Illicit drugs:death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin,cocaine, and hashish; improving anti-money-laundering legislationand enforcement
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Senegal
Introduction Senegal
Background:Independent from France in 1960, Senegal was ruled by the SocialistParty for forty years until current President Abdoulaye WADE waselected in 2000. Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominalconfederation of Senegambia in 1982, but the envisaged integrationof the two countries was never carried out, and the union wasdissolved in 1989. A southern separatist group sporadically hasclashed with government forces since 1982, but Senegal remains oneof the most stable democracies in Africa. Senegal has a long historyof participating in international peacekeeping.
Geography Senegal
Location:Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenGuinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Geographic coordinates:14 00 N, 14 00 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 196,190 sq kmland: 192,000 sq kmwater: 4,190 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:total: 2,640 kmborder countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km
Coastline:531 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strongsoutheast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot,dry, harmattan wind
Terrain:generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m
Natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 12.51% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 87.25% (2005)
Irrigated land:1,200 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
Geography - note:westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almostan enclave within Senegal
People Senegal
Population:11,987,121 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 40.8% (male 2,467,021/female 2,422,385)15-64 years: 56.1% (male 3,346,756/female 3,378,518)65 years and over: 3.1% (male 174,399/female 198,042) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 19.1 yearsmale: 18.9 yearsfemale: 19.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.34% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:32.78 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:9.42 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 52.94 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 56.49 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 49.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 59.25 yearsmale: 57.7 yearsfemale: 60.85 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.38 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.8% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:44,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:3,500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and Rift Valley fever are high risks in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
Nationality:noun: Senegalese (singular and plural)adjective: Senegalese
Ethnic groups:Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%,Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
Religions:Muslim 94%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenousbeliefs 1%
Languages:French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 40.2%male: 50%female: 30.7% (2003 est.)
Government Senegal
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Senegalconventional short form: Senegallocal long form: Republique du Senegallocal short form: Senegalformer: Senegambia (along with The Gambia); Mali Federation
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Dakargeographic coordinates: 14 40 N, 17 26 Wtime difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:11 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick,Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies,Ziguinchor
Independence:4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence wasachieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
National holiday:Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Constitution:new constitution adopted 7 January 2001
Legal system:based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislativeacts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits thegovernment's accounting office; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000)head of government: Prime Minister Macky SALL (since 21 April 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister inconsultation with the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term) under new constitution; election lastheld under prior constitution (seven-year terms) 27 February and 19March 2000 (next to be held 27 February 2007); prime ministerappointed by the presidentelection results: Abdoulaye WADE elected president; percent of votein the second round of voting - Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 58.49%, AbdouDIOUF (PS) 41.51%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats;members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)note: the former National Assembly, dissolved in the spring of 2001,had 140 seatselections: last held 29 April 2001 (next to be held 27 February2007) note - the National Assembly in December 2005 voted topostpone legislative elections originally scheduled for 2006, theywill now coincide with presidential elections in 2007election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -SOPI Coalition 89, AFP 11, PS 10, other 10
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals orCour de Cassation; Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders:African Party for Democracy and Socialism or And Jef (also known asPADS/AJ) [Landing SAVANE, secretary general]; African Party ofIndependence [Majhemout DIOP]; Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP[Moustapha NIASSE]; Democratic and Patriotic Convention or CDP (alsoknown as Garab-Gi) [Dr. Iba Der THIAM]; Democratic League-LaborParty Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY]; Front forSocialism and Democracy or FSD [Cheikh Abdoulaye DIEYE]; GaindeCentrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS]; Independence and Labor Partyor PIT [Amath DANSOKHO]; National Democratic Rally or RND [MadierDIOUF]; Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE];Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG]; SOPI Coalition[Abdoulaye WADE] (a coalition led by the PDS); Union for DemocraticRenewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]; other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:labor; Muslim brotherhoods; students; teachers
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM,OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL,UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Amadou Lamine BAchancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540FAX: [1] (202) 332-6315consulate(s) general: Houston, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Janice L. JACOBSembassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Rue Kleber, Dakarmailing address: B. P. 49, Dakartelephone: [221] 823-4296FAX: [221] 822-2991
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and redwith a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band;uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Senegal
Economy - overview:In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economicreform program with the support of the international donorcommunity. This reform began with a 50% devaluation of Senegal'scurrency, the CFA franc, which was linked at a fixed rate to theFrench franc. Government price controls and subsidies have beensteadily dismantled. After seeing its economy contract by 2.1% in1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reformprogram, with real growth in GDP averaging over 5% annually during1995-2004. Annual inflation had been pushed down to the low singledigits. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union(WAEMU), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration witha unified external tariff and a more stable monetary policy.However, Senegal still relies heavily upon outside donor assistance.Under the IMF's Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt reliefprogram, Senegal will benefit from eradication of two-thirds of itsbilateral, multilateral, and private-sector debt.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$20.57 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$7.972 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6.1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$1,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17.2% industry: 20.9% services: 61.9% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 4.82 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 77% industry and services: 23% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:48%; note - urban youth 40% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:54% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 33.5% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:41.3 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.7% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):20.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.657 billionexpenditures: $1.926 billion; including capital expenditures of $357million (2005 est.)
