Chapter XVI: Front Matter (16)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 4,035,462 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,110,276 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 198,115 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$143.5 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY02)

Transnational Issues Cote d'Ivoire

Disputes - international:
rebel fighting extended to neighboring states and has driven out
nationals and foreign workers to nearby countries; the Ivorian
Government accuses Burkina Faso and Liberia of supporting Ivorian
rebels

Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption;
transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin to
Europe and occasionally to the US, and for Latin American cocaine
destined for Europe and South Africa; while rampant corruption and
inadequate supervision leave the banking system vulnerable to money
laundering, the lack of a developed financial system limits the
country's utility as a major money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

======================================================================

@Croatia

Introduction Croatia

Background:
In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known
after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became
a federal independent Communist state under the strong hand of
Marshal TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from
Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often
bitter, fighting before occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared
from Croatian lands. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held
enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998.

Geography Croatia

Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Slovenia

Geographic coordinates:
45 10 N, 15 30 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 56,542 sq km
water: 128 sq km
land: 56,414 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries:
total: 2,197 km
border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km,
Serbia and Montenegro (north) 241 km, Serbia and Montenegro (south)
25 km, Slovenia 670 km

Coastline:
5,835 km (mainland 1,777 km, islands 4,058 km)

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate:
Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with
hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast

Terrain:
geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low
mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Dinara 1,830 m

Natural resources:
oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, natural
asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 23.55%
permanent crops: 2.24%
other: 74.21% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes

Environment - current issues:
air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain
is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and
domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of
infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note:
controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and
Turkish Straits

People Croatia

Population:
4,422,248 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 415,873; female 394,414)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,465,488; female 1,454,778)
65 years and over: 15.6% (male 258,943; female 432,752) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 38.9 years
male: 37.1 years
female: 40.7 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
0.31% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:
12.76 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate:
11.25 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate:
1.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 7.78 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.37 years
male: 70.76 years
female: 78.2 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.93 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
200 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 10 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Croat(s), Croatian(s)
adjective: Croatian

Ethnic groups:
Croat 89.6%, Serb 4.5%, Bosniak 0.5%, Hungarian 0.4%, Slovene 0.3%,
Czech 0.2%, Roma 0.2%, Albanian 0.1%, Montenegrin 0.1%, others 4.1%
(2001)

Religions:
Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, Muslim 1.3%, Protestant 0.3%,
others and unknown 6.2% (2001)

Languages:
Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech,
Slovak, and German)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.5%
male: 99.4%
female: 97.8% (2003 est.)

Government Croatia

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Croatia
conventional short form: Croatia
local short form: Hrvatska
local long form: Republika Hrvatska

Government type:
presidential/parliamentary democracy

Capital:
Zagreb

Administrative divisions:
20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city* (grad -
singular); Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska Zupanija, Brodsko-Posavska
Zupanija, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska Zupanija, Istarska Zupanija,
Karlovacka Zupanija, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka Zupanija,
Krapinsko-Zagorska Zupanija, Licko-Senjska Zupanija, Medimurska
Zupanija, Osjecko-Baranjska Zupanija, Pozesko-Slavonska Zupanija,
Primorsko-Goranska Zupanija, Sibensko-Kninska Zupanija,
Sisacko-Moslavacka Zupanija, Splitsko-Dalmatinska Zupanija,
Varazdinska Zupanija, Viroviticko-Podravska Zupanija,
Vukovarsko-Srijemska Zupanija, Zadarska Zupanija, Zagreb*,
Zagrebacka Zupanija

Independence:
25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday:
Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)

Constitution:
adopted on 22 December 1990

Legal system:
based on civil law system

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Stjepan (Stipe) MESIC (since 18 February
2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Ivica RACAN (since 27 January
2000); Deputy Prime Ministers Goran GRANIC (since 27 January 2000),
Ante SIMONIC (since 30 July 2002), Zeljka ANTUNOVI (since 27 January
2000), Slavko LINIC (since 27 January 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and
approved by the House of Representatives
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 7 February 2000 (next to be held NA 2005); prime
minister nominated by the president in line with the balance of
power in the Assembly
note: government coalition - SDP, HSLS, HSS, LP, HNS; a sixth party,
the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), withdrew in June 2001
election results: Stjepan MESIC elected president; percent of vote -
Stjepan MESIC (HNS) 56%, Drazen BUDISA (HSLS) 44%

Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly or Sabor (152 seats; note - one seat was added
in the November Parliamentary elections; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms); note - House of Counties was
abolished in March 2001
election results: Assembly (then referred to as the House of
Representatives) - percent of vote by party - HDZ 43.4%, SDP 23%,
HNS 7.4%, HSS 6.57%, HSP 6%; seats by party - HDZ 66, SDP 34, HNS
10, HSS 9, HSP 7; note - these are preliminary results
elections: Assembly - last held 23 November 2003 (next to be held in
2007)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; judges for both courts
appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the
Republic, which is elected by the House of Representatives

Political parties and leaders:
Croatian Bloc or HB [Ivic PASALIC]; Croatian Christian Democratic
Union or HKDU [Anto KOVACEVIC]; Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ
[Ivo SANADER]; Croatian Party of Rights or HSP [Anto DJAPIC];
Croatian Peasant Party or HSS [Zlatko TOMCIC]; Croatian People's
Party or HNS [Vesna PUSIC]; Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS
[Drazen BUDISA]; Croatian True Revival Party or HIP [Miroslav
TUDJMAN]; Democratic Centre or DC [Mate GRANIC]; Istrian Democratic
Assembly or IDS [Ivan JAKOVCIC]; Liberal Party or LS [Ivo BANAC];
Party of Liberal Democrats or LIBRA [Goran GRANIC]; Social
Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Ivica RACAN]
note: the Social Democratic Party or SDP and the Croatian Social
Liberal Party or HSLS formed a coalition as did the HSS, HNS, LP,
and IDS, which together defeated the Croatian Democratic Union or
HDZ in the 2000 lower house parliamentary election; the IDS
subsequently left the governing coalition in June 2001 over its
inability to win greater autonomy for Istria

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMOGIP, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ivan GRDESIC
FAX: [1] (202) 588-8936
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899
chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph FRANK
embassy: Thomasa Jeffersona 2, 10010 Zagreb
mailing address: use street address
telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200
FAX: [385] (1) 661-2373

Flag description:
red, white, and blue horizontal bands with Croatian coat of arms
(red and white checkered)

Economy Croatia

Economy - overview:
Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the Republic of Croatia,
after Slovenia, was the most prosperous and industrialized area,
with a per capita output perhaps one-third above the Yugoslav
average. The economy emerged from its mild recession in 2000 with
tourism the main factor, but massive structural unemployment remains
a key negative element. The government's failure to press the
economic reforms needed to spur growth is largely the result of
coalition politics and public resistance, particularly from the
trade unions. Opponents fear reforms would cut jobs, wages, and
social benefits. The government has a heavy backload of civil cases,
many involving tenure land. The country is likely to experience only
moderate growth without disciplined fiscal and structural reform.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $43.12 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
5.2% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $9,800 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 33%
services: 58% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 23.3% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
1.7 million (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 13.2% NA, industry 25.4% NA, services 46.4% NA (2002)

Unemployment rate:
21.7% (2002 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $8.6 billion
expenditures: $9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001 est.)

Industries:
chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal,
electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper,
wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding,
petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:
2.8% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:
12.12 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 33.6%
hydro: 66%
other: 0.4% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
14.27 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
386 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
3.386 billion kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
29,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
89,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
93.6 million bbl (37257)

Natural gas - production:
1.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
2.84 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
1.08 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
34.36 billion cu m (37257)

Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, barley, alfalfa, clover,
olives, citrus, grapes, soybeans, potatoes; livestock, dairy products

Exports:
$4.9 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels

Exports - partners:
Italy 22.4%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 14.4%, Germany 12.5%, Slovenia
8%, Austria 7.3% (2002)

Imports:
$10.7 billion c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, transport and electrical equipment, chemicals, fuels and
lubricants, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Italy 16.8%, Germany 16.4%, Slovenia 7.8%, Russia 6.8%, Austria
6.7%, France 5.2% (2002)

Debt - external:
$16.5 billion (yearend 2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
ODA $66 million (2000)

Currency:
kuna (HRK)

Currency code:
HRK

Exchange rates:
kuna per US dollar - 7.87 (2002), 8.34 (2001), 8.28 (2000), 7.11
(1999), 6.36 (1998)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Croatia

