions:Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 9%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian,and Baha'i 2%
Languages:Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%,Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 79.4%male: 85.6%female: 73% (2003 est.)
Government Iran
Country name:conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iranconventional short form: Iranlocal short form: Iranformer: Persialocal long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
Government type:theocratic republic
Capital:Tehran
Administrative divisions:28 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-eGharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari,Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman,Kermanshah, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad,Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan,Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
Independence:1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
National holiday:Republic Day, 1 April (1979)note: additional holidays celebrated widely in Iran includeRevolution Day, 11 February (1979); Noruz (New Year's Day), 21March; Constitutional Monarchy Day, 5 August (1925)
Constitution:2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the presidencyand eliminate the prime ministership
Legal system:the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of government
Suffrage:15 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI(since 4 June 1989)elections: leader of the Islamic Revolution appointed for life bythe Assembly of Experts; president elected by popular vote for afour-year term; election last held 8 June 2001 (next to be held June2005)election results: (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani reelectedpresident; percent of vote - (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani 77%cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president withlegislative approval; the Supreme Leader has some control overappointments to the more sensitive ministrieshead of government: President (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani (since3 August 1997); First Vice President Dr. Mohammad Reza AREF-Yazdi(since 26 August 2001)
Legislative branch:unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly orMajles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami (290 seats, note - changed from 270 seatswith the 18 February 2000 election; members elected by popular voteto serve four-year terms)elections: last held 20 February 2004 with a runoff held 7 May 2004(next to be held February 2008)election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by party -conservatives/Islamists 190, reformers 50, independents 43,religious minorities 5, and 2 seats unaccounted for
Judicial branch:Supreme Court - above a special clerical court, a revolutionarycourt, and a special administrative court
Political parties and leaders:formal political parties are a relatively new phenomenon in theIslamic Republic and most conservatives still prefer to work throughpolitical pressure groups rather than parties; a loose pro-reformcoalition called the 2nd Khordad front, which includes politicalparties as well as less formal pressure groups and organizations,achieved considerable success at elections to the sixth Majles inearly 2000; groups in the coalition include: Islamic IranParticipation Front (IIPF); Executives of Construction Party(Kargozaran); Solidarity Party; Islamic Labor Party; Mardom Salari;Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization (MIRO); andMilitant Clerics Society (Ruhaniyun); the coalition is expected toparticipate in the seventh Majles elections in early 2004; a newapparently conservative group, the Builders of Islamic Iran, took aleading position in the new Majles afte winning a majority of theseats in February 2004
Political pressure groups and leaders: political pressure groups conduct most of Iran's political activities; groups that generally support the Islamic Republic include Ansar-e Hizballah, Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam, Tehran Militant Clergy Association (Ruhaniyat), Islamic Coalition Party (Motalefeh), and Islamic Engineers Society; active pro-reform student groups include the Organization for Strengthening Unity; opposition groups include Freedom Movement of Iran, the National Front, Marz-e Por Gohar, and various ethnic and Monarchist organizations; armed political groups that have been almost completely repressed by the government include Mujahidin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), People's Fedayeen, Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, and Komala
International organization participation:CP, ECO, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory),ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:none; note - Iran has an Interests Section in the PakistaniEmbassy; address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy, 2209Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone: [1] (202)965-4990; FAX [1] (202) 965-1073
Diplomatic representation from the US:none; note - protecting power in Iran is Switzerland
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; thenational emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah in theshape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered in thewhite band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script isrepeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11times along the top edge of the red band
Economy Iran
Economy - overview:Iran's economy is marked by a bloated, inefficient state sector,over reliance on the oil sector, and statist policies that createmajor distortions throughout. Most economic activity is controlledby the state. Private sector activity is typically small-scale -workshops, farming, and services. President KHATAMI has continued tofollow the market reform plans of former President RAFSANJANI, withlimited progress. Relatively high oil prices in recent years haveenabled Iran to amass some $22 billion in foreign exchange reserves,but have not eased economic hardships such as high unemployment andinflation. In December 2003 a major earthquake devastated the cityof Bam in southeastern Iran, killing more than 30,000 people.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $478.2 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6.1% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $7,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12.5% industry: 41.2% services: 46.2% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):28.6% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:40% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):16.4% (2003 est.)
