Chapter VI: Front Matter (6)

Terrain:
central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack that,
on average, is about 3 meters thick, although pressure ridges may be
three times that thickness; clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort
Gyral Stream, but nearly straight-line movement from the New
Siberian Islands (Russia) to Denmark Strait (between Greenland and
Iceland); the icepack is surrounded by open seas during the summer,
but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the
encircling landmasses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental
shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central
basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera,
Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonosov Ridge)

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Fram Basin -4,665 m
highest point: sea level 0 m

Natural resources:
sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules,
oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales)

Natural hazards:
ice islands occasionally break away from northern Ellesmere Island;
icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenland and extreme
northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtually ice locked
from October to June; ships subject to superstructure icing from
October to May

Environment - current issues:
endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile
ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or
damage; thinning polar icepack

Geography - note:
major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to
the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic location between
North America and Russia; shortest marine link between the extremes
of eastern and western Russia; floating research stations operated
by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover in March or April about 20
to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean; snow cover lasts about 10
months

Economy Arctic Ocean

Economy - overview:
Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural
resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals.

Transportation Arctic Ocean

Ports and terminals:
Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US)

Transportation - note:
sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest
Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are
important seasonal waterways

Transnational Issues Arctic Ocean

Disputes - international:
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Argentina

Introduction Argentina

Background:
In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their
independence from Spain. Eventually, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay
went their own way, but the area that remained became Argentina. The
country's population and culture were subsequently heavily shaped by
immigrants from throughout Europe, but most particularly Italy and
Spain, which provided the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860
to 1930. Up until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's
history was dominated by periods of internal political conflict
between Federalists and Unitarians and between civilian and military
factions. After World War II, an era of Peronist authoritarian rule
and interference in subsequent governments was followed by a
military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983,
and has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable
of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent
public protests and the resignation of several interim presidents.
The economy has since recovered strongly since bottoming out in
2002. The government renegotiated its public debt in 2005 and paid
off its remaining obligations to the IMF in early 2006.

Geography Argentina

Location:
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
Chile and Uruguay

Geographic coordinates:
34 00 S, 64 00 W

Map references:
South America

Area:
total: 2,766,890 sq km
land: 2,736,690 sq km
water: 30,200 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US

Land boundaries:
total: 9,861 km
border countries: Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,261 km, Chile 5,308 km,
Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 580 km

Coastline:
4,989 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:
mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest

Terrain:
rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau
of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Laguna del Carbon -105 m (located between Puerto San
Julian and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province of Santa
Cruz)
highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,960 m (located in the northwestern
corner of the province of Mendoza)

Natural resources:
fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore,
manganese, petroleum, uranium

Land use:
arable land: 10.03%
permanent crops: 0.36%
other: 89.61% (2005)

Irrigated land:
15,500 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to
earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the
pampas and northeast; heavy flooding

Environment - current issues:
environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an
industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation,
desertification, air pollution, and water pollution
note: Argentina is a world leader in setting voluntary greenhouse
gas targets

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Seals, 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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:
second-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategic
location relative to sea lanes between the South Atlantic and the
South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake
Passage); diverse geophysical landscapes range from tropical
climates in the north to tundra in the far south; Cerro Aconcagua is
the Western Hemisphere's tallest mountain, while Laguna del Carbon
is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere

People Argentina

Population:
39,921,833 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.2% (male 5,153,164/female 4,921,625)
15-64 years: 64.1% (male 12,804,376/female 12,798,731)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 1,740,118/female 2,503,819) (2006
est.)

Median age:
total: 29.7 years
male: 28.8 years
female: 30.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.96% (2006 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
0.4 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: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.73 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.12 years
male: 72.38 years
female: 80.05 years (2006 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
130,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Argentine(s)
adjective: Argentine

Ethnic groups:
white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo (mixed white and
Amerindian ancestry), Amerindian, or other non-white groups 3%

Religions:
nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant
2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%

Languages:
Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.1%
male: 97.1%
female: 97.1% (2003 est.)