Telephones - main lines in use:
1,721,139 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.3 million (2001)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: reconstruction plan calls for replacement of all analog
circuits with digital and enlarging the network; a backup will be
included in the plan for the main trunk
international: digital international service is provided through the
main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in the Trans-Asia-Europe
(TEL) fiber-optic project, which consists of two fiber-optic trunk
connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk line from Rijeka
to Split and Dubrovnik; Croatia is also investing in ADRIA 1, a
joint fiber-optic project with Germany, Albania, and Greece (2000)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999)

Radios:
1.51 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
36 (plus 321 repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions:
1.22 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.hr

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
9 (2000)

Internet users:
480,000 (2001)

Transportation Croatia

Railways:
total: 2,296 km
standard gauge: 2,296 km 1.435-m gauge (983 km electrified) (2002)

Highways:
total: 28,123 km
paved: 23,792 km (including 410 km of expressways)
unpaved: 4,331 km (2000)

Waterways:
785 km
note: (perennially navigable; large sections of Sava blocked by
downed bridges, silt, and debris)

Pipelines:
gas 1,374 km; oil 583 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:
Dubrovnik, Dugi Rat, Omisalj, Ploce, Pula, Rijeka, Sibenik, Split,
Vukovar (inland waterway port on Danube), Zadar

Merchant marine:
total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 765,830 GRT/1,188,948 DWT
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Hong Kong 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 16, chemical tanker 4, combination
bulk 5, multi-functional large-load carrier 3, passenger 1,
petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 6,
short-sea passenger 3

Airports:
59 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 9 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 4

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 43
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 34 (2002)

Heliports:
1 (2002)

Military Croatia

Military branches:
Ground Forces (Hrvatska Vojska, HV), Naval Forces, Air and Air
Defense Forces

Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,081,135 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 856,946 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 30,096 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$520 million (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.39% (2002 est.)

Transnational Issues Croatia

Disputes - international:
discussions continue with Bosnia and Herzegovina on sections of the
Una River and villages at the base of Mount Pljesevica;
parliamentarians are far from ratifying the Croatia-Slovenia land
and maritime boundary agreement, which would have ceded most of
Pirin Bay and maritime access to Slovenia and several villages to
Croatia; in late 2002, Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro adopted an
interim agreement to settle the disputed Prevlaka Peninsula,
allowing the withdrawal of the UN monitoring mission (UNMOP), but
discussions could be complicated by the inability of Serbia and
Montenegro to come to an agreement on the economic aspects of the
new federal union; Croatia and Italy continue to debate bilateral
property and ethnic minority rights issues stemming from border
changes after the Second World War

Illicit drugs:
transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to
Western Europe; has been used as a transit point for maritime
shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

======================================================================

@Cuba

Introduction Cuba

Background:
Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule has
held the country together since then. Cuba's Communist revolution,
with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and
Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The country is now slowly
recovering from a severe economic recession in 1990, following the
withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion to $6
billion annually. Cuba portrays its difficulties as the result of
the US embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migration to the US -
using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, or falsified visas - is a
continuing problem. Some 2,500 Cubans attempted the crossing of the
Straits of Florida in 2002; the US Coast Guard apprehended about 60%
of the individuals.

Geography Cuba

Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida

Geographic coordinates:
21 30 N, 80 00 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 110,860 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 110,860 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries:
total: 29 km
border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains
part of Cuba

Coastline:
3,735 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April);
rainy season (May to October)

Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in
the southeast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m

Natural resources:
cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica,
petroleum, arable land

Land use:
arable land: 33.04%
other: 59.35% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 7.61%

Irrigated land:
870 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to October (in
general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year);
droughts are common

Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:
largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater
Antilles

People Cuba

Population:
11,263,429 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.1% (male 1,164,376; female 1,103,061)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 3,932,604; female 3,909,523)
65 years and over: 10.2% (male 531,608; female 622,257) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 34.5 years
male: 33.9 years
female: 35.1 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
0.34% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:
11.87 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate:
7.38 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate:
-1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 8.06 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.8 years
male: 74.38 years
female: 79.36 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.61 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,200 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
120 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Cuban(s)
adjective: Cuban

Ethnic groups:
mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%

Religions:
nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power;
Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also
represented