Labor force: 22.32 million note: shortage of skilled labor (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:15.7% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $40.38 billionexpenditures: $40.29 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.6billion (2003 est.)
Public debt:28.2% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairyproducts, wool; caviar
Industries:petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other constructionmaterials, food processing (particularly sugar refining andvegetable oil production), metal fabricating, armaments
Industrial production growth rate:3% excluding oil (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:124.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:115.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:3.804 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:1.277 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:2.2 million bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:94.39 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:61.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:65.59 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:110 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:4.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:24.8 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$3.935 billion (2003)
Exports:$29.88 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits andnuts, carpets
Exports - partners:Japan 21.8%, China 9.7%, Italy 6.3%, Taiwan 5.5%, Turkey 5.4%,South Korea 5.4% (2003)
Imports:$25.26 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:industrial raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods,foodstuffs and other consumer goods, technical services, militarysupplies
Imports - partners:Germany 11%, France 8.6%, China 8.4%, Italy 8.1%, UAE 7.9%, SouthKorea 6.5%, Russia 4.8%, Japan 4.1% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$25.13 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$10.96 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$408 million (2002 est.)
Currency:Iranian rial (IRR)
Currency code:IRR
Exchange rates:rials per US dollar - 8,193.89 (2003), 6,906.96 (2002), 1,753.56(2001), 1,764.43 (2000), 1,752.93 (1999)note: Iran has been using a managed floating exchange rate regimesince unifying multiple exchange rates in March 2002.
Fiscal year:21 March - 20 March
Communications Iran
Telephones - main lines in use:14,571,100 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:3,376,500 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequate but currently being modernized andexpanded with the goal of not only improving the efficiency andincreasing the volume of the urban service but also bringingtelephone service to several thousand villages, not presentlyconnecteddomestic: as a result of heavy investing in the telephone systemsince 1994, the number of long-distance channels in the microwaveradio relay trunk has grown substantially; many villages have beenbrought into the net; the number of main lines in the urban systemshas approximately doubled; and thousands of mobile cellularsubscribers are being served; moreover, the technical level of thesystem has been raised by the installation of thousands of digitalswitchesinternational: country code - 98; HF radio and microwave radio relayto Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Syria,Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; submarine fiber-optic cable toUAE with access to Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG);Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line runs from Azerbaijanthrough the northern portion of Iran to Turkmenistan with expansionto Georgia and Azerbaijan; satellite earth stations - 9 Intelsat and4 Inmarsat
Radio broadcast stations:AM 72, FM 5, shortwave 5 (1998)
Radios:17 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:28 (plus 450 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:4.61 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ir
Internet hosts:5,269 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):100 (2002)
Internet users:4.3 million (2003)
Transportation Iran
Railways:total: 7,203 kmbroad gauge: 94 km 1.676-m gaugestandard gauge: 7,109 km 1.435-m gauge (189 km electrified) (2003)
Highways:total: 167,157 kmpaved: 94,109 km (including 890 km of expressways)unpaved: 73,048 km (1998)
Waterways:850 km (on Karun River and Lake Urmia) (2004)
Pipelines:condensate/gas 212 km; gas 16,998 km; liquid petroleum gas 570 km;oil 8,256 km; refined products 7,808 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war), Ahvaz,Bandar 'Abbas, Bandar-e Anzali, Bushehr, Bandar-e Emam Khomeyni,Bandar-e Lengeh, Bandar-e Mahshahr, Bandar-e Torkaman, Chabahar(Bandar Beheshti), Jazireh-ye Khark, Jazireh-ye Lavan, Jazireh-yeSirri, Khorramshahr (limited operation since November 1992), NowShahr
Merchant marine:total: 134 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,715,242 GRT/8,240,069 DWTby type: bulk 40, cargo 36, chemical tanker 3, container 7,liquefied gas 1, multi-functional large load carrier 5, petroleumtanker 33, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea/passenger 1registered in other countries: 10 (2004 est.)
Airports:303 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 127 over 3,047 m: 39 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 32 under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 178 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 under 914 m: 39 (2004 est.) 914 to 1,523 m: 129
Heliports: 13 (2003 est.)
