Chapter 47
Nationality: noun: Greek(s) adjective: Greek
Ethnic groups: Greek 98%, other 2% note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece
Religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Languages: Greek (official), English, French
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95% male: 98% female : 93% (1991 est.)
@Greece:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Hellenic Republic conventional short form: Greece local long form : Elliniki Dhimokratia local short form: Ellas former : Kingdom of Greece
Data code: GR
Government type: parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974
National capital: Athens
Administrative divisions: 51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos)and 1 autonomous region*; Ayion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia, Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki, Dhodhekanisos, Drama, Evritania, Evros, Evvoia, Florina, Fokis, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina, Iraklion, Kardhitsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkira, Khalkidhiki, Khania, Khios, Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos
Independence: 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 March (1821) (proclamation of the war of independence)
Constitution: 11 June 1975
Legal system: based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS (since 10 March 1995) head of government : Prime Minister Konstandinos SIMITIS (since 19 January 1996) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by Chamber of Deputies for a five-year term; election last held 10 March 1995 (next to be held by NA March 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS elected president; percent of Chamber of Deputies vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: elections last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held by NA September 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - PASOK 41.5%, ND 38.1%, KKE 5.6%, Coalition of the Left and Progress 5.1%, DIKKI 4.4%, Political Spring 2.9%; seats by party - PASOK 162, ND 108, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council; Special Supreme Tribunal, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council
Political parties and leaders: New Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Konstandinos SIMITIS]; Communist Party or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; Political Spring [Andonios SAMARAS]; Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Nikolaos KONSTANDOPOULOS]; Democratic Social Movement or DIKKI [Dhimitrios TSOVOLAS]; Rainbow Coalition [Pavlos VOSKOPOULOS]
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UPU, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Loukas TSILAS chancery : 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-5800 FAX: [1] (202) 939-5824 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s) : Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas M. T. NILES embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842 telephone: [30] (1) 721-2951, 8401 FAX: [30] (1) 645-6282 consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
Flag description: nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country
Economy
Economy - overview: Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for roughly half of GDP. Tourism is a major source of foreign exchange, and agriculture is self-sufficient, except for meat, dairy products, and animal feedstuffs. Macroeconomic problems include mediocre GDP growth, the huge public sector, substantial budget deficits, and 10% unemployment. The government's hard drachma policy and public sector wage restraint are largely responsible for the downward trend in inflation, now at the lowest level in 22 years. Investment is likely to be the primary engine for economic growth in 1997. Athens continues to rely heavily on EU aid, which currently amounts to about 4% of GDP. Despite widespread protests from unions and farmers, Prime Minister SIMITIS presented a tough 1997 budget to help bring Greece closer to meeting the EU criteria for participating in economic and monetary union. SIMITIS faces strong opposition to further privatization and further austerity. Plans to increase defense spending could undermine SIMITIS's goal to curb government expenditures.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $106.9 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.2% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,000 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11% industry: 25% services : 64% (1994)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 8.6% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 4.21 million by occupation : services 52%, agriculture 23%, industry 25% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $33 billion (excluding privatization receipts) expenditures: $45 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles; chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate: 1.8% (1996 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 8.61 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 41.5 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 3,466 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; meat, dairy products
Exports: total value: $5.9 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities : manufactured goods 53%, foodstuffs 34%, fuels 5% (1994) partners: EU 60% (Germany 22%, Italy 14%, France 6%, UK 6%), US 3% (1995)
Imports: total value: $20.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: manufactured goods 72%, foodstuffs 15%, fuels 10% (1994) partners : EU 70% (Italy 18%, Germany 16%, France 8%, UK 6%) US 4% (1995)
Debt - external: $34.2 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient : ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta
Exchange rates: drachmae (Dr) per US$1 - 251.55 (January 1997), 240.71 (1996), 231.66 (1995), 242.60 (1994), 229.26 (1993), 190.62 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Greece:Communications
Telephones: 5,571,293 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: adequate, modern networks reach all areas; microwave radio relay carries most traffic; extensive open-wire network; submarine cables to off-shore islands domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and submarine cable international: tropospheric scatter; 8 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 29, FM 17 (repeaters 20), shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 361 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 2.3 million (1993 est.)
