Climate:arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Terrain:mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Amu Darya 258 mhighest point: Nowshak 7,485 m
Natural resources:natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites,sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones
Land use: arable land: 12.13% permanent crops: 0.22% other: 87.65% (2001)
Irrigated land:23,860 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding;droughts
Environment - current issues:limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies ofpotable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much ofthe remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and buildingmaterials); desertification; air and water pollution
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumpingsigned, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineLife Conservation
Geography - note:landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast tosouthwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of thecountry; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (WakhanCorridor)
People Afghanistan
Population:29,928,987 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44.7% (male 6,842,857/female 6,524,485)15-64 years: 52.9% (male 8,124,077/female 7,713,603)65 years and over: 2.4% (male 353,193/female 370,772) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 17.56 yearsmale: 17.55 yearsfemale: 17.57 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:4.77%note: this rate does not take into consideration the recent war andits continuing impact (2005 est.)
Birth rate:47.02 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:20.75 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:21.43 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: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 163.07 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 167.79 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 158.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 42.9 yearsmale: 42.71 yearsfemale: 43.1 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.75 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.01% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk countrywide below 2,000 meters from March through November animal contact disease: rabies (2004)
Nationality:noun: Afghan(s)adjective: Afghan
Ethnic groups:Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%,Baloch 2%, other 4%
Religions:Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 19%, other 1%
Languages:Afghan Persian or Dari (official) 50%, Pashtu (official) 35%,Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minorlanguages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 36%male: 51%female: 21% (1999 est.)
People - note:of the estimated 4 million refugees in October 2001, 2.3 millionhave returned
Government Afghanistan
Country name:conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Afghanistanconventional short form: Afghanistanlocal long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Afghanestanlocal short form: Afghanestanformer: Republic of Afghanistan
Government type:Islamic republic
Capital:Kabul
Administrative divisions:34 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis,Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Daykondi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr,Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khowst, Konar,Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Nurestan, Oruzgan,Paktia, Paktika, Panjshir, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar,Vardak, and Zabol
Independence:19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
National holiday:Independence Day, 19 August (1919)
Constitution:new constitution drafted 14 December 2003 - 4 January 2004; signed16 January 2004
Legal system:according to the new constitution, no law should be "contrary toIslam"; the state is obliged to create a prosperous and progressivesociety based on social justice, protection of human dignity,protection of human rights, realization of democracy, and to ensurenational unity and equality among all ethnic groups and tribes; thestate shall abide by the UN charter, international treaties,international conventions that Afghanistan signed, and the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President of the Islamic Republic of AfghanistanHamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); note - the president is boththe chief of state and head of government; former King ZAHIR Shahholds the honorific, "Father of the Country," and presidessymbolically over certain occasions, but lacks any governingauthority; the honorific is not hereditaryhead of government: President of the Islamic Republic of AfghanistanHamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); note - the president is bothchief of state and head of governmentcabinet: 27 ministers; note - under the new constitution, ministersare appointed by the president and approved by the National Assemblyelections: the president and two vice presidents are elected bydirect vote for a five-year term; if no candidate receives 50% ormore of the vote in the first round of voting, the two candidateswith the most votes will participate in a second round; a presidentcan only be elected for two terms; election last held 9 October 2004(next to be held in 2009)election results: Hamid KARZAI elected president; percent of vote -Hamid KARZAI 55.4%, Yunus QANOONI 16.3%, Ustad Mohammad MOHAQQEQ11.6%, Abdul Rashid DOSTAM 10.0%, Abdul Latif PEDRAM 1.4%, MasoodaJALAL 1.2%
Legislative branch:nonfunctioning as of January 2004; government is empowered by theconstitution to issue legislation by decree until the new assemblyis seated; under the new constitution, the bicameral NationalAssembly will consist of the Wolesi Jirga or House of People (nomore than 249 seats), directly elected for a five-year term, and theMeshrano Jirga or House of Elders (102 seats, one third elected fromprovincial councils for a four-year term, one third elected fromlocal district councils for a three-year term, and one thirdpresidential appointees for a five-year term; the presidentialappointees will include two representatives of Kuchis and tworepresentatives of the disabled; half of the presidential appointeeswill be women)note: on rare occasions the government may convene the Loya Jirga onissues of independence, national sovereignty, and territorialintegrity; it can amend the provisions of the constitution andprosecute the president; it is made up of members of the NationalAssembly and chairpersons of the provincial and district councilselections: scheduled for spring 2005
Judicial branch:the new constitution establishes a nine-member Stera Mahkama orSupreme Court (its nine justices are appointed for 10-year terms bythe president with approval of the Wolesi Jirga) and subordinateHigh Courts and Appeals Courts; there is also a Minister of Justice;a separate Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission established bythe Bonn Agreement is charged with investigating human rights abusesand war crimes
Political parties and leaders:note - includes only political parties approved by the Ministry ofJustice: Afghan Millat [Anwarul Haq AHADI]; De Afghanistan De SolayGhorzang Gond [Shahnawaz TANAI]; De Afghanistan De Solay Mili IslamiGond [Shah Mahmood Polal ZAI]; Harakat-e-Islami Afghanistan[Mohammad Asif MOHSINEE]; Hezb-e-Aarman-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan[Iihaj Saraj-u-din ZAFAREE]; Hezb-e-Aazadee Afghanistan [AbdulMALIK]; Hezb-e-Adalat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad KabeerMARZBAN]; Hezb-e-Afghanistan-e-Wahid [Mohammad Wasil RAHEEMEE];Hezb-e-Afghan Watan Islami Gond [leader NA]; Hezb-e-Congra-e-MiliAfghanistan [Latif PEDRAM]; Hezb-e-Falah-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan[Mohammad ZAREEF]; Hezb-e-Libral-e-AazadeeKhwa-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ajmal SOHAIL]; Hezb-e-Hambastagee MiliJawanan-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Jamil KARZAI];Hezb-e-Hamnbatagee-e-Afghanistan [Abdul Khaleq NEMAT];Hezb-e-Harakat-e-Mili Wahdat-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Nadir AATASH];Hezb-e-Harak-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ilhaj Said HssainANWARY]; Hezb-e-Ifazat Az Uqoq-e-Bashar Wa Inkishaf-e-Afghanistan[Baryalai NASRATEE]; Hezb-e-Istiqlal-e-Afghanistan [Dr. Gh. FarooqNIJZRABEE]; Hezb-e-Jamhoree Khwahan [Sibghatullah SANJAR];Hezb-e-Kar Wa Tawsiha-e-Afghanistan [Zulfiar OMID]; Hezb-e-MiliAfghanistan [Abdul Rasheed