Military Iran
Military branches:Islamic Republic of Iran regular forces (includes Ground Forces,Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Command), Islamic RevolutionaryGuards Corps (IRGC) (includes Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy, QodsForce [special operations], and Basij [Popular Mobilization Army]),Law Enforcement Forces
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; soldiers as young as 9 were recruited extensively during the Iran-Iraq war; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 20,937,348 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 12,434,810 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 912,569 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$4.3 billion (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.3% (2003 est.)
Transnational Issues Iran
Disputes - international:Iran protests Afghanistan's limiting flow of dammed waters onHelmand River tributaries in periods of drought; thousands of Afghanrefugees still reside in Iran; creation of a maritime boundary withIraq remains in hiatus until full sovereignty is restored in Iraq;Iran and UAE engage in direct talks and solicit Arab League supportto resolve disputes over Iran's occupation of Tunb Islands and AbuMusa Island; Iran stands alone among littoral states in insistingupon a division of the Caspian Sea into five equal sectors
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 1,223,823 (Afghanistan), 124,014(Iraq) (2004)
Illicit drugs:despite substantial interdiction efforts, Iran remains a keytransshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe; domesticnarcotics consumption remains a persistent problem and according toofficial Iranian statistics there are at least 2 million drug usersin the country; lax anti-money-laundering regulations
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Iraq
Introduction Iraq
Background:Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britainduring the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a Leagueof Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over the nextdozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. A"republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series ofmilitary strongmen ruled the country, the latest was SADDAM Husayn.Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costlyeight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait, butwas expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during the Gulf War ofJanuary-February 1991. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UNSecurity Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of massdestruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verificationinspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutionsover a period of 12 years resulted in the US-led invasion of Iraq inMarch 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. Coalitionforces remain in Iraq, helping to restore degraded infrastructureand facilitating the establishment of a freely elected government,while simultaneously dealing with a robust insurgency. The CoalitionProvisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi InterimGovernment (IG) in June 2004 and the election of its president,Ghazi al-Ujayl al-YAWR, was held in January 2005.
Geography Iraq
Location:Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Geographic coordinates:33 00 N, 44 00 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 437,072 sq kmwater: 4,910 sq kmland: 432,162 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
Land boundaries:total: 3,650 kmborder countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 240 km, SaudiArabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 352 km
Coastline:58 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: not specified
Climate:mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudlesssummers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkishborders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows thatmelt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding incentral and southern Iraq
Terrain:mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in southwith large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran andTurkey
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 mhighest point: unamed peak 3,611 m; note - this peak is not GundahZhur 3,607 m or Kuh-e Hajji-Ebrahim 3,595 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Land use: arable land: 13.15% permanent crops: 0.78% other: 86.07% (2001)
Irrigated land:35,250 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:dust storms, sandstorms, floods
Environment - current issues:government water control projects have drained most of theinhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or divertingthe feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of MarshArabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has beendisplaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat posesserious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequatesupplies of potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphratesrivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparianTurkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) anderosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:party to: Law of the Seasigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of thePersian Gulf
People Iraq
Population:25,374,691 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 40.3% (male 5,198,966; female 5,039,173)15-64 years: 56.7% (male 7,280,167; female 7,094,688)65 years and over: 3% (male 357,651; female 404,046) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 19.2 yearsmale: 19.1 yearsfemale: 19.3 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:2.74% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:33.09 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:5.66 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 52.71 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 46.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 58.58 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 68.26 yearsmale: 67.09 yearsfemale: 69.48 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.4 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Iraqi(s)adjective: Iraqi
Ethnic groups:Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5%
Religions:Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
Languages:Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 40.4%male: 55.9%female: 24.4% (2003 est.)