Public debt:46% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, greenvegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish
Industries:agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizerproduction, petroleum refining, construction materials, shipconstruction and repair
Industrial production growth rate:3.1% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:1.332 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.239 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:31,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:50 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:50 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$-848 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$1.526 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton
Exports - partners:Mali 16.9%, India 13.1%, France 9.5%, Spain 6.1%, Italy 5.5%,Gambia, The 4.6% (2005)
Imports:$2.405 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:food and beverages, capital goods, fuels
Imports - partners:France 22.8%, Nigeria 11.4%, Brazil 4.5%, Thailand 4.3%, US 4.2%,UK 4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.191 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$3.529 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$449.6 million (2003 est.)
Currency (code):Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsibleauthority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:XOF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 527.47(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Senegal
Telephones - main lines in use:266,600 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.73 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: good systemdomestic: above-average urban system; microwave radio relay, coaxialcable and fiber-optic cable in trunk systeminternational: country code - 221; 4 submarine cables; satelliteearth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 8, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:1.24 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (1997)
Televisions:361,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.sn
Internet hosts:412 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:540,000 (2005)
Transportation Senegal
Airports: 20 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 9over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 6914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 111,524 to 2,437 m: 6914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 43 km (2006)
Railways:total: 906 kmnarrow gauge: 906 km 1.000 meter gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 13,576 kmpaved: 3,972 km (including 7 km of expressways)unpaved: 9,604 km (2003)
Waterways:1,000 km (primarily on Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance rivers) (2005)
Ports and terminals:Dakar
Military Senegal
Military branches:Army, Senegalese Navy (Marine Senegalaise), Senegalese Air Force(Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;conscript service obligation - two years (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 2,443,840females age 18-49: 2,461,939 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,558,175females age 18-49: 1,642,533 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 129,331females age 18-49: 129,398 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$117.3 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Senegal
Disputes - international:The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau attempt to stem Senegalese citizensfrom the Casamance region fleeing separatist violence, cross borderraids, and arms smuggling
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 19,778 (Mauritania)IDPs: 17,000 (clashes between government troops and separatists inCasamance region) (2005)
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin andSouth American cocaine moving to Europe and North America; illicitcultivator of cannabis
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Serbia
Introduction Serbia
Background:The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; itsname was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Occupation by Nazi Germanyin 1941 was resisted by various paramilitary bands that fought eachother as well as the invaders. The group headed by Josip TITO tookfull control of Yugoslavia upon German expulsion in 1945. AlthoughCommunist, his new government and its successors (he died in 1980)managed to steer their own path between the Warsaw Pact nations andthe West for the next four and a half decades. In the early 1990s,post-TITO Yugoslavia began to unravel along ethnic lines: Slovenia,Croatia, Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina were recognized asindependent states in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbia andMontenegro declared a new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) inApril 1992 and, under President Slobodan MILOSEVIC, Serbia ledvarious military intervention efforts to unite ethnic Serbs inneighboring republics into a "Greater Serbia." These actions led toYugoslavia being ousted from the UN in 1992, but Serbia continuedits campaign until signing the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995. In1998-99, massive expulsions by FRY forces and Serb paramilitaries ofethnic Albanians living in Kosovo provoked an internationalresponse, including the NATO bombing of Belgrade and the stationingof a NATO-led force (KFOR), in Kosovo. Federal elections in the fallof 2000, brought about the ouster of MILOSEVIC and installedVojislav KOSTUNICA as president. The arrest of MILOSEVIC in 2001allowed for his subsequent transfer to the International CriminalTribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague to be tried forcrimes against humanity. In 2001, the country's suspension from theUN was lifted, and it was once more accepted into UN organizationsunder the name of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Kosovo hasbeen governed by the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo(UNMIK) since June 1999, under the authority of UN Security CouncilResolution 1244, pending a determination by the internationalcommunity of its future status. In 2002, the Serbian and Montenegrincomponents of Yugoslavia began negotiations to forge a looserrelationship. In February 2003 lawmakers restructured the countryinto a loose federation of two republics called Serbia andMontenegro. The Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegroincluded a provision that allowed either republic to hold areferendum after three years that would allow for their independencefrom the state union. In the spring of 2006, Montenegro tookadvantage of the provision to undertake a successful independencevote enabling it to secede on 3 June. Two days later, Serbiadeclared that it was the successor state to the union of Serbia andMontenegro.