AARYAN]; Hezb-e-MiliWahdat-e-Aqwam-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Shah KHOGYANEE];Hezb-e-Nuhzhat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Ahmad Wali MASOUD];Hezb-e-Paiwand-e-Mili Afghanistan [Said Mansoor NADIRI];Hezb-e-Rastakhaiz-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Said ZAHIR];Hezb-e-Refah-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mia Gul WASEEQ];Hezb-e-Risalat-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Noor Aqa ROEEN];Hezb-e-Sahadat-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Zubair PAIROZ];Hezb-e-Sahadat-e-Mili Wa Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad UsmanSALIGZADA]; Hezb-e-Sulh-e-Mili Islami Aqwam-e-Afghanistan [AbdulQahir SHARYATEE]; Hezb-e-Sulh Wa Wahdat-e-Mili Afghanistan [AbdulQadir IMAMEE]; Hezb-e-Tafahum-e-Wa Democracy Afghanistan [AhamadSHAHEEN]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad KarimKHALILI]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [UstadMohammad MOHAQQEQ]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Abdul RasheedJalili]; Jamahat-ul-Dahwat ilal Qurhan-wa-Sunat-ul-Afghanistan[Mawlawee Samiullah NAJEEBEE]; Jombesh-e Milli [Abdul RashidDOSTAM]; Mahaz-e-Mili Islami Afghanistan [Said Ahmad GAILANEE];Majmah-e-Mili Fahaleen-e-Sulh-e-Afghanistan [Shams ul Haq NoorSHAMS]; Nuhzat-e-Aazadee Wa democracy Afghanistan [Abdul RaqeebJawid KUHISTANEE]; Nuhzat-e-Hambastagee Mili Afghanistan [Peer SaidIshaq GAILANEE]; Sazman-e-Islami Afghanistan-e-Jawan [Siad JawadHUSSAINEE]; Tahreek Wahdat-e-Mili [Sultan Mahmood DHAZI] (30 Sep2004)
Political pressure groups and leaders:Jamiat-e Islami (Society of Islam) [former President BurhanuddinRABBANI]; Ittihad-e Islami (Islamic Union for the Liberation ofAfghanistan), [Abdul Rasul SAYYAF]; there are also small monarchist,communist, and democratic groups
International organization participation:AsDB, CP, ECO, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC,OPCW, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WMO,WTO (observer), WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Said Tayeb JAWADchancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] 202-483-6410FAX: [1] 202-483-6488consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Zalmay KHALILZADembassy: The Great Masood Road, Kabulmailing address: 6180 Kabul Place, Dulles, VA 20189-6180telephone: [00] (2) 230-0436FAX: [0093] (2) 230-1364
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of black (hoist), red, and green, with agold emblem centered on the red band; the emblem features atemple-like structure encircled by a wreath on the left and rightand by a bold Islamic inscription above
Economy Afghanistan
Economy - overview:Afghanistan's economic outlook has improved significantly since thefall of the Taliban regime in 2001 because of the infusion of over$2 billion in international assistance, recovery of the agriculturalsector, and the reestablishment of market institutions. Agricultureboomed in 2003 with the end of a four-year drought, but droughtconditions returned for the southern half of the country in 2004.Despite the progress of the past few years, Afghanistan remainsextremely poor, landlocked, and highly dependent on foreign aid,farming, and trade with neighboring countries. It will probably takethe remainder of the decade and continuing donor aid and attentionto raise Afghanistan's living standards up from its current statusamong the lowest in the world. Much of the population continues tosuffer from shortages of housing, clean water, electricity, medicalcare, and jobs, but the Afghan government and international donorsremain committed to improving access to these basic necessities byprioritizing infrastructure development, education, housingdevelopment, jobs programs, and economic reform over the next year.Growing political stability and continued international commitmentto Afghan reconstruction create an optimistic outlook formaintaining improvements in the Afghan economy in 2005. Expandingpoppy cultivation and a growing opium trade may account forone-third of GDP and looms as one of Kabul's most serious policychallenges.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$21.5 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $800 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 60% industry: 20% services: 20% (1990 est.)
