Geography Qatar
Location:Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:25 30 N, 51 15 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 11,437 sq kmland: 11,437 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 60 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline:563 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements orthe median line
Climate:arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain:mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use: arable land: 1.64% permanent crops: 0.27% other: 98.09% (2001)
Irrigated land:130 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleumdeposits
People Qatar
Population:863,051 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 23.7% (male 104,453/female 100,295)15-64 years: 72.9% (male 437,118/female 191,830)65 years and over: 3.4% (male 21,599/female 7,756) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 31.57 yearsmale: 36.87 yearsfemale: 22.33 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.61% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:15.54 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:4.61 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:15.17 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: 2.28 male(s)/female65 years and over: 2.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.88 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 18.61 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 21.95 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 15.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.67 yearsmale: 71.15 yearsfemale: 76.32 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.87 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.09% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Qatari(s)adjective: Qatari
Ethnic groups:Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religions:Muslim 95%
Languages:Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 89%male: 89.1%female: 88.6% (2004 est.)
Government Qatar
Country name:conventional long form: State of Qatarconventional short form: Qatarlocal long form: Dawlat Qatarlocal short form: Qatarnote: closest approximation of the native pronunciation fallsbetween cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
Government type:traditional monarchy
Capital:Doha
Administrative divisions:10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, AlGhuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayanal Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, Umm Salal
Independence:3 September 1971 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Constitution:ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003, endorsed by theEmir on 8 June 2004, effective on 9 June 2005
Legal system:discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civilcodes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family andpersonal matters
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani (since 27 June 1995when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamadal-Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince TAMIM bin Hamad binKhalifa al-Thani, third son of the monarch (selected Heir Apparentby the monarch on 5 August 2003); note - Amir HAMAD also holds thepositions of Minister of Defense and Commander-in-chief of the ArmedForceshead of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa al-Thani,brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy PrimeMinister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani, brother of the monarch(since 20 January 1998); First Deputy Prime Minister HAMAD bin JASIMbin JABIR al-Thani (since 16 September 2003; also Foreign Ministersince 1992); Second Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamadal-ATTIYAH (since 16 September 2003; also Energy Minister since NA1992)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditarynote: in April 2003, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-memberCentral Municipal Council (CMC), which has consultative powers aimedat improving the provision of municipal services; the first electionfor the CMC was held in March 1999
Legislative branch:unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; membersappointed)note: no legislative elections have been held since 1970 when therewere partial elections to the body; Council members have had theirterms extended every four years since; the new constitution, whichcame into force on 8 June 2004, provides for a 45-memberConsultative Council, or Majlis al-Shura; the public would electtwo-thirds of the Majlis al-Shura; the amir would appoint theremaining members
Judicial branch:Court of Appealnote: under the new judiciary law issued in 2003, the former twocourt systems, civil and Islamic law, were merged under a highercourt, the Court of Cassation, established for appeals
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW,OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Nasir bin Hamad bin Mubarak al-KHALIFAchancery: 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20016telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061consulate(s) general: Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Chase UNTERMEYERembassy: Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Dohamailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Dohatelephone: [974] 488 4101FAX: [974] 488 4298
Flag description:maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on thehoist side
Economy Qatar
Economy - overview:Oil and gas account for more than 55% of GDP, roughly 85% of exportearnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have givenQatar a per capita GDP about 80% of that of the leading WestEuropean industrial countries. Proved oil reserves of 16 billionbarrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 14 trillioncubic meters, more than 5% of the world total and third largest inthe world. Long-term goals feature the development of offshorenatural gas reserves to offset the ultimate decline in oilproduction. In recent years, Qatar has consistently posted tradesurpluses largely because of high oil prices and increased naturalgas exports, becoming one of the world's fastest growing and highestper-capita income countries.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$19.49 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:8.7% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $23,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.3% industry: 58.2% services: 41.5% (2004 est.)
