@Dhekelia
Introduction Dhekelia
Background:By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created theindependent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty andjurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers intotal: Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these is the DhekeliaSovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the EasternSovereign Base Area.
Geography Dhekelia
Location:on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta
Geographic coordinates:34 59 N, 33 45 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 130.8 sq kmnote: area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves
Area - comparative:about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:total: NA; note - boundary with Cyprus is being resurveyed
Coastline:27.5 km
Climate:temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Environment - current issues:netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring andautumn
Geography - note:British extraterritorial rights also extended to several smalloff-post sites scattered across Cyprus
People Dhekelia
Population:no indigenous personnelnote: approximately 2,200 military personnel are on the base; thereare another 5,000 British citizens who are families of militarypersonnel or civilian staff on both the bases of Akrotiri andDhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base, but do not live there
Languages:English, Greek
Government Dhekelia
Country name:conventional long form: Dhekelia Sovereign Base Areaconventional short form: Dhekelia
Dependency status:overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who isalso the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
Capital:Episkopi Cantonment; located in Akrotiri
Legal system:the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952)head of government: Administrator Maj. Gen. Peter Tomas ClaytonPEARSON (since 9 May 2003); note - reports to the British Ministryof Defenceelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator isappointed by the monarch
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:the flag of the UK is used
Economy Dhekelia
Economy - overview:Economic activity is limited to providing services to the militaryand their families located in Dhekelia. All food and manufacturedgoods must be imported.
Industries:none
Military Dhekelia
Military - note:includes Dheklia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by aroadway
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Djibouti
Introduction Djibouti
Background:The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in1977. Hassan Gouled APTIDON installed an authoritarian one-partystate and proceeded to serve as president until 1999. Unrest amongthe Afars minority during the 1990s led to a civil war that ended in2001 following the conclusion of a peace accord between Afar rebelsand the Issa-dominated government. Djibouti's first multi-partypresidential elections in 1999 resulted in the election of IsmailOmar GUELLEH. Djibouti occupies a very strategic geographic locationat the mouth of the Red Sea and serves as an important transshipmentlocation for goods entering and leaving the east African highlands.The present leadership favors close ties to France, which maintainsa significant military presence in the country, but has alsodeveloped increasingly stronger ties with the United States inrecent years. Djibouti currently hosts the only United Statesmilitary base in sub-Saharan Africa and is a front-line state in theglobal war on terrorism.
Geography Djibouti
Location:Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, betweenEritrea and Somalia
Geographic coordinates:11 30 N, 43 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 23,000 sq kmland: 22,980 sq kmwater: 20 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 516 km border countries: Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 km
Coastline: 314 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:desert; torrid, dry
Terrain:coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Lac Assal -155 mhighest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m
Natural resources:geothermal areas, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt,diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum
Land use: arable land: 0.04% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.96% (2001)
Irrigated land:10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from theIndian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
Environment - current issues:inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land;desertification; endangered species
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close toArabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostlywasteland; Lac Assal (Lake Assal) is the lowest point in Africa
People Djibouti
Population:476,703 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43.3% (male 103,516/female 102,860)15-64 years: 53.5% (male 133,168/female 121,823)65 years and over: 3.2% (male 7,748/female 7,588) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 18.23 yearsmale: 18.77 yearsfemale: 17.69 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.06% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:39.98 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:19.39 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 104.13 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 111.82 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 96.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 43.1 yearsmale: 41.84 yearsfemale: 44.39 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.4 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:2.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:9,100 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:690 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2004)
Nationality: noun: Djiboutian(s) adjective: Djiboutian
Ethnic groups:Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5%
Religions:Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Languages:French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 67.9%male: 78%female: 58.4% (2003 est.)