Languages:
Spanish

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
female: 96.9% (2003 est.)
male: 97.2%
total population: 97%

People - note:
illicit migration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to depart
the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers,
direct flights, or falsified visas; some 2,500 Cubans took to the
Straits of Florida in 2002; the US Coast Guard interdicted about 60%
of these migrants; Cubans also use non-maritime routes to enter the
US; some 1,500 Cubans arrived overland via the southwest border and
direct flights to Miami in 2002

Government Cuba

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
conventional short form: Cuba
local short form: Cuba
local long form: Republica de Cuba

Government type:
Communist state

Capital:
Havana

Administrative divisions:
14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special
municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila,
Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla
de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio,
Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara

Independence:
20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US
from 1898 to 1902)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 10 December (1898); note - 10 December 1898 is
the date of independence from Spain, 20 May 1902 is the date of
independence from US administration; Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953)

Constitution:
24 February 1976, amended July 1992 and June 2002

Legal system:
based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist
legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President of the Council of State and President of
the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from
February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished;
president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the
Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of
Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly; election last held 6 March 2003 (next to be held in 2008)
election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz reelected president; percent of
legislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president;
percent of legislative vote - 100%
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the
Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly; note - there
is also a Council of State whose members are elected by the National
Assembly
head of government: President of the Council of State and President
of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from
February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished;
president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the
Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of
Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional
del Poder Popular (609 seats, elected directly from slates approved
by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 19 January 2003 (next to be held in 2008)
election results: percent of vote - PCC 97.6%; seats - PCC 609

Judicial branch:
People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice
president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:
only party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first
secretary]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS
(excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none; note - Cuba has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy,
headed by Principal Officer Dagoberto RODRIGUEZ Barrera (since
August 2001); address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss Embassy, 2630
16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: [1] (202) 797-8518

Diplomatic representation from the US:
none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy,
headed by Principal Officer James C. CASON; address: USINT, Swiss
Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado, Havana; telephone:
[53] (7) 33-3551 through 3559 (operator assistance required); FAX:
[53] (7) 33-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland

Flag description:
five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) alternating
with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears
a white, five-pointed star in the center; design influenced by the
US flag

Economy Cuba

Economy - overview:
The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening
against a desire for firm political control. It has undertaken
limited reforms in recent years to increase enterprise efficiency
and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and
services but is unlikely to implement extensive changes. A major
feature of the economy is the dichotomy between relatively efficient
export enclaves and inefficient domestic sectors. The average
Cuban's standard of living remains at a lower level than before the
severe economic depression of the early 1990s, which was caused by
the loss of Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. High oil import
prices, recessions in key export markets, damage from Hurricanes
Isidore and Lili, and the tourist slump after 11 September 2001
hampered growth in 2002.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $30.69 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
1.1% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.6%
industry: 34.5%
services: 57.9% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.1% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
4.3 million
note: state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 24%, industry 25%, services 51% (1999)

Unemployment rate:
4.1% (2001 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $14.9 billion
expenditures: $15.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)

Industries:
sugar, petroleum, tobacco, chemicals, construction, services,
nickel, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, biotechnology

Industrial production growth rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production:
14.38 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 93.9%
hydro: 0.6%
other: 5.4% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
13.38 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
50,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
163,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
532 million bbl (37257)

Natural gas - production:
600 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
600 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
42.62 billion cu m (37257)

Agriculture - products:
sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock

Exports:
$1.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:
sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee

Exports - partners:
Netherlands 19.1%, Russia 18.1%, Canada 14.3%, Spain 9.5%, China
7.3% (2002)

Imports:
$4.8 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners:
Spain 17.2%, China 12%, Italy 9.1%, France 7.6%, Mexico 7.3%,
Canada 6.2%, US 5.6%, Brazil 4.7% (2002)

Debt - external:
$12.3 billion (convertible currency); another $15 billion -$20
billion owed to Russia (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$68.2 million (1997 est.)

