Chapter L: Front Matter (50)

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU,
ESA, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joao DE VALLERA
chancery: 2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 350-5400
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726
consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), San
Francisco
consulate(s): New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alfred J. HOFFMAN Jr.
embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon
mailing address: Apartado 43033, 1601-301 Lisboa; PSC 83, APO AE
09726
telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300
FAX: [351] (21) 726-9109
consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)

Flag description:
two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red
(three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the
dividing line

Economy Portugal

Economy - overview:
Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based
economy since joining the European Community in 1986. Over the past
two decades, successive governments have privatized many
state-controlled firms and liberalized key areas of the economy,
including the financial and telecommunications sectors. The country
qualified for the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and began
circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU member
economies. Economic growth had been above the EU average for much of
the 1990s, but fell back in 2001-06. GDP per capita stands at
roughly 70% of the EU-25 average. A poor educational system, in
particular, has been an obstacle to greater productivity and growth.
Portugal has been increasingly overshadowed by lower-cost producers
in Central Europe and Asia as a target for foreign direct
investment. The budget deficit surged to an all-time high of 6% of
GDP in 2005 but was reduced to 4.6% in 2006. The government faces
tough choices in its attempts to boost Portugal's economic
competitiveness while keeping the budget deficit within the
eurozone's 3%-of-GDP ceiling.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$203.1 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$176.6 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
1.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$19,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.6%
industry: 28.6%
services: 64.9% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
5.57 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 30%
services: 60% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
7.5% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 28.4% (1995 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38.5 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.7% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
20.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $83.89 billion
expenditures: $93.09 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
65.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, tomatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats,
swine, poultry, dairy products; fish

Industries:
textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metals and
metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; rubber and
plastic products; ceramics; electronics and communications
equipment; rail transportation equipment; aerospace equipment; ship
construction and refurbishment; wine; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:
0.9% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
42.52 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 64.5%
hydro: 31.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 4.1% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
46.05 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
2.1 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
8.6 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
3,849 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
332,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
28,830 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
357,300 bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
3.737 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
3.76 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:
$-16.75 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$46.77 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
clothing and footwear, machinery, chemicals, cork and paper
products, hides

Exports - partners:
Spain 25.9%, France 13.1%, Germany 11.9%, UK 8%, US 5.4%, Italy
4.3% (2005)

Imports:
$67.74 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum, textiles,
agricultural products

Imports - partners:
Spain 29%, Germany 13.4%, France 8.5%, Italy 5.2%, Netherlands
4.3%, UK 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$10.7 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$310.8 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $271 million (1995)

Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code:
EUR

Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Portugal

Telephones - main lines in use:
4.234 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
11.448 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: Portugal's telephone system has achieved a
state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities
domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwave
radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations
international: country code - 351; 6 submarine cables; satellite
earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean),
NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores; note - an earth station
for Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region) is planned

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 47, FM 172 (many are repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:
3.02 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
62 (plus 166 repeaters)
note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands (1995)

Televisions:
3.31 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.pt

Internet hosts:
845,980 (2005)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)

Internet users:
7,782,700 (2006)

Transportation Portugal

Airports:
66 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 43
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 11 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 22 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 1,099 km; oil 8 km; refined products 174 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 2,850 km
broad gauge: 2,576 km 1.668-m gauge (623 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 274 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 78,470 km
paved: 67,484 km (including 2,002 km of expressways)
unpaved: 10,986 km (2004)

Waterways:
210 km (on Douro River from Porto) (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 111 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,077,300 GRT/1,363,435 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 27, chemical tanker 15, container 7,
liquefied gas 11, passenger 9, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker
8, roll on/roll off 4, vehicle carrier 9
foreign-owned: 82 (Australia 1, Belgium 8, Cyprus 1, Denmark 4,
Germany 17, Greece 4, Italy 12, Japan 9, Malta 1, Mexico 1,
Netherlands 1, Norway 4, Spain 15, Switzerland 3, US 1)
registered in other countries: 16 (Cyprus 2, Hong Kong 1, Malta 3,
Panama 10) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal, Sines