Government Djibouti
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Djibouticonventional short form: Djiboutiformer: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland
Government type:republic
Capital:Djibouti
Administrative divisions:5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil,Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
Independence:27 June 1977 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Constitution:multiparty constitution approved by referendum 4 September 1992
Legal system:based on French civil law system, traditional practices, andIslamic law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999)head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Dileita DILEITA (since 4March 2001)cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;election last held 8 April 2005 (next to be held by April 2011);prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president; percentof vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH 100%
Legislative branch:unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65 seats;members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)elections: last held 10 January 2003 (next to be held January 2008)election results: percent of vote - RPP 62.2%, FRUD 36.9%; seats -RPP 65, FRUD 0; note - RPP (the ruling party) dominated the election
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN Robleh Awaleh]; DemocraticRenewal Party or PRD [Abdillahi HAMARITEH]; Djibouti DevelopmentParty or PDD [Mohamed Daoud CHEHEM]; Front pour la Restauration del'Unite Democratique or FRUD [Ali Mohamed DAOUD]; People's ProgressAssembly or RPP (governing party) [Ismail Omar GUELLEH]; PeoplesSocial Democratic Party or PPSD [Moumin Bahdon FARAH]; RepublicanAlliance for Democracy or ARD [Ahmed Dini AHMED]; Union forDemocracy and Justice or UDJ [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Union for Presidential Majority UMP (coalition includes RPP, FRUD,PPSD and PND); Union for Democratic Changeover or UAD (oppositioncoalition includes ARD, MRDD, UDJ, and PDD) [Ahmed Dini AHMED]
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador ROBLE Olhayechancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marguerita RAGSDALE embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti telephone: [253] 35 39 95 FAX: [253] 35 39 40
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green witha white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a redfive-pointed star in the center
Economy Djibouti
Economy - overview:The economy is based on service activities connected with thecountry's strategic location and status as a free trade zone innortheast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capitalcity, the remainder are mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfalllimits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food mustbe imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port forthe region and an international transshipment and refueling center.Djibouti has few natural resources and little industry. The nationis, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to helpsupport its balance of payments and to finance development projects.An unemployment rate of at least 50% continues to be a majorproblem. While inflation is not a concern, due to the fixed tie ofthe Djiboutian franc to the US dollar, the artificially high valueof the Djiboutian franc adversely affects Djibouti's balance ofpayments. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over thelast seven years because of recession, civil war, and a highpopulation growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Facedwith a multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallenin arrears on long-term external debt and has been struggling tomeet the stipulations of foreign aid donors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$619 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.5% industry: 15.8% services: 80.7% (2001 est.)
Labor force:282,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:NA
Unemployment rate:50% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:50% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $135 millionexpenditures: $182 million, including capital expenditures of NA(1999 est.)
Agriculture - products:fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels, animal hides
Industries:construction, agricultural processing, salt
Industrial production growth rate:3% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production:180 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:167.4 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:11,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$155 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
Exports - partners:Somalia 63.8%, Yemen 22.6%, Ethiopia 5% (2004)
Imports:$665 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
Imports - partners:Saudi Arabia 19.7%, India 12.4%, Ethiopia 11.8%, China 8.1%, France5.6%, US 4.8% (2004)
Debt - external:$366 million (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$36 million (2001)
Currency (code):Djiboutian franc (DJF)
Currency code:DJF
Exchange rates:Djiboutian francs per US dollar - 177.72 (2004), 177.72 (2003),177.72 (2002), 177.72 (2001), 177.72 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Djibouti
Telephones - main lines in use:9,500 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:23,000 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: telephone facilities in the city of Djiboutiare adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections tooutlying areas of the countrydomestic: microwave radio relay networkinternational: country code - 253; submarine cable to Jiddah, Suez,Sicily, Marseilles, Colombo, and Singapore; satellite earth stations- 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; Medarabtel regionalmicrowave radio relay telephone network
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios:52,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)
Televisions:28,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.dj
Internet hosts:702 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:6,500 (2003)
Transportation Djibouti
Railways:total: 100 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway)narrow gauge: 100 km 1.000-m gaugenote: railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia (2004)
Highways:total: 2,890 kmpaved: 364 kmunpaved: 2,526 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Djibouti
Merchant marine:total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWTby type: cargo 1 (2005)
Airports:13 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 3over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 11524 to 2437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 101,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 5under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Military Djibouti
Military branches:Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 95,328 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 46,020 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$28.6 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:4.4% (2004)
Transnational Issues Djibouti
Disputes - international:Djibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with"Somaliland" leadership while maintaining some political ties tovarious factions in Somalia; although most of the 26,000 Somalirefugees in Djibouti who fled civil unrest in the early 1990s havereturned, several thousand still await repatriation in UNHCR camps
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 25,474 (Somalia) (2004)
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Dominica
Introduction Dominica
Background:Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized byEuropeans, due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the nativeCaribs. France ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763, which madethe island a colony in 1805. In 1980, two years after independence,Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and tyrannicaladministration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia CHARLES, thefirst female prime minister in the Caribbean, who remained in officefor 15 years. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still living on Dominica arethe only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean.
