Chapter 80
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; formerly administered from Washington, DC, by the US Navy, under Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this facility has been operationally closed since 10 September 1993; on 31 October 1996, through a presidential executive order, the jurisdiction and control of the atoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy is based on providing support services for the national wildlife refuge activities located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Transportation
Highways: total: 32 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Pipelines: 7.8 km
Ports and harbors: Sand Island
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
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@Moldova -------
Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 29 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 33,843 sq km land: 33,371 sq km water: 472 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 1,389 km border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: moderate winters, warm summers
Terrain: rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Nistru River 2 m highest point: Mount Balaneshty 430 m
Natural resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum
Land use: arable land: 53% permanent crops: 14% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 13% other: 7% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,110 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: landslides (57 cases in 1998)
Environment--current issues: heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
Environment--international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 4,460,838 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (male 555,096; female 535,625) 15-64 years: 66% (male 1,408,334; female 1,529,542) 65 years and over: 10% (male 160,317; female 271,924) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.1% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 14.43 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.5 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 43.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.39 years male: 59.76 years female: 69.24 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Moldovan(s) adjective: Moldovan
Ethnic groups: Moldavian/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Gagauz 3.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, other 1.7% (1989 est.) note: internal disputes with ethnic Russians in the Transdniester region
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 98.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist (only about 1,000 members) (1991) note: the large majority of churchgoers are ethnic Moldovans
Languages: Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96% male: 99% female: 94% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Moldova conventional short form: Moldova local long form: Republica Moldova local short form: none former: Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia
Data code: MD
Government type: republic
Capital: Chisinau
Administrative divisions: 40 raions (singular--raion) and 4 municipalities*; Anenii Noi, Balti*, Basarabeasca, Bender*, Briceni, Cahul, Cainari, Calarasi, Camenca, Cantemir, Causeni, Ceadir-Lunga, Chisinau*, Cimislia, Comrat, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Grigoriopol, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Ribnita, Riscani, Singerei, Slobozia, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Tiraspol*, Ungheni, Vulcanesti note: in accordance with the Law on Territorial Administrative Reform, the 40 raions have been reorganized into 9 counties (judets), one municipality*, and 2 territorial units**: Baltsi, Cahul, Chisinau, Chisinau*, Dubossary district (Transnistria)**, Edinets, Gagauzia**, Lapushna, Orhei, Soroca, Tighina, Ungheni; the status of the Dubossary district is still under negotiation
Independence: 27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 August 1991
Constitution: new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old Soviet constitution of 1979
Legal system: based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but accepts many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Petru LUCINSCHI (since 15 January 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Ion CIUBUC (since 15 January 1997) and four deputy prime ministers cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 17 November 1996; runoff election 1 December 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament; names of deputy prime ministers are submitted by the prime minister for acceptance by the president election results: Petru LUCINSCHI ran against Mircea SNEGUR and was elected president; percent of vote--LUCINSCHI 54%, SNEGUR 46%; Prime Minister Ion CIUBUC was appointed by the president 15 January 1997 and was elected by a parliamentary vote of 75-15 on 24 January 1997
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 22 March 1998 (next to be held spring 2002) election results: percent of vote by party--PCM 30%, CDM 19%, PMDP 18%, PFD 9%; seats by party--PCM 40, CDM 26, PMDP 24, PFD 11 note: the comparative breakdown of seats by faction is approximate
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Communist Party or PCM [Vladimir VORONIN, first chairman]; The Democratic Convention or CDM (includes the Christian Democratic Popular Front or FPCD and the Party of chairman]; Bloc for a Democratic and Prosperous Moldova or PMDP
Political pressure groups and leaders: The Ecology Movement of president]; Liberal Convention of Moldova (now the Liberal Party);
International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ceslav CIOBANU chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rudolf Villem PERINA embassy: Strada Alexei Mateevicie, #103, Chisinau 2009 mailing address: use embassy street address; pouch address--American Embassy Chisinau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7080
Flag description: same color scheme as Romania--three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow
Economy
Economy--overview: Moldova enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import all of its supplies of oil, coal, and natural gas, largely from Russia. Energy shortages contributed to sharp production declines after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Moldovan Government has recently been making progress on an ambitious economic reform agenda. As part of its reform efforts, Moldova introduced a stable convertible currency, freed all prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises and backed steady land privatization, removed export controls, and freed interest rates. In 1998, the economic troubles of Russia, with whom Moldova conducts 55% of its trade, was a major cause of the 8.6% drop in GDP. In 1999, the IMF resumed payment on Moldova's Extended Fund Facility, which had been suspended since 1997. The IMF intends to grant $135 million in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$10 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -8.6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,200 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: 29% services: 41% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 25.8% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 18.3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.7 million (1998)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 40.2%, industry 14.3%, other 45.5% (1998)
Unemployment rate: 2% (includes only officially registered unemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers) (September 1998)
Budget: revenues: $536 million expenditures: $594 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: food processing, agricultural machinery, foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery, sugar, vegetable oil, shoes, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 8.325 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 96.1% hydro: 3.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 6.825 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 3.1 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 1.6 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk
Exports: $633 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: foodstuffs, wine, tobacco, textiles and footwear, machinery
Exports--partners: Russia 58%, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus, Romania, US, Germany, Italy (1997)
Imports: $1.02 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: oil, gas, coal, steel, machinery, chemical products, metals, metal products, foodstuffs, automobiles, other consumer durables
Imports--partners: Russia 26%, Ukraine 20%, Belarus, Romania, Germany, Italy (1997)
Debt--external: more than $1.2 billion (February 1999)
Economic aid--recipient: $100.8 million (1995); note?$547 million from the IMF and World Bank (1992-99)
Currency: the Moldovan leu (MLD) (plural lei) was introduced in late 1993
Exchange rates: lei (MLD) per US$1 (end of period)--8.3226 (December 1998), 8.3395 (1998), 4.6605 (1997), 4.6500 (1996), 4.4990 (1995), 4.2700 (1994); period average--4.6758 (January 1998), 4.6236 (1997), 4.6045 (1996), 4.4958 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 600,000 (1998 est.)