Government Iraq
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Iraqconventional short form: Iraqlocal short form: Al Iraqlocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
Government type:none; note - the Iraqi Interim Government (IG) was appointed on 1June 2004
Capital:Baghdad
Administrative divisions:18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Anbar, AlBasrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah,At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan,Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit
Independence:3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under Britishadministration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition ProvisionalAuthority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government
National holiday:Revolution Day, 17 July (1968); note - this holiday was celebratedunder the SADDAM Husayn regime but the Iraqi Interim Government hasyet to declare a new national holiday
Constitution:interim constitution signed 8 March 2004; note - the TransitionalAdministrative Law (TAL) was enacted 8 March 2004 to govern thecountry until an elected Iraqi Transitional Government can draft andratify a new constitution in 2005
Legal system:based on civil and Islamic law under the Iraqi Interim Government(IG) and Transitional Administrative Law (TAL)
Suffrage:formerly 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Interim Iraqi Government (IG) President Ghazi al-Ujayl al-YAWR (since 1 June 2004); Deputy Presidents Ibrahim al-JAFARI and Rowsch SHAWAYS (since 1 June 2004); note - the President and Deputy Presidents comprise the Presidency Council head of government: Interim Iraqi Government (IG) Prime Minister Ayad ALLAWI (since 28 June 2004) cabinet: 31 ministers appointed by the Presidency Council, plus a Deputy Prime Minister, Barham SALIH elections: scheduled to be held January 2005
Legislative branch:Iraqi Interim National Council formed in July 2004
Judicial branch:Supreme Court appointed by the Prime Minister, confirmed by thePresidency Council
Political parties and leaders:note - the Iraqi political parties included below reflect only themajor groups; new political parties continue to emerge, indicativeof a rapidly changing political landscape; Al-Sadr Movement [MuqtadaAl-SADR]; Da'wa Party [Ibrahim al-JA'FARI]; Iraqi Hizballah [KarimMahud al-MUHAMMADAWI]; Iraqi National Accord or INA [Ayad ALLAWI];Iraqi National Congress or INC [Ahmad CHALABI]; Jama'at al Fadilahor JAF [Ayatollah Muhammad ' Ali al-YAQUBI]; The Supreme Council forthe Islamic Revolution in Iraq or SCIRI [Abd al-Aziz al-HAKIM];Constitutional Monarchy Movement or CMM [Sharif Ali Bin al-HUSAYN];Independent Iraqi Alliance or IIA [Falah al-NAQIB]; IraqiIndependent Democrats or IID [Adnan PACHACHI, Mahdi al-HAFIZ]; IraqiIslamic Party or IIP [Muhsin Abd al-HAMID, Hajim al-HASSANI]; IraqiNational Unity Movement or INUM [Ahmad al-KUBAYSI, chariman]; MuslimUlama Council or MUC [Harith Sulayman al-DARI, secretary general];Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Masud BARZANI]; Patriotic Unionof Kurdistan or PUK [Jalal TALABANI]
Political pressure groups and leaders: an insurgency against the Iraqi Interim Government and Coalition forces is primarily concentrated in Baghdad and in areas west and north of the capital; the diverse, multigroup insurgency is led principally by Sunni Arabs whose only common denominator is a shared desire to oust the Coalition and end US influence in Iraq
International organization participation:ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS,NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)chancery: 1801 P Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036FAX: [1] (202) 462-5066telephone: [1] (202) 483-7500
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador John D. NEGROPONTEembassy: Baghdadmailing address: APO AE 09316telephone: 00-1-240-553-0584 ext. 4354; note - Consular SectionFAX: NA
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black withthree green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in thewhite band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabicscript - Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to theleft of the middle star - was added in January 1991 during thePersian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria, which has twostars but no script, Yemen, which has a plain white band, and thatof Egypt which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the whiteband; design is based upon the Arab Liberation colors
Economy Iraq
Economy - overview: Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s financial problems caused by massive expenditures in the eight-year war with Iran and damage to oil export facilities by Iran led the government to implement austerity measures, borrow heavily, and later reschedule foreign debt payments; Iraq suffered economic losses from that war of at least $100 billion. After hostilities ended in 1988, oil exports gradually increased with the construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic sanctions, and damage from military action by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically reduced economic activity. Although government policies supporting large military and internal security forces and allocating resources to key supporters of the regime have hurt the economy, implementation of the UN's oil-for-food program beginning in December 1996 helped improve conditions for the average Iraqi citizen. Iraq was allowed to export limited amounts of oil in exchange for food, medicine, and some infrastructure spare parts. In December 1999, the UN Security Council authorized Iraq to export under the program as much oil as required to meet humanitarian needs. The drop in GDP in 2001-02 was largely the result of the global economic slowdown and lower oil prices. Per capita food imports increased significantly, while medical supplies and health care services steadily improved. Per capita output and living standards were still well below the pre-1991 level, but any estimates have a wide range of error. The military victory of the US-led coalition in March-April 2003 resulted in the shutdown of much of the central economic administrative structure, but with the loss of a comparatively small amount of capital plant. The rebuilding of oil, electricity, and other production is proceeding steadily at the start of 2004 with foreign support and despite the continuation of severe internal strife. A joint UN and World Bank report released in the fall of 2003 estimated that Iraq's key reconstruction needs through 2007 would cost $55 billion. In October 2003, international donors pledged assistance worth more than $33 billion toward this rebuilding effort.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $37.92 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-21.8% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 6%industry: 13%services: 81% (1993 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):29.3% (2003 est.)