Military Portugal

Military branches:
Army, Navy (Marinha Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps), Air Force
(Forca Aerea Portuguesa, FAP), National Republican Guard (Guarda
Nacional Republicana) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; compulsory military
service was ended in 2004; women serve in the armed forces, on naval
ships since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in some combatant
specialties (2005)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 2,435,042
females age 18-49: 2,405,816 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,952,819
females age 18-49: 1,977,264 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 67,189
females age 18-49: 60,626 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$3,497.8 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.3% (2003)

Transnational Issues Portugal

Disputes - international:
Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory
of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815
Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz

Illicit drugs:
gateway country for Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian
heroin entering the European market (especially from Brazil);
transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe;
consumer of Southwest Asian heroin

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Puerto Rico

Introduction Puerto Rico

Background:
Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was
claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following COLUMBUS' second
voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule
that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African
slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result
of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US
citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since
1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal
self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters
chose not to alter the existing political status.

Geography Puerto Rico

Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic

Geographic coordinates:
18 15 N, 66 30 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 13,790 sq km
land: 8,870 sq km
water: 4,921 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
501 km

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

Climate:
tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:
mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains
precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal
areas

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,339 m

Natural resources:
some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil

Land use:
arable land: 3.69%
permanent crops: 5.59%
other: 90.72% (2005)

Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; hurricanes

Environment - current issues:
erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages

Geography - note:
important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to
the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural
harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central
mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry;
fertile coastal plain belt in north

People Puerto Rico

Population:
3,927,188 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.3% (male 428,610/female 409,484)
15-64 years: 65.8% (male 1,239,255/female 1,345,519)
65 years and over: 12.8% (male 218,045/female 286,275) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 34.7 years
male: 33 years
female: 36.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.4% (2006 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
-1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.14 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.32 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.4 years
male: 74.46 years
female: 82.54 years (2006 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
7,397 (1997)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican

Ethnic groups:
white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%,
Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%

Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%

Languages:
Spanish, English

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 93.9%
female: 94.4% (2002 est.)

Government Puerto Rico

Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico

Dependency status:
unincorporated, organized territory of the US with commonwealth
status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted
under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President

Government type:
commonwealth

Capital:
name: San Juan
geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status); there are no
first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular -
municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas
Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta,
Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas,
Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio,
Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama,
Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao,
Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las
Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca,
Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce,
Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San
German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa
Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja,
Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco

Independence:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

National holiday:
US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day,
25 July (1952)

Constitution:
ratified 3 March 1952, approved by US Congress 3 July 1952,
effective 25 July 1952

Legal system:
based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of
justice

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do
not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch:
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20
January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January
2001)
head of government: Governor Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (since 2 January
2005)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the
legislature
elections: under the US Consitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for US
president and vice president; governor elected by popular vote for a
four-year term (no term limits); election last held 2 November 2004
(next to be held November 2008)
election results: Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (PPD) elected governor;
percent of vote - 48.4%

Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27
seats - currently 29; members are directly elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51
seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held
November 2008); House of Representatives - last held 2 November 2004
(next to be held November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PNP 43.4%, PPD
40.3%, PIP 9.4%; seats by party - PNP 17, PPD 9, PIP 1; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - PNP 46.3%, PPD 43.1%,
PIP 9.7%; seats by party - PNP 32, PPD 18, PIP 1
note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissioner
to serve a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the US
House of Representatives; aside from not voting on the House floor,
he enjoys all the rights of a member of Congress; elections last
held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008); Luis FORTUNO
elected resident commissioner; results - percent of vote by party -
PNP 48.6%; seats by party - PNP 1

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Appellate Court; Court of First Instance composed of
two sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court (justices for
all these courts appointed by the governor with the consent of the
Senate)

Political parties and leaders:
National Democratic Party [Roberto PRATS]; National Republican
Party of Puerto Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP
(pro-US statehood) [Pedro ROSSELLO]; Popular Democratic Party or PPD
(pro-commonwealth) [Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA]; Puerto Rican Independence
Party or PIP (pro-independence) [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Boricua Popular Army or EPB (a revolutionary group also known as
Los Macheteros); note - the following radical groups are considered
dormant by Federal law enforcement: Armed Forces for National
Liberation or FALN, Armed Forces of Popular Resistance, Volunteers
of the Puerto Rican Revolution

International organization participation:
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