Geography Serbia
Location:Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary
Geographic coordinates:44 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 88,361 sq kmland: 88,361 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than South Carolina
Land boundaries:total: 2,027 kmborder countries: Albania 115 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 302 km,Bulgaria 318 km, Croatia 241 km, Hungary 151 km, Macedonia 221 km,Montenegro 203 km, Romania 476 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humidsummers with well distributed rainfall); in other parts, continentaland Mediterranean climate (hot, dry summers and autumns andrelatively cold winters with heavy snowfall)
Terrain:extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east,limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains andhills
Elevation extremes:lowest point: NAhighest point: Daravica 2,656 m
Natural resources:oil, gas, coal, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, antimony, chromite,nickel, gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone, marble, salt,arable land
Land use:arable land: NApermanent crops: NAother: NA
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues: air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkeyand the Near East
People Serbia
Population: 9,396,411 (2002 census)
Median age:total: 40.4 yearsmale: 39.1 yearsfemale: 41.7 years
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74 yearsmale: 71 yearsfemale: 76 years
Total fertility rate:1.78 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Nationality:noun: Serb(s)adjective: Serbian
Ethnic groups:Serb 66%, Albanian 17%, Hungarian 3.5%, other 13.5% (1991)
Religions:Serbian Orthodox, Muslim, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages:Serbian (official nationwide); Romanian, Hungarian, Slovak,Ukrainian, and Croatian (all official in Vojvodina); Albanian(official in Kosovo)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96.4%male: 98.9%female: 94.1% (2002 est.)
Government Serbia
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Serbiaconventional short form: Serbialocal long form: Republika Srbijalocal short form: Srbijaformer: People's Republic of Serbia, Socialist Republic of Serbia
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Belgradegeographic coordinates: 44 50 N, 20 30 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in October
Administrative divisions:29 districts (okrugov; singular - okrug), 1 capital city*Serbia Proper: Belgrad*, Bor, Branicevo, Jablanica, Kolubara, Macva,Moravica, Nisava, Pcinja, Pirot, Podunavlje, Pomoravlje, Rasina,Raska, Sumadija, Toplica, Zajecar, ZlatiborVojvodina Autonomous Province: Central Banat, North Backa, NorthBanat, South Backa, South Banat, Srem, West BackaKosovo and Metojia Autonomous Province: Kosovo, Kosovska-Mitrovica,Kosovo-Pomoravlje, Pec, Prizren
Independence:5 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)
National holiday:National Day, 27 April
Constitution:28 September 1990; note - a new draft constitution approved byParliament on 30 September 2006 stresses that Kosovo is an integralpart of Serbia; the draft must still be approved by a nationalreferendum
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:18 universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Boris TADIC (since 11 July 2004)head of government: Prime Minister Vojislav KOSTUNICA (since 3 March2004)cabinet: Federal Ministries act as cabinetelections: president elected by direct vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 27 June 2004 (nextto be held June 2009); prime minister elected by the Assemblyelection results: Boris TADIC elected president in the second roundof voting; Boris TADIC received 53% of the vote
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (250 deputies elected by direct votefor a four-year term)elections: last held 28 December 2003 (next to be held December 2007)election results: SRS 83, DSS 53, DS 37, G17 Plus 34, SPO-NS 22, SPS22
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court (nine justices with life tenure)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party of Serbia or DSS [Vojislav KOSTUNICA]; DemocraticParty or DS [Boris TADIC]; G17 Plus [Mladjan DINKIC is actingleader]; Serbian Radical Party or SRS [Vojislav SESELJ, but TomislavNIKOLIC is acting leader]; Socialist Party of Serbia or SPS [vacant,but Ivica DACIC is head of the SPS Main Board]; New Serbia or NS[Velimir ILIC]; Serbian Renewal Movement or SPO [Vuk DRASKOVIC]