Labor force:11.8 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 80%, industry 10%, services 10% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:NA
Population below poverty line:53% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):10.3% (2003)
Budget:revenues: $300 millionexpenditures: $609 million, including capital expenditures of NA(FY04-05 budget)
Agriculture - products:opium, wheat, fruits, nuts, wool, mutton, sheepskins, lambskins
Industries:small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes,fertilizer, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:540 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 36.3% hydro: 63.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:652.2 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:150 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:3,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:220 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:220 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:49.98 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Exports:$446 million (not including illicit exports or reexports) (FY03-04)
Exports - commodities:opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides andpelts, precious and semi-precious gems
Exports - partners:Pakistan 24%, India 21.3%, US 12.4%, Germany 5.5% (2004)
Imports:$3.759 billion (FY03-04)
Imports - commodities:capital goods, food, textiles, petroleum products
Imports - partners:Pakistan 25.5%, US 8.7%, India 8.5%, Germany 6.5%, Turkmenistan5.3%, Kenya 4.7%, South Korea 4.2%, Russia 4.2% (2004)
Debt - external:$8 billion in bilateral debt, mostly to Russia; Afghanistan has$500 million in debt to Multilateral Development Banks (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:international pledges made by more than 60 countries andinternational financial institutions at the Berlin Donors Conferencefor Afghan reconstruction in March 2004 reached $8.9 billion for2004-09
Currency (code):afghani (AFA)
Currency code:AFA
Exchange rates:afghanis per US dollar - 3,000 (2004), 3,000 (2003), 3,000 (2002),3,000 (2001), 3,000 (2000)note: in 2002, the afghani was revalued and the currency stabilizedat about 50 afghanis to the dollar; before 2002, the market ratevaried widely from the official rate
Fiscal year:21 March - 20 March
Communications Afghanistan
Telephones - main lines in use:33,100 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:15,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: very limited telephone and telegraph servicedomestic: telephone service improving with the establishment of twomobile phone operators by 2003; telephone main lines remain weakwith only 0.1 line per 10 peopleinternational: country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul,Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide internationaland domestic voice and data connectivity
Radio broadcast stations:AM 21, FM 23, shortwave 1 (broadcasts in Pashtu, Afghan Persian(Dari), Urdu, and English) (2003)
Radios:167,000 (1999)
Television broadcast stations: at least 10 (one government-run central television station in Kabul and regional stations in nine of the 32 provinces; the regional stations operate on a reduced schedule; also, in 1997, there was a station in Mazar-e Sharif reaching four northern Afghanistan provinces) (1998)
Televisions:100,000 (1999)
Internet country code:.af
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:1,000 (2002)
Communications - note:in March 2003 'af' was established as Afghanistan's domain name;Internet access is growing through Internet cafes as well as public"telekiosks" in Kabul that are part of a nationwide network proposedby the Transitional Authority for Internet access (2002)
Transportation Afghanistan
Highways: total: 21,000 km paved: 2,793 km unpaved: 18,207 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 1,200 km note: chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT (2004)
Pipelines:gas 387 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Kheyrabad, Shir Khan
Airports:47 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 37 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 5 (2004 est.)
Military Afghanistan
Military branches:Afghan National Army (includes Afghan Air Force), Afghan MilitiaForce (AMF) (2005)
Military service age and obligation:22 years of age; inductees are contracted into service for a 4-yearterm (2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 22-49: 4,952,812 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 22-49: 2,662,946 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 275,362 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$188.4 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.6% (2004)
Transnational Issues Afghanistan
Disputes - international:the UN has been able to repatriate over two million Afghan refugeesbut several million more continue to reside in Iran and Pakistan incamps and elsewhere, many at their own choosing; Coalition andPakistani forces continue to patrol remote tribal areas to controlthe borders and stem organized terrorist and other illegalcross-border activities; regular meetings between Pakistani andCoalition allies aim to resolve periodic claims of boundaryencroachments; occasional conflicts over water-sharing arrangementswith Amu Darya and Helmand River states
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 167,000 - 200,000 (mostly Pashtuns and Kuchis displaced insouth and west due to drought and instability) (2004)
Illicit drugs:world's largest producer of opium; cultivation of opium poppyreached unprecedented level of 206,700 hectares in 2004; counterdrugefforts largely unsuccessful; potential opium production of 4,950metric tons; potential heroin production of 582 metric tons if allopium was processed; source of hashish; many narcotics-processinglabs throughout the country; drug trade source of instability andsome antigovernment groups profit from the trade; 80-90% of theheroin consumed in Europe comes from Afghan opium; vulnerable tonarcotics money laundering through informal financial networks
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Akrotiri
Introduction Akrotiri
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 southernmost and smallest of theseis the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to asthe Western Sovereign Base Area.
