Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Lino GUTIERREZembassy: Avenida Colombia 4300, C1425GMN Buenos Airesmailing address: international mail: use street address; APOaddress: Unit 4334, APO AA 34034telephone: [54] (11) 5777-4533FAX: [54] (11) 5777-4240
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and lightblue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with ahuman face known as the Sun of May
Economy Argentina
Economy - overview:Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literatepopulation, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and adiversified industrial base. Over the past decade, however, thecountry has suffered recurring economic problems of inflation,external debt, capital flight, and budget deficits. Growth in 2000was a negative 0.8%, as both domestic and foreign investors remainedskeptical of the government's ability to pay debts and maintain thepeso's fixed exchange rate with the US dollar. The economicsituation worsened in 2001 with the widening of spreads on Argentinebonds, massive withdrawals from the banks, and a further decline inconsumer and investor confidence. Government efforts to achieve a"zero deficit," to stabilize the banking system, and to restoreeconomic growth proved inadequate in the face of the mountingeconomic problems. The peso's peg to the dollar was abandoned inJanuary 2002, and the peso was floated in February; the exchangerate plunged and inflation picked up rapidly, but by mid-2002 theeconomy had stabilized, albeit at a lower level. Strong demand forthe peso compelled the Central Bank to intervene in foreign exchangemarkets to curb its appreciation in 2003. Led by record exports, theeconomy began to recover with output up 8% in 2003, unemploymentfalling, and inflation reduced to under 4% at year-end.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $435.5 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:8.7% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $11,200 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.1% industry: 34.8% services: 54.1% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):15.1% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:51.7% (May 2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):13.4% (2003)
Labor force:14.92 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA
Unemployment rate:17.3% (2003)
Budget:revenues: $26.62 billionexpenditures: $26 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:65.7% of GDP (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts,tea, wheat; livestock
Industries:food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles,chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Industrial production growth rate:16.2% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:97.17 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:92.12 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:5.662 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:7.417 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:828,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:486,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:2.927 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:37.15 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:31.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:6.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:768 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$7.855 billion (2003)
Exports:$29.57 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:edible oils, fuels and energy, cereals, feed, motor vehicles
Exports - partners:Brazil 15.8%, Chile 12%, US 10.6%, China 8.4%, Spain 4.7% (2003)
Imports:$13.27 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metalmanufactures, plastics
Imports - partners:Brazil 34%, US 16.4%, Germany 5.6%, China 5.2% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$14.16 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$145.6 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$10 billion (2001 est.)
Currency:Argentine peso (ARS)
Currency code:ARS
Exchange rates:Argentine pesos per US dollar - 2.9003 (2003), 3.0633 (2002),0.9995 (2001), 0.9995 (2000), 0.9995 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Argentina
Telephones - main lines in use:8,009,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:6.5 million (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: by opening the telecommunications market tocompetition and foreign investment with the "TelecommunicationsLiberalization Plan of 1998," Argentina encouraged the growth ofmodern telecommunication technology; fiber-optic cable trunk linesare being installed between all major cities; the major networks areentirely digital and the availability of telephone service is beingimproved; however, telephone density is presently minimal, andmaking telephone service universally available will take timedomestic: microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domesticsatellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network;more than 110,000 pay telephones are installed and mobile telephoneuse is rapidly expandinginternational: country code - 54; satellite earth stations - 8Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); Atlantis II and Unisur submarine cables;two international gateways near Buenos Aires (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 260 (including 10 inactive stations), FM NA (probably more than1,000, mostly unlicensed), shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios:24.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:42 (plus 444 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:7.95 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ar
Internet hosts:742,358 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):33 (2000)
Internet users:4.1 million (2002)
Transportation Argentina
Railways:total: 34,091 km (167 km electrified)broad gauge: 20,594 km 1.676-m gauge (141 km electrified)standard gauge: 2,885 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified)narrow gauge: 10,375 km 1.000-m gauge; 237 km 0.750-m gauge (2003)
Highways:total: 215,471 kmpaved: 63,348 km (including 734 km of expressways)unpaved: 152,123 km (1999)
Waterways:11,000 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 27,166 km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 3,668 km; refinedproducts 2,945 km; unknown (oil/water) 13 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, Concepcion delUruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Rosario,Santa Fe, Ushuaia
Merchant marine:total: 45 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 149,007 GRT/212,620 DWTby type: cargo 9, petroleum tanker 9, rail car carrier 1,refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea/passenger 1,specialized tanker 1foreign-owned: Uruguay 1registered in other countries: 26 (2004 est.)