International organization participation:ABEDA, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EBRD, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD (suspended), IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS(observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ivan VUJACIC chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-0333 FAX: [1] (202) 332-3933 consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael C. POLT embassy: Kneza Milosa 50, 11000 Belgrade mailing address: 5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC 20521-5070 telephone: [381] (11) 361-9344 FAX: [381] (11) 361-8230 note: there is a branch office in Pristina at 30 Nazim Hikmet 38000 Prstina, Kososvo; telephone: [381] (38) 549-516; FAX:[381] (38) 549-890
Flag description:three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white;charged with the coat of arms of Serbia shifted slightly to thehoist side
Economy Serbia
Economy - overview:MILOSEVIC-era mismanagement of the economy, an extended period ofeconomic sanctions, and the damage to Yugoslavia's infrastructureand industry during the NATO airstrikes in 1999 left the economyonly half the size it was in 1990. After the ousting of formerFederal Yugoslav President MILOSEVIC in October 2000, the DemocraticOpposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition government implementedstabilization measures and embarked on a market reform program.After renewing its membership in the IMF in December 2000, adown-sized Yugoslavia continued to reintegrate into theinternational community by rejoining the World Bank (IBRD) and theEuropean Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). A WorldBank-European Commission sponsored Donors' Conference held in June2001 raised $1.3 billion for economic restructuring. In November2001, the Paris Club agreed to reschedule the country's $4.5 billionpublic debt and wrote off 66% of the debt. In July 2004, the LondonClub of private creditors forgave $1.7 billion of debt, just overhalf the total owed. Belgrade has made only minimal progress inrestructuring and privatizing its holdings in major sectors of theeconomy, including energy and telecommunications. It has madehalting progress towards EU membership and is currently pursuing aStabilization and Association Agreement with Brussels. Serbia isalso pursuing membership in the World Trade Organization.Unemployment remains an ongoing political and economic problem. TheRepublic of Montenegro severed its economy from Serbia during theMILOSEVIC era; therefore, the formal separation of Serbia andMontenegro in June 2006 had little real impact on either economy.Kosovo's economy continues to transition to a market-based systemand is largely dependent on the international community and thediaspora for financial and technical assistance. The euro and theYugoslav dinar are both accepted currencies in Kosovo. Whilemaintaining ultimate oversight, UNMIK continues to work with the EUand Kosovo's local provisional government to accelerate economicgrowth, lower unemployment, and attract foreign investment to helpKosovo integrate into regional economic structures. The complexityof Serbia and Kosovo's political and legal relationships has createduncertainty over property rights and hindered the privatization ofstate-owned assets in Kosovo. Most of Kosovo's population lives inrural towns outside of the largest city, Pristina. Inefficient,near-subsistence farming is common.note: economic data for Serbia currently reflects information forthe former Serbia and Montenegro, unless otherwise noted; data forSerbia alone will be added when available
GDP (purchasing power parity):$41.15 billion for Serbia (including Kosovo) (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$19.19 billion for Serbia alone (excluding Kosovo) (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.9% for Serbia alone (excluding Kosovo) (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$4,400 for Serbia (including Kosovo) (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16.6% industry: 25.5% services: 57.9% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 2.961 million for Serbia (including Kosovo) (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 30% industry: 46% services: 24% note: excluding Kosovo and Montenegro (2002)
Unemployment rate:31.6%note: unemployment is approximately 50% in Kosovo (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:30%note: data covers the former Serbia and Montenegro (1999 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):15.5% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):14.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $11.45 billionexpenditures: $11.12 billion; including capital expenditures $NA;note - figures are for Serbia and Montenegro; Serbian StatisticalOffice indicates that for 2006 budget, Serbia will have revenues of$7.08 billion (2005 est.)
Public debt:53.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, maize, sugar beets, sunflower, beef, pork, milk
Industries:sugar, agricultural machinery, electrical and communicationequipment, paper and pulp, lead, transportation equipment
Industrial production growth rate:1.4% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:33.87 billion kWh (excluding Kosovo and Montenegro) (2004)
Electricity - consumption:NA
Electricity - exports:12.05 billion kWh (excluding Kosovo; exported to Montenegro) (2004)
Electricity - imports:11.23 billion kWh (excluding Kosovo; imports from Montenegro) (2004)
Oil - production:14,660 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:85,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:38.75 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:650 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.55 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m
Natural gas - proved reserves:48.14 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-2.451 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$4.553 billion (excluding Kosovo and Montenegro) (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:manufactured goods, food and live animals, machinery and transportequipment
Imports:$10.58 billion (excluding Kosovo and Montenegro) (2005 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$5.35 billion
Debt - external:$15.43 billion (including Montenegro) (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$2 billion pledged in 2001 to Serbia and Montenegro (disbursementsto follow over several years; aid pledged by EU and US has beenplaced on hold because of lack of cooperation by Serbia in handingover General Ratco MLADIC to the criminal court in The Hague)
Currency (code):new Yugoslav dinar (YUM); note - in Kosovo both the euro and theYugoslav dinar are legal
Exchange rates:new Yugoslav dinars per US dollar - 58.6925 (2005)
Communications Serbia
Telephones - main lines in use:2,685,400 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:5.229 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: modernization of the telecommunications networkhas been slow as a result of damage stemming from the 1999 war andtransition to a competitive market-based system; network was only65% digitalized in 2005domestic: teledensity remains below the average for neighboringstates; GSM wireless service, available through two providers withnational coverage, is growing very rapidly; best telecommunicationsservice limited to urban centersinternational: country code - 381
Radio broadcast stations:153 (2001)
Internet country code:.rs; note - former ccTLD .yu will remain in service until the endof 2006
Internet hosts:NA
Internet users:1.4 million (2006)
Transportation Serbia
Airports: 39 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 16 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 12 (2006)
Heliports:4 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 3,177 km; oil 393 km (2006)
Railways: total: 4,135 km standard guage: 4,135 km 1.435-m guage (electrified 1,195 km) (2005)
Roadways: total: 37,887 km paved: 23,937 km unpaved: 13,950 km (2002)
Waterways:587 km - primarily on Danube and Sava rivers (2005)
Merchant marine:note: see entry for Montenegro
Military Serbia
Military branches:Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Serbian Land Forces(Kopnene Vojska, KoV), Air Force and Air Defense Force(Vozduhoplostvo i Protivozduhoplovna Odbrana, ViPO), naval force tobe determined (2006)
Military service age and obligation: peacetime service obligation begins at age 17 and lasts until age 60 for men and 50 for women; under a state of war or impending war, the obligation can begin at age 16 and be extended beyond 60 (2006)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $14.85 million
Transnational Issues Serbia
Disputes - international:the final status of the Serbian province of Kosovo remainsunresolved and several thousand peacekeepers from the UN InterimAdministration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) have administered theregion since 1999, with Kosovar Albanians overwhelmingly supportingand Serbian officials opposing Kosovo independence; theinternational community had agreed to begin a process to determinefinal status but contingency of solidifying multi-ethnic democracyin Kosovo has not been satisfied; ethnic Albanians in Kosovo refusedemarcation of the boundary with Macedonia in accordance with the2000 Macedonia-Serbia and Montenegro delimitation agreement; Serbiaand Montenegro delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia andHerzegovina, but sections with Serbia along the Drina River remainin dispute
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 180,117 (Croatia); 95,297 (Bosnia andHerzegovina)IDPs: 225,000 - 251,000 (mostly ethnic Serbs and Roma who fledKosovo in 1999) (2005)
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to WesternEurope on the Balkan route; economy vulnerable to money laundering
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Seychelles
Introduction Seychelles
Background:A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islandsended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. Independence camein 1976. Socialist rule was brought to a close with a newconstitution and free elections in 1993. The most recentpresidential elections were held in 2001; President RENE, who hadserved since 1977, was re-elected. In April 2004 RENE stepped downand Vice President James MICHEL was sworn in as president.
Geography Seychelles
Location:archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:4 35 S, 55 40 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 455 sq kmland: 455 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:491 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon(late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon(March to May)
Terrain:Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; othersare coral, flat, elevated reefs
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
Natural resources:fish, copra, cinnamon trees
Land use:arable land: 2.17%permanent crops: 13.04%other: 84.79% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; shortdroughts possible
Environment - current issues:water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: 41 granitic and about 75 coralline islands
People Seychelles
Population:81,541 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 25.9% (male 10,667/female 10,440)15-64 years: 68% (male 27,060/female 28,366)65 years and over: 6.1% (male 1,607/female 3,401) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 28.1 yearsmale: 27 yearsfemale: 29.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.43% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:16.03 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:6.29 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-5.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 15.14 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 19.16 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 10.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.08 yearsmale: 66.69 yearsfemale: 77.63 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)adjective: Seychellois
Ethnic groups:mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab
Religions:Roman Catholic 82.3%, Anglican 6.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.1%,other Christian 3.4%, Hindu 2.1%, Muslim 1.1%, other non-Christian1.5%, unspecified 1.5%, none 0.6% (2002 census)
Languages:Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2%(2002 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 91.9%male: 91.4%female: 92.3% (2003 est.)