Flag description:
five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating
with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears
a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design initially
influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the
colors of the bands and triangle reversed

Economy Puerto Rico

Economy - overview:
Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean
region. A diverse industrial sector has far surpassed agriculture as
the primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged by
duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have
invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage
laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and
other livestock products as the main source of income in the
agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important
source of income, with estimated arrivals of nearly 5 million
tourists in 2004. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to the
slowdown in the US economy, recovered in 2004-05, but declined again
in 2006.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$74.89 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
NA (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
0.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$19,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
1.3 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 20%
services: 77% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
12% (2002)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.5% (2003 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $6.7 billion
expenditures: $9.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY99/00)

Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock
products, chickens

Industries:
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
24.14 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.2%
hydro: 0.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
22.45 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
721.8 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
234,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
680 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
680 million cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$46.9 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities:
chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage
concentrates, medical equipment

Exports - partners:
US 90.3%, UK 1.6%, Netherlands 1.4%, Dominican Republic 1.4% (2004)

Imports:
$29.1 billion c.i.f. (2001)

Imports - commodities:
chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum
products

Imports - partners:
US 55.0%, Ireland 23.7%, Japan 5.4% (2004)

Debt - external:
$NA

Economic aid - recipient:
$NA

Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)

Currency code:
USD

Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Puerto Rico

Telephones - main lines in use:
1,111,900 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.682 million (2004)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system integrated with that of the US by
high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data
capability
domestic: digital telephone system; cellular telephone service
international: country code - 1-787, 939; satellite earth station -
1 Intelsat; submarine cable to US

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 74, FM 53, shortwave 0 (2006)

Radios:
2.7 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
32 (2006)

Televisions:
1.021 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.pr

Internet hosts:
404 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
76 (2000)

Internet users:
1 million (2005)

Transportation Puerto Rico

Airports:
30 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Railways:
total: 96 km
narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 25,735 km
paved: 24,353 km (including 427 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,382 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1000 GRT or over) 77,177 GRT/50,138 DWT
by type: roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 3 (US 3)
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Las Mareas, Mayaguez, San Juan

Military Puerto Rico

Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard,
Police Force

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues Puerto Rico

Disputes - international:
increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic
cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Qatar

Introduction Qatar

Background:
Ruled by the al-Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed
itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling
into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas
revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy
was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by
the amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. His son, the current
Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani, overthrew him in a bloodless coup
in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes
with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gas revenues
enable Qatar to have one of the highest per capita incomes in the
world.

Geography Qatar

Location:
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates:
25 30 N, 51 15 E

Map references:
Middle East

Area:
total: 11,437 sq km
land: 11,437 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:
total: 60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km

Coastline:
563 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or
the median line

Climate:
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Terrain:
mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, fish

Land use:
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.27%
other: 98.09% (2005)

Irrigated land:
130 sq km (2002)

Natural hazards:
haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on
large-scale desalination facilities

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum
deposits

People Qatar

Population:
885,359 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.4% (male 105,546/female 101,371)
15-64 years: 73% (male 446,779/female 199,133)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 24,059/female 8,471) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 31.7 years
male: 37.1 years
female: 22.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.5% (2006 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
14.12 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: 2.24 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.87 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 18.04 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.9 years
male: 71.37 years
female: 76.57 years (2006 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.09% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari

Ethnic groups:
Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%

Religions:
Muslim 95%

Languages:
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 89.1%
female: 88.6% (2004 est.)

Government Qatar

Country name:
conventional long form: State of Qatar
conventional short form: Qatar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar
local short form: Qatar
note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls
between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar

Government type:
traditional emirate

Capital:
name: Doha
geographic coordinates: 25 17 N, 51 32 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al
Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan
al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, Umm Salal

Independence:
3 September 1971 (from UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Constitution:
ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003, endorsed by the
amir on 8 June 2004, effective on 9 June 2005

Legal system:
discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil
codes are being implemented; Shari'a law dominates family and
personal matters