Telephone system: the Ministry of Information, Computers, and Telecommunications controls telecommunications; the carrier is Modtelecom domestic: local--Chisinau has a fiber-optic loop and one cellular GSM provider; the waiting list for telephones is long; local service outside Chisinau is poor; intercity--Moldova's two fiber-optic segments form a synchronous digital hierarchy ring through Romania's system; an analog backbone system runs from south to north in Moldova international: two fiber-optic segments provide connectivity to Romania; worldwide service can be available to Moldova through this infrastructure; additional analog lines are to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 8, shortwave NA (1999)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 national station, 3 private stations, 15 small local stations outside Chisinau (1998)
Televisions: 93 televisions/100 people (1996)
Transportation
Railways: total: 1,328 km broad gauge: 1,328 km 1.520-m gauge (1992)
Highways: total: 12,300 km paved: 10,738 km unpaved: 1,562 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 424 km (1994)
Pipelines: natural gas 310 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 26 (1994 est.)
Airports--with paved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (1994 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 8 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 1,151,674 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 908,347 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 38,666 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $6.3 million (FY99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: separatist Transdniester region, comprising the area between the Nistru (Dniester) River and Ukraine, has its own de facto government, dominated by Moldovan Slavs
Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe and possibly the United States
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@Monaco ------
Geography
Location: Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
Geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 24 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 1.95 sq km land: 1.95 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 4.4 km border countries: France 4.4 km
Coastline: 4.1 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain: hilly, rugged, rocky
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Agel 140 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (urban area)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: second smallest independent state in world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban
People
Population: 32,149 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 17% (male 2,723; female 2,645) 15-64 years: 64% (male 10,014; female 10,530) 65 years and over: 19% (male 2,302; female 3,935) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.31% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.7 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 11.79 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.58 years male: 75 years female: 82.35 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s) adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Ethnic groups: French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Principality of Monaco conventional short form: Monaco local long form: Principaute de Monaco local short form: Monaco
Data code: MN
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Monaco
Administrative divisions: none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers, singular--quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo
Independence: 1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi)
National holiday: National Day, 19 November
Constitution: 17 December 1962
Legal system: based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Prince RAINIER III (since 9 May 1949); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre, son of the monarch (born 14 March 1958) head of government: Minister of State Michel LEVEQUE (since 3 February 1997) cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government
Legislative branch: unicameral National Council or Conseil National (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 1 and 8 February 1998 (next to be held NA January 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--National and Democratic Union 18
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme, judges named by the monarch on the basis of nominations by the National Council
Political parties and leaders: National and Democratic Union or
International organization participation: ACCT, ECE, IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Monaco does not have an embassy in the US consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France) is accredited to Monaco
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red
Economy
Economy--overview: Monaco, situated on the French Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The Principality has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service. About 55% of Monaco's annual revenue comes from value-added taxes on hotels, banks, and the industrial sector. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$800 million (1996 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$25,000 (1996 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 30,540 (January 1994)
Unemployment rate: 3.1% (1994)
Budget: revenues: $518 million expenditures: $531 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: none
Exports: $NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
Imports: $NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 53,180 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 33,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (1997)
Televisions: 24,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 1.7 km standard gauge: 1.7 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways: total: 50 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Monaco
Merchant marine: none
Airports: linked to airport in Nice, France, by helicopter service
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
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@Mongolia --------
Geography
Location: Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 1.565 million sq km land: 1.565 million sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries: total: 8,114 km border countries: China 4,673 km, Russia 3,441 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Terrain: vast semidesert and desert plains; mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m highest point: Tavan Bogd Uul 4,374 m