Government Argentina

Country name:
conventional long form: Argentine Republic
conventional short form: Argentina
local long form: Republica Argentina
local short form: Argentina

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Buenos Aires
geographic coordinates: 34 36 S, 58 27 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
23 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 autonomous
city* (distrito federal); Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Capital
Federal*, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Cordoba, Corrientes, Entre Rios,
Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquen, Rio
Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago del
Estero, Tierra del Fuego - Antartida e Islas del Atlantico Sur,
Tucuman
note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica

Independence:
9 July 1816 (from Spain)

National holiday:
Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)

Constitution:
1 May 1853; revised August 1994

Legal system:
mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May 2003); Vice
President Daniel SCIOLI (since 25 May 2003); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May 2003);
Vice President Daniel SCIOLI (since 25 May 2003); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term);
election last held 27 April 2003 (next election to be held in 2007)
election results: results of the presidential election of 27 April
2003: Carlos Saul MENEM 24.3%, Nestor KIRCHNER 22%, Ricardo Lopez
MURPHY 16.4%, Adolfo Rodriguez SAA 14.4%, Elisa CARRIO 14.2%, other
8.7%; the subsequent runoff election slated for 25 May 2003 was
awarded to KIRCHNER by default after MENEM withdrew his candidacy on
the eve of the election

Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the
Senate (72 seats; members are elected by direct vote; presently
one-third of the members elected every two years to a six-year term)
and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; members are elected by
direct vote; one-half of the members elected every two years to a
four-year term)
elections: Senate - last held 23 October 2005 (next to be held in
2007); Chamber of Deputies - last held last held 23 October 2005
(next to be held in 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - FV
45.1%, FJ 17.2%, UCR 7.5%, other 30.2%; seats by bloc or party - FV
14, FJ 3, UCR 2, other 5; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by
bloc or party - FV 29.9%, UCR 8.9%, ARI 7.2%, PJ 6.7%, PRO 6.2%, FJ
3.9%, other 37.2%; seats by bloc or party - FV 50, UCR 10, ARI 8, PJ
9, PRO 9, FJ 7, other 34

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (the nine Supreme Court judges are
appointed by the president with approval by the Senate)
note: the Supreme Court currently has two unfilled vacancies, and
the Argentine Congress is considering a bill to reduce the number of
Supreme Court judges to five

Political parties and leaders:
Affirmation for an Egalitarian Republic or ARI [Elisa CARRIO];
Front for Victory or FV [Nestor KIRCHNER]; Interbloque Federal or IF
(a broad coalition of approximately 12 parties including PRO);
Justicialist Front or FJ [leader NA]; Justicialist Party or PJ
(Peronist umbrella political organization); Radical Civic Union or
UCR [Gerardo MORALES]; Republican Proposal or PRO (including Federal
Recreate Movement or RECREAR [Ricardo LOPEZ MURPHY] and Commitment
for Change or CPC [Mauricio MACRI]); Socialist Party or PS [Ruben
GIUSTINIANI]; Union For All [Patricia BULLRICH]; several provincial
parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA); Argentine
Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural
Confederation or CRA (small to medium landowners' association);
Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association); business
organizations; Central of Argentine Workers or CTA (a radical union
for employed and unemployed workers); General Confederation of Labor
or CGT (Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization);
Peronist-dominated labor movement; Piquetero groups (popular protest
organizations that can be either pro or anti-government); Roman
Catholic Church; students

International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN (associate), CSN, FAO,
G-6, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NSG, OAS,
OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Octavio BORDON
chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400
FAX: [1] (202) 332-3171
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Earl Anthony WAYNE
embassy: Avenida Colombia 4300, C1425GMN Buenos Aires
mailing address: international mail: use street address; APO
address: Unit 4334, APO AA 34034
telephone: [54] (11) 5777-4533
FAX: [54] (11) 5777-4240

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light
blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a
human face known as the Sun of May