Geography Dominica
Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad andTobago
Geographic coordinates:15 25 N, 61 20 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 754 sq kmland: 754 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:148 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Terrain:rugged mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, arable land
Land use: arable land: 6.67% permanent crops: 20% other: 73.33% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can beexpected during the late summer months
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to itsspectacular, lush, and varied flora and fauna, which are protectedby an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of theLesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters andinclude Boiling Lake, the second-largest, thermally active lake inthe world
People Dominica
Population:69,029 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26.7% (male 9,328/female 9,125)15-64 years: 65.4% (male 23,225/female 21,900)65 years and over: 7.9% (male 2,193/female 3,258) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 29.59 yearsmale: 29.26 yearsfemale: 29.95 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.27% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:15.73 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:6.81 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-11.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 14.15 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 18.68 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 9.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.65 yearsmale: 71.73 yearsfemale: 77.71 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.96 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups:black, mixed black and European, European, Syrian, Carib Amerindian
Religions:Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%,Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), other 6%, none 2%
Languages:English (official), French patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 94%male: 94%female: 94% (2003 est.)
Government Dominica
Country name:conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominicaconventional short form: Dominica
Government type:parliamentary democracy; republic within the Commonwealth
Capital:Roseau
Administrative divisions:10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John,Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul,Saint Peter
Independence:3 November 1978 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
Constitution:3 November 1978
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (since October2003)head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8January 2004); note - assumed post after death of Prime MinisterPierre CHARLEScabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of theprime ministerelections: president elected by the House of Assembly for afive-year term; election last held 1 October 2003 (next to be heldOctober 2008); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Nicholas LIVERPOOL elected president; percent oflegislative vote - NA%
Legislative branch:unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointed senators, 21elected by popular vote; members serve five-year terms)elections: last held 5 May 2005 (next to be held by 5 August 2010);note - tradition dictates that the election will be held within fiveyears of the last election, but technically it is five years fromthe first seating of parliament (12 May 2005) plus a 90-day graceperiodelection results: percent of vote by party - DLP 52.08%, UWP 43.6%,DFP 3.15%; seats by party - DLP 12, UWP 8, independent 1
Judicial branch:Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the Court of Appealand the High Court (located in Saint Lucia; one of the six judgesmust reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of SummaryJurisdiction)
Political parties and leaders:Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Charles SAVARIN]; Dominica LaborParty or DLP [Roosevelt SKERRIT]; United Workers Party or UWP[Edison JAMES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO(subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Swinburne LESTRADE chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6781 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6791 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US Ambassador toBarbados is accredited to Dominica
Flag description:green, with a centered cross of three equal bands - the verticalpart is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontalpart is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the centerof the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars representthe 10 administrative divisions (parishes)
Economy Dominica
Economy - overview:The Dominican economy depends on agriculture, primarily bananas,and remains highly vulnerable to climatic conditions andinternational economic developments. Production of bananas droppedprecipitously in 2003, a major reason for the 1% decline in GDP.Tourism increased in 2003 as the government sought to promoteDominica as an "ecotourism" destination. Development of the tourismindustry remains difficult, however, because of the ruggedcoastline, lack of beaches, and the absence of an internationalairport. The government began a comprehensive restructuring of theeconomy in 2003 - including elimination of price controls,privatization of the state banana company, and tax increases - toaddress Dominica's economic crisis and to meet IMF targets. In orderto diversify the island's production base the government isattempting to develop an offshore financial sector and is planningto construct an oil refinery on the eastern part of the island.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$384 million (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-1% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,500 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 18% industry: 24% services: 58% (2002 est.)
Labor force:25,000 (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28%
Unemployment rate:23% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:30% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $73.9 millionexpenditures: $84.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2001)
Agriculture - products: bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts, cocoa; forest and fishery potential not exploited
Industries:soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes
Industrial production growth rate:-10% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:68.41 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 47.1% hydro: 52.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:63.62 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$39 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
Exports - partners:UK 21.6%, Jamaica 14.8%, Antigua and Barbuda 8.8%, Guyana 7.5%,Japan 5.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.8%, US 4.3%, Saint Lucia 4% (2004)
Imports:$98.2 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:China 20.4%, US 16.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 12.3%, UK 6.9%, SouthKorea 4.6%, Japan 4.3% (2004)
Debt - external:$161.5 million (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:$22.8 million (2003 est.)
