Chapter 108
Nationality: noun: Turkmen(s) adjective: Turkmen
Ethnic divisions: Turkmen 73.3%, Russian 9.8%, Uzbek 9%, Kazak 2%, other 5.9%
Religions: Muslim 87%, Eastern Orthodox 11%, unknown 2%
Languages: Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.) total population: 98% male: 99% female: 97%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turkmenistan local long form: none local short form: Turkmenistan former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: TX
Type of government: republic
Capital: Ashgabat
Administrative divisions: 5 welayatlar (singular - welayat): Ahal Welayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Nebitdag), Dashhowuz Welayaty (formerly Tashauz), Lebap Welayaty (Charjew), Mary Welayaty note: names in parentheses are administrative centers when name differs from welayat name
Independence: 27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
Constitution: adopted 18 May 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first direct presidential election occured) was elected to a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA 2002); results - Saparmurad NIYAZOV 99.5% (ran unopposed); note - a 15 January 1994 referendum extended NIYAZOV's term an additional five years until 2002 (99.99% approval) head of government: Prime Minister (vacant); Deputy Prime Ministers Mukhamed ABALAKOV (since NA), Babamurad BAZAROV (since NA), Hekim ISHANOV (since NA), Valeriy OTCHERTSOV (since NA), Yagmur OVEZOV (since NA), Matkarim RAJAPOV (since NA), Pirkuly ODEYEV (since NA), Rejep SAPAROV (since NA), Boris SHIKHMURADOV (since NA), Batyr SARJAYEV (since NA), Amannazar ILAMANOV (since NA), Ilaman SHYKHYYEV (since NA) were appointed by the president cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president note: NIYAZOV has been asked by various local groups, most recently on 26 October 1995 at the annual elders meeting, to be "president for life," but that would require an amendment to the constitution
Legislative branch: under the 1992 constitution, there are two parliamentary bodies, a unicameral People's Council (Halk Maslahaty - having more than 100 members and meeting infrequently) and a 50-member unicameral Assembly (Majlis) Assembly (Majlis): elections last held 11 December 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (50 total) Democratic Party 45, other 5; note - all 50 preapproved by President NIYAZOV
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat NIYAZOV; Party for Democratic Development, Durdymurat HOJA-MUHAMEDOV, chairman; Agzybirlik, Nurberdy NURMAMEDOV, cochairman, Hubayberdi HALLIYEV, cochairman note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries
International organization participation: CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Halil UGUR chancery: 1511 K Street NW, Suite 412, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 737-4800 FAX: [1] (202) 737-1152
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael W. COTTER embassy: 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (3632) 35-00-45, 35-00-46, 35-00-42, Tie Line [8] 962-0000 FAX: [7] (3632) 51-13-05
Flag: green field, including a vertical stripe on the hoist side, with a claret vertical stripe in between containing five white, black, and orange carpet guls (an asymmetrical design used in producing rugs) associated with five different tribes; a white crescent and five white stars in the upper left corner to the right of the carpet guls
Economy -------
Economic overview: Turkmenistan is largely desert country with nomadic cattle raising, intensive agriculture in irrigated oases, and huge gas and oil resources. One-half of its irrigated land is planted in cotton making it the world's tenth largest producer. It also has the world's fifth largest reserves of natural gas and substantial oil resources. Until the end of 1993, Turkmenistan had experienced less economic disruption than other former Soviet states because its economy received a boost from higher prices for oil and gas and a sharp increase in hard currency earnings. In 1994, Russia's refusal to export Turkmen gas to hard currency markets and mounting debts of its major customers in the former USSR for gas deliveries contributed to a sharp fall in industrial production and caused the budget to shift from a surplus to a slight deficit. The economy remained depressed through 1995 while inflation soared. Furthermore, with an authoritarian ex-communist regime in power and a tribally based social structure, Turkmenistan has taken a cautious approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton sales to sustain its inefficient economy. For 1996, Turkmenistan will face continuing constraints on its earnings because of its customers' inability to pay for their gas and a below average cotton crop in 1995. Turkmenistan is working hard to open new gas export channels through Iran and Turkey, but these will take many years to realize.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.5 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
GDP real growth rate: -10% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,820 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 32.5% industry: 33.4% services: 34.1% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25% monthly average (1994 est.)
Labor force: 1.642 million (January 1994) by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry and construction 20%, other 36% (1992)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: -7% (1995)
Electricity: capacity: 2,480,000 kW production: 9.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,400 kWh (1995)
Agriculture: cotton, grain; livestock
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia to Western Europe
Exports: $1.9 billion to states outside the FSU (1995) commodities: natural gas, cotton, petroleum products, electricity, textiles, carpets partners: Ukraine, Russia, Kazakstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Argentina
Imports: $777 million from states outside the FSU (1995) commodities: machinery and parts, grain and food, plastics and rubber, consumer durables, textiles partners: Russia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakstan, Turkey
External debt: $400 million (of which $275 million to Russia) (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $10 million (1993) note: commitments, $1,830 million ($375 million drawn), 1992-95
Currency: Turkmenistan introduced its national currency, the manat, on 1 November 1993
Exchange rates: manats per US$1 - 2,400 (January 1996) note: government established a unified rate in mid-January 1996
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: total: 2,120 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 2,120 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
Highways: total: 23,000 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1990 est.)
Waterways: the Amu Darya is an important inland waterway
Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; natural gas 4,400 km
Ports: Turkmenbashi (formerly Krasnowodsk)
Airports: total: 64 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 13 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 8 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 7 with unpaved runways under 914 m: 35 (1994 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: poorly developed domestic: NA international: linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; a new telephone link from Ashgabat to Iran has been established; a new exchange in Ashgabat switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat; satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there is at least one state-owned radio broadcast station of NA type
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
Defense -------
Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,024,398 males fit for military service: 834,803 males reach military age (18) annually: 41,697 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: 4.5 billion manats, 3.0% of GDP (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
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@Turks and Caicos Islands ------------------------
(dependent territory of the UK)
Map ---
Location: 21 45 N, 71 35 W -- Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas
Flag ----
Description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus
Geography ---------
Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas
Geographic coordinates: 21 45 N, 71 35 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total area: 430 sq km land area: 430 sq km comparative area: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 389 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Terrain: low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
Natural resources: spiny lobster, conch
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 98%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater natural hazards: frequent hurricanes international agreements: NA
Geographic note: 30 islands (eight inhabited)
People ------
Population: 14,302 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 2.14% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 12.85 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.15 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 13.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female all ages: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 12.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.4 years male: 73.46 years female: 77.07 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: none adjective: none
Ethnic divisions: African
Religions: Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)
Languages: English (official)
Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.) total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
Data code: TK
Type of government: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: Grand Turk
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Constitution: introduced 30 August 1976, suspended in 1986, restored and revised 5 March 1988
Legal system: based on laws of England and Wales with a small number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1953) is a hereditary monarch, represented by Governor Martin BOURKE (since NA February 1993) who was appointed by the queen head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995) was appointed by the governor cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from the Legislative Council
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council: elections last held 31 January 1995 (next to be held by NA 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (20 total, 13 elected) PDM 8, PNP 4, independent (Norman SAUNDERS) 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Progressive National Party (PNP), Washington MISSICK; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Derek H. TAYLOR; United Democratic Party (UDP), Wendal SWANN
International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau)
Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus
Economy -------
Economic overview: The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most food for domestic consumption is imported; there is some subsistence farming - mainly corn, cassava, citrus, and beans - on the Caicos Islands. The tourism sector expanded in 1995, posting a 10% increase in the first quarter as compared to the same period in 1994. The US was the leading source of tourists in 1995, accounting for upward of 70% of arrivals or about 60,000 visitors. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts as the Islands rely on imports for nearly all consumption and capital goods.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $80.8 million (1992 est.)
GDP real growth rate: -1.5% (1992 est.)
GDP per capita: $6,000 (1992 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 4,848 (1990 est.) by occupation: majority engaged in fishing and tourist industries; some subsistence agriculture
Unemployment rate: 12% (1992)
Budget: revenues: $31.9 million (1995) expenditures: $30.4 million (1995), including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: fishing, tourism, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 9,050 kW production: 11.1 million kWh consumption per capita: 860 kWh (1992)
Agriculture: corn, beans; fish
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US
Exports: $6.8 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells partners: US, UK
Imports: $42.8 million (1993) commodities: food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials partners: US, UK
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 121 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 97 km
Ports: Grand Turk, Providenciales
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 7 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 1,359 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: fair cable and radiotelephone services domestic: NA international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 7,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: television programs are available from a cable network, and broadcasts from the Bahamas can be received in the islands
Televisions: NA
Defense -------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
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@Tuvalu ------
Map ---
Location: 8 00 S, 178 00 E -- Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Flag ----
Description: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands
Geography ---------
Location: Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 S, 178 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total area: 26 sq km land area: 26 sq km comparative area: 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 24 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
Terrain: very low-lying and narrow coral atolls lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% note: Tuvalu's nine coral atolls have enough soil to grow coconuts and support subsistence agriculture
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, all water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities; beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the crown of thorns starfish natural hazards: severe tropical storms are rare international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
People ------
Population: 10,146 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 1,865; female 1,798) 15-64 years: 59% (male 2,831; female 3,162) 65 years and over: 5% (male 227; female 263) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.51% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 23.95 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.87 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 27.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.34 years male: 62.15 years female: 64.59 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.11 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Tuvaluan(s) adjective: Tuvaluan
Ethnic divisions: Polynesian 96%
Religions: Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
Languages: Tuvaluan, English
Literacy: NA
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tuvalu former: Ellice Islands
Data code: TV
Type of government: democracy; began debating republic status in 1992
Capital: Funafuti
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: 1 October 1978 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
Constitution: 1 October 1978
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Manuella TULAGA (since NA June 1994) who was appointed by the queen on recommendation of the prime minister head of government: Prime Minister Kamuta LATASI (since 10 December 1993) and Deputy Prime Minister Otinielu TAUSI (since 10 December 1993) were elected by and from the members of Parliament cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on recommendation of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Fale I Fono): members elected for four-year terms; elections last held 25 November 1993 (next to be held by NA 1997); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (12 total) independents 12
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C (special), ESCAP, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US: Tuvalu does not have an embassy in the US
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in ======================================================================
@Uganda ------
Map ---
Location: 1 00 N, 32 00 E -- Eastern Africa, west of Kenya
Flag ----
Description: six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist side
Geography ---------
Location: Eastern Africa, west of Kenya
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total area: 236,040 sq km land area: 199,710 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries: total: 2,698 km border countries: Kenya 933 km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan 435 km, Tanzania 396 km, Zaire 765 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
Terrain: mostly plateau with rim of mountains lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m highest point: Margherita (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m
Natural resources: copper, cobalt, limestone, salt
Land use: arable land: 23% permanent crops: 9% meadows and pastures: 25% forest and woodland: 30% other: 13%
Irrigated land: 90 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment: current issues: draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching is widespread natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Environmental Modification
Geographic note: landlocked
People ------
Population: 20,158,176 (July 1996 est.)