Economy Argentina

Economy - overview:
Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate
population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a
diversified industrial base. Although one of the world's wealthiest
countries 100 years ago, Argentina suffered during most of the
twentieth century from recurring economic crises, persistent fiscal
and current account deficits, high inflation, mounting external
debt, and capital flight. Beginning in 1998, with external debt
equivalent to more than 400 percent of annual exports, economic
growth slowed and ultimately fell into a full-blown depression, as
investors' fears grew in the wake of Russia's debt default,
political discord caused by then-President Carlos MENEM's unpopular
efforts to run for a constitutionally prohibited third term, and
Brazil's devaluation. The government of Fernando DE LA RUA, elected
President in late 1999, tried several measures to cut the fiscal
deficit and instill confidence and received large IMF credit
facilities, but nothing worked to revive the economy. Depositors
began withdrawing money from the banks in late 2001, and the
government responded with strict limits on withdrawals. When street
protests turned deadly, DE LA RUA was forced to resign in December
2001. Interim President Adolfo Rodriguez SAA declared a default, the
largest in history, on Argentina's foreign debt, but he stepped down
only a few days later when he failed to garner political support
from the country's governors. Eduardo DUHALDE became President in
January 2002 and announced an end to the peso's decade-long 1-to-1
peg to the US dollar. When the peso depreciated and inflation rose,
DUHALDE's government froze utility tariffs indefinitely, curtailed
creditors' rights, and imposed high taxes on exports. The economy
rebounded strongly from the crisis, inflation started falling, and
DUHALDE called for special elections. Nestor KIRCHNER was elected
President, taking office in May 2003, and continued the restrictions
imposed by DUHALDE. With the reemergence of double-digit inflation
in 2005, the KIRCHNER administration pressured businesses into a
series of agreements to hold down prices. The government also
restructured its defaulted debt in 2005, convincing most bondholders
to accept a large cut on the value of their holdings, and paid off
its IMF obligations from reserves in full in early 2006, both of
which have reduced Argentina's external debt burden. Real GDP has
continued growing strongly, averaging 9 percent during the period
2003-2006, bolstering government revenues and keeping the fiscal
accounts-a key vulnerability in the past-in surplus.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$599.1 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$210 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
8.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.5%
industry: 35.8%
services: 54.7% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
15.35 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Unemployment rate:
10.2% (3rd quarter)

Population below poverty line:
31.4% (June 2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 35%

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
48.3 (June 2006)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10% (November 2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
22.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $52.1 billion
expenditures: $47.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.4
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
62.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts,
tea, wheat; livestock

Industries:
food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles,
chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel

Industrial production growth rate:
8.2% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
93.94 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 52.2%
hydro: 40.8%
nuclear: 6.7%
other: 0.2% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
90.93 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
4.143 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
7.7 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
745,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
470,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
470,000 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:
39,000 bbl/day (2003)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Current account balance:
$5.81 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$46 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
edible oils, fuels and energy, cereals, feed, motor vehicles

Exports - partners:
Brazil 15.8%, US 11.4%, Chile 11.2%, China 7.9% (2005)

Imports:
$31.69 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal
manufactures, plastics

Imports - partners:
Brazil 35.9%, US 14.1%, China 7.8%, Germany 4.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$30.24 billion (November 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$106.8 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$0 (2002)

Currency (code):
Argentine peso (ARS)

Currency code:
ARS

Exchange rates:
Argentine pesos per US dollar - 3.05999 (2006), 2.9037 (2005),
2.9233 (2004), 2.9006 (2003), 3.0633 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Argentina

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

Telephones - mobile cellular:
22.1 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: by opening the telecommunications market to
competition and foreign investment with the "Telecommunications
Liberalization Plan of 1998," Argentina encouraged the growth of
modern telecommunications technology; fiber-optic cable trunk lines
are being installed between all major cities; the major networks are
entirely digital and the availability of telephone service is
improving; however, telephone density is presently minimal, and
making telephone service universally available will take time
domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domestic
satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network;
more than 110,000 pay telephones are installed and mobile telephone
use is rapidly expanding
international: country code - 54; satellite earth stations - 112;
Atlantis II and Unisur submarine cables; two international gateways
near Buenos Aires (2005)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 260 (including 10 inactive stations), FM NA (probably more than
1,000, mostly unlicensed), shortwave 6 (1998)

Radios:
24.3 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
42 (plus 444 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:
7.95 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.ar

Internet hosts:
1,612,423 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
33 (2000)

Internet users:
10 million (2005)