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani (since 27 June 1995
when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad
al-Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince TAMIM bin Hamad bin
Khalifa al-Thani, fourth son of the monarch (selected Heir Apparent
by the monarch on 5 August 2003); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the
positions of Minister of Defense and Commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces
head of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa al-Thani,
brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); First Deputy Prime
Minister HAMAD bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani (since 16 September
2003, also Foreign Minister since 1992); Second Deputy Prime
Minister Abdallah bin Hamad al-ATIYAH (since 16 September 2003, also
Electricity and Water Minister since 1999 and Energy and Industry
Minister since 1992)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
note: in April 2003, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member
Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has consultative powers aimed
at improving the provision of municipal services; the first election
for the CMC was held in March 1999

Legislative branch:
unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members
appointed)
note: no legislative elections have been held since 1970 when there
were partial elections to the body; Council members have had their
terms extended every four years since; the new constitution, which
came into force on 9 June 2005, provides for a 45-member
Consultative Council, or Majlis al-Shura; the public would elect
two-thirds of the Majlis al-Shura; the amir would appoint the
remaining members; preparations are underway to conduct elections to
the Majlis al-Shura in early 2007

Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal
note: under a judiciary law issued in 2003, the former two court
systems, civil and Islamic law, were merged under a higher court,
the Court of Cassation, established for appeals

Political parties and leaders:
none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
none

International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU,
LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UN
Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nasir bin Hamad bin Mubarak al-KHALIFA
chancery: 2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603
FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061
consulate(s) general: Houston

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Chase UNTERMEYER
embassy: Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone: [974] 488 4101
FAX: [974] 488 4176

Flag description:
maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the
hoist side

Economy Qatar

Economy - overview:
Oil and gas account for more than 60% of GDP, roughly 85% of export
earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have given
Qatar a per capita GDP about 80% of that of the leading West
European industrial countries. Sustained high oil prices and
increased natural gas exports in recent years have helped build
Qatar's budget and trade surpluses and foreign reserves. Proved oil
reserves of more than 15 billion barrels should ensure continued
output at current levels for 23 years. Qatar's proved reserves of
natural gas exceed 25 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the
world total and third largest in the world. Qatar has permitted
substantial foreign investment in the development of its gas fields
during the last decade and is expected to become the world's top
liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter in 2007. Qatar is also trying
to attract foreign investment in the development of its non-energy
projects by further liberalizing the economy. Qatar has become one
of the world's fastest growing and highest per-capita income
countries.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$26.05 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$30.76 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
7.1% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$29,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 77.2%
services: 22.6% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
508,000 (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:
3.2% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
33.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $22.51 billion
expenditures: $16.89 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.2
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
23.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish

Industries:
crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers,
petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship
repair

Industrial production growth rate:
10% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
12.4 billion kWh (2004)

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

Electricity - consumption:
11.53 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
790,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
80,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:
15.2 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:
39.17 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
15.11 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
24.06 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
25.77 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:
$12.51 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$33.25 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel

Exports - partners:
Japan 36.9%, South Korea 19.4%, Singapore 8.2% (2005)

Imports:
$12.36 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

Imports - partners:
France 11.4%, Japan 10.4%, US 10.3%, Germany 8.3%, Saudi Arabia
7.2%, UK 6.9%, Italy 6.4%, South Korea 5.5%, UAE 4.8% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$5.755 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$25.7 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$NA

Currency (code):
Qatari rial (QAR)

Currency code:
QAR

Exchange rates:
Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2006), 3.64 (2005), 3.64 (2004),
3.64 (2003), 3.64 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Qatar

Telephones - main lines in use:
205,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
854,900 (2006)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system centered in Doha
domestic: NA
international: country code - 974; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain;
microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to
Bahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:
256,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:
230,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.qa

Internet hosts:
301 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
219,000 (2005)

Transportation Qatar

Airports:
5 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 319 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 1,024 km; liquid
petroleum gas 87 km; oil 844 km (2006)

Roadways:
total: 1,230 km
paved: 1,107 km
unpaved: 123 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1000 GRT or over) 750,669 GRT/1,177,673 DWT
by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 3, container 8, liquefied gas 2,
petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 8 (Kuwait 7, US 1)
registered in other countries: 4 (Honduras 1, Liberia 2, Panama 1)
(2006)

Ports and terminals:
Doha

Military Qatar

Military branches:
Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), Qatari
Amiri Air Force (QAAF)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; land forces
enlisted personnel are largely unprofessional foreign nationals
(2005)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 302,873
females age 18-49: 137,856 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 238,566
females age 18-49: 116,595 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 7,851
females age 18-49: 7,040 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$723 million (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
10% (FY00)

Transnational Issues Qatar

Disputes - international:
none

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Qatar is a destination country for men and women
from South and Southeast Asia who migrate willingly, but are
subsequently trafficked into involuntary servitude as domestic
workers and laborers; the problem of trafficking of foreign children
as camel jockeys was thoroughly addressed by government action in
2005, but independent confirmation of the problem's complete
elimination is not yet available
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Qatar has made noticeable progress
in rescuing and repatriating child camel jockeys, establishing a
shelter for abused domestic workers, and creating hotlines to
register complaints; however, Qatar is placed on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide sufficient evidence of increasing
efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2005, particularly with
regard to labor exploitation

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Romania

Introduction Romania

Background:
The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under
the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their
autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted
the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its
independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and
acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the
conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and
participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years
later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The
post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist
"people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The
decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in
1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive
and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and
executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated the government
until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in
2004 and the EU in 2007.

Geography Romania

Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and
Ukraine

Geographic coordinates:
46 00 N, 25 00 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 237,500 sq km
land: 230,340 sq km
water: 7,160 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:
total: 2,508 km
border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km,
Serbia 476 km, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east) 169 km

Coastline:
225 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:
temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny
summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms

Terrain:
central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldavia
on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the
Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m

Natural resources:
petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron
ore, salt, arable land, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 39.49%
permanent crops: 1.92%
other: 58.59% (2005)

Irrigated land:
30,770 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure
and climate promote landslides

Environment - current issues:
soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in
south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta
wetlands

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans,
Moldova, and Ukraine

People Romania

Population:
22,303,552 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.7% (male 1,799,072/female 1,708,030)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 7,724,368/female 7,797,065)
65 years and over: 14.7% (male 1,347,392/female 1,927,625) (2006
est.)

Median age:
total: 36.6 years
male: 35.3 years
female: 37.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
-0.12% (2006 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 25.5 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 28.64 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.63 years
male: 68.14 years
female: 75.34 years (2006 est.)

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

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
350 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Romanian(s)
adjective: Romanian

Ethnic groups:
Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German
0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4% (2002 census)

Religions:
Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 86.8%,
Protestant (various denominations including Reformate and
Pentecostal) 7.5%, Roman Catholic 4.7%, other (mostly Muslim) and
unspecified 0.9%, none 0.1% (2002 census)

Languages:
Romanian (official), Hungarian, German

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 99.1%
female: 97.7% (2003 est.)

Government Romania

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Romania
local long form: none
local short form: Romania

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Bucharest
geographic coordinates: 44 26 N, 26 06 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:
41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality*
(municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud,
Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi,
Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati,
Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov,
Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare,
Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea

Independence:
9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire;
independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin;
kingdom proclaimed 26 March 1881); 30 December 1947 (republic
proclaimed)

National holiday:
Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)

Constitution:
8 December 1991; revision effective 29 October 2003

Legal system:
former mixture of civil law system and communist legal theory; is
now based on the constitution of France's Fifth Republic

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Traian BASESCU (since 20 December 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Calin Popescu-TARICEANU (since 29
December 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 28 November 2004,
with runoff between the top two candidates held 12 December 2004
(next to be held November-December 2009); prime minister appointed
by the president with the consent of the Parliament
election results: percent of vote - Traian BASESCU 51.23%, Adrian
NASTASE 48.77%

Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat
(137 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on a
proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) and the
Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (332 seats; members are
elected by direct, popular vote on a proportional representation
basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 28 November 2004 (next expected to be
held in November 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 28 November
2004 (next expected to be held November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by alliance/party -
PSD-PUR 37.1%, PNL-PD 31.8%, PRM 13.6%, UDMR 6.2%; seats by party -
PSD 44, PNL 30, PD 20, PRM 20, PC 11, UDMR 10, independents 2;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PUR
36.8%, PNL-PD 31.5%, PRM 13%, UDMR 6.2%; seats by party - PSD 111,
PNL 66, PD 45, PRM 34, ex-PRM (Ciontu Group) 12, UDMR 22, PC 20, PIN
(GUSA Group) 3, independent 1, ethnic minorities 18