Currency:
Cuban peso (CUP)

Currency code:
CUP

Exchange rates:
Cuban pesos per US dollar - 1.0000 (nonconvertible, official rate,
for international transactions, pegged to the US dollar);
convertible peso sold for domestic use at a rate of 1.00 US dollar
per 27 pesos by the Government of Cuba (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Cuba

Telephones - main lines in use:
473,031 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,994 (1997)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: principal trunk system, end to end of country, is coaxial
cable; fiber-optic distribution in Havana and on Isla de la
Juventud; 2 microwave radio relay installations (one is old,
US-built; the other newer, built during the period of Soviet
support); both analog and digital mobile cellular service established
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:
3.9 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
58 (1997)

Televisions:
2.64 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.cu

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)

Internet users:
120,000 (2002)

Transportation Cuba

Railways:
total: 3,442 km
standard gauge: 3,442 km 1.435-m gauge (142 km electrified)
note: an additional 7,742 km of track is used by sugar plantations;
about 65% of this track is standard gauge; the rest is narrow gauge
(2002)

Highways:
total: 60,858 km
paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)
unpaved: 31,038 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
240 km

Pipelines:
gas 49 km; oil 230 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:
Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas, Nuevitas,
Santiago de Cuba

Merchant marine:
total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 59,257 GRT/90,295 DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 5, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1,
petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 2 (2002 est.)

Airports:
161 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 70
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
under 914 m: 31 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 91
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 63 (2002)

Military Cuba

Military branches:
Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) including Revolutionary Army (ER),
Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR),
Territorial Militia Troops (MTT), and Youth Labor Army (EJT); note -
the Border Guard Troops (TGF) are controlled by the Interior Ministry

Military manpower - military age:
17 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 3,120,702
note: both sexes are liable for military service (2003 est.)
females age 15-49: 3,049,927

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,923,967
females age 15-49: 1,875,412 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 81,095
females: 87,780 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
roughly 4% (FY95 est.)

Military - note:
Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of
Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993

Transnational Issues Cuba

Disputes - international:
US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual
agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease

Illicit drugs:
territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone for
cocaine and heroin bound for the US and Europe; established the
death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

======================================================================

@Cyprus

Introduction Cyprus

Background:
Independence from the UK was approved in 1960, with constitutional
guarantees by the Greek Cypriot majority to the Turkish Cypriot
minority. In 1974, a Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government
was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled
almost 40% of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared
itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," but it is
recognized only by Turkey. UN-led direct talks between the two sides
to reach a comprehensive settlement to the division of the island
began in January 2002.

Geography Cyprus

Location:
Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey

Geographic coordinates:
35 00 N, 33 00 E

Map references:
Middle East

Area:
total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish Cypriot
area)
water: 10 sq km
land: 9,240 sq km

Area - comparative:
about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
648 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate:
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

Terrain:
central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but
significant plains along southern coast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Olympus 1,951 m

Natural resources:
copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth
pigment

Land use:
arable land: 10.61%
permanent crops: 4.65%
other: 84.74% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
400 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
moderate earthquake activity; droughts

Environment - current issues:
water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal
disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest
aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from
sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife
habitats from urbanization

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:
the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and
Sardinia)

People Cyprus

Population:
771,657 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.9% (male 86,446; female 82,769)
15-64 years: 67% (male 261,404; female 255,409)
65 years and over: 11.1% (male 37,345; female 48,284) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 34.2 years
male: 33.1 years
female: 35.2 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
0.56% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:
12.77 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate:
7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate:
0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 9.43 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.27 years
male: 74.94 years
female: 79.71 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.88 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 1,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot

Ethnic groups:
Greek 85.2%, Turkish 11.6%, other 3.2% (2000)

Religions:
Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and
other 4%

Languages:
Greek, Turkish, English

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98.9%
female: 96.3% (2003 est.)

Government Cyprus

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
note: the Turkish Cypriot area refers to itself as the "Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)

Government type:
republic
note: a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the
island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this
separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in
July 1974 after a Greek junta-based coup attempt gave the Turkish
Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the
only internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983
Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and
the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC),
recognized only by Turkey; both sides publicly support a settlement
based on a federation (Greek Cypriot position) or confederation
(Turkish Cypriot position)

Capital:
Nicosia

Administrative divisions:
6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia,
Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisions
include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts
of Lefkosa (Nicosia) and Larnaca

Independence:
16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed
self-rule on 13 February 1975

National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriot area
celebrates 15 November (1983) as Independence Day

Constitution:
16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a new or
revised constitution to govern the island and to better relations
between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently; in
1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing
bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which was
renamed the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" in 1983; a new
constitution for the Turkish Cypriot area passed by referendum on 5
May 1985