Transportation Argentina

Airports:
1,381 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 154
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 65
914 to 1,523 m: 50
under 914 m: 9 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1,227
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 49
914 to 1,523 m: 587
under 914 m: 587 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 29,804 km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 10,373 km; refined
products 8,540 km; unknown (oil/water) 13 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 31,902 km
broad gauge: 20,858 km 1.676-m gauge (141 km electrified)
standard gauge: 2,885 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 7,922 km 1.000-m gauge; 237 km 0.750-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 229,144 km
paved: 68,809 km (including 734 km of expressways)
unpaved: 160,335 km (2004)

Waterways:
11,000 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 41 ships (1000 GRT or over) 435,969 GRT/707,767 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 10, chemical tanker 1, passenger 1,
passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 21, refrigerated cargo 2, roll
on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 11 (Chile 6, UK 4, Uruguay 1)
registered in other countries: 24 (Bolivia 1, Chile 1, Liberia 7,
Panama 9, Paraguay 3, Uruguay 3) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Punta
Colorada, Rosario, San Lorenzo-San Martin, San Nicolas

Military Argentina

Military branches:
Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic (includes naval
aviation and naval infantry), Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Argentina, FAA) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2001)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 8,981,886
females age 18-49: 8,883,756 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 7,316,038
females age 18-49: 7,442,589 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 344,575
females age 18-49: 334,649 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$4.3 billion (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (FY00)

Military - note:
the Argentine military is a well-organized force constrained by the
country's prolonged economic hardship; the country has recently
experienced a strong recovery, and the military is now implementing
"Plan 2000," aimed at making the ground forces lighter and more
responsive (2005)

Transnational Issues Argentina

Disputes - international:
Argentina continues to assert its claims to the UK-administered
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South
Sandwich Islands in its constitution, forcibly occupying the
Falklands in 1982, but in 1995 agreed no longer to seek settlement
by force; territorial claim in Antarctica partially overlaps UK and
Chilean claims (see Antarctic disputes); unruly region at
convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money
laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and
fundraising for extremist organizations; uncontested dispute between
Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim
River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; action by the
joint boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in
2001, for mapping and demarcating the disputed boundary in the
Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur) remains pending

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Argentina is primarily a destination country for
women and children trafficked for sexual and labor exploitation with
most victims trafficked internally, from rural to urban areas, for
exploitation in prostitution; foreign women and children trafficked
for commercial sexual exploitation come primarily from Paraguay, but
also from Bolivia, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and
Chile; Bolivians are trafficked for forced labor; Argentine women
and girls are also trafficked to neighboring countries for sexual
exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Argentina failed to show evidence
of increasing efforts to combat trafficking particularly in the key
area of prosecutions; government efforts to improve interagency
anti-trafficking coordination did not achieve significant progress
in moving cases against traffickers through the judicial system; the
government made progress in other areas, by submitting
anti-trafficking legislation to Congress in August 2005 and
sensitizing provincial and municipal government officials to the
trafficking problem

Illicit drugs:
used as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe; some
money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area;
domestic consumption of drugs in urban centers is increasing

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Armenia

Introduction Armenia

Background:
Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adopt
Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy, over
the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires
including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. During
World War I in the western portion of Armenia, Ottoman Turkey
instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh
practices that resulted in an estimated 1 million Armenian deaths.
The eastern area of Armenia was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia in
1828; this portion declared its independence in 1918, but was
conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920. Armenian leaders remain
preoccupied by the long conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over
Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region, assigned to
Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan
began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after
both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian forces held not
only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan
proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their
inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution.
Turkey imposed an economic blockade on Armenia and closed the common
border because of the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and
surrounding areas.

Geography Armenia

Location:
Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

Geographic coordinates:
40 00 N, 45 00 E

Map references:
Asia

Area:
total: 29,800 sq km
land: 28,400 sq km
water: 1,400 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:
total: 1,254 km
border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan
exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

Terrain:
Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing
rivers; good soil in Aras River valley

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Debed River 400 m
highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m

Natural resources:
small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina

Land use:
arable land: 16.78%
permanent crops: 2.01%
other: 81.21% (2005)

Irrigated land:
2,860 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts

Environment - current issues:
soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisis
of the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for
firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the
draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a
source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of
Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a
seismically active zone

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:
landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake
Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range

People Armenia

Population:
2,976,372 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.5% (male 322,189/female 286,944)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 949,975/female 1,085,484)
65 years and over: 11.1% (male 133,411/female 198,369) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 30.4 years
male: 27.8 years
female: 33.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
-0.19% (2006 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
-5.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.17 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 22.47 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 27.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.84 years
male: 68.25 years
female: 76.02 years (2006 est.)

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

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Armenian(s)
adjective: Armenian

Ethnic groups:
Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001
census)

Religions:
Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist
with elements of nature worship) 1.3%

Languages:
Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.4%
female: 98% (2003 est.)

Government Armenia

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Armenia
conventional short form: Armenia
local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun
local short form: Hayastan
former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Yerevan
geographic coordinates: 40 11 N, 44 30 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat,
Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush,
Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan

Independence:
21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September (1991)

Constitution:
adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995; amendments adopted
through a nationwide referendum 27 November 2005

Legal system:
based on civil law system

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Andranik MARGARYAN (since 12 May
2000)
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 19 February and 5
March 2003 (next to be held in 2008); prime minister appointed by
the president and confirmed with the majority support of the
National Assembly; the prime minister and Council of Ministers must
resign if the National Assembly refuses to accept their program
election results: Robert KOCHARIAN reelected president; percent of
vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 67.5%, Stepan DEMIRCHYAN 32.5%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; 90
members elected by party list, 41 by direct vote)
elections: last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held in the spring of
2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.5%,
Justice Bloc 13.6%, Rule of Law 12.3%, ARF (Dashnak) 11.4%, National
Unity Party 8.8%, United Labor Party 5.7%; seats by faction -
Republican Party 39, Rule of Law 20, Justice Bloc 14, ARF (Dashnak)
11, National Unity 7, United Labor 6, People's Deputy Group 16,
independent (not in faction or group) 18; note - as of 10 March
2006; voting blocs in the legislature are more properly termed
factions and can be composed of members of several parties; seats by
faction change frequently as deputies switch parties or announce
themselves independent

Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals Court)

Political parties and leaders:
Agro-Industrial Party [Vladimir BADALYAN]; Armenia Party (Hayastan)
[Myasnik MALKHASYAN]; Armenian National Movement or ANM [Artashes
ZURABYAN]; Armenian Ramkavar Liberal Party or HRAK [Harutyun
MIRZAKHANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation
("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Hrant MARKARYAN]; Democratic Party [Aram
SARKISYAN]; Justice Bloc (comprised of the Democratic Party,
National Democratic Party, National Democratic Union, the People's
Party, and the Republic Party) [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; National
Democratic Party [Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or
NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National Revival Party [Albert BAZEYAN];
National Unity Party [Artashes GEGHAMYAN, chairman]; People's Party
of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic Party [Aram SARKISYAN,
chairman]; Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARGARYAN]; Rule of Law
Party [Artur BAGHDASARYAN]; Union of Constitutional Rights [Hrant
KHACHATURYAN]; United Labor Party [Gurgen ARSENYAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN]

International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), AsDB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD,
FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM
(observer), OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tatoul MARKARIAN
chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Anthony F.
GODFREY
embassy: 1 American Ave., Yerevan 375082
mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, US Department of State,
7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020
telephone: [374](10) 464-700
FAX: [374](10) 464-742

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange

Economy Armenia

Economy - overview:
Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed
a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and
other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw
materials and energy. Since the implosion of the USSR in December
1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture away from the
large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. The agricultural
sector has long-term needs for more investment and updated
technology. The privatization of industry has been at a slower pace,
but has been given renewed emphasis by the current administration.
Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral deposits (copper, gold,
bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the
ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup
of the centrally directed economic system of the former Soviet Union
contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By
1994, however, the Armenian Government had launched an ambitious
IMF-sponsored economic liberalization program that resulted in
positive growth rates in 1995-2006. Armenia joined the WTO in
January 2003. Armenia also has managed to slash inflation, stabilize
its currency, and privatize most small- and medium-sized
enterprises. Armenia's unemployment rate, however, remains high,
despite strong economic growth. The chronic energy shortages Armenia
suffered in the early and mid-1990s have been offset by the energy
supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Armenia is
now a net energy exporter, although it does not have sufficient
generating capacity to replace Metsamor, which is under
international pressure to close. The electricity distribution system
was privatized in 2002 and bought by Russia's RAO-UES in 2005.
Armenia's severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by
international aid, remittances from Armenians working abroad, and
foreign direct investment. Economic ties with Russia remain close,
especially in the energy sector. The government made some
improvements in tax and customs administration in 2005, but
anti-corruption measures will be more difficult to implement.
Construction of a natural gas pipeline between Iran and Armenia has
been completed and it is scheduled to be commissioned by April 2007.
Investment in the construction and industrial sectors is expected to
continue in 2007 and will help to ensure annual average real GDP
growth of more than 10%.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$15.99 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$6.6 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
10.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 23.9%
industry: 32.8%
services: 43.3% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
1.2 million (2005)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 45%
industry: 25%
services: 30% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:
7.6% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:
43% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 41.3% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41.3 (2004)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.1% (2006 est.)

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

Budget:
revenues: $1.004 billion
expenditures: $1.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock

Industries:
diamond-processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing
machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk
fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry
manufacturing, software development, food processing, brandy

Industrial production growth rate:
7.5% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
6.317 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 42.3%
hydro: 27%
nuclear: 30.7%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
4.374 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports:
1.012 billion kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to Georgia;
includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2004)

Electricity - imports:
260 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from Iran (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - consumption:
41,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

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

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

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

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

Current account balance:
$-229.5 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$1.056 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy

Exports - partners:
Germany 15.6%, Netherlands 13.7%, Belgium 12.8%, Russia 12.2%,
Israel 11.5%, US 11.2%, Georgia 4.8% (2005)

Imports:
$1.684 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds

Imports - partners:
Russia 13.5%, Belgium 8%, Germany 7.9%, Ukraine 7%, Turkmenistan
6.3%, US 6.2%, Israel 5.8%, Iran 5%, Romania 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$761 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.936 billion (30 June 2006)

Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $254 million (2004)

Currency (code):
dram (AMD)

Currency code:
AMD

Exchange rates:
drams per US dollar - 436.8 (2006), 457.69 (2005), 533.45 (2004),
578.76 (2003), 573.35 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Armenia

Telephones - main lines in use:
582,500 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
320,000 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: system inadequate; now 90% privately owned and
undergoing modernization and expansion
domestic: the majority of subscribers and the most modern equipment
are in Yerevan (this includes paging and mobile cellular service)
international: country code - 374; Yerevan is connected to the
Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable through Iran; additional
international service is available by microwave radio relay and
landline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth of
Independent States and through the Moscow international switch and
by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 3
(2005)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 9, FM 16, shortwave 1 (2006)

Radios:
850,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
40 (private television stations alongside two public networks;
major Russian channels widely available) (2006)

Televisions:
825,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.am

Internet hosts:
8,163 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
9 (2001)

Internet users:
150,000 (2005)

Transportation Armenia

Airports:
13 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

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

Pipelines:
gas 2,002 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 845 km
broad gauge: 845 km 1.520-m gauge (828 km electrified)
note: some lines are out of service (2005)

Roadways:
total: 7,633 km
paved: 7,633 km (includes 1,561 km of expressways) (2003)

Military Armenia

Military branches:
Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Nagorno-Karabakh Self Defense Force
(NKSDF), Air Force, Air Defense Force (2006)

Military service age and obligation:
18 to 27 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript
service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary
military service (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 722,836
females age 18-49: 795,084 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 551,938
females age 18-49: 656,493 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 31,774
females age 18-49: 31,182 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$135 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
6.5% (FY01)

Transnational Issues Armenia

Disputes - international:
Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh
and since the early 1990s, has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan
- Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
continues to mediate dispute; over 800,000 mostly ethnic
Azerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about
230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in Azerbaijan
into Armenia; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through Armenia to
connect to Naxcivan exclave; border with Turkey remains closed over
Nagorno-Karabakh dispute; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region
of Georgia seek greater autonomy; tens of thousands of Armenians
emigrate, primarily to Russia, to seek employment

