Part 132
CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Miodrag VLAHOVIC
chancery: 1610 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-6108
FAX: [1] (202) 234-6109
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roderick W. MOORE
embassy: Ljubljanska bb, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [382] 81 225 417
FAX: [382] 81 241 358
Flag description:
a red field bordered by a narrow golden-yellow stripe with the Montenegrin coat of arms centered
Economy ::Montenegro
Economy - overview:
Montenegro severed its economy from federal control and from Serbia during the MILOSEVIC era and maintained its own central bank, adopted the Deutchmark, then the euro - rather than the Yugoslav dinar - as official currency, collected customs tariffs, and managed its own budget. The dissolution of the loose political union between Serbia and Montenegro in 2006 led to separate membership in several international financial institutions, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. On 18 January 2007, Montenegro joined the World Bank and IMF. Montenegro is pursuing its own membership in the World Trade Organization and signed a Stabilization and Association agreement with the European Union in October 2007. On December 15, 2008, Montenegro submitted an EU membership application. Unemployment and regional disparities in development are key political and economic problems. Montenegro has privatized its large aluminum complex - the dominant industry - as well as most of its financial sector, and has begun to attract foreign direct investment in the tourism sector. The global financial crisis is likely to have a significant negative impact on the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.832 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 $6.355 billion (2007 est.)
$5.804 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.848 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 9.5% (2007 est.)
8.6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,100 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 $9,300 (2007 est.)
$8,400 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
259,100 (2004) country comparison to the world: 162
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 30%
services: 68% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14.7% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
Population below poverty line:
7% (2007 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30 (2003) country comparison to the world: 115
Investment (gross fixed):
30.5% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Budget:
revenues: NA
expenditures: NA
Public debt:
38% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 59
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2007) country comparison to the world: 43
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.24% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 92 9.09% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.172 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.446 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$3.083 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 90 $3.699 billion (31 December 2007)
$1.754 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
grains, tobacco, potatoes, citrus fruits, olives, grapes; sheepherding; commercial fishing negligible
Industries:
steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism
Electricity - production:
2.864 billion kWh (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - consumption:
18.6 million kWh (2005) country comparison to the world: 206
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 165
Oil - consumption:
bbl/day NA
Oil - exports:
313.6 bbl/day (2005) country comparison to the world: 127
Oil - imports:
6,093 bbl/day (2005) country comparison to the world: 152
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 103
Natural gas - consumption:
NA cu m
Current account balance:
-$1.102 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 124
Exports:
$171.3 million (2003) country comparison to the world: 183
Imports:
$601.7 million (2003) country comparison to the world: 182
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA
Debt - external:
$650 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 160
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Communications ::Montenegro
Telephones - main lines in use:
362,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 105
Telephones - mobile cellular:
735,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 147
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern telecommunications system with access to European satellites
domestic: GSM wireless service, available through 3 providers with national coverage, is growing
international: country code - 382; 2 international switches connect the national system
Radio broadcast stations:
31 (station frequency types NA) (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
13 (2004)
Internet country code:
.me
Internet hosts:
3,245 (2009) country comparison to the world: 141
Internet users:
294,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 128
Transportation ::Montenegro
Airports:
5 (2009) country comparison to the world: 182
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Heliports:
1 (2007)
Railways:
total: 250 km country comparison to the world: 126 standard gauge: 250 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 169 km) (2007)
Roadways:
total: 7,368 km country comparison to the world: 146 paved: 4,742 km
unpaved: 2,626 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 6 country comparison to the world: 129 by type: cargo 5, passenger/cargo 1
registered in other countries: 3 (Bahamas 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Bar
Military ::Montenegro
Military branches:
Armed Forces of the Republic of Montenegro: Army, Navy, Air Force (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
compulsory national military service abolished August 2006
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 154,029
females age 16-49: 136,847 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 3,945
female: 3,907 (2009 est.)
Military - note:
Montenegrin plans call for the establishment of a fully professional armed forces
Transnational Issues ::Montenegro
Disputes - international:
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 7,000 (Kosovo); note - mostly ethnic Serbs and Roma who fled Kosovo in 1999
IDPs: 16,192 (ethnic conflict in 1999 and riots in 2004) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Montenegro is primarily a transit country for the trafficking of women and girls to Western Europe for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; women and girls from the Balkans and Eastern Europe are trafficked across Montenegro to Western European countries
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Montenegro is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2007; public attention to the issue of trafficking has diminished considerably in Montenegro in recent years (2008)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Montserrat (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Montserrat
Background:
English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled on Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three decades later. The British and French fought for possession of the island for most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as a British possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid 19th century. Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity since, with the last eruption occurring in July 2003.
Geography ::Montserrat
Location:
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
16 45 N, 62 12 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 102 sq km country comparison to the world: 225 land: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
40 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: lava dome in English's Crater (in the Soufriere Hills volcanic complex) estimated at over 930 m (2006)
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)
Environment - current issues:
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
Geography - note:
the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised of three major volcanic centers of differing ages
People ::Montserrat
Population:
5,097 country comparison to the world: 228 note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.6% (male 731/female 678)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 1,599/female 1,738)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 232/female 119) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.5 years
male: 28.2 years
female: 28.7 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.392% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 167
Birth rate:
12.36 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
Death rate:
8.44 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96
Net migration rate:
NA
Urbanization:
urban population: 14% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.08 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 122 male: 12.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.76 years country comparison to the world: 115 male: 74.74 years
female: 70.68 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.23 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 216
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Montserratian(s)
adjective: Montserratian
Ethnic groups:
black, white
Religions:
Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations
Languages:
English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1970 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.3% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 137
Government ::Montserrat
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montserrat
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Plymouth
geographic coordinates: 16 42 N, 62 13 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note: Plymouth was abandoned in 1997 because of volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat
Administrative divisions:
3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:
effective 19 December 1989
Legal system:
English common law and statutory law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Peter A. WATERWORTH (since 27 July 2007)
head of government: Chief Minister Rueben MEADE (since 10 September 2009)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, 3 other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes chief minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 9 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)
note: expanded in 2001 from 7 to 9 elected members with attorney general and financial secretary sitting as ex-officio members
elections: last held 8 September 2009 (next to be held by 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MCAP 6, independents 3
note: in 2001, the Elections Commission instituted a single constituency/voter-at-large system whereby all eligible voters cast ballots for all nine seats of the Legislative Council
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia, one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Montserrat Democratic Party or MDP [Lowell LEWIS]; Movement for Change and Prosperity or MCAP [Roselyn CASSELL-SEALY]; New People's Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross
Economy ::Montserrat
Economy - overview:
Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the airports and seaports, causing further economic and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the island. Some began to return in 1998 but lack of housing limited the number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops. Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcanic activity and on public sector construction activity. The UK has launched a three-year $122.8 million aid program to help reconstruct the economy. Half of the island is expected to remain uninhabitable for another decade.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$29 million (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 224
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
-1% (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,400 (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 160
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.2%
industry: 23.1%
services: 75.7% (1999 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Unemployment rate:
6% (1998 est.) country comparison to the world: 73
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $31.4 million
expenditures: $31.6 million (1997 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 27
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 65 6.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.89% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 81 10.4% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$16.71 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 120 $17.9 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$45.42 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 123 $43.9 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$9.93 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 128 $5.537 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products
Industries:
tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
22 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 205
Electricity - consumption:
20.46 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 205
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 167
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 196
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
Oil - imports:
520.6 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 198
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 105
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 160
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 160
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 155
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 96
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 112
Exports:
$700,000 (2001) country comparison to the world: 219
Exports - commodities:
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot peppers, limes, live plants; cattle
Imports:
$17 million
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
Debt - external:
$8.9 million (1997) country comparison to the world: 198
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
note: fixed rate since 1976
Communications ::Montserrat
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 218
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 214
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern and fully digitalized
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone systems available
international: country code - 1-664; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ms
Internet hosts:
688 (2009) country comparison to the world: 168
Internet users:
1,200 (2008) country comparison to the world: 211
Transportation ::Montserrat
Airports:
2 (2009) country comparison to the world: 207
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Roadways:
note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the 227 km road system; a new road infrastructure has been built in the north end of the island (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Little Bay, Plymouth
Military ::Montserrat
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,528 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,126
females age 16-49: 1,226 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 36
female: 33 (2009 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Montserrat
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
page last updated on November 4, 2009
======================================================================
@Morocco (Africa)
Introduction ::Morocco
Background:
In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad AL-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature, which first met in 1997. The country has made improvements in human rights under King MOHAMMED VI and its press is moderately free. Despite the continuing reforms, ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch.
Geography ::Morocco
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates:
32 00 N, 5 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 446,550 sq km country comparison to the world: 57 land: 446,300 sq km
water: 250 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 2,017.9 km
border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km
Coastline:
1,835 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
Terrain:
northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 2%
other: 79% (2005)
Irrigated land:
14,450 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
29 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 12.6 cu km/yr (10%/3%/87%)
per capita: 400 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts