Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:second-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategiclocation relative to sea lanes between the South Atlantic and theSouth Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, DrakePassage); Cerro Aconcagua is South America's tallest mountain, whileLaguna del Carbon is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere
People Argentina
Population:39,537,943 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 25.6% (male 5,170,721/female 4,938,171)15-64 years: 63.9% (male 12,626,711/female 12,627,026)65 years and over: 10.6% (male 1,712,117/female 2,463,197) (2005est.)
Median age: total: 29.42 years male: 28.52 years female: 30.4 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.98% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:16.9 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:7.56 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0.4 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 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 15.18 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 17.07 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 13.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.91 yearsmale: 72.17 yearsfemale: 79.85 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.19 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:130,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:1,500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Argentine(s)adjective: Argentine
Ethnic groups:white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo (mixed white andAmerindian ancestry), Amerindian, or other non-white groups 3%
Religions:nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%
Languages:Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.1%male: 97.1%female: 97.1% (2003 est.)
Government Argentina
Country name:conventional long form: Argentine Republicconventional short form: Argentinalocal long form: Republica Argentinalocal short form: Argentina
Government type:republic
Capital:Buenos Aires
Administrative divisions:23 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), and 1 autonomouscity* (distrito federal); Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires CapitalFederal*, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Cordoba, Corrientes, Entre Rios,Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquen, RioNegro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago delEstero, Tierra del Fuego - Antartida e Islas del Atlantico Sur,Tucumannote: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica
Independence:9 July 1816 (from Spain)
National holiday:Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)
Constitution:1 May 1853; revised August 1994
Legal system:mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May 2003); VicePresident Daniel SCIOLI (since 25 May 2003); note - the president isboth the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May 2003);Vice President Daniel SCIOLI (since 25 May 2003); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 27 April2003 (next election to be held NA 2007)election results: results of the presidential election of 27 April2003: Carlos Saul MENEM 24.3%, Nestor KIRCHNER 22%, Ricardo LopezMURPHY 16.4%, Adolfo Rodriguez SAA 14.4%, Elisa CARRIO 14.2%, other8.7%; the subsequent runoff election slated for 25 May 2003 wasawarded to KIRCHNER by default after MENEM withdrew his candidacy onthe eve of the election
Legislative branch:bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of theSenate (72 seats; members are elected by direct vote; presentlyone-third of the members elected every two years to a six-year term)and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; members are elected bydirect vote; one-half of the members elected every two years to afour-year term)elections: Senate - last held intermittently by province during the2nd half of 2003 (next to be held NA 2005); Chamber of Deputies -last held intermittently by province during the 2nd half of 2003(next to be held NA 2005)election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA%;seats by bloc or party - PJ 41, UCR 16, provincial parties 15;Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA%; seatsby bloc or party - PJ 133, UCR 46, IF 23, ARI 11, Socialist 6,other/provincial parties 38
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (the nine Supreme Court judges areappointed by the president with approval by the Senate)
Political parties and leaders:Action for the Republic or AR [Domingo CAVALLO]; Alternative for aRepublic of Equals or ARI [Elisa CARRIO]; Federal Recreate Movementor RECREAR [Ricardo LOPEZ MURPHY]; Front for a Country in Solidarityor Frepaso (a four-party coalition) [Dario Pedro ALESSANDRO];Interbloque Federal or IF (a broad coalition of approximately 12parties including RECREAR) [leader NA]; Justicialist Party or PJ(Peronist umbrella political organization) [leader NA]; RadicalCivic Union or UCR [Angel ROZAS]; Socialist Party or PS [RubenGIUSTINIANI]; Union For All [Patricia BULLRICH]; several provincialparties
Political pressure groups and leaders:Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA); ArgentineIndustrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine RuralSociety (large landowners' association); business organizations;Central of Argentine Workers or CTA (a radical union for employedand unemployed workers); General Confederation of Labor or CGT(Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization); Peronist-dominatedlabor movement; Roman Catholic Church; students
International organization participation:AfDB, Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CSN, FAO, G-6, G-15, G-24, G-77,IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG,UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Octavio BORDONchancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400FAX: [1] (202) 332-3171consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Lino GUTIERREZembassy: Avenida Colombia 4300, C1425GMN Buenos Airesmailing address: international mail: use street address; APOaddress: Unit 4334, APO AA 34034telephone: [54] (11) 5777-4533FAX: [54] (11) 5777-4240
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and lightblue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with ahuman face known as the Sun of May
Economy Argentina