Labor force:7.8 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA
Unemployment rate:NA (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $12.8 billion NAexpenditures: $13.4 billion NA, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 budget)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep
Industries:petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, foodprocessing
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:36.01 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:33.49 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:2.2 million bbl/day; note - prewar production was 2.8 millionbbl/day (January 2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:460,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:1.7 million bbl/day (January 2004)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:113.8 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:3.149 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$1.136 billion (2003)
Exports:$7.542 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil
Exports - partners:US 48.8%, Jordan 8.4%, Canada 8%, Italy 7.9%, Morocco 5.3% (2003)
Imports:$6.521 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:food, medicine, manufactures
Imports - partners:Turkey 18.1%, Jordan 13.4%, Vietnam 10.7%, US 6.9%, Germany 5%, UK4.7% (2003)
Debt - external:$93.95 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:more than $33 billion in foreign aid pledged for 2004-07 (2004)
Currency:New Iraqi dinar (NID) as of 22 January 2004
Currency code:NID, IQD prior to 22 January 2004
Exchange rates:New Iraqi dinars per US dollar - 1,890 (second half, 2003)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Iraq
Telephones - main lines in use: 675,000; note - an unknown number of telephone lines were damaged or destroyed during the March-April 2003 war (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:20,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: the 2003 war severely disruptedtelecommunications throughout Iraq including internationalconnections; USAID is overseeing the repair of switching capabilityand the construction of mobile and satellite communicationsfacilitiesdomestic: repairs to switches and lines destroyed in the recentfighting continue but sabotage remains a problem; cellular serviceis expected to be in place within two yearsinternational: country code - 964; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik(Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Arabsat (inoperative); coaxial cableand microwave radio relay to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey;Kuwait line is probably nonoperational
Radio broadcast stations: after 17 months of unregulated media growth, there are approximately 80 radio stations on the air inside Iraq (2004)
Radios:4.85 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:21 (2004)
Televisions:1.75 million (1997)
Internet country code:.iq
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:25,000 (2002)
Transportation Iraq
Railways: total: 1,963 km standard gauge: 1,963 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)
Highways:total: 45,550 kmpaved: 38,399 kmunpaved: 7,151 km (2000 est.)
Waterways:5,275 km (not all navigable)note: Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,895 km), and ThirdRiver (565 km) are principal waterways (2004)
Pipelines:gas 1,739 km; oil 5,418 km; refined products 1,343 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, and Al Basrah have limited functionality
Merchant marine:total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 83,221 GRT/125,255 DWTby type: cargo 6, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 5, rollon/roll off 1registered in other countries: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports:111; note - unknown number were damaged during the March-April 2003war (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 79over 3,047 m: 212,438 to 3,047 m: 36914 to 1,523 m: 7under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 32under 914 m: 9 (2004 est.)over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 121,524 to 2,437 m: 5
Heliports:6 (2003 est.)