@Greece:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,474 km standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (36 km electrified; 100 km double track) narrow gauge: 887 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (a rack type railway for steep grades)
Highways: total : 116,440 km paved: 106,775 km (including 420 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,665 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 80 km; system consists of three coastal canals; including the Corinth Canal (6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of Corinth connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and shortens the sea voyage from the Adriatic to Piraievs (Piraeus) by 325 km; and three unconnected rivers
Pipelines: crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km
Ports and harbors: Alexandroupolis, Elevsis, Iraklion (Crete), Kavala, Kerkira, Khalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Piraievs (Piraeus), Thessaloniki, Volos
Merchant marine: total: 984 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 27,571,920 GRT/49,674,832 DWT ships by type: bulk 433, cargo 85, chemical tanker 22, combination bulk 16, combination ore/oil 18, container 39, liquefied gas tanker 4, multi-function large load carrier 1, oil tanker 239, passenger 15, passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 6, roll-on/roll-off cargo 18, short-sea passenger 82, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 1 note: Greece owns an additional 1,883 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 67,631,159 DWT operating under the registries of The Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Honduras, Liberia, Malta, Panama, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Syria, Vanuatu (1996 est.)
Airports: 78 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 75 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m : 18 under 914 m: 21 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total : 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force, National Guard, Police
Military manpower - military age: 21 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,677,826 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males : 2,050,740 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males : 80,102 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $4.9 billion (1995)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 4.6% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Turkey in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey; dispute with The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over name; in September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions; Athens also lifted its economic embargo on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Illicit drugs: a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece ______________________________________________________________________
GREENLAND
(part of the Danish realm)
@Greenland:Geography
Location: Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
Geographic coordinates: 72 00 N, 40 00 W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area: total: 2,175,600 sq km land : 2,175,600 sq km (341,600 sq km ice-free, 1,834,000 sq km ice-covered) (est.)
Area - comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 44,087 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea : 3 nm
Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain: flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point : Gunnbjorn 3,700 m
Natural resources: zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales
Land use: arable land : 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 0% other: 99% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
Environment - current issues: protection of the arctic environment; preservation of their traditional way of life, including whaling; note - Greenland participates actively in Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC)
Environment - international agreements: party to: Whaling (extended through Denmark) signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - note: dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast
@Greenland:People
Population: 58,768 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 27% (male 7,843; female 7,711) 15-64 years: 68% (male 21,931; female 18,237) 65 years and over : 5% (male 1,393; female 1,653) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.94% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 16.39 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 6.99 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.2 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 22.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.84 years male: 64.62 years female: 73.08 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.19 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic
Ethnic groups: Greenlander 87% (Eskimos and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 13%
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran
Languages: Eskimo dialects, Danish, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect)
Literacy: NA note: similar to Denmark proper
@Greenland:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Greenland local long form: none local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
Data code: GL
Dependency status: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division
Government type: NA
National capital: Nuuk (Godthab)
Administrative divisions: 3 districts (landsdele); Nordgronland, Ostgronland, Vestgronland
Independence: none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division)
National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system: Danish
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Steen SPORE (since NA 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Gunnar MARTENS (since NA 1995) cabinet: Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament on the basis of the strength of parties elections: the queen is a constitutional monarch; high commissioner appointed by the queen; prime minister is elected by the Parliament; election last held NA 1991 (next to be held NA) election results: Gunnar MARTENS elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats; members are elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 4 March 1995 (next to be held by 5 March 1999) election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 38.4%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 20.3%, Atassut Party 30.1%; seats by party - Siumut 12, Atassut Party 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit 6, conservative splinter grouping 2, independent 1 note: 2 representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 21 September 1994 (next to be held by NA September 1998); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberals 1, Social Democrats 1; Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties
Judicial branch: High Court or Landsret
Political parties and leaders: two-party ruling coalition; Siumut (Forward Party, a moderate socialist party that advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark) [Lars Emil JOHANSEN, chairman]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule) [Josef MOTZFELDT]; Atassut Party (Solidarity, a more conservative party that favors continuing close relations with Denmark) [Daniel SKIFTE]; Akulliit Party [Bjarne KREUTZMANN]; Issituup (Polar Party) [Nicolai HEINRICH]
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white
Economy
Economy - overview: Greenland suffered negative economic growth in the early 1990s, but since 1993 the economy has improved. Nonetheless, prospects for substantial economic growth in the near future are poor. The Greenland Home Rule Government (GHRG) has pursued a light fiscal policy since the late 1980s which has helped create surpluses in the public budget and low inflation. Since 1990, Greenland has registered a foreign trade deficit following the closure of the last remaining lead and zinc mine in 1989. Greenland today is critically dependent on fishing and fish exports; the shrimp fishery is by far the largest income earner. Despite resumption of several interesting hydrocarbon and minerals exploration activities, it will take several years before production can materialize. Tourism is the only sector offering any near term potential and even this is limited due to a short season and high costs. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in Greenland's economy. About half the government revenues come from grants from the Danish Government, an important supplement of GDP.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $892 million (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $15,500 (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry : NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 1.8% (1995)
Labor force: total: 24,500 (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10.5% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $706 million expenditures: $697 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
Industries: fish processing (mainly shrimp), handicrafts, furs, small shipyards
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: 92,500 kW
Electricity - production: 274.4 million kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: 2,691 kWh (1994-95)
Agriculture - products: forage crops, small garden vegetables; sheep, fish
Exports: total value: $363.4 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities : fish and fish products 95% partners: Denmark 89%, Japan 5%, UK 5%
Imports: total value: $421 million (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 25%, manufactured goods 18%, food and live animals 11%, petroleum products 6% partners : Denmark 7.5%, Iceland 3.8%, Japan 3.3%, Norway 3.1%, US 2.4%, Germany 2.4%, Sweden 1.8%
Debt - external: $243 million (1995)
Economic aid: substantial annual subsidy from Denmark - $427 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.117 (January 1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Greenland:Communications
Telephones: 19,600 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and microwave radio relay; totally digitalized in 1995 domestic: microwave radio relay international : 2 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: one publically-owned radio and television station (nationwide) and some local radio and TV stations
Radios: 23,000 (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: one publicly-owned radio and television station (nationwide) and some local radio and TV stations
Televisions: 12,000 (1991 est.)
@Greenland:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total : 150 km paved: 60 km unpaved: 90 km
Ports and harbors: Kangerluarsoruseq, Kangerlussuaq, Nanortalik, Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthaab), Saamiut, Sisimiut
Merchant marine: total: 1 short-sea passenger (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,162 GRT/610 DWT (1995 est.)
Airports: 8 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m : 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m : 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military manpower - military age: 16 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: 494
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________
GRENADA
@Grenada:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 12 07 N, 61 40 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total : 340 sq km land: 340 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 121 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
Terrain: volcanic in origin with central mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point : Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
Natural resources: timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
Land use: arable land : 15% permanent crops: 18% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 9% other: 55% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
@Grenada:People
Population: 95,537 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 21,051; female 20,335) 15-64 years: 52% (male 26,473; female 23,181) 65 years and over: 5% (male 2,090; female 2,407) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.66% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 28.61 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.53 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -16.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.13 years male: 68.58 years female: 73.72 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.71 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Grenadian(s) adjective: Grenadian
Ethnic groups: black
Religions: Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant sects 33.2%
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male : 98% female: 98% (1970 est.)
@Grenada:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Grenada
Data code: GJ
Government type: parliamentary democracy
National capital: Saint George's