Labor force:140,000 (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:2.7% (2001)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):22.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $10.17 billionexpenditures: $7.61 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.2billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:NA
Agriculture - products:fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish
Industries:crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers,petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial shiprepair
Industrial production growth rate:10% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:9.727 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:9.046 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:790,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:30,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:16 billion bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:32.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:15.86 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:18.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:14.41 trillion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$5.187 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$15 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
Exports - partners:Japan 41.9%, South Korea 15.8%, Singapore 9.1%, India 5.4% (2004)
Imports:$6.15 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:France 26.6%, US 9.5%, Saudi Arabia 9.4%, UAE 6.3%, Germany 5.2%,Japan 5.2%, UK 5.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$3.351 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$18.62 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency (code):Qatari rial (QAR)
Currency code:QAR
Exchange rates:Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2004), 3.64 (2003), 3.64 (2002),3.64 (2001), 3.64 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Qatar
Telephones - main lines in use:184,500 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:376,500 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system centered in Dohadomestic: NAinternational: country code - 974; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain;microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable toBahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 AtlanticOcean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:256,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:230,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.qa
Internet hosts:221 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:126,000 (2003)
Transportation Qatar
Highways: total: 1,230 km paved: 1,107 km unpaved: 123 km (1999 est.)
Pipelines:condensate 319 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 1,024 km; liquidpetroleum gas 87 km; oil 702 km; oil/gas/water 41 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Doha
Merchant marine:total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 525,051 GRT/772,635 DWTby type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 5, container 8, liquefied gas 2,petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1foreign-owned: 6 (Kuwait 6) (2005)
Airports:4 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 2over 3,047 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 2914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Heliports:1 (2004 est.)
Military Qatar
Military branches:Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), QatariAmiri Air Force (QAAF)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; Land Force's enlisted personnel are largely nonprofessional foreign nationals (2005)
Manpower available for military service: males age 18-49: 302,873 note: includes non-nationals (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 238,566 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 7,851 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$723 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:10% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Qatar
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
======================================================================
@Reunion
Introduction Reunion
Background:The Portuguese discovered the uninhabited island in 1513. From the17th to the 19th centuries, French immigration, supplemented byinfluxes of Africans, Chinese, Malays, and Malabar Indians, gave theisland its ethnic mix. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 costthe island its importance as a stopover on the East Indies traderoute.
Geography Reunion
Location:Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:21 06 S, 55 36 E
Map references:World
Area:total: 2,517 sq kmland: 2,507 sq kmwater: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:207 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dryfrom May to November, hot and rainy from November to April
Terrain:mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
Natural resources: fish, arable land, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 13.6% permanent crops: 1.2% other: 85.2% (2001)
Irrigated land:120 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de laFournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:this mountainous, volcanic island has an active volcano, Piton dela Fournaise; there is a tropical cyclone center at Saint-Denis,which is the monitoring station for the whole of the Indian Ocean
People Reunion
Population:776,948 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 30.4% (male 120,698/female 115,108)15-64 years: 63.6% (male 243,668/female 250,143)65 years and over: 6.1% (male 19,234/female 28,097) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 26.72 yearsmale: 25.53 yearsfemale: 27.92 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.38% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:19.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:5.48 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: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 7.78 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 8.52 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.95 yearsmale: 70.55 yearsfemale: 77.52 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.47 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: Reunionese (singular and plural)adjective: Reunionese
Ethnic groups:French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian
Religions:Roman Catholic 86%, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist (1995)
Languages:French (official), Creole widely used
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 88.9%male: 87%female: 90.8% (2003 est.)