Airports:1,335 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 144over 3,047 m: 42,438 to 3,047 m: 261,524 to 2,437 m: 62914 to 1,523 m: 44under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1,190over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 50914 to 1,523 m: 569under 914 m: 567 (2004 est.)
Military Argentina
Military branches:Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic (includes NavalAviation and Marines), Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Argentina,FAA)
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 9,901,352 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 8,042,304 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 327,738 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$4.3 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.3% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Argentina
Disputes - international:UK continues to reject sovereignty talks requested by Argentina,whose constitution still claims UK-administered Falkland Islands(Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,but in 1995 ceded the right to settle the dispute by force; BeagleChannel islands dispute resolved through Papal mediation in 1984,but armed incidents persist since 1992 oil discovery; territorialclaim in Antarctica partially overlaps UK and Chilean claims (seeAntarctic disputes); unruly region at convergence ofArgentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering,smuggling, arms and drug trafficking, and fundraising for extremistorganizations; uncontested dispute between Brazil and Uruguay overBraziliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripointwith Argentina in question
Illicit drugs:used as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe andthe US; some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-BorderArea; domestic consumption of drugs in urban centers is increasing
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Armenia
Introduction Armenia
Background:Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adoptChristianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy, overthe centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empiresincluding the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. It wasincorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenianleaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with MuslimAzerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populatedregion, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow.Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; thestruggle escalated after both countries attained independence fromthe Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold,Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also asignificant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of bothsides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progresstoward a peaceful resolution. Turkey imposed an economic blockade onArmenia and closed the common border because of the Armenianoccupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.
Geography Armenia
Location:Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Geographic coordinates:40 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 29,800 sq kmwater: 1,400 sq kmland: 28,400 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:total: 1,254 kmborder countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivanexclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Terrain:Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowingrivers; good soil in Aras River valley
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Debed River 400 mhighest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m
Natural resources:small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina
Land use: arable land: 17.55% permanent crops: 2.3% other: 80.15% (2001)
Irrigated land:2,870 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
Environment - current issues:soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisisof the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged forfirewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; thedraining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as asource for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart ofMetsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in aseismically active zone
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (LakeSevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range
People Armenia
Population:2,991,360note: Armenia's first census since independence was conducted inOctober 2001 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 22.7% (male 357,094; female 323,396)15-64 years: 66.7% (male 929,719; female 1,065,505)65 years and over: 10.6% (male 128,027; female 187,619) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 29.7 yearsmale: 27.1 yearsfemale: 32.4 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.32% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:11.43 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:8.12 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-6.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.18 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 24.16 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 18.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 29.32 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.23 yearsmale: 67.73 yearsfemale: 75.36 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.31 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:2,600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Armenian(s)adjective: Armenian
Ethnic groups:Armenian 93%, Azeri 1%, Russian 2%, other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 4%(2002)note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated fromArmenia
Religions:Armenian Apostolic 94%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi(Zoroastrian/animist) 2%
Languages:Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.6%male: 99.4%female: 98% (2003 est.)
