Military branches:National Army: Ground Forces, Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service; national service obligation - 12 months (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,186,818 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 942,071 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 44,466 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$9.5 million (FY03)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Moldova
Disputes - international:difficulties with the Transnistria region complicate controllingborder crossing and customs regimes with Ukraine, despiteconcordance on 2003 delimitation and customs protocols and OSCEassistance
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 1,000 (internal secessionist uprising in Transdniestrianregion in 1991) (2004)
Illicit drugs:limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CISconsumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from SouthwestAsia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly theUS; widespread crime and underground economic activity
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Monaco
Introduction Monaco
Background:Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with arailroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then,the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gamblingfacilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreationcenter.
Geography Monaco
Location:Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southerncoast of France, near the border with Italy
Geographic coordinates:43 44 N, 7 24 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 1.95 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 1.95 sq km
Area - comparative:about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 4.4 km border countries: France 4.4 km
Coastline:4.1 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain:hilly, rugged, rocky
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Agel 140 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (urban area) (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See);almost entirely urban
People Monaco
Population:32,270 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 15.5% (male 2,554; female 2,453)15-64 years: 62.1% (male 9,860; female 10,165)65 years and over: 22.4% (male 2,959; female 4,279) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 45.1 yearsmale: 43.1 yearsfemale: 47.1 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.44% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:9.36 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:12.74 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:7.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.53 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.42 yearsmale: 75.53 yearsfemale: 83.5 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.76 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Ethnic groups:French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
Religions:Roman Catholic 90%
Languages:French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 99% male: NA female: NA
Government Monaco
Country name:conventional long form: Principality of Monacoconventional short form: Monacolocal short form: Monacolocal long form: Principaute de Monaco
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:Monaco
Administrative divisions:none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as definedby the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers,singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville,Monte-Carlo
Independence:1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi)
National holiday:National Day (Prince of Monaco Holiday), 19 November
Constitution:17 December 1962
Legal system:based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Prince RAINIER III (since 9 May 1949); HeirApparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre, son of the monarch(born 14 March 1958)elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; minister of stateappointed by the monarch from a list of three French nationalcandidates presented by the French Governmentcabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarchhead of government: Minister of State Patrick LECLERCQ (since 5January 2000)
Legislative branch:unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportionalrepresentation; to serve five-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -UNAM 21, UND 3elections: last held 9 February 2003 (next to be held NA February2008)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarchon the basis of nominations by the National Council)
Political parties and leaders:National and Democratic Union or UND [Jean-Louis CAMPORA]; Unionfor Monaco or UPM (including National Union for the Future of Monacoor UNAM [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO,IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNITAR, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:Monaco does not have an embassy in the USconsulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Consul General inMarseille (France) is accredited to Monaco
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to theflag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which iswhite (top) and red
Economy Monaco
Economy - overview:Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popularresort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. In2001, a major construction project extended the pier used by cruiseships in the main harbor. The principality has successfully soughtto diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpollutingindustries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes andthrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have establishedresidence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses andoffices. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors,including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service.Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperousFrench metropolitan areas. Monaco does not publish national incomefigures; the estimates below are extremely rough.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $870 million (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $27,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: NAindustry: NAservices: NA (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):NA (2000)
Labor force:30,540 (January 1994)
Unemployment rate:3.1% (1998)
Budget:revenues: $518 millionexpenditures: $531 million, including capital expenditures of NA(1995)
Agriculture - products:none
Industries:tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Electricity - imports:NA kWhnote: electricity supplied by France
Exports:$NA; full customs integration with France, which collects andrebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU marketsystem through customs union with France
Imports:$NA; full customs integration with France, which collects andrebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU marketsystem through customs union with France
Debt - external:NA (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency:euro (EUR)
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.8860 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001),1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Monaco
Telephones - main lines in use:33,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:19,300 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern automatic telephone systemdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations;connected by cable into the French communications system
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM NA, shortwave 8 (1998)
Radios:34,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:5 (1998)
Televisions:25,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.mc
Internet hosts:533 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:16,000 (2002)
Transportation Monaco
Highways: total: 50 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Monaco
Merchant marine:none
Airports:none; linked to the airport at Nice, France by helicopter service(2003) (2003 est.)
Heliports:1 (shuttle service between the international airport at Nice,France, and Monaco's heliport at Fontvieille) (2003 est.)
Military Monaco
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Monaco
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Mongolia
Introduction Mongolia
Background:The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under ChinggisKHAN they conquered a huge Eurasian empire. After his death theempire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but thesebroke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired totheir original steppe homelands and later came under Chinese rule.Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing. ACommunist regime was installed in 1924. During the early 1990s, theex-Communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) graduallyyielded its monopoly on power to the Democratic Union Coalition(DUC), which defeated the MPRP in a national election in 1996. Sincethen, parliamentary elections returned the MPRP overwhelmingly topower in 2000 and produced a coalition government in 2004.
Geography Mongolia
Location:Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Geographic coordinates:46 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 1,564,116 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries: total: 8,220 km border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Terrain:vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in westand southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 mhighest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m
Natural resources:oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel,zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
Land use: arable land: 0.77% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.23% (2001)
Irrigated land:840 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and "zud," whichis harsh winter conditions
Environment - current issues:limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the policiesof former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization andindustrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; theburning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement ofenvironmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar;deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land toagricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain;desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect onthe environment
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
People Mongolia
Population:2,751,314 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29.7% (male 415,735; female 400,560)15-64 years: 66.7% (male 916,445; female 918,235)65 years and over: 3.6% (male 43,205; female 57,134) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 23.9 yearsmale: 23.6 yearsfemale: 24.3 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.43% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:21.44 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:7.1 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: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 55.45 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 51.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 58.97 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 64.17 yearsmale: 61.97 yearsfemale: 66.48 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.27 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 500 (2003 est)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Mongolian(s)adjective: Mongolian
Ethnic groups:Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other(including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000)
Religions:Buddhist Lamaist 50%, none 40%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim4% (2004)
Languages:Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.8%male: 98%female: 97.5% (2002)
Government Mongolia
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Mongolialocal short form: Mongol Ulsformer: Outer Mongolialocal long form: none
Government type:mixed parliamentary/presidential
Capital:Ulaanbaatar
Administrative divisions:21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality*(singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, DarhanUul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan, Govi-Altay, Govi-Sumber,Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay, Selenge,Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs
Independence:11 July 1921 (from China)
National holiday:Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)
Constitution:12 February 1992
Legal system:blend of Soviet, German, and US systems that combine "continental"or "civil" code and case-precedent; constitution ambiguous onjudicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (since 20 June 1997)head of government: Prime Minister Tsakhiagiyn ELBEGDORJ (since 20August 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Chultem ULAAN (since 28September 2004)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the State Great Hural (parliament) inconsultation with the presidentelections: presidential candidates nominated by political partiesrepresented in State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for afour-year term; presidential tenure limited to two four-year terms;election last held 20 May 2001 (next to be held in May 2005);following legislative elections, leader of majority party ormajority coalition is usually elected prime minister by State GreatHural; election last held 27 June 2004 (next to be held in June 2008)election results: Natsagiyn BAGABANDI reelected president in 2001;percent of vote - Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (MPRP) 58.13%,Radnaasumbereliyn GONCHIGDORJ (DP) 36.58%, Luvsandamba DASHNYAM(CWP) 3.54%, other 1.75%; Tsakkhiagiyn ELBEGDORJ elected primeminister by the State Great Hural 74 to 0
Legislative branch:unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by popularvote to serve four-year termselections: last held 27 June 2004 (next to be held in June 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - MPRP 48.78%, MDC 44.8%,independents 3.5%, Republican Party 1.5%, others 1%; seats by party- MPRP 36, MDC 34, others 4; note - following the June 2004election, two seats in dispute and unoccupied
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (serves as appeals court for people's and provincialcourts but rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts; judges arenominated by the General Council of Courts and approved by thepresident)
Political parties and leaders:Citizens' Will Republican Party or CWRP (also called Civil CourageRepublican Party or CCRP) [Sanjaasurengiin OYUN]; Democratic Partyor DP [R. GONCHIKDORJ]; Motherland-Mongolian New SocialistDemocratic Party or M-MNSDP [B. ERDENEBAT]; Mongolian People'sRevolutionary Party or MPRP [Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR]; MongolianRepublican Party or MRP [B. JARGALSAIKHAN]note: DP and M-MNSDP formed Motherland-Democracy Coalition (MDC) in2003 and with CWRP contested June 2004 elections as single party;MDC's leadership dissolved coalition in December 2004
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ARF, AsDB, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU,MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SCO (observer), UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ravdangiyn BOLDchancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007consulate(s) general: New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 298-9227telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela J. SLUTZembassy: Micro Region 11, Big Ring Road, C.P.O. 1021, Ulaanbaatar 13mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002telephone: [976] (11) 329095FAX: [976] (11) 320776
Flag description:three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red;centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometricrepresentation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yangsymbol)
Economy Mongolia
Economy - overview:Economic activity traditionally has been based on agriculture andbreeding of livestock. Mongolia also has extensive mineral deposits;copper, coal, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for alarge part of industrial production. Soviet assistance, at itsheight one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990-91 atthe time of the dismantlement of the USSR. Mongolia was driven intodeep recession, prolonged by the Mongolian People's RevolutionaryParty's (MPRP) reluctance to undertake serious economic reform. TheDemocratic Union Coalition (DUC) government embraced free-marketeconomics, eased price controls, liberalized domestic andinternational trade, and attempted to restructure the banking systemand the energy sector. Major domestic privatization programs wereundertaken, as well as the fostering of foreign investment throughinternational tender of the oil distribution company, a leadingcashmere company, and banks. Reform was held back by theex-Communist MPRP opposition and by the political instabilitybrought about through four successive governments under the DUC.Economic growth picked up in 1997-99 after stalling in 1996 due to aseries of natural disasters and declines in world prices of copperand cashmere. In August and September 1999, the economy sufferedfrom a temporary Russian ban on exports of oil and oil products, andMongolia remains vulnerable in this sector. Mongolia joined theWorld Trade Organization (WTrO) in 1997. The international donorcommunity pledged over $300 million per year at the ConsultativeGroup Meeting, held in Ulaanbaatar in June 1999. The MPRPgovernment, elected in July 2000, was anxious to improve theinvestment climate; it also had to deal with a heavy burden ofexternal debt. Falling prices for Mongolia's mainly primary sectorexports, widespread opposition to privatization, and adverse effectsof weather on agriculture in early 2000 and 2001 restrained real GDPgrowth. Despite drought problems in 2002, GDP rose 4.0%, followed bya solid 5.0% increase in 2003. The first applications under the landprivatization law have been marked by a number of disputes overparticular sites. Russia claims Mongolia owes it $11 billion fromthe Soviet period; any settlement could substantially increaseMongolia's foreign debt burden.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $4.882 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20.6% industry: 21.4% services: 58% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 33% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 37% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:44 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:1.4 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation: herding/agriculture 46%, manufacturing 6%, trade 10.3%, public sector 4.7%, other/unemployed 33% (2001)
Unemployment rate:4.6% (2001)
Budget:revenues: $387 millionexpenditures: $428 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, potatoes, forage crops, sheep, goats, cattle,camels, horses
Industries:construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum,fluorspar, and gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animalproducts
Industrial production growth rate:4.1% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:2.225 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:2.194 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:25 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:196 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$524 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides,fluorspar, other nonferrous metals
Exports - partners:China 46.1%, US 23.2%, Russia 6.7%, Singapore 5.7%, Australia 5.5%,UK 4.2% (2003)
Imports:$691 million c.i.f. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumergoods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea
Imports - partners:Russia 33.1%, China 21.5%, South Korea 8.5%, Japan 7.9%, Germany4.7% (2003)
Debt - external:$885 million (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$332 million (2003 est.)
Currency:togrog/tugrik (MNT)
Currency code:MNT
Exchange rates:togrogs/tugriks per US dollar - 1,171 (2003), 1,110.31 (2002),1,097.7 (2001), 1,076.67 (2000), 1,021.87 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Mongolia
Telephones - main lines in use:128,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:216,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: very low density: about 3.5 telephones for eachthousand personsdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 976; satellite earth station - 1Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 7, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:155,900 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:9 (plus 18 provincial repeaters and many low power repeaters) (2004)
Televisions:168,800 (1999)
Internet country code:.mn
Internet hosts:40 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2001)
Internet users:50,000 (2002)
Transportation Mongolia
Railways: 1,810 km broad gauge: 1,810 km 1.524-m gauge (2004)
Highways: total: 49,250 km paved: 1,724 km unpaved: 47,526 km (2003)
Waterways:580 kmnote: only waterway in operation is Lake Khovsgol (135 km); SelengeRiver (270 km) and Orkhon River (175 km) are navigable but carrylittle traffic; lakes and rivers freeze in winter, are open from Mayto September (2004)
Ports and harbors:none
Merchant marine:total: 65 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 339,423 GRT/533,853 DWTforeign-owned: Belize 1, Cambodia 1, China 4, Cuba 1, Hong Kong 2,Indonesia 1, Japan 1, North Korea 1, Lebanon 1, Malaysia 1, Malta 1,Marshall Islands 5, Moldova 1, Panama 3, Romania 1, Russia 14,Singapore 13, Syria 4, Thailand 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1, UnitedStates 3, Vietnam 4 (2004 est.)by type: bulk 4, cargo 53, chemical tanker 1, container 2, liquefiedgas 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, specialized tanker 1
Airports:36 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 11over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 10 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 251,524 to 2,437 m: 11under 914 m: 5 (2003 est.)914 to 1,523 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 5over 3,047 m: 2
Heliports:2 (2003 est.)
Military Mongolia
Military branches:Mongolian People's Army (comprising Ground Forces, Air DefenseForces), Border Guards, Internal Security Forces, Construction CorpsForces, Civil Defense Authority
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 818,977 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 530,594 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 33,718 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$23.1 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.2% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Mongolia
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Montserrat
Introduction Montserrat
Background:Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the populationfled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcanothat began on 18 July 1995.
Geography Montserrat
Location:Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:16 45 N, 62 12 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 102 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 102 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:40 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Chances Peak (in the Soufriere Hills volcanic complex) 914 m
Natural resources: negligible
Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% other: 80% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (SoufriereHills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)
Environment - current issues:land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
Geography - note:the island is entirely volcanic in origin and contains seven activevolcanoes
People Montserrat
Population:9,245note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following theresumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned(July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 23.3% (male 1,092; female 1,062)15-64 years: 65.5% (male 2,889; female 3,162)65 years and over: 11.2% (male 543; female 497) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 28.2 yearsmale: 28 yearsfemale: 28.4 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.03% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:17.63 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:7.36 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: 0.91 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.09 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 7.56 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.53 yearsmale: 76.39 yearsfemale: 80.78 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.79 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality: noun: Montserratian(s) adjective: Montserratian
Ethnic groups:black, white
Religions:Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-DayAdventist, other Christian denominations
Languages:English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 97%male: 97%female: 97% (1970 est.)
Government Montserrat
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montserrat
Dependency status:overseas territory of the UK
Government type:NA
Capital:Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity; interimgovernment buildings have been built at Brades Estate, in the Carr'sBay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat)
Administrative divisions:3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
Independence:none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:present constitution came into force 19 December 1989
Legal system:English common law and statutory law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor Deborah Barnes JONES (since 10 May 2004)elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by themonarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majorityparty usually becomes chief ministerhead of government: Chief Minister John OSBORNE (since 5 April 2001)cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chiefminister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and thefinance secretary
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 9 popularly elected;members serve five-year terms)note: expanded in 2001 from 7 to 9 elected members with attorneygeneral and financial secretary sitting as ex-officio memberselections: last held April 2001 (next to be held by November 2006)note: in 2001, the Elections Commission instituted a singleconstituency/voter-at-large system whereby all eligible voters castballots for all nine seats of the Legislative Councilelection results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -NPLM 7, NPP 2
Judicial branch:Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia, one judge ofthe Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over theHigh Court)
Political parties and leaders:National Progressive Party or NPP [Reuben T. MEADE]; New People'sLiberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Caricom, CDB, ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant andthe Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of theflag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellowharp with her arm around a black cross
Economy Montserrat
Economy - overview:Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put adamper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June1997 closed the airports and seaports, causing further economic andsocial dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled theisland. Some began to return in 1998, but lack of housing limitedthe number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by thelack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops.Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relationto the volcano and on public sector construction activity. The UKhas launched a three-year $122.8 million aid program to helpreconstruct the economy. Half of the island is expected to remainuninhabitable for another decade.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $29 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $3,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 5.4%industry: 13.6%services: 81% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:4,521 ; note - lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity(2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA
Unemployment rate:6% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $31.4 millionexpenditures: $31.6 million, including capital expenditures of $8.4million (1997 est.)
Agriculture - products: cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers, livestock products
Industries:tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:2.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:2.325 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$700,000 (2001)
Exports - commodities:electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, liveplants, cattle
Exports - partners:US, Antigua and Barbuda
Imports:$17 million (2001)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufacturedgoods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
Imports - partners:US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada
Debt - external:$8.9 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient:As of 31 March 2003, UK's DFID had provided about $328 million ineconomic relief from volcanic activity, and by 31 March 2006, DFIDaid is expected to total $411 million.
Currency:East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:XCD
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7000 (fixed rate since1976)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Montserrat
Telephones - main lines in use:NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:70 (1994)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 1-664
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:7,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (1997)
Televisions:3,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ms
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):17 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Montserrat
Highways:total: 227 kmpaved: NA kmnote: volcanic eruptions beginning in 1995 destroyed most of theroad system (2003)unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors:Plymouth (abandoned), Little Bay (anchorages and ferry landing),Carr's Bay
Merchant marine:none
Airports:1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Montserrat
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Montserrat
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for theUS and Europe
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Morocco
Introduction Morocco
Background:Morocco's long struggle for independence from France ended in 1956.The internationalized city of Tangier was turned over to the newcountry that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Saharaduring the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of theterritory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990sresulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature in 1997.Parliamentary elections were held for the second time in September2002 and municipal elections were held in September 2003.
Geography Morocco
Location:Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and theMediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates:32 00 N, 5 00 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 446,550 sq kmland: 446,300 sq kmwater: 250 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:total: 2,017.9 kmborder countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain(Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km
Coastline:1,835 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
Terrain:northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas ofbordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 mhighest point: Jbel Toubkal 4,165 m
Natural resources:phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Land use: arable land: 19.61% permanent crops: 2.17% other: 78.22% (2001)
Irrigated land:12,910 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:northern mountains geologically unstable and subject toearthquakes; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Geography - note:strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
People Morocco
Population:32,209,101 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 32.6% (male 5,355,388; female 5,156,762)15-64 years: 62.5% (male 10,013,466; female 10,112,060)65 years and over: 4.9% (male 692,465; female 878,960) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 23.3 yearsmale: 22.8 yearsfemale: 23.8 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.61% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:22.79 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:5.71 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 43.25 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 39.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 47.09 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.35 yearsmale: 68.06 yearsfemale: 72.74 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.81 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:13,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Moroccan(s)adjective: Moroccan
Ethnic groups:Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Religions:Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Languages:Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language ofbusiness, government, and diplomacy
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 51.7%male: 64.1%female: 39.4% (2003 est.)
Government Morocco
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Moroccoconventional short form: Moroccolocal long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyahlocal short form: Al Maghrib
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:Rabat
Administrative divisions:16 regions: Casablanca, Chaouia-Ourdigha, Doukkala-Abda,Fes-Boulmane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara,Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz,Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Oued Eddahab-Lagouira,Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal,Tangier-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate
Independence:2 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30 July(1999)
Constitution:10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992, amended (to createbicameral legislature) September 1996
Legal system:based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system;judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber ofSupreme Court
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)
Executive branch:chief of state: King MOHAMED VI (since 30 July 1999)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointedby the monarch following legislative electionshead of government: Prime Minister Driss JETTOU (since 9 October2002)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Chamber ofCounselors (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils,professional organizations, and labor syndicates for nine-yearterms; one-third of the members are renewed every three years) and alower house or Chamber of Representatives (325 seats; 295 bymulti-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of women;members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 6 October 2003 (next tobe held NA 2006); Chamber of Representatives - last held 27September 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party -NA; seats by party - RNI 42, MDS 33, UC 28, MP 27, PND 21, PI 21,USFP 16, MNP 15, PA 13, FFD 12, other 42; Chamber of Representatives- percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - USFP 50, PI 48,PJD 42, RNI 41, MP 27, MNP 18, UC 16, PND 12, PPS 11, UD 10, other 50
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed on the recommendation of theSupreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:Action Party or PA [Muhammad EL IDRISSI]; Alliance of Liberties orADL [Ali BELHAJ]; Annahj Addimocrati or Annahj [Abdellah EL HARIF];Avant Garde Social Democratic Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN];Citizen Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizen's Initiativesfor Development [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional Union or UC[Mohamed ABIED (interim)]; Democratic and Independence Party or PDI[Abdelwahed MAACH]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [MahmoudARCHANE]; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI];Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and DevelopmentParty or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Front of Democratic Forces or FFD[Thami EL KHYARI]; Istiqlal Party (Independence Party) or PI [AbbasEl FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [Saad EddineOTHMANI]; Moroccan Liberal Party or PML [Mohamed ZIANE]; NationalDemocratic Party or PND [Abdallah KADIRI]; National IttihadiCongress Party or CNI [Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA]; National PopularMovement or MNP [Mahjoubi AHERDANE]; National Rally of Independentsor RNI [Ahmed OSMAN]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP[Abdellah IBRAHIM]; Parti Al Ahd or Al Ahd [Najib EL OUAZZANI,chairman]; Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI];Party of Renewal and Equity or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]; Party of theUnified Socialist Left or GSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]; PopularMovement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Reform and Development Party orPRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Social Center Party or PSC [LahcenMADIH]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [MohammedEl-YAZGHI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI]; GeneralUnion of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL]; MoroccanEmployers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National Labor Unionof Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan Workers orUMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]