Government Reunion
Country name:conventional long form: Department of Reunionconventional short form: Reunionlocal long form: nonelocal short form: Ile de la Reunionformer: Bourbon Island
Dependency status:overseas department of France
Government type:NA
Capital:Saint-Denis
Administrative divisions:none (overseas department of France); there are no first-orderadministrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but thereare 4 arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons
Independence:none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:French law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995), represented by Prefect Laurent CAYREL (since 16 July 2005)head of government: President of the General Council Jean-LucPOUDROUX (since NA March 1998) and President of the Regional CouncilPaul VERGES (since NA March 1993)cabinet: NAelections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of theFrench Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the General andRegional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
Legislative branch:unicameral General Council (49 seats; members are elected bydirect, popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameralRegional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct, popularvote to serve six-year terms)elections: General Council - last held 15 and 22 March 1998 (next tobe held NA); Regional Council - last held 28 March 2004 (next to beheld NA 2010)election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%;seats by party - various right-wing candidates 13, PCR 10, PS 10,UDF 8, RPR 6, other left-wing candidates 2; Regional Council (secondround) - percent of vote by party - PCR 44.9%, UMP 32.8%, PS-Greens22.3%; seats by party - PCR 27, UMP 11, PS-Greens 7note: Reunion elects three representatives to the French Senate;elections last held NA 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); results -percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Reunion alsoelects five deputies to the French National Assembly; elections lastheld 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results -percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1, UMP 1,PCR 1
Judicial branch:Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:Communist Party of Reunion or PCR [Paul VERGES]; Rally for theRepublic or RPR [Andre Maurice PIHOUEE]; Socialist Party or PS[Jean-Claude FRUTEAU]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [GilbertGERARD]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:InOC, UPU, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas department of France)
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy Reunion
Economy - overview:The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture, butservices now dominate. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for morethan a century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports.The government has been pushing the development of a touristindustry to relieve high unemployment, which amounts to one-third ofthe labor force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and thepoor is extraordinary and accounts for the persistent socialtensions. The white and Indian communities are substantially betteroff than other segments of the population, often approachingEuropean standards, whereas minority groups suffer the poverty andunemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African continent.The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrates theseriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being ofReunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance fromFrance.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$4.57 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $6,000 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 19% services: 73% (2000 est.)
Labor force:309,900 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 13%, industry 12%, services 75% (2000)
Unemployment rate:36% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):NA%
Budget:revenues: $1.26 billionexpenditures: $2.62 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(1998)
Agriculture - products:sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco, tropical fruits, vegetables, corn
Industries:sugar, rum, cigarettes, handicraft items, flower oil extraction
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:1.166 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 55.5% hydro: 44.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.084 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:18,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$214 million f.o.b. (1997)
Exports - commodities:sugar 63%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 2%, lobster 3%,(1993)
Exports - partners:France 74%, Japan 6%, Comoros 4% (2000)
Imports:$2.5 billion c.i.f. (1997)
Imports - commodities:manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery andtransportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products
Imports - partners:France 64%, Bahrain 3%, Germany 3%, Italy 3% (2000)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:NA; note - substantial annual subsidies from France (2001 est.)
Currency (code):euro (EUR)
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002),1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Reunion
Telephones - main lines in use:300,000 est (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:489,800 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate system; principal center is Saint-Denisdomestic: modern open-wire and microwave radio relay networkinternational: country code - 262; radiotelephone communication toComoros, France, Madagascar; new microwave route to Mauritius;satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); fiber opticsubmarine cable (SAT-3/WASC/SAFE) provides connectivity to Europeand Asia
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 55, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios:173,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:35 (plus 18 low-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:127,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.re
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:150,000 (2002)
Transportation Reunion
Highways:total: 1,214 km (including 88 km of four-lane roads) (2001)
Ports and harbors:Le Port
Merchant marine:total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 28,264 GRT/44,885 DWTby type: chemical tanker 1foreign-owned: 1 (France 1)registered in other countries: 1 (2005)
Airports:2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Reunion
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; French forces (includesArmy, Navy, Air Force, and Gendarmerie)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 183,421 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 142,578 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 7,339 (2005 est.)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Reunion
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
======================================================================
@Romania
Introduction Romania
Background:The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries underthe suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured theirautonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adoptedthe new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of itsindependence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I andacquired new territories following the conflict. In 1940, it alliedwith the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion ofthe USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signedan armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation ofa Communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of theking. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who tookpower in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasinglyoppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrownand executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated thegovernment until 1996, when they were swept from power by afractious coalition of centrist parties. In 2000, the center-leftSocial Democratic Party (PSD) became Romania's leading party,governing with the support of the Democratic Union of Hungarians inRomania (UDMR). The opposition center-right alliance formed by theNational Liberal Party (PNL) and the Democratic Party (PD) scored asurprise victory over the ruling PSD in December 2004 presidentialelections. The PNL-PD alliance maintains a parliamentary majoritywith the support of the UDMR, the Humanist Party (PUR), and variousethnic minority groups. Although Romania completed accession talkswith the European Union (EU) in December 2004, it must continue toaddress rampant corruption - while invigorating lagging economic anddemocratic reforms - before it can achieve its hope of joining theEU, tentatively set for 2007. Romania joined NATO in March of 2004.
Geography Romania
Location:Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria andUkraine
Geographic coordinates:46 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 237,500 sq kmland: 230,340 sq kmwater: 7,160 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:total: 2,508 kmborder countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km,Serbia and Montenegro 476 km, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east)169 km
Coastline:225 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunnysummers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Terrain:central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldaviaon the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from theWalachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Black Sea 0 mhighest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
Natural resources:petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, ironore, salt, arable land, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 40.82% permanent crops: 2.25% other: 56.93% (2001)
Irrigated land:28,800 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structureand climate promote landslides
Environment - current issues: soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic Treaty, 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:controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans,Moldova, and Ukraine
People Romania
Population:22,329,977 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 15.9% (male 1,818,488/female 1,727,598)15-64 years: 69.5% (male 7,726,903/female 7,801,441)65 years and over: 14.6% (male 1,342,827/female 1,912,720) (2005est.)
Median age: total: 36.39 years male: 35.04 years female: 37.77 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.12% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:10.7 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:11.74 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 26.43 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 29.6 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 23.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.35 yearsmale: 67.86 yearsfemale: 75.06 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.36 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:6,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:350 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Romanian(s)adjective: Romanian
Ethnic groups:Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4% (2002 census)
Religions:Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 86.8%,Protestant (various denominations including Reformate andPentecostal) 7.5%, Roman Catholic 4.7%, other (mostly Muslim) andunspecified 0.9%, none 0.1% (2002 census)
Languages:Romanian (official), Hungarian, German
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.4%male: 99.1%female: 97.7% (2003 est.)
Government Romania
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Romania local long form: none local short form: Romania
Government type:republic
Capital:Bucharest
Administrative divisions:41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality*(municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud,Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi,Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati,Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov,Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare,Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea
Independence:9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire;independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin;kingdom proclaimed 26 March 1881); 30 December 1947 (republicproclaimed)
National holiday:Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)
Constitution:8 December 1991; revision effective 29 October 2003
Legal system:former mixture of civil law system and communist legal theory; isnow based on the constitution of France's Fifth Republic
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Traian BASESCU (since 20 December 2004)head of government: Prime Minister Calin Popescu-TARICEANU (since 29December 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 28 November 2004, with runoff between the top twocandidates held 12 December 2004 (next to be held 28 November 2009and 12 December 2009); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: percent of vote - Traian BASESCU 51.23%, AdrianNASTASE 48.77%
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat(137 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on aproportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) and theChamber of Deputies or Adunarea Deputatilor (332 seats; members areelected by direct, popular vote on a proportional representationbasis to serve four-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 28 November 2004 (next to be held 28November 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 28 November 2004(next to be held 28 November 2008)election results: Senate - percent of vote by alliance/party -PSD-PUR 37.1%, PNL-PD 31.8%, PRM 13.6%, UDMR 6.2%; seats by party -PSD 46, PNL 28, PD 21, PRM 21, PUR 11, UMDR 10; Chamber of Deputies- percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PUR 36.6%, PNL-PD 31.3%%,PRM 12.9%, UDMR 6.2%; seats by party - PSD 113, PNL 64, PD 48, PRM48, UDMR 22, PUR 19, ethnic minorities 18
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the president onthe recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistrates, a boardof eleven judges and six prosecutors elected by parliament)
Political parties and leaders:Conservative Party [Dan VOICULESCU], formerly Humanist Party orPUR; Democratic Party or PD [Emil BOC]; Democratic Union ofHungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; National Liberal Partyor PNL [Calin Popescu TARICEANU]; Romania Mare Party (GreaterRomanian Party) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR]; Social DemocraticParty or PSD [Mircea Dan GEOANA], formerly Party of Social Democracyin Romania or PDSR
Political pressure groups and leaders:various human rights and professional associations
International organization participation: ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sorin Dumitru DUCARU chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Jack Dyer CROUCH II embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, Department of State, 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch) telephone: [40] (21) 210-4042 FAX: [40] (21) 210-0395 branch office(s): Cluj-Napoca
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellowband has been removed; now similar to the flag of Chad, alsoresembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova
Economy Romania
Economy - overview:Romania began the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largelyobsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to thecountry's needs. The country emerged in 2000 from a punishingthree-year recession thanks to strong demand in EU export markets.Despite the global slowdown in 2001-02, strong domestic activity inconstruction, agriculture, and consumption have kept growth above4%. An IMF standby agreement, signed in 2001, has been accompaniedby slow but palpable gains in privatization, deficit reduction, andthe curbing of inflation. The IMF Board approved Romania'scompletion of the standby agreement in October 2003, the first timeRomania has successfully concluded an IMF agreement since the 1989revolution. In July 2004, the executive board of the IMF approved a24-month standby agreement for $367 million. The Romanianauthorities do not intend to draw on this agreement, however,viewing it simply as a precaution. Meanwhile, recent macroeconomicgains have done little to address Romania's widespread poverty,while corruption and red tape continue to handicap the businessenvironment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$171.5 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:8.1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $7,700 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13.1% industry: 33.7% services: 53.2% (2004 est.)
Labor force:9.66 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 31.6%, industry 30.7%, services 37.7% (2004)
Unemployment rate:6.3% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:28.9% (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 27.6% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:28.8 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):9.6% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):23.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $22.1 billionexpenditures: $23.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.2billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:23.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes;eggs, sheep
Industries:textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining,timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, foodprocessing, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate:4% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:56.53 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 62.5% hydro: 27.6% nuclear: 9.9% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:57.5 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:3.046 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:962 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:128,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:253,800 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:1.055 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:12.6 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:18.5 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:5.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:111.1 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-3.631 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$23.54 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery andequipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products
Exports - partners:Italy 21.4%, Germany 15%, France 8.5%, Turkey 7%, UK 6.6% (2004)
Imports:$28.43 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile andproducts, basic metals, agricultural products
Imports - partners:Italy 17.2%, Germany 14.9%, France 7.1%, Russia 6.8%, Turkey 4.2%(2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$16.21 billion (2004)
Debt - external:$24.59 billion (2004 est.)
Currency (code):leu (ROL)
Currency code:ROL
Exchange rates:lei per US dollar - 32,637 (2004), 33,200 (2003), 33,055 (2002),29,061 (2001), 21,709 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Romania
Telephones - main lines in use:4.3 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:6.9 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: poor domestic service, but improvingdomestic: 90% of telephone network is automatic; trunk network ismostly microwave radio relay, with some fiber-optic cable; aboutone-third of exchange capacity is digital; roughly 3,300 villageshave no serviceinternational: country code - 40; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat; new digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operatein Bucharest; note - Romania is an active participant in severalinternational telecommunication network projects (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 40, FM 202, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:7.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:48 (plus 392 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:5.25 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ro
Internet hosts:50,807 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):38 (2000)
Internet users:4 million (2003)
Transportation Romania
Railways:total: 11,385 km (3,888 km electrified)standard gauge: 10,898 km 1.435-m gaugebroad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gaugenarrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 198,755 kmpaved: 100,173 km (including 113 km of expressways)unpaved: 98,582 km (2002)
Waterways:1,731 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 3,508 km; oil 2,427 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Braila, Constanta, Galati, Tulcea
Merchant marine:total: 34 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 395,350 GRT/510,232 DWTby type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 20, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2,petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 4foreign-owned: 2 (Italy 2)registered in other countries: 39 (2005)
Airports:61 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 25over 3,047 m: 42,438 to 3,047 m: 91,524 to 2,437 m: 12 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 361,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 10under 914 m: 24 (2004 est.)
Heliports:1 (2004 est.)
Military Romania
Military branches:Land Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces (AMR),Special Operations, Civil Defense (2005)
Military service age and obligation: 20 years of age for compulsory military service, 18 in wartime; conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 20-49: 5,061,984 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 20-49: 3,932,579 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 172,093 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$985 million (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.47% (2002)
Transnational Issues Romania
Disputes - international:Romania and Ukraine have taken their dispute overUkrainian-administered Zmiyinyy (Snake) Island and Black Seamaritime boundary to the ICJ for adjudication; Romania also opposesUkraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube borderthrough Ukraine to the Black Sea; Hungary amended the status lawextending special social and cultural benefits to ethnic Hungariansin Romania, to which Romania had objected
Illicit drugs:major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting theBalkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound forWestern Europe; although not a significant financial center, role asa narcotics conduit leaves it vulnerable to laundering which occursvia the banking system, currency exchange houses, and casinos
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
======================================================================
@Russia
Introduction Russia
Background:Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy, was ableto emerge from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15thcenturies) and to gradually conquer and absorb surroundingprincipalities. In the early 17th century, a new Romanov Dynastycontinued this policy of expansion across Siberia to the Pacific.Under PETER I (ruled 1682-1725), hegemony was extended to the BalticSea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire. During the 19thcentury, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe and Asia.Repeated devastating defeats of the Russian army in World War I ledto widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire andto the overthrow in 1917 of the imperial household. The Communistsunder Vladimir LENIN seized power soon after and formed the USSR.The brutal rule of Josef STALIN (1928-53) strengthened Russiandominance of the Soviet Union at a cost of tens of millions oflives. The Soviet economy and society stagnated in the followingdecades until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91)introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in anattempt to modernize Communism, but his initiatives inadvertentlyreleased forces that by December 1991 splintered the USSR into 15independent republics. Since then, Russia has struggled in itsefforts to build a democratic political system and market economy toreplace the strict social, political, and economic controls of theCommunist period. While some progress has been made on the economicfront, recent years have seen a recentralization of power underVladimir PUTIN and an erosion in nascent democratic institutions. Adetermined guerrilla conflict still plagues Russia in Chechnya.
Geography Russia
Location:Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is included withEurope), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the NorthPacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates:60 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 17,075,200 sq kmland: 16,995,800 sq kmwater: 79,400 sq km
Area - comparative:approximately 1.8 times the size of the US
Land boundaries:total: 20,017 kmborder countries: Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China(southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 294 km, Finland1,340 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 19 km,Latvia 217 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,485km, Norway 196 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Ukraine 1,576km
Coastline:37,653 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in muchof European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in thepolar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigidin Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool alongArctic coast
Terrain:broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forestand tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern borderregions
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 mhighest point: Gora El'brus 5,633 m
Natural resources:wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, naturalgas, coal, and many strategic minerals, timbernote: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinderexploitation of natural resources
Land use: arable land: 7.33% permanent crops: 0.11% other: 92.56% (2001)
Irrigated land:46,630 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment todevelopment; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes andearthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods andsummer/autumn forest fires throughout Siberia and parts of EuropeanRussia