Legal system:
based on common law, with civil law modifications

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the
1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
head of government: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March
2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the
1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and
vice president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 16 February 2003 (next to be held NA February
2008)
note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish Cypriot
area since 13 February 1975 ("president" elected by popular vote for
a five-year term); elections last held 15 April 2000 (next to be
held NA April 2005); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH reelected president
after the other contender withdrew; Dervis EROGLU has been "prime
minister" of the Turkish Cypriot area since 16 August 1996; there is
a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish Cypriot area
election results: Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected president; percent of
vote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%, Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, Alekos
MARKIDIS 6.6%

Legislative branch:
unicameral - Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives or Vouli
Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots, 24 to
Turkish Cypriots; note - only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are
filled; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms); Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet
Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
election results: Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - AKEL 34.71%, DISY 34%, DIKO 14.84%, KISOS
6.51%, others 9.94%; seats by party - AKEL (Communist) 20, DISY 19,
DIKO 9, KISOS 4, others 4; Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the
Republic - percent of vote by party - UBP 40.3%, DP 22.6%, TKP
15.4%, CTP 13.4%, UDP 4.6%, YBH 2.5%, BP 1.2%; seats by party - UBP
24, DP 13, TKP 7, CTP 6
elections: Greek Cypriot area: last held 27 May 2001 (next to be
held NA May 2006); Turkish Cypriot area: last held 6 December 1998
(next to be held NA December 2003)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and
vice president)
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot area

Political parties and leaders:
Greek Cypriot area: Democratic Party or DIKO [Tassos PAPADOPOULOS];
Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; Fighting Democratic
Movement or ADIK [Dinos MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [George
PERDIKIS]; New Horizons [Nikolaus KOUTSOU]; Restorative Party of the
Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS];
Social Democrats Movement or KISOS (formerly United Democratic Union
of Cyprus or EDEK) [Yiannakis OMIROU]; United Democrats Movement or
EDE [George VASSILIOU]; Turkish Cypriot area: Communal Liberation
Party or TKP [Mustafa AKINCI]; Democratic Party or DP [Serder
DENKTASH]; National Birth Party or UDP [Enver EMIN]; National Unity
Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Our Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU];
Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH [Izzet IZCAN]; Republican Turkish
Party or CTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West); Confederation
of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation of Turkish
Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or
PEO (Communist controlled)

International organization participation:
Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate),
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, NSG, OAS
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Euripides L. EVRIVIADES
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is Osman
ERTUG; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1]
(202) 887-6198
consulate(s): New York
consulate(s) general: New York
telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael KLOSSON
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, 2407
Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nikosia
telephone: [357] (22) 776400
FAX: [357] (22) 780944

Flag description:
white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name
Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green
crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches
symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek
and Turkish communities
note: the Turkish Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the
top and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on a
white field

Economy Cyprus

Economy - overview:
The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible to
external shocks. Erratic growth rates over the past decade reflect
the economy's vulnerability to swings in tourist arrivals, caused by
political instability in the region and fluctuations in economic
conditions in Western Europe. Economic policy is focused on meeting
the criteria for admission to the EU. As in the Turkish sector,
water shortages are a perennial problem; a few desalination plants
are now online. The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly one-third of
the per capita GDP of the south. Because it is recognized only by
Turkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing and
investment. It remains heavily dependent on agriculture and
government service, which together employ about half of the work
force. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides
grants and loans to support economic development. Ankara provided
$200 million in 2002 and pledged $450 million for the 2003-05
period. Future events throughout the island will be highly
influenced by the outcome of negotiations on the UN-sponsored
agreement to unite the Greek and Turkish areas and by the
arrangements under which the island joins the EU.

GDP:
Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $9.4 billion (2001
est.); Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $787 million
(2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
Greek Cypriot area: 1.7% (2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 2.6%
(2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2001 est.);
Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $6,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
Greek Cypriot area: agriculture 4.6%; industry 19.9%; services 19.9%
Turkish Cypriot area: agriculture 75.5%; industry 20.7%; services
71% (2001)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Greek Cypriot area: 2.8% (2001 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 24.5%
(2002 est.)