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (comprised of 11 judges appointed for
three-year terms by the president in consultation with the Superior
Council of Magistrates, which is comprised of the minister of
justice, the prosecutor general, two civil society representatives
appointed by the Senate, and 14 judges and prosecutors elected by
their peers); a separate body, the Constitutional Court, validates
elections and makes decisions regarding the constitutionality of
laws, treaties, ordinances, and internal rules of the Parliament; it
is comprised of nine members serving nine-year terms, with three
members each appointed by the president, the Senate, and the Chamber
of Deputies

Political parties and leaders:
Conservative Party or PC [Dan VOICULESCU], formerly Humanist Party
or PUR; Democratic Party or PD [Emil BOC]; Democratic Union of
Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; National Liberal Party
or PNL [Calin Popescu-TARICEANU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater
Romanian Party) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR]; Social Democratic
Party or PSD [Mircea Dan GEOANA], formerly Party of Social Democracy
in Romania or PDSR

Political pressure groups and leaders:
various human rights and professional associations

International organization participation:
ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ESA
(cooperating state), EU (new member), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM
(guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Daniela
GITMAN
chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851, 4852
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas F. TAUBMAN
embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest
mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, US Department of State,
5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch)
telephone: [40] (21) 200-3300
FAX: [40] (21) 200-3442
information office: Cluj-Napoca

Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;
the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow
band has been removed; now similar to the flag of Chad, also
resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova

Economy Romania

Economy - overview:
Romania began the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largely
obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the
country's needs. The country emerged in 2000 from a punishing
three-year recession thanks to strong demand in EU export markets.
Despite the global slowdown in 2001-02, strong domestic activity in
construction, agriculture, and consumption have kept GDP growth
above 4%. However, macroeconomic gains have only recently started to
spur creation of a middle class and address Romania's widespread
poverty, while corruption and red tape continue to handicap the
business environment. Romanian government confidence in continuing
disinflation was underscored by its currency revaluation in 2005,
making 10,000 "old" lei equal 1 "new" leu. The economy grew at 6.4%
in 2006, the strongest growth in the last decade. Romania joined the
European Union on 1 January 2007, and the IMF has praised the
country's recent reform efforts in preparation for EU accession.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$197.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$79.17 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
6.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.1%
industry: 34.7%
services: 55.2% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
9.33 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 31.6%
industry: 30.7%
services: 37.7% (2004)

Unemployment rate:
6.1% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:
25% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 27.6% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28.8 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
25% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $36.89 billion
expenditures: $39.1 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.2
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
21.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes;
eggs, sheep

Industries:
textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining,
timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food
processing, petroleum refining

Industrial production growth rate:
5.7% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
54.53 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 62.5%
hydro: 27.6%
nuclear: 9.9%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
49.62 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
3.7 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
2.6 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
119,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
212,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
163,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:
500 million bbl (yearend 2004)

Natural gas - production:
11.8 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
18 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
6.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
300 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:
$-12.45 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$33 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and
equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products

Exports - partners:
Italy 19.4%, Germany 14%, Turkey 7.9%, France 7.4%, UK 5.5%,
Hungary 4.1%, US 4.1% (2005)

Imports:
$46.48 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and
products, basic metals, agricultural products

Imports - partners:
Italy 15.5%, Germany 14%, Russia 8.3%, France 6.8%, Turkey 4.9%,
China 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$27.88 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$42.76 billion (2006 est.)

Currency (code):
leu (ROL) is being phased out in 2006; "new" leu (RON) was
introduced in 2005 due to currency revaluation: 10,000 ROL = 1 RON

Currency code:
ROL

Exchange rates:
lei per US dollar - 2.84 (2006), 3 (2005), 3 (2004), 3 (2003), 3
(2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Romania

Telephones - main lines in use:
4.391 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
13.354 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: rapidly improving domestic and international
service, especially in wireless telephony
domestic: 90% of telephone network is automatic; liberalization in
2003 is transforming telecommunications; there has been 20% growth
in fixed lines with a penetration rate of 58% of households;
nation-wide wireless service is growing even faster with four major
providers and a penetration rate of 32%
international: country code - 40; satellite earth station - 10
(Intelsat 4); digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate
in Bucharest (2005)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 40, FM 202, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios:
7.2 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
48 (plus 392 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:
5.25 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.ro

Internet hosts:
57,470 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
38 (2000)

Internet users:
4.94 million (2005)

Transportation Romania

Airports:
61 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 3,508 km; oil 2,427 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 11,385 km
standard gauge: 10,898 km 1.435-m gauge (3,888 km electrified)
broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge
narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 198,817 km
paved: 60,043 km (including 228 km of expressways)
unpaved: 138,774 km (2004)

Waterways:
1,731 km
note: includes 1,075 km on Danube River, 524 km on secondary
branches, and 132 km on canals (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1000 GRT or over) 198,767 GRT/246,732 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 15, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2,
petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Italy 1)
registered in other countries: 48 (Georgia 11, North Korea 11, Malta
9, Panama 9, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Syria 3, unknown 4)
(2006)

Ports and terminals:
Braila, Constanta, Galati, Tulcea

Military Romania

Military branches:
Land Forces, Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force (Fortele Aerienne
Romane, FAR), Special Operations (2006)

Military service age and obligation:
all military inductees (including women) are volunteers who
contract for an initial five-year term of service; subsequent
voluntary service contracts are for successive three-year terms
until the age of 36; minimum age for voluntary military service is
18 (2006)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 20-49: 5,061,984
females age 20-49: 4,975,427 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 20-49: 3,932,579
females age 20-49: 4,076,288 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 172,093
females age 20-49: 165,547 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$985 million (2002)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.47% (2002)

Transnational Issues Romania

Disputes - international:
the ICJ gave Ukraine until December 2006 to reply and Romania until
June 2007 to issue a rejoinder in their dispute submitted in 2004
over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and
Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania also opposes
Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border
through Ukraine to the Black Sea

Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the
Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound for
Western Europe; although not a significant financial center, role as
a narcotics conduit leaves it vulnerable to laundering which occurs
via the banking system, currency exchange houses, and casinos

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Russia

Introduction Russia

Background:
Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy, was able
to emerge from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th
centuries) and to gradually conquer and absorb surrounding
principalities. In the early 17th century, a new Romanov Dynasty
continued this policy of expansion across Siberia to the Pacific.
Under PETER I (ruled 1682-1725), hegemony was extended to the Baltic
Sea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire. During the 19th
century, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe and Asia.
Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 contributed to the
Revolution of 1905, which resulted in the formation of a parliament
and other reforms. Repeated devastating defeats of the Russian army
in World War I led to widespread rioting in the major cities of the
Russian Empire and to the overthrow in 1917 of the imperial
household. The Communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon
after and formed the USSR. The brutal rule of Iosif STALIN (1928-53)
strengthened Communist rule and Russian dominance of the Soviet
Union at a cost of tens of millions of lives. The Soviet economy and
society stagnated in the following decades until General Secretary
Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91) introduced glasnost (openness) and
perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize Communism,
but his initiatives inadvertently released forces that by December
1991 splintered the USSR into Russia and 14 other independent
republics. Since then, Russia has struggled in its efforts to build
a democratic political system and market economy to replace the
social, political, and economic controls of the Communist period.
While some progress has been made on the economic front, and
Russia's management of its windfall oil wealth has improved its
financial standing, recent years have seen a recentralization of
power under Vladimir PUTIN and democratic institutions remain weak.
Russia has severely disabled the Chechen rebel movement, although
sporadic violence still occurs throughout the North Caucusus.

Geography Russia

Location:
Northern Asia (the area west of the Urals is considered part of
Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North
Pacific Ocean

Geographic coordinates:
60 00 N, 100 00 E

Map references:
Asia

Area:
total: 17,075,200 sq km
land: 16,995,800 sq km
water: 79,400 sq km

Area - comparative:
approximately 1.8 times the size of the US

Land boundaries:
total: 20,096.5 km
border countries: Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China
(southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 294 km, Finland
1,340 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 19 km,
Latvia 217 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 280.5 km, Mongolia
3,485 km, Norway 196 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 232 km, Ukraine
1,576 km

Coastline:
37,653 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:
ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much
of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the
polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid
in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along
Arctic coast

Terrain:
broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest
and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border
regions