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 219,324 (Azerbaijan)
IDPs: 8,400 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh,
majority have returned home since 1994 ceasefire) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Armenia is a major source and, to a lesser
extent, a transit and destination country for women and girls
trafficked for sexual exploitation largely to the UAE and Turkey;
traffickers, many of them women, route victims directly into Dubai
or through Moscow; profits derived from the trafficking of Armenian
victims reportedly increased dramatically from 2005
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Armenia has failed to show evidence
of increasing efforts, particularly in the areas of enforcement,
trafficking-related corruption, and victim protection; the
government increased implementation of its anti-trafficking law, but
failed to impose significant penalties for convicted traffickers and
failed to vigorously investigate and prosecute ongoing and
widespread allegations of public officials' complicity in
trafficking; victim protection efforts remain in early, formative
stages and a lack of sensitivity for victims remains a problem,
particularly in the judiciary

Illicit drugs:
illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domestic
consumption; minor transit point for illicit drugs - mostly opium
and hashish - moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and to a lesser
extent the rest of Europe

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Aruba

Introduction Aruba

Background:
Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the
Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main
industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity
brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The last
decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry.
Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a
separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in
1990.

Geography Aruba

Location:
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela

Geographic coordinates:
12 30 N, 69 58 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 193 sq km
land: 193 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
68.5 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate:
tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:
flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m

Natural resources:
NEGL; white sandy beaches

Land use:
arable land: 10.53%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 89.47% (2005)

Irrigated land:
0.01 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
a flat, riverless island renowned for its white sand beaches; its
tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the
Atlantic Ocean; the temperature is almost constant at about 27
degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)

People Aruba

Population:
71,891 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.5% (male 7,175/female 6,849)
15-64 years: 68.2% (male 23,894/female 25,140)
65 years and over: 12.3% (male 3,616/female 5,217) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 38.5 years
male: 36.4 years
female: 40.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.44% (2006 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
0 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: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.79 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.28 years
male: 75.95 years
female: 82.78 years (2006 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban; Dutch

Ethnic groups:
mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%

Religions:
Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish

Languages:
Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English
dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish

Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 97%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government Aruba

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Aruba

Dependency status:
member country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in
internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the
Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and
foreign affairs

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Oranjestad
geographic coordinates: 12 33 N, 70 06 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Independence:
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

National holiday:
Flag Day, 18 March

Constitution:
1 January 1986

Legal system:
based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law
influence

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April
1980), represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May
2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30
October 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed for
a six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime
minister elected by the Staten for four-year terms; election last
held 2005 (next to be held by 2009)
election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percent
of legislative vote - NA

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by
direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 23 September 2005 (next to be held by in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - MEP 43%, AVP 32%, MPA
7%, RED 7%, PDR 6%, OLA 4%, PPA 2%; seats by party - MEP 11, AVP 8,
MPA 1, RED 1

Judicial branch:
Common Court of Justice of Aruba (judges are appointed by the
monarch)

Political parties and leaders:
Aliansa/Aruban Social Movement or MSA [Robert WEVER]; Aruban
Liberal Organization or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic
Movement or MPA [Monica ARENDS-KOCK]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA
[Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Mike EMAN]; People's
Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; Real Democracy
or PDR [Andin BIKKER]; RED [Rudy LAMPE]; Workers Political Platform
or PTT [Gregorio WOLFF]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC, UNESCO (associate), UNWTO
(associate), UPU, WCL, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr.
Henry BAARH, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of
the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to
Netherlands Antilles is accredited to Aruba

Flag description:
blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the lower
portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper
hoist-side corner

Economy Aruba

Economy - overview:
Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy, with
offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important. The
rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted
in a substantial expansion of other activities. Over 1.5 million
tourists per year visit Aruba, with 75% of those from the US.
Construction continues to boom, with hotel capacity five times the
1985 level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery
in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings,
has further spurred growth. Tourist arrivals have rebounded strongly
following a dip after the 11 September 2001 attacks. The island
experiences only a brief low season, and hotel occupancy in 2004
averaged 80%, compared to 68% throughout the rest of the Caribbean.
The government has made cutting the budget and trade deficits a high
priority.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.258 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.258 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2.4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$21,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 33.3%
services: 66.3%

Labor force:
41,500 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair,
followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining

Unemployment rate:
6.9% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2005)

Budget:
revenues: $507.9 million
expenditures: $577.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)

Public debt:
46.3% of GDP (2005)

Agriculture - products:
aloes; livestock; fish

Industries:
tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
770 million kWh (2004)

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

Electricity - consumption:
716.1 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
2,363 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
7,000 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:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$80 million f.o.b.; note - includes oil reexports (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery
and electrical equipment, transport equipment

Exports - partners:
Netherlands 33.5%, Panama 16.7%, Colombia 11.9%, US 11.3%,
Venezuela 10.1%, Netherlands Antilles 9% (2005)

Imports:
$875 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and
reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
US 55.9%, Netherlands 12.9%, UK 3.8% (2005)

Debt - external:
$478.6 million (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$-11.3 million (2004)

Currency (code):
Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)

Currency code:
AWG

Exchange rates:
Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004),
1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Aruba

Telephones - main lines in use:
37,100 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
98,400 (2004)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications system
domestic: increased competition through privatization; 3 wireless
service providers are now licensed
international: country code - 297; 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten
(Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay
links

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:
50,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)

Televisions:
20,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.aw

Internet hosts:
11,548 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA

Internet users:
24,000 (2002)

Transportation Aruba

Airports:
1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 800 km
paved: 513 km
unpaved: 287 km

Ports and terminals:
Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas

Military Aruba

Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Netherlands Navy and
Marines, Coast Guard

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 16,278 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 13,219 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 520 (2005 est.)

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Transnational Issues Aruba

Disputes - international:
none

Illicit drugs:
transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some
accompanying money-laundering activity

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Introduction Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Background:
These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931;
formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a
rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983, it became a
National Nature Reserve. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, is
now a marine reserve.

Geography Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Location:
Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between
northwestern Australia and Timor island

Geographic coordinates:
12 14 S, 123 05 E

Map references:
Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 5 sq km
land: 5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and
Cartier Island

Area - comparative:
about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
74.1 km

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

Climate:
tropical

Terrain:
low with sand and coral

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Natural resources:
fish

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all grass and sand) (2005)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km

Natural hazards:
surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983

People Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and
fresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island (July 2006 est.)

People - note:
the landing of illegal immigrants from Indonesia's Rote Island has
become an ongoing problem

Government Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Dependency status:
territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department
of Transport and Regional Services

Legal system:
the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the
Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of Australia)

Flag description:
the flag of Australia is used

Economy Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Economy - overview:
no economic activity

Transportation Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only

Military Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the
Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force

Transnational Issues Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Disputes - international:
Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef;
Australia has closed the surrounding waters to Indonesian
traditional fishing and created a national park in the region while
continuing to prospect for hydrocarbons in the vicinity

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Atlantic Ocean

Background:
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceans
(after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than the Indian Ocean, Southern
Ocean, and Arctic Ocean). The Kiel Canal (Germany), Oresund
(Denmark-Sweden), Bosporus (Turkey), Strait of Gibraltar
(Morocco-Spain), and the Saint Lawrence Seaway (Canada-US) are
important strategic access waterways. The decision by the
International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to
delimit a fifth world ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion
of the Atlantic Ocean south of 60 degrees south latitude.

Geography Atlantic Ocean

Location:
body of water between Africa, Europe, the Southern Ocean, and the
Western Hemisphere

Geographic coordinates:
0 00 N, 25 00 W

Map references:
Political Map of the World

Area:
total: 76.762 million sq km
note: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait,
Denmark Strait, part of the Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Labrador
Sea, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, almost all of the
Scotia Sea, and other tributary water bodies

Area - comparative:
slightly less than 6.5 times the size of the US

Coastline:
111,866 km

Climate:
tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near
Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can
occur from May to December, but are most frequent from August to
November