Labor force:
Greek Cypriot area: 291,000; Turkish Cypriot area: 86,300 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:
Greek Cypriot area: services 73%, industry 22%, agriculture 5%
(2000); Turkish Cypriot area: services 56.4%, industry 22.8%,
agriculture 20.8% (1998)

Unemployment rate:
Greek Cypriot area: 3.3%; Turkish Cypriot area: 5.6% (2002 est.)

Budget:
revenues: Greek Cypriot area - $4.4 billion, Turkish Cypriot area -
$231.3 million (2002 est.)
expenditures: $3.7 billion, Greek Cypriot area - $539 million,
including capital expenditures of $539 million, Turkish Cypriot area
- $432.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)

Industries:
food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, wood
products

Industrial production growth rate:
Greek Cypriot area: -1.4% (2002); Turkish Cypriot area: -0.3% (2002)

Electricity - production:
3.401 billion kWh; Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
other: 0% (2001)
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
Greek Cypriot area: 3.163 billion kWh; Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh
(2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
49,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Agriculture - products:
potatoes, citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables

Exports:
Greek Cypriot area: $1.03 billion f.o.b. Turkish Cypriot area: $46
million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:
Greek Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement,
clothing and cigarettes; Turkish Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes,
textiles

Exports - partners:
UK 28.2%, Greece 7%, UAE 5.3%, France 5.2% (2002)

Imports:
Greek Cypriot area: $3.9 billion f.o.b.; Turkish Cypriot area: $301
million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:
Greek Cypriot area: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants,
intermediate goods, machinery, transport equipment; Turkish Cypriot
area: food, minerals, chemicals, machinery

Imports - partners:
Russia 17.9%, Greece 7.4%, Germany 6.7%, France 6.6%, UK 6.6%,
Italy 6.6%, South Korea 5.7%, Japan 5.3% (2002)

Debt - external:
Greek Cypriot area: $8 billion; Turkish Cypriot area: $NA (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:
Greek Cypriot area - $17 million (1998);; Turkish Cypriot area -
$700 million from Turkey in grants and loans (1990-97), which are
usually forgiven (1998)

Currency:
Greek Cypriot area: Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish Cypriot area:
Turkish lira (TRL)

Currency code:
CYP; TRL

Exchange rates:
Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.61 (2002), 0.64 (2001), 0.62
(2000), 0.54 (1999), 0.52 (1998), Turkish lira per US dollar NA
(2002), 1,225,590 (2001), 625,218 (2000), 418,783 (1999), 260,724
(1998)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Cyprus

Telephones - main lines in use:
Greek Cypriot area: 405,000 (1998);; Turkish Cypriot area: 83,162
(1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
Greek Cypriot area: 68,000 (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: 70,000
(1999)

Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent in both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish
Cypriot areas
domestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
international: tropospheric scatter; 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic
submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations:
Greek Cypriot area: AM 7, FM 60, shortwave 1 (1998); Turkish
Cypriot area: AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:
Greek Cypriot area: 310,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 56,450
(1994)

Television broadcast stations:
Greek Cypriot area: 4 (plus 225 low-power repeaters) (September
1995);; Turkish Cypriot area: 4 (plus 5 repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions:
Greek Cypriot area: 248,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 52,300
(1994)

Internet country code:
.cy

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)

Internet users:
150,000 (2002)

Transportation Cyprus

Railways:
0 km

Highways:
total: 13,491 km
note: Greek Cypriot area: 11,141 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 2,350 km
unpaved: Greek Cypriot area: 4,713 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 980 km
(2000/1996)
paved: Greek Cypriot area: 6,428 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 1,370 km

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Vasilikos

Merchant marine:
total: 1,180 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 23,106,229 GRT/37,032,163 DWT
ships by type: bulk 421, cargo 325, chemical tanker 25, combination
bulk 24, combination ore/oil 2, container 151, liquefied gas 2,
passenger 8, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 124, refrigerated
cargo 45, roll on/roll off 37, short-sea passenger 9, specialized
tanker 3, vehicle carrier 3
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Austria 12, Belgium 2, Bulgaria 2, Canada 3, Chile 2,
China 16, Croatia 2, Cuba 11, Finland 1, Germany 229, Greece 607,
Guam 1, Hong Kong 6, India 6, Iran 1, Ireland 1, Israel 5, Italy 1,
Japan 26, Latvia 14, Lebanon 1, Lithuania 2, Mexico 1, Monaco 10,
Netherlands 30, Norway 23, Panama 1, Philippines 2, Poland 19,
Portugal 2, Russia 57, Singapore 2, Slovenia 2, South Korea 4, Spain
7, Sudan 2, Sweden 6, Switzerland 4, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1, United
Arab Emirates 13, United Kingdom 6, United States 4, Vietnam 1 (2002
est.)