Military Iraq
Military branches:note: in the summer of 2003 the Coalition Provisional Authority(CPA) began recruiting and training a New Iraqi Army (NIA) thatwould have a purely defensive mission and capability; in March 2004,the Iraqi Interim Government established a Ministry of Defense tocreate an Iraqi Armed Force; at that time the NIA was renamed theIraqi Armed Force - Army (IAF-A); plans also were put into effect toreconstitute an Iraqi Army Air Corps (IAAC) and Coastal DefenseForce (navy), but there are no plans to reconstitute an Iraqi AirForce; the Army's primary new focus will be domesticcounterinsurgency, which is a change of direction from the CPA'sintent to create an army not involved in domestic politics; inmid-2004 the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC) was designated theIraqi National Guard (ING) and subordinated to the Defense Ministryand the Iraqi Armed Forces Pre-war Iraqi military equipment waslargely destroyed by Coalition forces during combat operations inearly 2003 or subsequently looted or scrapped (September 2004)
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age; the Iraqi Interim Government is creating a new professional Iraqi military force of men aged 18 to 40 to defend Iraqi territory from external threats (September 2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 6,547,762 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 3,654,947 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 304,527 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.3 billion (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Iraq
Disputes - international:coalition forces assist Iraqis in monitoring boundary security, butresolution of disputes and creation of maritime boundaries withneighboring states will remain in hiatus until full sovereignty isrestored in Iraq; Turkey has expressed concern over the status ofKurds in Iraq
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 150,000 (Palestinian Territories) IDPs: 1,340,280 (ongoing US-led war and Kurds' subsequent return) (2004)
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Ireland
Introduction Ireland
Background:Celtic tribes settled on the island from 600-150 B.C. Invasions byNorsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended whenKing Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions beganin the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries ofAnglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harshrepressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched offseveral years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted inindependence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern(Ulster) counties remained part of the United Kingdom. In 1948Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined theEuropean Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought thepeaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britainagainst terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland,known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is beingimplemented with some difficulties.
Geography Ireland
Location:Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland inthe North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Geographic coordinates:53 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 70,280 sq kmwater: 1,390 sq kmland: 68,890 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 360 km border countries: UK 360 km
Coastline: 1,448 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mildwinters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half thetime
Terrain:mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hillsand low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m
Natural resources:natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum,limestone, dolomite
Land use:arable land: 15.2%permanent crops: 0.03%other: 84.77% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:strategic location on major air and sea routes between NorthAmerica and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resideswithin 97 km of Dublin
People Ireland
Population:3,969,558 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21% (male 430,905; female 404,218)15-64 years: 67.5% (male 1,342,233; female 1,337,580)65 years and over: 11.5% (male 199,379; female 255,243) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 33.4 yearsmale: 32.6 yearsfemale: 34.2 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.16% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:14.47 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:7.91 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:4.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 6.04 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.36 yearsmale: 74.74 yearsfemale: 80.15 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.87 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:2,400 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)adjective: Irish
Ethnic groups:Celtic, English
Religions:Roman Catholic 91.6%, Church of Ireland 2.5%, other 5.9% (1998)
Languages:English is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge)spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98% (1981 est.)male: NAfemale: NA
Government Ireland
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ireland
Government type:republic
Capital:Dublin
Administrative divisions:26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway,Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth,Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary,Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklownote: Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan are part of Ulster Province
Independence:6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)
National holiday:Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Constitution:29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite
Legal system:based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenousconcepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November 1997)head of government: Prime Minister Bertie AHERN (since 26 June 1997)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nominationby the prime minister and approval of the House of Representativeselection results: Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote -Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6%note: government coalition - Fianna Fail and the ProgressiveDemocratselections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;election last held 31 October 1997 (next scheduled for 22 October2004); note - Mary MCALEESE appointed to a second term when no othercandidate qualified for the 2004 presidential election; primeminister nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed bythe president
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or SeanadEireann (60 seats - 49 elected by the universities and fromcandidates put forward by five vocational panels, 11 are nominatedby the prime minister; members serve five-year terms) and the Houseof Representatives or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members are electedby popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to servefive-year terms)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - Fianna Fail 30, Fine Gael 15, Labor Party 5, ProgressiveDemocrats 4, independents and others 6; House of Representatives -percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 41.5%, Fine Gael 22.5%, LaborParty 10.8%, Sinn Fein 6.5%, Progressive Democrats 4.0%, Green Party3.8%, others 10.9%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 81, Fine Gael 31,Labor Party 21, Progressive Democrats 8, Green Party 6, Sinn Fein 5,others 14elections: Senate - last held 16 and 17 July 2002 (next to be heldby July 2007); House of Representatives - last held 17 May 2002(next to be held by May 2007)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice ofthe prime minister and cabinet)
Political parties and leaders:Fianna Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party[Trevor SARGENT]; Labor Party [Pat RABITTE]; Progressive Democrats[Mary HARNEY]; Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [JoeHIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Sean GARLAND]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM(guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club,PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIK,UNMIL, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO,ZC