Currency (code):East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:XCD
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7(2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Dominica
Telephones - main lines in use:23,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:9,400 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: fully automatic networkinternational: country code - 1-767; microwave radio relay and SHFradiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHFradiotelephone links to Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:46,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2004)
Televisions:6,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.dm
Internet hosts:681 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:12,500 (2002)
Transportation Dominica
Highways: total: 780 km paved: 393 km unpaved: 387 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Portsmouth, Roseau
Merchant marine:total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 13,771 GRT/19,736 DWTby type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 19, chemical tanker 2, container 1,passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 1, rollon/roll off 1foreign-owned: 21 (Estonia 6, Greece 3, Pakistan 1, Russia 2,Singapore 6, Syria 2, UAE 1) (2005)
Airports:2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Dominica
Military branches:no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force(includes Coast Guard)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Dominica
Disputes - international:joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that AvesIsland sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, whichpermits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a largeportion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe;minor cannabis producer; anti-money-laundering enforcement is weak,making the country particularly vulnerable to money laundering
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Dominican Republic
Introduction Dominican Republic
Background:Explored and claimed by Columbus on his first voyage in 1492, theisland of Hispaniola became a springboard for Spanish conquest ofthe Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognizedFrench dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as SantoDomingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821, but wasconquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finallyattained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. In 1861,the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but twoyears later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865.A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative, rule for much ofits subsequent history was brought to an end in 1966 when JoaquinBALAGUER became president. He maintained a tight grip on power formost of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawedelections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then,regular competitive elections have been held in which oppositioncandidates have won the presidency. The Dominican economy has hadone of the fastest growth rates in the hemisphere over the pastdecade.
Geography Dominican Republic
Location:Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, betweenthe Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
Geographic coordinates:19 00 N, 70 40 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 48,730 sq kmland: 48,380 sq kmwater: 350 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries: total: 360 km border countries: Haiti 360 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 6 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonalvariation in rainfall
Terrain:rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m
Natural resources:nickel, bauxite, gold, silver
Land use:arable land: 22.65%permanent crops: 10.33%other: 67.02% (2001)
Irrigated land:2,590 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severestorms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs;deforestation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti
People Dominican Republic
Population:8,950,034 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 32.9% (male 1,505,964/female 1,438,809)15-64 years: 61.7% (male 2,815,544/female 2,703,012)65 years and over: 5.4% (male 226,372/female 260,333) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 23.88 yearsmale: 23.68 yearsfemale: 24.09 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.29% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:23.28 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:7.35 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-3.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 32.38 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 34.81 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 29.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.44 yearsmale: 69.94 yearsfemale: 73.03 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.86 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:88,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:7,900 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups:white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%
Religions:Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:Spanish
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 84.7%male: 84.6%female: 84.8% (2003 est.)
Government Dominican Republic
Country name:conventional long form: Dominican Republicconventional short form: The Dominicanlocal long form: Republica Dominicanalocal short form: La Dominicana
Government type:representative democracy
Capital:Santo Domingo
Administrative divisions:31 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district*(distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*,Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia,La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, MonsenorNouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata,Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Jose de Ocoa,San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, SantoDomingo, Valverde
Independence:27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
National holiday:Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Constitution:28 November 1966; amended 25 July 2002
Legal system:based on French civil codes; undergoing modification in 2004towards an accusatory system
Suffrage:18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married personsregardless of agenote: members of the armed forces and national police cannot vote
Executive branch:chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro (since 16 August2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16August 2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro (since 16August 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state andhead of governmentcabinet: Cabinet nominated by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 16 May 2004(next to be held in May 2008)election results: Leonel FERNANDEZ elected president; percent ofvote - Leonel FERNANDEZ (PLD) 57.1%, Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez(PRD) 33.7%, Eduardo ESTRELLA (PRSC) 8.7%
Legislative branch:bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of theSenate or Senado (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote toserve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara deDiputados (150 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 16 May 2002 (next to be held May2006); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 May 2002 (next to be heldMay 2006)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - PRD 29, PLD 2, PRSC 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of voteby party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 73, PLD 41, PRSC 36
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by a theNational Judicial Council comprised of the President, the leaders ofboth chambers of congress, the President of the Supreme Court, andan opposition or non-governing party member)
Political parties and leaders:Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna];Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Vicente Sanchez BARET]; SocialChristian Reformist Party or PRSC [Enrique ATUN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Collective of Popular Organizations or COP; Citizen ParticipationGroup (Participacion Ciudadania); Foundation forInstitution-Building (FINJUS)
International organization participation:ACP, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS,OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI,UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Flavio Dario Espinal JACOBO chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280 FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hans H. HERTELL embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500 telephone: [1] (809) 221-2171 FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437
Flag description:a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flaginto four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red,and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat ofarms featuring a shield supported by an olive branch (left) and apalm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shielda blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God,Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANAappears on a red ribbon
Economy Dominican Republic
Economy - overview:The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean representative democracywhich enjoyed GDP growth of more than 7% in 1998-2000. Growthsubsequently plummeted as part of the global economic slowdown.Although the country has long been viewed primarily as an exporterof sugar, coffee, and tobacco, in recent years the service sectorhas overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer, due togrowth in tourism and free trade zones. The country suffers frommarked income inequality; the poorest half of the populationreceives less than one-fifth of GNP, while the richest 10% enjoysnearly 40% of national income. Growth turned negative in 2003 withreduced tourism, a major bank fraud, and limited growth in the USeconomy (the source of about 85% of export revenues), but recoveredslightly in 2004. Resumption of a badly needed IMF loan, slowed dueto government repurchase of electrical power plants, is basic to therestoration of social and economic stability. Newly electedPresident FERNANDEZ in mid-2004 promised belt-tightening reform. Hisadministration has passed tax reform and is working to meetpreconditions for a $600 IMF standby arrangement to ease thecountry's fiscal situation.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$55.68 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.7% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $6,300 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10.7% industry: 31.5% services: 57.8% (2003)
Labor force: 2.3 million - 2.6 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 17%, industry 24.3%, services and government 58.7% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:17% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:25%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 37.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:47.4 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):55% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.625 billionexpenditures: $3.382 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.1billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:61.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes,corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs
Industries:tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles,cement, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:2% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:9.583 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 92% hydro: 7.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0.4% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:8.912 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:129,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:129,900 bbl/day (2003)
Current account balance:$762.2 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$5.446 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats,consumer goods
Exports - partners:US 80%, South Korea 2.1%, Canada 1.9% (2004)
Imports:$8.093 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals andpharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:US 48.1%, Venezuela 13.5%, Colombia 4.8%, Mexico 4.8% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$426 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$7.745 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$239.6 million (1995)
Currency (code):Dominican peso (DOP)
Currency code:DOP
Exchange rates:Dominican pesos per US dollar - 42.12 (2004), 30.831 (2003), 18.61(2002), 16.952 (2001), 16.415 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Dominican Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:901,800 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2,120,400 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: relatively efficient system based on island-wide microwaveradio relay networkinternational: country code - 1-809; 1 coaxial submarine cable;satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:1.44 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:25 (2003)
Televisions:770,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.do
Internet hosts:64,197 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):24 (2000)
Internet users:500,000 (2003)
Transportation Dominican Republic
Railways:total: 1,743 kmstandard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gaugenote: additional 1,226 km operated by sugar companies in 1.076-m,0.889-m, and 0.762-m gauges (2004)
Highways:total: 12,600 kmpaved: 6,224 kmunpaved: 6,376 km (1999)
Ports and harbors:Boca Chica, Puerto Plata, Rio Haina, Santo Domingo
Merchant marine:total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 11,230 GRT/17,011 DWTby type: cargo 3 (2005)
Airports:31 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 13 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)
Military Dominican Republic
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 2,108,197 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,420,693 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 91,597 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$180 million (1998)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.1% (1998)
Transnational Issues Dominican Republic
Disputes - international: increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find work
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the USand Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from theNetherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantialmoney-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor theDominican Republic for illicit financial transactions
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@East Timor
Introduction East Timor
Background:The Portuguese began to trade with the island of Timor in the early16th century and colonized it in mid-century. Skirmishing with theDutch in the region eventually resulted in an 1859 treaty in whichPortugal ceded the western portion of the island. Imperial Japanoccupied East Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed colonialauthority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. East Timordeclared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975 andwas invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later. Itwas incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of EastTimor. An unsuccessful campaign of pacification followed over thenext two decades, during which an estimated 100,000 to 250,000individuals lost their lives. On 30 August 1999, in a UN-supervisedpopular referendum, an overwhelming majority of the people of EastTimor voted for independence from Indonesia. Between the referendumand the arrival of a multinational peacekeeping force in lateSeptember 1999, anti-independence Timorese militias - organized andsupported by the Indonesian military - commenced a large-scale,scorched-earth campaign of retribution. The militias killedapproximately 1,300 Timorese and forcibly pushed 300,000 people intoWest Timor as refugees. The majority of the country'sinfrastructure, including homes, irrigation systems, water supplysystems, and schools, and nearly 100% of the country's electricalgrid were destroyed. On 20 September 1999 the Australian-ledpeacekeeping troops of the International Force for East Timor(INTERFET) deployed to the country and brought the violence to anend. On 20 May 2002, East Timor was internationally recognized as anindependent state.