Geography Akrotiri
Location:peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus
Geographic coordinates:34 37 N, 32 58 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 123 sq kmnote: includes a salt lake and wetlands
Area - comparative:about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 47.4 km border countries: Cyprus 47.4 km
Coastline:56.3 km
Climate:temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Environment - current issues:shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerheadand green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is onthe base
Geography - note:British extraterritorial rights also extended to several smalloff-post sites scattered across Cyprus
People Akrotiri
Population:no indigenous inhabitantsnote: approximately 1,300 military personnel are on the base; thereare another 5,000 British citizens who are families of militarypersonnel or civilian staff on both Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cypruscitizens work on the base, but do not live there
Languages:English, Greek
Government Akrotiri
Country name:conventional long form: Akrotiri Sovereign Base Areaconventional short form: Akrotiri
Dependency status:overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who isalso the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
Capital:Episkopi Cantonment; also serves as capital of Dhekelia
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 Thomas 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 Akrotiri
Economy - overview:Economic activity is limited to providing services to the militaryand their families located in Akrotiri. All food and manufacturedgoods must be imported.
Military Akrotiri
Military - note:Akrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for British Forces onCyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Albania
Introduction Albania
Background:Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobicCommunist rule and established a multiparty democracy. Thetransition has proven difficult as successive governments have triedto deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidatedinfrastructure, powerful organized crime networks with links togovernment officials, and disruptive political opponents. Albaniahas made incremental progress in its democratic development sincefirst holding multiiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain- particularly in regard to the rule of law. Despite some lingeringproblems, international observers have judged elections to belargely free and fair since the restoration of political stabilityfollowing the collapse of pyramid schemes in 1997. In the 2005general elections, the Democratic Party and its allies won adecisive victory on pledges of reducing crime and corruption,promoting economic growth, and decreasing the size of government.Although Albania's economy continues to grow, the country is stillone of the poorest in Europe, hampered by a large informal economy,large public debt, and an inadequate energy and tranportationinfrastructure. Albania has played a largely helpful role inmanaging inter-ethnic tensions in southeastern Europe, and iscontinuing to work toward joining NATO and the EU.
Geography Albania
Location:Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea,between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro
Geographic coordinates:41 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 28,748 sq kmland: 27,398 sq kmwater: 1,350 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:total: 720 kmborder countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Serbia andMontenegro 287 km
Coastline:362 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers;interior is cooler and wetter
Terrain:mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 mhighest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore,nickel, salt, timber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 21.09% permanent crops: 4.42% other: 74.49% (2001)
Irrigated land:3,400 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast;floods; drought
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial anddomestic effluents
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea toIonian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
People Albania
Population:3,563,112 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 25.6% (male 476,989/female 434,298)15-64 years: 65.8% (male 1,199,964/female 1,144,886)65 years and over: 8.6% (male 141,559/female 165,416) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 28.52 yearsmale: 27.95 yearsfemale: 29.1 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.52% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:15.08 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:5.12 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.1 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 21.52 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 21.96 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 21.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.24 yearsmale: 74.6 yearsfemale: 80.15 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.04 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: Albanian(s)adjective: Albanian
Ethnic groups:Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Serb,Macedonian, Bulgarian) (1989 est.)note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization)
Religions:Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%note: percentages are estimates; there are no available currentstatistics on religious affiliation; all mosques and churches wereclosed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice
Languages:Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach,Romani, Slavic dialects
Literacy:definition: age 9 and over can read and writetotal population: 86.5%male: 93.3%female: 79.5% (2003 est.)
Government Albania
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Albaniaconventional short form: Albanialocal long form: Republika e Shqiperiselocal short form: Shqiperiaformer: People's Socialist Republic of Albania
Government type:emerging democracy
Capital:Tirana
Administrative divisions:12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Qarku i Beratit, Qarku iDibres, Qarku i Durresit, Qarku i Elbasanit, Qarku i Fierit, Qarku iGjirokastres, Qarku i Korces, Qarku i Kukesit, Qarku i Lezhes, Qarkui Shkodres, Qarku i Tiranes, Qarku i Vlores
Independence:28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:Independence Day, 28 November (1912)
Constitution:adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998
Legal system:has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the InternationalCriminal Court for its citizens
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President of the Republic Alfred MOISIU (since 24July 2002)head of government: Prime Minister Sali BERISHA (since 10 September2005)cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister,nominated by the president, and approved by parliamentelections: president elected by the People's Assembly for afive-year term; election last held 24 June 2002 (next to be heldJune 2007); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Alfred MOISIU elected president; People's Assemblyvote by number - total votes 116, for 97, against 19
Legislative branch:unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (140 seats; 100are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote forfour-year terms)elections: last held 4 July 2005 (next to be held July 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -PD 55, PS 40, PR 11, PSD 7, LSI 5, other 22
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (chairman is elected by thePeople's Assembly for a four-year term), and multiple appeals anddistrict courts
Political parties and leaders:Agrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI]; ChristianDemocratic Party or PDK [Nikolle LESI]; Communist Party of Albaniaor PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or PAD [NeritanCEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality MovementParty or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIU]; Liberal Union Party or PBL [ArjanSTAROVA]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [AdriatikALIMADHI]; New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party ofNational Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Renewed Democratic Party orPDR [Dashamir SHEHI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; SocialDemocracy Party or PDS [Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD[Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [IlirMETA]; Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albanian Party of Labor)[Fatos NANO]; Union for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vangjel DULE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania or KSSH [Kastriot MUCO];Front for Albanian National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI];Omonia [Jani JANI]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania orBSPSH [Gezim KALAJA]
International organization participation:ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Agim NESHO chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942 FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marcie B. RIES embassy: Rruga Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana mailing address: U. S. Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510 telephone: [355] (4) 247285 FAX: [355] (4) 374957 and [355] (4) 232222
Flag description: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center
Economy Albania
Economy - overview:Poor and backward by European standards, Albania is making thedifficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. Thegovernment has taken measures to curb violent crime and to spureconomic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by annualremittances from abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from Greece andItaly; this helps offset the towering trade deficit. Agriculture,which accounts for about one-half of GDP, is held back because offrequent drought and the need to modernize equipment, to clarifyproperty rights, and to consolidate small plots of land. Energyshortages and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure make itdifficult to attract and sustain foreign investment. The plannedconstruction of a new thermal power plant near Vlore and improvedtransmission and distribution facilities will help relieve theenergy shortages. Also, the government is moving slowly to improvethe poor national road and rail network, a long-standing barrier tosustained economic growth. On the positive side: growth was strongin 2003 and 2004, the nation has important oil and gas reserves, andinflation is not a problem.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$17.46 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 46.2% industry: 25.4% services: 28.4% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 1.09 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers) (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 57%, non-agricultural private sector 20%, public sector 23% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:14.8% officially; may be as high as 30% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:25% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.2% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18.4% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.05 billionexpenditures: $2.46 billion, including capital expenditures of $500million (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes;meat, dairy products
Industries:food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement,chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower
Industrial production growth rate:3.1% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:5.68 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.9% hydro: 97.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:6.76 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:100 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:1.08 billion kWh (2004 est.)
Oil - production:2,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:7,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - imports:5,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:185.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:30 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:30 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:3.316 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-504 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$552.4 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crudeoil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco
Exports - partners:Italy 71.7%, Canada 4.3%, Germany 4.3% (2004)
Imports:$2.076 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals
Imports - partners:Italy 34.8%, Greece 19.8%, Turkey 7.7%, Germany 5.3% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.206 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$1.41 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA: $315 million (top donors were Italy, EU, Germany) (2000 est.)