Airports:
16 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 3

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)

Heliports:
10 (2002)

Military Cyprus

Military branches:
Greek Cypriot area: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; including
air and naval elements), Greek Cypriot Police
Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (GKK)

Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 201,606 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 138,336 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 6,638 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$384 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.8% (FY02)

Transnational Issues Cyprus

Disputes - international:
hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous
areas, a Greek Cypriot area controlled by the internationally
recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot area, separated
by a UN buffer zone; UN deadline on sides accepting a federation
plan for reunification have expired, diminishing chances of
Turkish-Cypriot participation in EU membership in 2004

Illicit drugs:
minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and
container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey;
some cocaine transits as well; anti-money-laundering laws
strengthened but few convictions

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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@Czech Republic

Introduction Czech Republic

Background:
Following the First World War, the closely related Czechs and
Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form
Czechoslovakia. During the interwar years, the new country's leaders
were frequently preoccupied with meeting the demands of other ethnic
minorities within the republic, most notably the Sudeten Germans and
the Ruthenians (Ukrainians). After World War II, a truncated
Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of influence. In 1968,
an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's
leaders to liberalize Communist party rule and create "socialism
with a human face." Anti-Soviet demonstrations the following year
ushered in a period of harsh repression. With the collapse of Soviet
authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom through a
peaceful "Velvet Revolution." On 1 January 1993, the country
underwent a "velvet divorce" into its two national components, the
Czech Republic and Slovakia. Now a member of NATO, the Czech
Republic has moved toward integration in world markets, a
development that poses both opportunities and risks. In December
2002, the Czech Republic was invited to join the European Union
(EU). It is expected that the Czech Republic will accede to the EU
in 2004.

Geography Czech Republic

Location:
Central Europe, southeast of Germany

Geographic coordinates:
49 45 N, 15 30 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 78,866 sq km
water: 1,590 sq km
land: 77,276 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:
total: 1,881 km
border countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km,
Slovakia 215 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Terrain:
Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus
surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very
hilly country

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Elbe River 115 m
highest point: Snezka 1,602 m

Natural resources:
hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber

Land use:
arable land: 40%
permanent crops: 3.04%
other: 56.96% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
240 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
flooding

Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in
northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain
damaging forests; efforts to bring industry up to EU code should
improve domestic pollution

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol

Geography - note:
landlocked; strategically located astride some of oldest and most
significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditional
military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in
central Europe

People Czech Republic

Population:
10,249,216 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.4% (male 809,697; female 768,747)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 3,617,214; female 3,614,060)
65 years and over: 14% (male 554,922; female 884,576) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 38.4 years
male: 36.6 years
female: 40.2 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
-0.08% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:
9.01 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate:
10.74 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate:
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.85 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.18 years
male: 71.69 years
female: 78.87 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.18 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 10 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Czech(s)
adjective: Czech

Ethnic groups:
Czech 81.2%, Moravian 13.2%, Slovak 3.1%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%,
Silesian 0.4%, Roma 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 0.5% (1991)

Religions:
Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%,
atheist 39.8%

Languages:
Czech

Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 99.9% (1999 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government Czech Republic

Country name:
conventional long form: Czech Republic
conventional short form: Czech Republic
local short form: Ceska Republika
local long form: Ceska Republika

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
Prague

Administrative divisions:
13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavni
mesto); Jihocesky Kraj, Jihomoravsky Kraj, Karlovarsky Kraj,
Kralovehradecky Kraj, Liberecky Kraj, Moravskoslezsky Kraj,
Olomoucky Kraj, Pardubicky Kraj, Plzensky Kraj, Praha*, Stredocesky
Kraj, Ustecky Kraj, Vysocina, Zlinsky Kraj

Independence:
1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and
Slovakia)

National holiday:
Czech Founding Day, 28 October (1918)

Constitution:
ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993

Legal system:
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring it in line
with Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal