Chapter XVIII: Front Matter (18)

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:
Independence Day, 8 October (1991); note - 25 June 1991 is the day
the Croatian Parliament voted for independence; following a
three-month moratorium to allow the European Community to solve the
Yugoslav crisis peacefully, Parliament adopted a decision on 8
October 1991 to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia

Constitution:
adopted on 22 December 1990; revised 2000, 2001

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 Ivo SANADER (since 9 December
2003); Deputy Prime Ministers Jadranka KOSOR (since 23 December
2003) and Damir POLANCEC (since 15 February 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and
approved by the parliamentary Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 16 January 2005
(next to be held January 2010); the leader of the majority party or
the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime
minister by the president and then approved by the Assembly
election results: Stjepan MESIC reelected president; percent of vote
- Stjepan MESIC 66%, Jadranka KOSOR (HDZ) 34% in the second round

Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly or Sabor (152 seats; note - one seat was added
in the November 2003 parliamentary elections; members elected from
party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 23 November 2003 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; number of seats by
party - HDZ 66, SDP 34, HSS 10, HNS 10, HSP 8, IDS 4, Libra 3, HSU
3, SDSS 3, other 11
note: minority government coalition - HDZ, DC, HSLS, HSU, SDSS

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 Assembly

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 [Josip FRISCIC]; Croatian Pensioner
Party or HSU [Vladimir JORDAN]; Croatian People's Party or HNS
[Vesna PUSIC] (in 2005 party merged with Libra to become Croatian
People's Party-Liberal Democrats or NS-LD [Vesna PUSIC]); Croatian
Social Liberal Party or HSLS [Djurdja ADLESIC]; Croatian True
Revival Party or HIP [Miroslav TUDJMAN]; Democratic Centre or DC
[Vesna SKARE-OZBOLT]; Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS
[Vojislav STANIMIROVIC]; Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS [Ivan
JAKOVCIC]; Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Ivica RACAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA,
MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIF
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

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

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert A. BRADTKE
embassy: 2 Thomas Jefferson Street, 10010 Zagreb
mailing address: use street address
telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200
FAX: [385] (1) 661-2373

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue
superimposed by the 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 a mild recession in 2000 with tourism,
banking, and public investments leading the way. Unemployment
remains high, at about 18%, with structural factors slowing its
decline. While macroeconomic stabilization has largely been
achieved, structural reforms lag because of deep resistance on the
part of the public and lack of strong support from politicians.
Growth, while impressive at about 3% to 4% for the last several
years, has been stimulated, in part, through high fiscal deficits
and rapid credit growth. The EU accession process should accelerate
fiscal and structural reform.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$55.79 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$34.94 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
4.3% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,400 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 30.8%
services: 62.2% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
1.71 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 32.8%
services: 64.5% (2004)

Unemployment rate:
18% official rate; labor force surveys indicate unemployment around
14% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:
11% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 24.5% (2003 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.3% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
28.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $17.69 billion
expenditures: $19.35 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)

Public debt:
49.7% of GDP (2005 est.)

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

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:
5.1% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
11.15 billion kWh (2003)

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

Electricity - consumption:
15.81 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
550 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
5.99 billion kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
20,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
90,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:
93.6 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:
1.85 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
2.99 billion cu m (2003 est.)

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

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

Natural gas - proved reserves:
24.72 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:
$-2.541 billion (2005 est.)

Exports:
$10.3 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

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

Exports - partners:
Italy 21.8%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 14.7%, Germany 10.7%, Slovenia
8.1%, Austria 7.3% (2005)

Imports:
$18.93 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

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

Imports - partners:
Italy 15.9%, Germany 14.9%, Russia 9.1%, Slovenia 6.8%, Austria
5.8%, China 4.7%, France 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$8.8 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
$30.62 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $166.5 million (2002)

Currency (code):
kuna (HRK)

Currency code:
HRK

Exchange rates:
kuna per US dollar - 5.9473 (2005), 6.0358 (2004), 6.7035 (2003),
7.8687 (2002), 8.34 (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Croatia

Telephones - main lines in use:
1,889,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.984 million (2005)

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: country code - 385; 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

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 hosts:
18,825 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
9 (2000)

Internet users:
1,451,100 (2005)

Transportation Croatia

Airports:
68 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 23
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 9 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 37 (2006)

Heliports:
2 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 1,340 km; oil 583 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 2,726 km
standard gauge: 2,726 km 1.435-m gauge (1,199 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 28,344 km
paved: 24,186 km (including 742 km of expressways)
unpaved: 4,158 km (2004)

Waterways:
785 km (2006)

Merchant marine:
total: 72 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,079,286 GRT/1,724,698 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 22, cargo 11, chemical tanker 3,
passenger/cargo 27, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 1, roll
on/roll off 3
registered in other countries: 36 (Belize 1, Cyprus 2, Liberia 7,
Malta 10, Marshall Islands 2, Panama 5, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 9) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Omisalj, Ploce, Rijeka, Sibenik, Vukovar (on Danube)

Military Croatia

Military branches:
Ground Forces (Hrvatska Kopnena Vojska, HKoV), Naval Forces
(Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM), Air and Air Defense Forces
(Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo i Protuzrakoplovna Obrana, HRZiPZO),
Joint Education and Training Command, Logistics Command; Military
Police Force supports each of the three Croatian military forces
(2006)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service, with six-month
service obligation; 16 years of age with consent for voluntary
service (December 2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,005,058
females age 18-49: 1,008,511 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 725,914
females age 18-49: 823,611 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 29,020
females age 18-49: 27,897 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$620 million (2004)

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

Transnational Issues Croatia

Disputes - international:
discussions continue with Bosnia and Herzegovina over several small
disputed sections of the boundary related to maritime access that
hinders ratification of the 1999 border agreement; 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, remains un-ratified and in dispute; as
a European Union peripheral state, neighboring Slovenia must conform
to the strict Schengen border rules to curb illegal migration and
commerce through southeastern Europe while encouraging close
cross-border ties with Croatia

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 12,600 (Croats and Serbs displaced in 1992-95 war) (2005)

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 19 December, 2006

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

@Cuba

Introduction Cuba

Background:
The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the
European discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and
following its development as a Spanish colony during the next
several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to
work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the
launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from
Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule, marked initially by neglect, became
increasingly repressive, provoking an independence movement and
occasional rebellions that were harshly suppressed. It was US
intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 that finally
overthrew Spanish rule. The subsequent Treaty of Paris established
Cuban independence, which was granted in 1902 after a three-year
transition period. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959;
his iron rule has held the regime 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, air flights, or
via the southwest border - is a continuing problem. The US Coast
Guard intercepted 2,712 individuals attempting to cross the Straits
of Florida in fiscal year 2005.

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
land: 110,860 sq km
water: 0 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 remains part of
Cuba

Coastline:
3,735 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 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, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica,
petroleum, arable land

Land use:
arable land: 27.63%
permanent crops: 6.54%
other: 65.83% (2005)

Irrigated land:
8,700 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (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, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

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

People Cuba

Population:
11,382,820 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.1% (male 1,117,677/female 1,058,512)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 4,001,161/female 3,999,303)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 554,148/female 652,019) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 35.9 years
male: 35.2 years
female: 36.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.31% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
11.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.22 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
-1.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.22 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.99 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.41 years
male: 75.11 years
female: 79.85 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.66 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,300 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 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
total population: 97%
male: 97.2%
female: 96.9% (2003 est.)

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; Cubans also use non-maritime
routes to enter the US including direct flights to Miami and
over-land via the southwest border

Government Cuba

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

Government type:
Communist state

Capital:
name: Havana
geographic coordinates: 23 08 N, 82 22 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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
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)
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the
Council of State and appointed by the National Assembly or the
31-member Council of State, elected by the Assembly to act on its
behalf when it is not in session
elections: president and vice presidents elected by the National
Assembly for a term of five years; 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%

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:
ACP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, 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, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none; note - Cuba has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy,
headed by Principal Officer Bernardo GUANCHE Hernandez; address:
Cuban Interests Section, Swiss Embassy, 2630 16th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20009; telephone: [1] (202) 797-8518; FAX: [1] (202)
797-8521

Diplomatic representation from the US:
none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy,
headed by Principal Officer Michael E. PARMLY; address: USINT, Swiss
Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado, Havana; telephone:
[53] (7) 833-3551 through 3559 (operator assistance required); FAX:
[53] (7) 833-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland

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

Economy Cuba

Economy - overview:
The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening
against a desire for firm political control. It has rolled back
limited reforms undertaken in the 1990s to increase enterprise
efficiency and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods,
and services. The average Cuban's standard of living remains at a
lower level than before the downturn of the 1990s, which was caused
by the loss of Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The
government in 2005 strengthened its controls over dollars coming
into the economy from tourism, remittances, and trade. External
financing has helped growth in the mining, oil, construction, and
tourism sectors.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$40.06 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$39.51 billion

GDP - real growth rate:
8% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,500 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.5%
industry: 26.1%
services: 68.4% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
4.6 million
note: state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 21.2%
industry: 14.4%
services: 64.4% (2004)

Unemployment rate:
1.9% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
11.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $22.11 billion
expenditures: $23.65 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)

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

Industries:
sugar, petroleum, tobacco, construction, nickel, steel, cement,
agricultural machinery, pharmaceuticals

Industrial production growth rate:
5.1% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
15.65 billion kWh (2004)

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

Electricity - consumption:
13.27 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
72,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
205,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:
532 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:
704 million cu m (2004)

Natural gas - consumption:
704 million cu m (2004)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2004)

Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2004)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
70.79 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:
$49 million (2005 est.)

Exports:
$2.388 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

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

Exports - partners:
Netherlands 25.4%, Canada 20.7%, China 9.8%, Spain 6.8% (2005)

Imports:
$6.916 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

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

Imports - partners:
China 14.9%, Spain 13.9%, Canada 8.6%, US 8.5%, Germany 7.4%, Italy
5.7%, Mexico 5.2%, Japan 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.618 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
$12.56 billion (convertible currency); another $15-20 billion owed
to Russia (2005 est.)

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

Currency (code):
Cuban peso (CUP) and Convertible peso (CUC)

Currency code:
CUP (nonconvertible Cuban peso) and CUC (convertible Cuban peso)

Exchange rates:
Convertible pesos per US dollar - 0.93
note: Cuba has three currencies in circulation: the Cuban peso
(CUP), the convertible peso (CUC), and the US dollar (USD), although
the dollar is being withdrawn from circulation; in April 2005 the
official exchange rate changed from $1 per CUC to $1.08 per CUC
(0.93 CUC per $1), both for individuals and enterprises; individuals
can buy 24 Cuban pesos (CUP) for each CUC sold, or sell 25 Cuban
pesos for each CUC bought; enterprises, however, must exchange CUP
and CUC at a 1:1 ratio.

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Cuba

Telephones - main lines in use:
849,900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
134,500 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: greater investment beginning in 1994 and the
establishment of a new Ministry of Information Technology and
Communications in 2000 has resulted in improvements in the system;
wireless service is expensive and remains restricted to foreigners
and regime elites, many Cubans procure wireless service illegally
with the help of foreigners
domestic: national fiber-optic system under development; 85% of
switches digitized by end of 2004; telephone line density remains
low, at less than 10 per 100 inhabitants; domestic cellular service
expanding
international: country code - 53; fiber-optic cable laid to but not
linked to US network; 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 hosts:
2,234 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)

Internet users:
190,000
note: private citizens are prohibited from buying computers or
accessing the Internet without special authorization; foreigners may
access the Internet in large hotels but are subject to firewalls;
some Cubans buy illegal passwords on the black market or take
advantage of public outlets, to access limited email and the
government-controlled "intranet" (2005)

Transportation Cuba

Airports:
170 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 78
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 37 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 92
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 62 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 49 km; oil 230 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 4,226 km
standard gauge: 4,226 km 1.435-m gauge (140 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
(2005)

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

Waterways:
240 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 11 ships (1000 GRT or over) 33,932 GRT/48,791 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger 1,
petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 17 (Bahamas 1, Cyprus 2, Netherlands
Antilles 1, Panama 11, Spain 1, unknown 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Cienfuegos, Havana, Matanzas

Military Cuba

Military branches:
Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR): Revolutionary Army (ER),
Revolutionary Navy (Marina de Guerra Revolucionaria, MGR),
Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR), Youth Labor Army
(EJT) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age; both sexes are eligible for military service (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 17-49: 2,967,865
females age 17-49: 2,913,559 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 17-49: 2,441,927
females age 17-49: 2,396,741 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 91,901
females: 87,500 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$694 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.8% (2005 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

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Cuba is a source country for women and children
trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced child
labor; Cuba is a major destination for sex tourism, which largely
caters to European, Canadian, and Latin American tourists and
involves large numbers of minors; there are reports that Cuban women
have been trafficked to Mexico for sexual exploitation; forced labor
victims also include children coerced into working in commercial
agriculture
tier rating: Tier 3 - Cuba does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so

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

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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

@Cyprus

Introduction Cyprus

Background:
A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960
following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the
Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head
in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia.
Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic
intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots into
enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek
Government-sponsored attempt to seize control of Cyprus was met by
military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a
third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself
the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," but it is recognized only
by Turkey. The latest two-year round of UN-brokered talks - between
the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to
reach an agreement to reunite the divided island - ended when the
Greek Cypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in an April 2004
referendum. The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although
the EU acquis - the body of common rights and obligations - applies
only to the areas under direct Republic of Cyprus control, and is
suspended in the areas administered by Turkish Cypriots. At present,
every Cypriot carrying a Cyprus passport has the status of a
European citizen; however, EU laws do not apply to north Cyprus.
Nicosia continues to oppose EU efforts to establish direct trade and
economic links to north Cyprus as a way of encouraging the Turkish
Cypriot community to continue to support reunification.

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 north Cyprus)
land: 9,240 sq km
water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative:
about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries:
total: NA; note - boundary with Dhekelia is being resurveyed
border countries: Akrotiri 47.4 km, Dhekelia NA

Coastline:
648 km

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

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: Mount Olympus 1,951 m

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

Land use:
arable land: 10.81%
permanent crops: 4.32%
other: 84.87% (2005)

Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)

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, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

People Cyprus

Population:
784,301 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.4% (male 81,776/female 78,272)
15-64 years: 68% (male 270,254/female 263,354)
65 years and over: 11.6% (male 39,536/female 51,109) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 34.9 years
male: 33.9 years
female: 35.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.53% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
12.56 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.68 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.04 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.82 years
male: 75.44 years
female: 80.31 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.82 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2003 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 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001)

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
local long form: Kypriaki Dimokratia/Kibris Cumhuriyeti
local short form: Kypros/Kibris
note: the Turkish Cypriot community (north Cyprus) refers to itself
as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)

Government type:
republic
note: a separation 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 that followed a Greek junta-supported 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), which is recognized only by Turkey

Capital:
name: Nicosia (Lefkosia)
geographic coordinates: 35 10 N, 33 22 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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 Lefkosia (Nicosia) and Larnaca

Independence:
16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed
self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these
proclamations are only recognized by Turkey

National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots
celebrate 15 November (1983) as Independence Day

Constitution:
16 August 1960; from December 1963, the Turkish Cypriots no longer
participated in the government; negotiations to create the basis for
a new or revised constitution to govern the island and for better
relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held
intermittently since the mid-1960s; in 1975, following the 1974
Turkish intervention, Turkish Cypriots created their own
constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated
State of Cyprus," which became the "Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus" when the Turkish Cypriots declared their independence in
1983; a new constitution for the "TRNC" passed by referendum on 5
May 1985

Legal system:
based on common law, with civil law modifications; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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 - 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 February 2008)
election results: Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected president; percent of
vote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%, Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, Alekos
MARKIDIS 6.6%
note: Mehmet Ali TALAT became "president" of north Cyprus, 24 April
2005, after "presidential" elections on 17 April 2005; results -
Mehmet Ali TALAT 55.6%, Dervis EROGLU 22.7%; Ferdi Sabit SOYER is
"prime minister"; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in north
Cyprus, appointed by the "prime minister"

Legislative branch:
unicameral - Republic of Cyprus: 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); north Cyprus: Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi
(50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: Republic of Cyprus: last held 27 May 2001 (next to be
held 21 May 2006); north Cyprus: last held 14 December 2003 (next to
be held in 2008)
election results: Republic of Cyprus: 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, other 4; north Cyprus: Assembly of the Republic -
percent of vote by party - CTP 35.8%, UBP 32.3%, Peace and
Democratic Movement 13.4%, DP 12.3%; seats by party - CTP 19, UBP
18, Peace and Democratic Movement 6, DP 7

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

Political parties and leaders:
Republic of Cyprus: Democratic Party or DIKO [Tassos PAPADOPOULOS];
Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; European Democracy
or EURO.DE [Prodromos PRODROMOU] (evolved from For Europe which
merged with New Horizons); European Party or EURO.KO [Demetris
SYLLOURIS]; Fighting Democratic Movement or ADIK [Dinos
MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [George PERDIKIS]; Movement for
Social Democracy United Democratic Union of Center or KISOS
[Yannakis OMIROU]; Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL
(Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS]; United Democrats Movement
or EDE [Michalis PAPAPETROU]; north Cyprus: 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 [Alpay DURDURAN]; Peace
and Democratic Movement [Mustafa AKINCI]; 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, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer),
OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Andreas KAKOURIS
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772, 462-0873
FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710
consulate(s) general: New York
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot community in the US is
Osman ERTUG; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone
[1] (202) 887-6198

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald L. SCHLICHER
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, 2407 Engomi,
Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nicosia
telephone: [357] (22) 393939
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 Republic of Northern Cyprus" 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 Republic of Cyprus has a market economy dominated by the
service sector, which accounts for 76% of GDP. Tourism and financial
services are the most important sectors; erratic growth rates over
the past decade reflect the economy's reliance on tourism, which
often fluctuates with political instability in the region and
economic conditions in Western Europe. Nevertheless, the economy
grew a healthy 3.7% per year in 2004 and 2005, well above the EU
average. Cyprus joined the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2)
in May 2005. The government has initiated an aggressive austerity
program, which has cut the budget deficit to below 3% but continued
fiscal discipline is necessary if Cyprus is to meet its goal of
adopting the euro on 1 January 2008. As in the area administered by
Turkish Cypriots, water shortages are a perennial problem; a few
desalination plants are now on line. After 10 years of drought, the
country received substantial rainfall from 2001-03 alleviating
immediate concerns. The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly
one-third of the per capita GDP of the south, and economic growth
tends to be volatile, given north Cyprus's relative isolation,
bloated public sector, reliance on the Turkish lira, and small
market size. The Turkish Cypriot economy grew 15.4% in 2004, fueled
by growth in the construction and education sectors, as well as
increased employment of Turkish Cypriots in the Republic of Cyprus.
The Turkish Cypriots are heavily dependent on transfers from the
Turkish Government. Under the 2003-06 economic protocol, Ankara
plans to provide around $550 million to the "TRNC." Agriculture and
services, together, employ more than half of the work force.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
Republic of Cyprus: $16.81 billion; north Cyprus: $4.54 billion
(2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
Republic of Cyprus: $15.4 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
Republic of Cyprus: 3.8%; north Cyprus: 10.6% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
Republic of Cyprus: $21,600 (2005 est.); north Cyprus: $7,135 (2004
est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 3.7%; industry 19.8%; services
76.5% (2005 est.)
north Cyprus: agriculture 10.6%; industry 20.5%; services 68.9%
(2003 est.)

Labor force:
Republic of Cyprus: 370,000, north Cyprus: 95,025 (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 7.4%, industry 38.2%, services
54.4% (2004 est.)
north Cyprus: agriculture 14.5%, industry 29%, services 56.5% (2004
est.)

Unemployment rate:
Republic of Cyprus: 4% (2005 est.); north Cyprus: 5.6% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Republic of Cyprus: 2.6% (2005 est.); north Cyprus: 9.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
Republic of Cyprus: 19.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: Republic of Cyprus - $6.698 billion (2005 est.)
expenditures: Republic of Cyprus - $7.122 billion (2005 est.)
revenues: $685.7 million; north Cyprus - $231.3 million (2003 est.)
expenditures: north Cyprus - $432.8 million (2003 est.)

Public debt:
Republic of Cyprus: 70.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables; poultry,
pork, lamb; dairy, cheese

Industries:
tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum
production, ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light
chemicals, metal products, wood, paper, stone, and clay products

Industrial production growth rate:
Republic of Cyprus: 0.4% (2005 est.); north Cyprus: -0.3% (2002
est.)

Electricity - production:
Republic of Cyprus: 3.801 billion kWh; north Cyprus: NA kWh (2003)

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

Electricity - consumption:
Republic of Cyprus: 3.535 billion kWh (2004); north Cyprus: NA kWh
(2003)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
Republic of Cyprus: 300 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
Republic of Cyprus: 52,000 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:
Republic of Cyprus: $-962.3 million (2005 est.)

Exports:
Republic of Cyprus: $1.237 billion f.o.b.; north Cyprus: $69
million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
Republic of Cyprus: citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement,
clothing and cigarettes; north Cyprus: citrus, potatoes, textiles

Exports - partners:
France 17.7%, UK 17%, Greece 12.2%, Germany 5.7% (2005)

Imports:
Republic of Cyprus: $5.552 billion f.o.b.;; north Cyprus: $415.2
million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
Republic of Cyprus: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants,
intermediate goods, machinery, transport equipment; north Cyprus:
vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals, chemicals, machinery

Imports - partners:
Greece 17.3%, Italy 10.3%, UK 9%, Germany 8.4%, Israel 7.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Republic of Cyprus: $4.429 billion; north Cyprus $NA (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
Republic of Cyprus: $10.53 billion; north Cyprus: $NA (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
Republic of Cyprus - $NA; north Cyprus - $700 million from Turkey
in grants and loans, which are usually forgiven (2003-06)

Currency (code):
Republic of Cyprus: Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish Cypriot area:
Turkish New lira (YTL)

Currency code:
CYP; TRL

Exchange rates:
Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.4641 (2005), 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174
(2003), 0.6107 (2002), 0.6431 (2001), Turkish lira per US dollar -
1.36 (2005), 1.426 million (2004), 1.501 million (2003), 1.507
million (2002), 1.226 million (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Cyprus

Telephones - main lines in use:
Republic of Cyprus: 420,000 (2005); north Cyprus: 86,228 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
Republic of Cyprus: 718,800 (2005); north Cyprus: 143,178 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent in both Republic of Cyprus and north
Cyprus areas
domestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 357 (area administered by Turkish
Cypriots uses the country code of Turkey - 90); 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:
Republic of Cyprus: AM 5, FM 76, shortwave 0
north Cyprus: AM 1, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2004)

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

Television broadcast stations:
Republic of Cyprus: 8
north Cyprus: 2 (plus 4 relay) (2004)

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

Internet country code:
.cy

Internet hosts:
67,589 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)

Internet users:
298,000 (2005)

Transportation Cyprus

Airports:
16 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Heliports:
10 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 14,496 km (Republic of Cyprus: 12,146 km; north Cyprus:
2,350 km)
paved: Republic of Cyprus: 7,845 km (including 276 km of
expressways); north Cyprus: 1,370 km
unpaved: Republic of Cyprus: 4,301 km; north Cyprus: 980 km
(2005/1996 est.)

Merchant marine:
total: 884 ships (1000 GRT or over) 19,477,944 GRT/31,157,473 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 354, cargo 210, chemical tanker 44, container
145, liquefied gas 8, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 23, petroleum
tanker 64, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 9, vehicle
carrier 5
foreign-owned: 777 (Belgium 1, Canada 2, China 11, Croatia 2, Cuba
2, Denmark 1, Estonia 6, Germany 214, Greece 337, Greenland 1, Hong
Kong 1, India 5, Iran 2, Ireland 3, Israel 3, Italy 2, Japan 17,
South Korea 1, Latvia 4, Netherlands 18, Norway 16, Philippines 1,
Poland 20, Portugal 2, Russia 53, Singapore 1, Slovakia 1, Slovenia
4, Spain 7, Sweden 3, Switzerland 4, Syria 3, UAE 11, UK 6, Ukraine
4, US 7, unknown 1)
registered in other countries: 87 (Bahamas 13, Belize 2, Cambodia
12, Georgia 1, Gibraltar 1, Greece 1, Isle of Man 1, Liberia 3,
Malta 15, Marshall Islands 15, Norway 2, Panama 14, Portugal 1,
Russia 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Sierra Leone 1, Turkey
2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos

Military Cyprus

Military branches:
Republic of Cyprus: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes
air and naval elements); north Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot Security
Force (GKK)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
Greek Cyriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 18-49: 184,352
females age 18-49: 175,567 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
Greek Cyriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 18-49: 150,750
females age 18-49: 144,344 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Greek Cyriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 18-49: 6,578
females age 18-49: 6,200 (2005 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
entities, the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a
Turkish-Cypriot community (north Cyprus); the 1,000-strong UN
Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since
1964 and maintains the buffer zone between north and south; March
2003 reunification talks failed, but Turkish-Cypriots later opened
their borders to temporary visits by Greek Cypriots; on 24 April
2004, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities voted in
simultaneous and parallel referenda on whether to approve the
UN-brokered Annan Plan that would have ended the 30-year division of
the island by establishing a new "United Cyprus Republic," a
majority of Greek Cypriots voted "no"; on 1 May 2004, Cyprus entered
the European Union still divided, with the EU's body of legislation
and standards (acquis communitaire) suspended in the north

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 265,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced for
over 30 years) (2005)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Cyprus is primarily a destination country for a
large number of women trafficked from Eastern and Central Europe,
the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic for the purpose of
sexual exploitation; traffickers continued to fraudulently recruit
victims for work as dancers in cabarets and nightclubs on short-term
"artiste" visas, for work in pubs and bars on employment visas, or
for illegal work on tourist or student visas; there were credible
reports of female domestic workers from India, Sri Lanka, and the
Philippines forced to work excessively long hours and denied proper
compensation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cyprus does not fully comply with
the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and failed
to show evidence of increasing efforts to address its serious
trafficking for sexual exploitation problem; however, it is making
significant efforts to do so

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; despite a strengthening of
anti-money-laundering legislation, remains vulnerable to money
laundering; reporting of suspicious transactions in offshore sector
remains weak

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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

@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. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999
and the European Union 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
land: 77,276 sq km
water: 1,590 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:
total: 2,290.2 km
border countries: Austria 466.3 km, Germany 810.3 km, Poland 761.8
km, Slovakia 251.8 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: 38.82%
permanent crops: 3%
other: 58.18% (2005)

Irrigated land:
240 sq km (2003)

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-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 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, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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:
10,235,455 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.4% (male 755,098/female 714,703)
15-64 years: 71.2% (male 3,656,021/female 3,629,036)
65 years and over: 14.5% (male 576,264/female 904,333) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 39.3 years
male: 37.5 years
female: 41.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
-0.06% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
9.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
10.59 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.22 years
male: 72.94 years
female: 79.69 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.21 children born/woman (2006 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,500 (2001 est.)

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

Nationality:
noun: Czech(s)
adjective: Czech

Ethnic groups:
Czech 90.4%, Moravian 3.7%, Slovak 1.9%, other 4% (2001 census)

Religions:
Roman Catholic 26.8%, Protestant 2.1%, other 3.3%, unspecified
8.8%, unaffiliated 59% (2001 census)

Languages:
Czech

Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Government Czech Republic