Currency (code):lek (ALL)
Currency code:ALL
Exchange rates:leke per US dollar - 102.649 (2004), 121.863 (2003), 140.155(2002), 143.485 (2001), 143.709 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Albania
Telephones - main lines in use:255,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.1 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: despite new investment in fixed lines, thedensity of main lines remains the lowest in Europe with roughly 8lines per 100 people; however, cellular telephone use is widespreadand generally effectivedomestic: offsetting the shortage of fixed line capacity, mobilephone service has been available since 1996; by 2003 two companieswere providing mobile services at a greater density than some ofAlbania's Balkan neighborsinternational: country code - 355; inadequate fixed main lines;adequate cellular connections; international traffic carried bymicrowave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece(2003)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:1 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus 58 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:700,000 (2001)
Internet country code:.al
Internet hosts:455 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):10 (2001)
Internet users:30,000 (2003)
Transportation Albania
Railways: total: 447 km standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)
Highways: total: 18,000 km paved: 5,400 km unpaved: 12,600 km (2002)
Waterways:43 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore
Merchant marine:total: 25 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 40,878 GRT/62,676 DWTby type: cargo 24, roll on/roll off 1foreign-owned: 2 (Denmark 1, Turkey 1)registered in other countries: 1 (2005)
Airports:11 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Albania
Military branches:General Staff Headquarters, Land Forces Command (Army), NavalForces Command, Air Defense Command, Logistics Command, Training andDoctrine Command
Military service age and obligation:19 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 19-49: 809,524 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 19-49: 668,526 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 37,407 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$56.5 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.49% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Albania
Disputes - international:the Albanian Government calls for the protection of the rights ofethnic Albanians in neighboring countries, and the peacefulresolution of interethnic disputes; some ethnic Albanian groups inneighboring countries advocate for a "greater Albania," but the ideahas little appeal among Albanian nationals; thousands of unemployedAlbanians emigrate annually to nearby Italy and other developedcountries
Illicit drugs:increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asianopiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - toa far lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined forWestern Europe; limited opium and growing cannabis production;ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and expandingin Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regionaltrafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Algeria
Introduction Algeria
Background:After more than a century of rule by France, Algerians foughtthrough much of the 1950s to achieve independence in 1962. Algeria'sprimary political party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), hasdominated politics ever since. Many Algerians in the subsequentgeneration were not satisfied, however, and moved to counter theFLN's centrality in Algerian politics. The surprising first roundsuccess of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the December 1991balloting spurred the Algerian army to intervene and postpone thesecond round of elections to prevent what the secular elite fearedwould be an extremist-led government from assuming power. The armybegan a crack down on the FIS that spurred FIS supporters to beginattacking government targets. The government later allowed electionsfeaturing pro-government and moderate religious-based parties, butdid not appease the activists who progressively widened theirattacks. The fighting escalated into an insurgency, which sawintense fighting between 1992-98 and which resulted in over 100,000deaths - many attributed to indiscriminate massacres of villagers byextremists. The government gained the upper hand by the late-1990sand FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded inJanuary 2000. However, small numbers of armed militants persist inconfronting government forces and conducting ambushes and occasionalattacks on villages. The army placed Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA in thepresidency in 1999 in a fraudulent election but claimed neutralityin his 2004 landslide reelection victory. Longstanding problemscontinue to face BOUTEFLIKA in his second term, including the ethnicminority Berbers' ongoing autonomy campaign, large-scaleunemployment, a shortage of housing, unreliable electrical and watersupplies, government inefficiencies and corruption, and thecontinuing - although significantly degraded - activities ofextremist militants. Algeria must also diversify its petroleum-basedeconomy, which has yielded a large cash reserve but which has notbeen used to redress Algeria's many social and infrastructureproblems. Algeria assumed a two-year seat on the UN Security Councilin January 2004.
Geography Algeria
Location:Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Moroccoand Tunisia
Geographic coordinates:28 00 N, 3 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 2,381,740 sq kmland: 2,381,740 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:total: 6,343 kmborder countries: Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km,Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km
Coastline:998 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm
Climate:arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers alongcoast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau;sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
Terrain:mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow,discontinuous coastal plain
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 mhighest point: Tahat 3,003 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc
Land use: arable land: 3.22% permanent crops: 0.25% other: 96.53% (2001)
Irrigated land:5,600 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides andfloods in rainy season
Environment - current issues:soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices;desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes,and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of riversand coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becomingpolluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff;inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)
People Algeria
Population:32,531,853 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29% (male 4,811,086/female 4,626,271)15-64 years: 66.3% (male 10,861,862/female 10,701,459)65 years and over: 4.7% (male 719,460/female 811,715) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 24.36 yearsmale: 24.18 yearsfemale: 24.53 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.22% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:17.13 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:4.6 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 31 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 34.83 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 26.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73 yearsmale: 71.45 yearsfemale: 74.63 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.92 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% ; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:9,100 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: intermediatefood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne disease: cutaneous leishmaniasis is a high risk in somelocations (2004)
Nationality:noun: Algerian(s)adjective: Algerian
Ethnic groups:Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%note: almost all Algerians are Berber in origin, not Arab; theminority who identify themselves as Berber live mostly in themountainous region of Kabylie east of Algiers; the Berbers are alsoMuslim but identify with their Berber rather than Arab culturalheritage; Berbers have long agitated, sometimes violently, forautonomy; the government is unlikely to grant autonomy but hasoffered to begin sponsoring teaching Berber language in schools
Religions:Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Languages:Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 70%male: 78.8%female: 61% (2003 est.)
Government Algeria
Country name:conventional long form: People's Democratic Republic of Algeriaconventional short form: Algerialocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ashSha'biyahlocal short form: Al Jaza'ir
Government type:republic
Capital:Algiers
Administrative divisions:48 provinces (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, AinTemouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida,Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa,El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel,Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila,Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, SidiBel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanghasset, Tebessa, Tiaret,Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen
Independence:5 July 1962 (from France)
National holiday:Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)
Constitution:19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised 3 November1988, 23 February 1989, and 28 November 1996
Legal system:socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial review oflegislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed ofvarious public officials, including several Supreme Court justices;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999)head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed OUYAHIA (since 9 May 2003)cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 8 April 2004 (next to be held NA April 2009);prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA reelected president forsecond term; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA 85%, Ali BENFLIS6.4%, Abdellah DJABALLAH 5%
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the National People's Assembly orAl-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (389 seats - changed from 380 seatsin the 2002 elections; members elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms) and the Council of Nations (Senate) (144 seats;one-third of the members appointed by the president, two-thirdselected by indirect vote; members serve six-year terms; theconstitution requires half the council to be renewed every threeyears)elections: National People's Assembly - last held 30 May 2002 (nextto be held NA 2007); Council of Nations (Senate) - last held 30December 2003 (next to be held NA 2006)election results: National People's Assembly - percent of vote byparty - NA%; seats by party - FLN 199, RND 48, Islah 43, MSP 38, PT21, FNA 8, EnNahda 1, PRA 1, MEN 1, independents 29; Council ofNations - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party NA%
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Court Supreme
Political parties and leaders:Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI]; Democratic NationalRally or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA, chairman]; Islamic Salvation Front orFIS (outlawed April 1992) [Ali BELHADJ and Dr. Abassi MADANI, RabehKEBIR (self-exiled in Germany)]; National Entente Movement or MEN[Ali BOUKHAZNA]; National Liberation Front or FLN [AbdelazizBELKHADEM, secretary general (also serves as Foreign Minister)];National Reform Movement or Islah (formerly MRN) [AbdellahDJABALLAH]; National Renewal Party or PRA [Yacine TERKMANE];Progressive Republican Party [Khadir DRISS]; Rally for Culture andDemocracy or RCD [Said SAADI, secretary general]; RenaissanceMovement or EnNahda Movement [Fatah RABEI]; Socialist Forces Frontor FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general (self-exiled inSwitzerland)]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL]; Societyof Peace Movement or MSP [Boujerra SOLTANI]; Workers Party or PT[Louisa HANOUN]note: a law banning political parties based on religion was enactedin March 1997