Government Armenia
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Armeniaconventional short form: Armenialocal short form: Hayastanformer: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republiclocal long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun
Government type:republic
Capital:Yerevan
Administrative divisions:11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat,Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush,Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan
Independence:21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:Independence Day, 21 September (1991)
Constitution:adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998)head of government: Prime Minister Andranik MARKARYAN (since 12 May2000)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 19 February and 5 March 2003 (next to be held NA2008); prime minister appointed by the president; the prime ministerand Council of Ministers must resign if the National Assemblyrefuses to accept their programelection results: Robert KOCHARIAN reelected president; percent ofvote - Robert KOCHARIAN 67.5%, Stepan DEMIRCHYAN 32.5%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; 75members elected by party list, 56 by direct vote)elections: last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held in the spring of2007)note: percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.5%, JusticeBloc 13.6%, Rule of Law 12.3%, ARF (Dashnak) 11.4%, National UnityParty 8.8%, United Labor Party 5.7%; seats by party - RepublicanParty 23, Justice Bloc 14, Rule of Law 12, ARF (Dashnak) 11,National Unity 9, United Labor 6; note - seats by party changefrequently as deputies switch parties or announce themselvesindependent
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals Court)
Political parties and leaders:Agro-Industrial Party [Vladimir BADALIAN]; Armenia Party [MyasnikMALKHASYAN]; Armenian National Movement or ANM [Alex ARZUMANYAN,chairman]; Armenian Ramkavar Liberal Party or HRAK [HarutyunMIRZAKHANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Vahan HOVHANISSIAN]; Democratic Party[Aram SARKISYAN]; Justice Bloc (comprised of the Democratic Party,National Democratic Party, National Democratic Union, and thePeople's Party); National Democratic Party [Shavarsh KOCHARIAN];National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National UnityParty [Artashes GEGAMIAN, chairman]; People's Party of Armenia[Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic Party [Albert BAZEYAN and AramSARKISYAN, chairmen]; Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARKARYAN];Rule of Law Party [Artur BAGDASARIAN, chairman]; Union ofConstitutional Rights [Hrant KHACHATURYAN]; United Labor Party[Gurgen ARSENIAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN]
International organization participation:BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arman KIRAKOSSIAN consulate(s) general: Los Angeles FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976 chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador John M. EVANSembassy: 18 Baghramyan Ave., Yerevan 375019mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, 7020Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020telephone: [374](1) 521-611, 520-791, 542-117, 542-132, 524-661,527-001, 524-840FAX: [374](1) 520-800
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange
Economy Armenia
Economy - overview:Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developeda modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, andother manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for rawmaterials and energy. Since the implosion of the USSR in December1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture away from thelarge agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. The agriculturalsector has long-term needs for more investment and updatedtechnology. The privatization of industry has been at a slower pace,but has been given renewed emphasis by the current administration.Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral deposits (copper, gold,bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over theethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakupof the centrally directed economic system of the former Soviet Unioncontributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By1994, however, the Armenian Government had launched an ambitiousIMF-sponsored economic liberalization program that resulted inpositive growth rates in 1995-2003. Armenia joined the WTrO inJanuary 2003. Armenia also has managed to slash inflation, stabilizethe local currency (the dram), and privatize most small- andmedium-sized enterprises. The chronic energy shortages Armeniasuffered in the early and mid-1990s have been offset by the energysupplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Armenia isnow a net energy exporter, although it does not have sufficientgenerating capacity to replace Metsamor, which is underinternational pressure to close. The electricity distribution systemwas privatized in 2002. Armenia's severe trade imbalance has beenoffset somewhat by international aid and foreign direct investment.Economic ties with Russia remain close, especially in the energysector.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $11.79 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:9.9% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $3,500 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23.4% industry: 35.1% services: 41.5% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.8% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:50% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 46.2% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:44.4 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.8% (2003 est.)
Labor force:1.4 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 45%, industry 25%, services 30% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:20% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $425.9 millionexpenditures: $460.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(2003)
Agriculture - products:fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock
Industries:diamond-processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressingmachines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silkfabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelrymanufacturing, software development, food processing, brandy
Industrial production growth rate:15% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:6.479 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:5.784 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports: 704 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to Georgia; includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2001)
Electricity - imports:463 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from Iran (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:5,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:1.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$-210 million (2003)
Exports:$735 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy
Exports - partners:Belgium 18.2%, UK 16.8%, Israel 15.7%, Russia 12.1%, Iran 7.9%, US6.3%, Germany 5% (2003)
Imports:$1.18 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds
Imports - partners:Belgium 11.6%, Russia 11.6%, Israel 11.3%, US 9.5%, Iran 8.8%,Germany 6.7%, UAE 5.4%, Italy 4.7%, Ukraine 4.6% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$509.4 million (2003)
Debt - external:$905 million (June 2001)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA $170 million (2000)
Currency:dram (AMD)
Currency code:AMD
Exchange rates:drams per US dollar - 578.763 (2002), 555.078 (2001), 539.526(2000), 535.062 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Armenia
Telephones - main lines in use:562,600 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:114,400 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: system inadequate; now 90% privately owned andundergoing modernization and expansiondomestic: the majority of subscribers and the most modern equipmentare in Yerevan (this includes paging and mobile cellular service)international: country code - 374; Yerevan is connected to theTrans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable through Iran; additionalinternational service is available by microwave radio relay andlandline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth ofIndependent States and through the Moscow international switch andby satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 1Intelsat (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:850,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus an unknown number of repeaters); (1998)
Televisions:825,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.am
Internet hosts:2,206 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):9 (2001)
Internet users:150,000 (2003)
Transportation Armenia
Railways:total: 845 kmbroad gauge: 845 km 1.520-m gauge (828 km electrified)note: some lines are out of service (2003)
Highways:total: 15,918 kmpaved: 15,329 km (includes 7,527 km of expressways)unpaved: 589 km (2000)
Pipelines:gas 1,871 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:none
Airports:17 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 11over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 5914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 6over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.)
Military Armenia
Military branches:Army, Air Force and Air Defense Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (May 2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 812,140 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 649,568 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 31,926 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$135 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:6.5% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Armenia
Disputes - international:Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakhand militarily occupies 16% of Azerbaijan - Organization forSecurity and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediatedispute; border with Turkey remains closed over Nagorno-Karabakhdispute; traditional demands regarding former Armenian lands inTurkey have subsided; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region ofGeorgia seek greater autonomy from the new Georgian Government
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 236,306 (Azerbaijan)IDPs: 50,000 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2004)
Illicit drugs:illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domesticconsumption; used as a transit point for illicit drugs - mostlyopium and hashish - moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and to alesser extent the rest of Europe
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Aruba
Introduction Aruba
Background:Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by theDutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three mainindustries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperitybrought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The lastdecades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry.Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became aseparate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in1990.
Geography Aruba
Location:Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:12 30 N, 69 58 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 193 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 193 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:68.5 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m
Natural resources:NEGL; white sandy beaches
Land use:arable land: 10.53% (including aloe 0.01%)permanent crops: 0%other: 89.47% (2001)
Irrigated land:0.01 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:a flat, riverless island renowned for its white sand beaches; itstropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from theAtlantic Ocean; the temperature is almost constant at about 27degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)
People Aruba
Population:71,218 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20.3% (male 7,429; female 7,051)15-64 years: 68.2% (male 23,587; female 25,007)65 years and over: 11.4% (male 3,347; female 4,797) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 37.5 yearsmale: 35.7 yearsfemale: 39.1 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.51% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:11.53 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:6.47 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: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 6.02 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 6.85 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.98 yearsmale: 75.64 yearsfemale: 82.49 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: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban; Dutch
Ethnic groups:mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%
Religions:Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
Languages:Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Englishdialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Literacy: definition: total population: 97% male: NA female: NA
Government Aruba
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba
Dependency status:part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internalaffairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the NetherlandsAntilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreignaffairs
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Oranjestad
Administrative divisions:none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Independence:none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday:Flag Day, 18 March
Constitution:1 January 1986
Legal system:based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common lawinfluence
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April1980), represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May2004)election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percentof legislative vote - NAelections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed fora six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy primeminister elected by the Staten for four-year terms; election lastheld 28 September 2001 (next to be held by December 2005)head of government: Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30October 2001)cabinet: Council of Ministers (elected by the Staten)
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected bydirect, popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 28 September 2001 (next to be held by NA 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - MEP 52.4%, AVP 26.7%,PPA 9.6%, OLA 5.7%, Aliansa 3.5%, other 2.1%; seats by party - MEP12, AVP 6, PPA 2, OLA 1
Judicial branch:Joint High Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:Aruba Solidarity Movement or MAS [leader NA]; Aruban DemocraticAlliance or Aliansa [leader NA]; Aruban Democratic Party or PDA [LeoBERLINSKI]; Aruban Liberal Party or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; ArubanPatriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP[Jan (Henny) H. EMAN]; Concentration for the Liberation of Aruba orCLA [leader NA]; People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O.ODUBER]; For a Restructured Aruba Now or PARA [Urbana LOPEZ];National Democratic Action or ADN [Pedro Charro KELLY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WToO(associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General toNetherlands Antilles, Robert E. SORENSON, is accredited to Aruba
Flag description:blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the lowerportion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upperhoist-side corner
Economy Aruba
Economy - overview:Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy, withoffshore banking and oil refining and storage also important. Therapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resultedin a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction hasboomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition,the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major sourceof employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurredgrowth. Aruba's small labor force and low unemployment rate have ledto a large number of unfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises inwage rates in recent years. Tourist arrivals have declined in theaftermath of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. Thegovernment now must deal with a budget deficit and a negative tradebalance.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $1.94 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-1.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $28,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: NAindustry: NAservices: NA
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:41,500 (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining
Unemployment rate:0.6% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $135.8 millionexpenditures: $147 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2000)
Agriculture - products:aloes; livestock; fish
Industries:tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
Industrial production growth rate:NA (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:531.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:494.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:6,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$128 million f.o.b. (including oil reexports) (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machineryand electrical equipment, transport equipment
Exports - partners:Netherlands 33.7%, Colombia 12%, Netherlands Antilles 12%, Panama12%, Venezuela 10.8%, US 9.6% (2003)
Imports:$841 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining andreexport, chemicals; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:US 55.3%, Netherlands 13%, Netherlands Antilles 3.1% (2003)
Debt - external:$285 million (1996)
Economic aid - recipient:$26 million (1995); note - the Netherlands provided a $127 millionaid package to Aruba and Suriname in 1996
Currency:Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)
Currency code:AWG
Exchange rates:Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002),1.79 (2001), 1.79 (2000), 1.79 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Aruba
Telephones - main lines in use:37,100 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:53,000 (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: more than adequateinternational: country code - 297; 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten(Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relaylinks
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:50,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (1997)
Televisions:20,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.aw
Internet hosts:923 (2001)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:24,000 (2002)
Transportation Aruba
Highways:total: 800 kmpaved: 513 kmnote: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve largetracts of the interior (1995)unpaved: 287 km
Ports and harbors:Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Merchant marine:total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,772 GRT/7,068 DWTforeign-owned: Germany 1, Russia 1registered in other countries: 1 (2003 est.)by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2
Airports:1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Aruba
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Dutch Navy andMarines, Coast Guard
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Transnational Issues Aruba
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with someaccompanying money-laundering activity
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Introduction Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Background:These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931;formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports arich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983, it became aNational Nature Reserve. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, isnow a marine reserve.
Geography Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Location:Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway betweennorth-western Australia and Timor island
Geographic coordinates:12 14 S, 123 05 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 5 sq kmnote: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) andCartier Islandwater: 0 sq kmland: 5 sq km
Area - comparative:about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:74.1 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:tropical
Terrain:low with sand and coral
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand) (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983
People Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Population:no indigenous inhabitantsnote: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon andfresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island (July 2004 est.)
People - note:the landing of illegal immigrants from Indonesia's Rote Island hasbecome an ongoing problem
Government Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islandsconventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Dependency status:territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Departmentof Transport and Regional Services
Legal system:the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of theNorthern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:the flag of Australia is used
Economy Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Transportation Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by theRoyal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
Transnational Issues Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Disputes - international:Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef;Australia has closed the surrounding waters to Indonesiantraditional fishing and has created a national park in the regionwhile continuing to prospect for hydrocarbons in the vicinity
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Atlantic Ocean
Introduction Atlantic Ocean
Background:The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceans(after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than the Indian Ocean, SouthernOcean, and Arctic Ocean). The Kiel Canal (Germany), Oresund(Denmark-Sweden), Bosporus (Turkey), Strait of Gibraltar(Morocco-Spain), and the Saint Lawrence Seaway (Canada-US) areimportant strategic access waterways. The decision by theInternational Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 todelimit a fifth world ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portionof the Atlantic Ocean south of 60 degrees south.
Geography Atlantic Ocean
Location:body of water between Africa, Europe, the Southern Ocean, and theWestern Hemisphere
Geographic coordinates:0 00 N, 25 00 W
Map references:Political Map of the World
Area:total: 76.762 million sq kmnote: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait,Denmark Strait, part of the Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, LabradorSea, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, almost all of theScotia Sea, and other tributary water bodies
Area - comparative:slightly less than 6.5 times the size of the US
Coastline:111,866 km
Climate:tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa nearCape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes canoccur from May to December, but are most frequent from August toNovember
Terrain:surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, DenmarkStrait, and coastal portions of the Baltic Sea from October to June;clockwise warm-water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) inthe northern Atlantic, counterclockwise warm-water gyre in thesouthern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-AtlanticRidge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Milwaukee Deep in the Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 mhighest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources:oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sandand gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules,precious stones
Natural hazards:icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and thenorthwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have beenspotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; shipssubject to superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic fromOctober to May; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May toSeptember; hurricanes (May to December)
Environment - current issues:endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions,turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is hastening the decline offish stocks and contributing to international disputes; municipalsludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and easternArgentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, LakeMaracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste andmunicipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, andMediterranean Sea
Geography - note:major chokepoints include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar,access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include theStrait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound(Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator divides the AtlanticOcean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean
Economy Atlantic Ocean
Economy - overview:The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's most heavilytrafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern and WesternHemispheres. Other economic activity includes the exploitation ofnatural resources, e.g., fishing, the dredging of aragonite sands(The Bahamas), and production of crude oil and natural gas(Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).
Transportation Atlantic Ocean
Ports and harbors:Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona(Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco), Colon(Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk (Poland),Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands,Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille(France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal (Canada), Naples (Italy),New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran (Algeria), Oslo (Norway),Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam(Netherlands), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Stockholm (Sweden)
Transportation - note:Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways;significant domestic commercial and recreational use of IntracoastalWaterway on central and south Atlantic seaboard and Gulf of Mexicocoast of US
Transnational Issues Atlantic Ocean
Disputes - international: some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Australia
Introduction Australia
Background:Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asiaabout 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration inthe 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770,when Capt. James COOK took possession in the name of Great Britain.Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; theyfederated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The newcountry took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly developits agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a majorcontribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. In recentdecades, Australia has transformed itself into an internationallycompetitive, advanced market economy. Long-term concerns includepollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and managementand conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great BarrierReef. A referendum to change Australia's status, from a commonwealthheaded by the British monarch to a republic, was defeated in 1999.
Geography Australia
Location:Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South PacificOcean
Geographic coordinates:27 00 S, 133 00 E