Economy - overview:Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literatepopulation, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and adiversified industrial base. Over the past decade, however, thecountry has suffered problems of inflation, external debt, capitalflight, and budget deficits. Growth in 2000 was a negative 0.8%, asboth domestic and foreign investors remained skeptical of thegovernment's ability to pay debts and maintain the peso's fixedexchange rate with the US dollar. The economic situation worsened in2001 with the widening of spreads on Argentine bonds, massivewithdrawals from the banks, and a further decline in consumer andinvestor confidence. Government efforts to achieve a "zero deficit,"to stabilize the banking system, and to restore economic growthproved inadequate in the face of the mounting economic problems. Thepeso's peg to the dollar was abandoned in January 2002, and the pesowas floated in February; the exchange rate plunged and real GDP fellby 10.9% in 2002, but by mid-year the economy had stabilized, albeitat a lower level. GDP expanded by more than 8% in 2003 and again in2004, with unemployment falling and inflation remaining in singledigits.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$483.5 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:8.3% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $12,400 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10.6% industry: 35.9% services: 53.5% (2004 est.)
Labor force:15.04 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:14.8% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:44.3% (June 2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6.1% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $29.15 billionexpenditures: $26.84 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:118% of GDP (June 2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts,tea, wheat; livestock
Industries:food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles,chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Industrial production growth rate:12% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:81.39 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 52.2% hydro: 40.8% nuclear: 6.7% other: 0.2% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:81.65 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:2.818 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:8.775 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:755,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:486,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:2.9 billion bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:37.15 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:31.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:6.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:768 billion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$5.473 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$33.78 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:edible oils, fuels and energy, cereals, feed, motor vehicles
Exports - partners:Brazil 15.3%, Chile 10.7%, US 10.2%, China 8.7%, Spain 4.4% (2004)
Imports:$22.06 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metalmanufactures, plastics
Imports - partners:Brazil 36.2%, US 16.6%, Germany 5.7%, China 4.3% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$19.47 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$157.7 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$10 billion (2001 est.)
Currency (code):Argentine peso (ARS)
Currency code:ARS
Exchange rates:Argentine pesos per US dollar - 2.9233 (2004), 2.9006 (2003),3.0633 (2002), 0.9995 (2001), 0.9995 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Argentina
Telephones - main lines in use:8,009,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:6.5 million (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: by opening the telecommunications market tocompetition and foreign investment with the "TelecommunicationsLiberalization Plan of 1998," Argentina encouraged the growth ofmodern telecommunication technology; fiber-optic cable trunk linesare being installed between all major cities; the major networks areentirely digital and the availability of telephone service is beingimproved; however, telephone density is presently minimal, andmaking telephone service universally available will take timedomestic: microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domesticsatellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network;more than 110,000 pay telephones are installed and mobile telephoneuse is rapidly expandinginternational: country code - 54; satellite earth stations - 8Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); Atlantis II and Unisur submarine cables;two international gateways near Buenos Aires (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 260 (including 10 inactive stations), FM NA (probably more than1,000, mostly unlicensed), shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios:24.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:42 (plus 444 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:7.95 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ar
Internet hosts:742,358 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):33 (2000)
Internet users:4.1 million (2002)
Transportation Argentina
Railways:total: 34,091 km (167 km electrified)broad gauge: 20,594 km 1.676-m gauge (141 km electrified)standard gauge: 2,885 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified)narrow gauge: 10,375 km 1.000-m gauge; 237 km 0.750-m gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 215,471 kmpaved: 63,348 km (including 734 km of expressways)unpaved: 152,123 km (1999)
Waterways:11,000 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 27,166 km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 3,668 km; refinedproducts 2,945 km; unknown (oil/water) 13 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, PuntaColorada, Rosario, San Lorenzo-San Martin, San Nicolas
Merchant marine:total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 149,007 GRT/212,620 DWTby type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, passenger 1,passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 7, refrigerated cargo 2, rollon/roll off 1foreign-owned: 2 (Chile 1, Uruguay 1)registered in other countries: 23 (2005)
Airports:1,334 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 144over 3,047 m: 42,438 to 3,047 m: 261,524 to 2,437 m: 62914 to 1,523 m: 44under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1,190over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 50914 to 1,523 m: 569under 914 m: 567 (2004 est.)
Military Argentina
Military branches:Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic (includes NavalAviation and Marines), Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Argentina,FAA)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 8,981,886 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 7,316,038 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 344,575 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$4.3 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.3% (FY00)
Military - note:the Argentine military is a well-organized force constrained by thecountry's prolonged economic hardship; the country has recentlyexperienced a strong recovery, and the military is now implementing"Plan 2000," aimed at making the ground forces lighter and moreresponsive (2005)
Transnational Issues Argentina
Disputes - international:Argentina claims the UK-administered Falkland Islands (IslasMalvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in itsconstitution; it briefly occupied the Falklands in 1982, but in 1995agreed no longer to seek settlement by force; territorial claim inAntarctica partially overlaps UK and Chilean claims (see Antarcticdisputes); unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguayborders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegalnarcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations;uncontested dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over BrazilieraIsland in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint withArgentina in question
Illicit drugs:used as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe andthe US; some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-BorderArea; domestic consumption of drugs in urban centers is increasing
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
======================================================================
@Armenia
Introduction Armenia
Background:Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adoptChristianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy, overthe centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empiresincluding the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. It wasincorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenianleaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with MuslimAzerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populatedregion, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow.Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; thestruggle escalated after both countries attained independence fromthe Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold,Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also asignificant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of bothsides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progresstoward a peaceful resolution. Turkey imposed an economic blockade onArmenia and closed the common border because of the Armenianoccupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.
Geography Armenia
Location:Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Geographic coordinates:40 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 29,800 sq kmland: 28,400 sq kmwater: 1,400 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:total: 1,254 kmborder countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivanexclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Terrain:Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowingrivers; good soil in Aras River valley
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Debed River 400 mhighest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m
Natural resources:small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina
Land use: arable land: 17.55% permanent crops: 2.3% other: 80.15% (2001)
Irrigated land:2,870 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
Environment - current issues:soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisisof the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged forfirewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; thedraining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as asource for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart ofMetsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in aseismically active zone
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (LakeSevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range
People Armenia
Population:2,982,904 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21.6% (male 339,453/female 305,214)15-64 years: 67.5% (male 938,734/female 1,074,240)65 years and over: 10.9% (male 131,519/female 193,744) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 30.07 yearsmale: 27.45 yearsfemale: 32.84 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.25% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:11.76 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:8.16 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-6.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.17 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 23.28 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 28.51 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 17.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.55 yearsmale: 67.97 yearsfemale: 75.75 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.32 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:2,600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Armenian(s)adjective: Armenian
Ethnic groups:Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001census)
Religions:Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheistwith elements of nature worship) 1.3%
Languages:Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.6%male: 99.4%female: 98% (2003 est.)