Government Seychelles
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Seychellesconventional short form: Seychelleslocal long form: Republic of Seychelleslocal short form: Seychelles
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Victoriageographic coordinates: 4 38 S, 55 27 Etime difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, AnseEtoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, BeauVallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe),Grand' Anse (on Praslin), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, MontBuxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe La Rue, Port Glaud, SaintLouis, Takamaka
Independence:29 June 1976 (from UK)
National holiday:Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)
Constitution:18 June 1993
Legal system:based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Suffrage:17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President James MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); note- the president is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President James MICHEL (since 14 April 2004);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for two more terms); election last held 28-30 July 2006(next to be held in 2011)election results: President James MICHEL elected president; percentof vote - James MICHEL (SPPF) 53.73%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (SNP) 45.71%,Philippe BOULLE 0.56%; note - this was the first election in whichPresident James MICHEL participated; he was originally sworn in aspresident after former president France Albert RENE stepped down inApril 2004
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats - 25elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis toparties winning at least 10% of the vote; members serve five-yearterms)elections: last held 4-6 December 2002 (next to be held in December2007)election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 54.3%, SNP 42.6%,DP 3.1%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11
Judicial branch:Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts areappointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM, Daniel BELLE]; MouvementSeychellois pour la Democratie [Jacques HODOUL]; Seychelles NationalParty or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United Opposition orUO); Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF [France AlbertRENE, James MICHEL] (the governing party)
Political pressure groups and leaders:Roman Catholic Church; trade unions
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC,Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jeremie BONNELAMEchancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador toMauritius is accredited to the Seychelles
Flag description:five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, andgreen (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side
Economy Seychelles
Economy - overview:Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Oceanarchipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the oldnear-subsistence level. Growth has been led by the tourist sector,which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna fishing. In recent yearsthe government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgradehotels and other services. At the same time, the government hasmoved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting thedevelopment of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing.Sharp drops illustrated the vulnerability of the tourist sector in1991-92 due largely to the Gulf War, and once again following the 11September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. Growth slowed in1998-2002, and fell in 2003, due to sluggish tourist and tunasectors, but resumed in 2004, erasing a persistent budget deficit.Growth turned negative again in 2005. Tight controls on exchangerates and the scarcity of foreign exchange have impaired short-termeconomic prospects. The black-market value of the Seychelles rupeeis half the official exchange rate; without a devaluation of thecurrency, the tourist sector may remain sluggish as vacationers seekcheaper destinations such as Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$626 million (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$722 million (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$7,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.2% industry: 30.4% services: 66.5% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 30,900 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 10% industry: 19% services: 71% (1989)
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.6% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):42% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $343.3 millionexpenditures: $332.2 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Public debt:167% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca),bananas; poultry; tuna
Industries:fishing, tourism, processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconutfiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:241.3 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:224.4 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:7,600 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:$-32 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$312.1 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products(reexports)
Exports - partners:UK 23%, Spain 19.6%, France 11.4%, Japan 9.7%, Italy 7.4%, Germany5.7%, Netherlands 5.4% (2005)
Imports:$459.9 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - partners:Saudi Arabia 16.7%, Spain 14.9%, Singapore 7.6%, France 7.5%, Italy6.2%, South Africa 6.2% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$41 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$508 million (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$16.4 million (1995)
Currency (code):Seychelles rupee (SCR)
Currency code:SCR
Exchange rates:Seychelles rupees per US dollar - 5.5 (2005), 5.5 (2004), 5.4007(2003), 5.48 (2002), 5.8575 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Seychelles
Telephones - main lines in use:21,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:57,000 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: effective systemdomestic: radiotelephone communications between islands in thearchipelagointernational: country code - 248; direct radiotelephonecommunications with adjacent island countries and African coastalcountries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:42,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:11,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.sc
Internet hosts:72 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:20,000 (2005)
Transportation Seychelles
Airports: 15 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 7914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Roadways:total: 458 kmpaved: 440 kmunpaved: 18 km (2003)
Merchant marine:total: 5 ships (1000 GRT or over) 69,777 GRT/113,501 DWTby type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 4foreign-owned: 1 (Nigeria 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Victoria
Military Seychelles
Military branches:Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes Navy Wing,Air Wing), National Guard (2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 21,612females age 18-49: 22,459 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 16,122females age 18-49: 18,777 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$14.85 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.1% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Seychelles