Government Armenia
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Armeniaconventional short form: Armenialocal long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yunlocal short form: Hayastanformer: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic
Government type:republic
Capital:Yerevan
Administrative divisions:11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat,Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush,Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan
Independence:21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:Independence Day, 21 September (1991)
Constitution:adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998)head of government: Prime Minister Andranik MARGARYAN (since 12 May2000)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 19 February and 5 March 2003 (next to be held NA2008); prime minister appointed by the president; the prime ministerand Council of Ministers must resign if the National Assemblyrefuses to accept their programelection results: Robert KOCHARIAN reelected president; percent ofvote - Robert KOCHARIAN 67.5%, Stepan DEMIRCHYAN 32.5%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; 75members elected by party list, 56 by direct vote)elections: last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held in the spring of2007)note: percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.5%, JusticeBloc 13.6%, Rule of Law 12.3%, ARF (Dashnak) 11.4%, National UnityParty 8.8%, United Labor Party 5.7%; seats by party - RepublicanParty 23, Justice Bloc 14, Rule of Law 12, ARF (Dashnak) 11,National Unity 9, United Labor 6; note - seats by party changefrequently as deputies switch parties or announce themselvesindependent
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals Court)
Political parties and leaders:Agro-Industrial Party [Vladimir BADALIAN]; Armenia Party [MyasnikMALKHASYAN]; Armenian National Movement or ANM [Alex ARZUMANYAN,chairman]; Armenian Ramkavar Liberal Party or HRAK [HarutyunMIRZAKHANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Vahan HOVHANISSIAN]; Democratic Party[Aram SARKISYAN]; Justice Bloc (comprised of the Democratic Party,National Democratic Party, National Democratic Union, and thePeople's Party) [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; National Democratic Party[Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or NDU [VazgenMANUKIAN]; National Unity Party [Artashes GEGAMIAN, chairman];People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic Party[Albert BAZEYAN and Aram SARKISYAN, chairmen]; Republican Party orRPA [Andranik MARKARYAN]; Rule of Law Party [Artur BAGDASARIAN,chairman]; Union of Constitutional Rights [Hrant KHACHATURYAN];United Labor Party [Gurgen ARSENIAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN]
International organization participation:BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tatoul MARKARIAN chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador John M. EVANSembassy: 18 Baghramyan Ave., Yerevan 375019mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, 7020Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020telephone: [374](1) 521-611, 520-791, 542-117, 542-132, 524-661,527-001, 524-840FAX: [374](1) 520-800
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange
Economy Armenia
Economy - overview:Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developeda modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, andother manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for rawmaterials and energy. Since the implosion of the USSR in December1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture away from thelarge agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. The agriculturalsector has long-term needs for more investment and updatedtechnology. The privatization of industry has been at a slower pace,but has been given renewed emphasis by the current administration.Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral deposits (copper, gold,bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over theethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakupof the centrally directed economic system of the former Soviet Unioncontributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By1994, however, the Armenian Government had launched an ambitiousIMF-sponsored economic liberalization program that resulted inpositive growth rates in 1995-2003. Armenia joined the WTO inJanuary 2003. Armenia also has managed to slash inflation, stabilizethe local currency (the dram), and privatize most small- andmedium-sized enterprises. The chronic energy shortages Armeniasuffered in the early and mid-1990s have been offset by the energysupplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Armenia isnow a net energy exporter, although it does not have sufficientgenerating capacity to replace Metsamor, which is underinternational pressure to close. The electricity distribution systemwas privatized in 2002. Armenia's severe trade imbalance has beenoffset somewhat by international aid and foreign direct investment.Economic ties with Russia remain close, especially in the energysector.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$13.65 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:9% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22.9% industry: 36.1% services: 41.1% (2004 est.)
Labor force:1.4 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 45%, industry 25%, services 30% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:30% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:50% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 46.2% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:44.4 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.5% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $428.1 millionexpenditures: $491.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock
Industries:diamond-processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressingmachines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silkfabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelrymanufacturing, software development, food processing, brandy
Industrial production growth rate:15% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:6.492 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 42.3% hydro: 27% nuclear: 30.7% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption: 5.797 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports: 704 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to Georgia; includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2002)
Electricity - imports:463 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from Iran (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:5,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:1.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$-240.4 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$850 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy
Exports - partners:Belgium 18%, Israel 15.3%, Germany 13.3%, Russia 12.5%, US 8.1%,Netherlands 7.2%, Iran 5.5%, Georgia 4.3%, UAE 4% (2004)
Imports:$1.3 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds
Imports - partners:Russia 11.3%, Belgium 10.1%, Israel 8.4%, US 7.6%, Iran 7.1%, UAE6.1%, Ukraine 5.9%, Italy 5.5%, Germany 5.2%, Georgia 4.6%, France4.5% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$555 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$905 million (June 2001)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA $170 million (2000)
Currency (code):dram (AMD)
Currency code:AMD
Exchange rates:drams per US dollar - 533.45 (2004), 578.76 (2003), 573.35 (2002),555.08 (2001), 539.53 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Armenia
Telephones - main lines in use:562,600 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:114,400 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: system inadequate; now 90% privately owned andundergoing modernization and expansiondomestic: the majority of subscribers and the most modern equipmentare in Yerevan (this includes paging and mobile cellular service)international: country code - 374; Yerevan is connected to theTrans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable through Iran; additionalinternational service is available by microwave radio relay andlandline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth ofIndependent States and through the Moscow international switch andby satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 1Intelsat (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:850,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus an unknown number of repeaters); (1998)
Televisions:825,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.am
Internet hosts:2,206 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):9 (2001)
Internet users:150,000 (2003)
Transportation Armenia
Railways:total: 845 kmbroad gauge: 845 km 1.520-m gauge (828 km electrified)note: some lines are out of service (2004)
Highways:total: 8,431 kmpaved: 8,161 km (includes 7,567 km of expressways)unpaved: 270 km (2002)
Pipelines:gas 1,871 km (2004)
Airports:16 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 51,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Armenia
Military branches:Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force
Military service age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (May 2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 722,836 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 551,938 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 31,774 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$135 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:6.5% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Armenia
Disputes - international:Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakhand since the early 1990s, has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan- Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)continues to mediate dispute; over 800,000 mostly ethnicAzerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in Azerbaijaninto Armenia; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through Armenia toconnect to Naxcivan exclave; border with Turkey remains closed overNagorno-Karabakh dispute; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti regionof Georgia seek greater autonomy; tens of thousands of Armeniansemigrate, primarily to Russia, to seek employment
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 236,306 (Azerbaijan)IDPs: 50,000 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2004)
Illicit drugs:illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domesticconsumption; used as a transit point for illicit drugs - mostlyopium and hashish - moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and to alesser extent the rest of Europe
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
======================================================================
@Aruba
Introduction Aruba
Background:Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by theDutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three mainindustries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperitybrought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The lastdecades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry.Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became aseparate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in1990.
Geography Aruba
Location:Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:12 30 N, 69 58 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 193 sq kmland: 193 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:68.5 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m
Natural resources:NEGL; white sandy beaches
Land use:arable land: 10.53% (including aloe 0.01%)permanent crops: 0%other: 89.47% (2001)
Irrigated land:0.01 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:a flat, riverless island renowned for its white sand beaches; itstropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from theAtlantic Ocean; the temperature is almost constant at about 27degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)
People Aruba
Population:71,566 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 19.9% (male 7,308/female 6,960)15-64 years: 68.2% (male 23,736/female 25,068)65 years and over: 11.9% (male 3,486/female 5,008) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 38 yearsmale: 36.07 yearsfemale: 39.7 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.47% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:11.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:6.57 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 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: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.89 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 6.71 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.14 yearsmale: 75.8 yearsfemale: 82.65 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.79 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: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban; Dutch
Ethnic groups:mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%
Religions:Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
Languages:Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Englishdialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Literacy: definition: total population: 97% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Aruba
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba
Dependency status:part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internalaffairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the NetherlandsAntilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreignaffairs
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Oranjestad
Administrative divisions:none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Independence:none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday:Flag Day, 18 March
Constitution:1 January 1986
Legal system:based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common lawinfluence
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April1980), represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May2004)head of government: Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30October 2001)cabinet: Council of Ministers (elected by the Staten)elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed fora six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy primeminister elected by the Staten for four-year terms; election lastheld 28 September 2001 (next to be held by December 2005)election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percentof legislative vote - NA
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected bydirect, popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 23 September 2005 (next to be held by NA 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - MEP 43%, AVP 32%, MPA7%, RED 7%, PDR 6%, OLA 4%, PPA 2%; seats by party - MEP 11, AVP 8,MPA 1, RED 1
Judicial branch:Common Court of Justice of Aruba (judges are appointed by themonarch)
Political parties and leaders:Aliansa/Aruban Social Movement or MSA [Robert WEVER]; ArubanLiberal Organization or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban PatrioticMovement or MPA [Monica ARENDS-KOCK]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA[Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Mike EMAN]; People'sElectoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; Real Democracyor PDR [Andin BIKKER]; RED [Rudy LAMPE]; Workers Political Platformor PTT [Gregorio WOLFF]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WToO(associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr. Henry Baarh, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General toNetherlands Antilles is accredited to Aruba
Flag description:blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the lowerportion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upperhoist-side corner
Economy Aruba
Economy - overview:Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy, withoffshore banking and oil refining and storage also important. Therapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resultedin a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction hasboomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition,the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major sourceof employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurredgrowth. Aruba's small labor force and exceptionally low unemploymentrate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies, despitesharp rises in wage rates in recent years. Tourist arrivals havedeclined in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attackson the US. The government now must deal with a budget deficit and anegative trade balance.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.94 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-1.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $28,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Labor force: 41,500 (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining
Unemployment rate:0.6% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.2% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $135.8 millionexpenditures: $147 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2000)
Agriculture - products:aloes; livestock; fish
Industries:tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:807.7 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:751.2 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:6,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$128 million f.o.b. (including oil reexports) (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machineryand electrical equipment, transport equipment
Exports - partners:Netherlands 28.5%, Panama 17.5%, Venezuela 14.7%, NetherlandsAntilles 11.2%, Colombia 10.7%, US 10.4% (2004)
Imports:$841 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining andreexport, chemicals; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:US 55.5%, Netherlands 14.1%, Venezuela 3.3% (2004)
Debt - external:$285 million (1996)
Economic aid - recipient:$26 million (1995); note - the Netherlands provided a $127 millionaid package to Aruba and Suriname in 1996
Currency (code):Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)
Currency code:AWG
Exchange rates:Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003),1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.79 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Aruba
Telephones - main lines in use:37,100 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:53,000 (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications systemdomestic: increased competition through privatization; 3 wirelessservice providers are now licensedinternational: country code - 297; 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten(Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relaylinks
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:50,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (1997)
Televisions:20,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.aw
Internet hosts:923 (2001)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:24,000 (2002)
Transportation Aruba
Highways:total: 800 kmpaved: 513 kmunpaved: 287 kmnote: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve largetracts of the interior (1995)
Ports and harbors:Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Airports:1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Aruba
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Dutch Navy andMarines, Coast Guard
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Transnational Issues Aruba
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with someaccompanying money-laundering activity
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
======================================================================
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Introduction Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Background:These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931;formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports arich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983, it became aNational Nature Reserve. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, isnow a marine reserve.
Geography Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Location:Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway betweennorthwestern Australia and Timor island
Geographic coordinates:12 14 S, 123 05 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 5 sq kmland: 5 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) andCartier Island
Area - comparative:about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:74.1 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical
Terrain:low with sand and coral
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand) (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983
People Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Population:no indigenous inhabitantsnote: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon andfresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island (July 2005 est.)
People - note:the landing of illegal immigrants from Indonesia's Rote Island hasbecome an ongoing problem
Government Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islandsconventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands