Part 363

Laos serving one of the world's least developed countries, the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) is small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced; its mission focus is border and internal security, primarily in countering ethnic Hmong insurgent groups; together with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the government, the Lao People's Army (LPA) is the third pillar of state machinery, and as such is expected to suppress political and civil unrest and similar national emergencies, but the LPA also has upgraded skills to respond to avian influenza outbreaks; there is no perceived external threat to the state and the LPA maintains strong ties with the neighboring Vietnamese military (2008)

Lesotho Lesotho's declared policy is maintenance of its independent sovereignty and preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa; restructuring of the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) and Ministry of Defense and Public Service over the past five years has focused on subordinating the defense apparatus to civilian control and restoring the LDF's cohesion; the restructuring has considerably improved capabilities and professionalism, but the LDF is disproportionately large for a small, poor country; the government has outlined a reduction to a planned 1,500-man strength, but these plans have met with vociferous resistance from the political opposition and from inside the LDF (2008)

Liechtenstein Liechtenstein has no military forces, but is interested in European security policy and is an active member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)

Macau defense is the responsibility of China

Maldives the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), with its small size and with little serviceable equipment, is inadequate to prevent external aggression and is primarily tasked to reinforce the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure security in the exclusive economic zone (2008)

Marshall Islands defense is the responsibility of the US

Mayotte defense is the responsibility of France; a small contingent of French forces is stationed on the island

Micronesia, Federated States of defense is the responsibility of the US

Monaco defense is the responsibility of France

Montenegro Montenegrin plans call for the establishment of a fully professional armed forces

Montserrat defense is the responsibility of the UK

Nauru Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement, defense is the responsibility of Australia

Navassa Island defense is the responsibility of the US

Netherlands Antilles defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

New Caledonia defense is the responsibility of France

Niue defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Norfolk Island defense is the responsibility of Australia

Northern Mariana Islands defense is the responsibility of the US

Palau defense is the responsibility of the US; under a Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US military is granted access to the islands for 50 years, but it has not stationed any military forces there (2008)

Panama on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARA abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing military force but allowing the temporary establishment of special police units to counter acts of "external aggression"

Paracel Islands occupied by China

Pitcairn Islands defense is the responsibility of the UK

Puerto Rico defense is the responsibility of the US

Saint Barthelemy defense is the responsibility of France

Saint Helena defense is the responsibility of the UK

Saint Martin defense is the responsibility of France

Saint Pierre and Miquelon defense is the responsibility of France

Samoa Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces; informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship

San Marino defense is the responsibility of Italy

Sao Tome and Principe Sao Tome and Principe's army is a tiny force with almost no resources at its disposal and would be wholly ineffective operating unilaterally; infantry equipment is considered simple to operate and maintain but may require refurbishment or replacement after 25 years in tropical climates; poor pay, working conditions, and alleged nepotism in the promotion of officers have been problems in the past, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups; these issues are being addressed with foreign assistance aimed at improving the army and its focus on realistic security concerns; command is exercised from the president, through the Minister of Defense, to the Chief of the Armed Forces staff (2005)

South Africa with the end of apartheid and the establishment of majority rule, former military, black homelands forces, and ex-opposition forces were integrated into the South African National Defense Force (SANDF); as of 2003 the integration process was considered complete

South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands defense is the responsibility of the UK

Spratly Islands Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam

Svalbard Svalbard is a territory of Norway, demilitarized by treaty on 9 February 1920

Tokelau defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Turkey a "National Security Policy Document" adopted in October 2005 increases the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) role in internal security, augmenting the General Directorate of Security and Gendarmerie General Command (Jandarma); the TSK leadership continues to play a key role in politics and considers itself guardian of Turkey's secular state; in April 2007, it warned the ruling party about any pro-Islamic appointments; despite on-going negotiations on EU accession since October 2005, progress has been limited in establishing required civilian supremacy over the military; primary domestic threats are listed as fundamentalism (with the definition in some dispute with the civilian government), separatism (the Kurdish problem), and the extreme left wing; Ankara strongly opposed establishment of an autonomous Kurdish region; an overhaul of the Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC) taking place under the "Force 2014" program is to produce 20-30% smaller, more highly trained forces characterized by greater mobility and firepower and capable of joint and combined operations; the TLFC has taken on increasing international peacekeeping responsibilities, and took charge of a NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) command in Afghanistan in April 2007; the Turkish Navy is a regional naval power that wants to develop the capability to project power beyond Turkey's coastal waters; the Navy is heavily involved in NATO, multinational, and UN operations; its roles include control of territorial waters and security for sea lines of communications; the Turkish Air Force adopted an "Aerospace and Missile Defense Concept" in 2002 and has initiated project work on an integrated missile defense system; Air Force priorities include attaining a modern deployable, survivable, and sustainable force structure, and establishing a sustainable command and control system (2008)

Turks and Caicos Islands defense is the responsibility of the UK

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges defense is the responsibility of the US

Virgin Islands defense is the responsibility of the US

Wake Island defense is the responsibility of the US; the US Air Force is responsible for overall administration and operation of the island; the launch support facility is administered by the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA)

Wallis and Futuna defense is the responsibility of France

Yemen a Coast Guard was established in 2002

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Field Listing :: Communications - note

This entry includes miscellaneous communications information of significance not included elsewhere. Country

Communications - note

Afghanistan Internet access is growing through Internet cafes as well as public "telekiosks" in Kabul (2005)

Bouvet Island automatic meteorological station

Coral Sea Islands there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland

French Southern and Antarctic Lands one or more meteorological stations on each possession; note - meteorological station on Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) is important for forecasting cyclones

Saint Helena South Africa maintains a meteorological station on Gough Island

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Field Listing :: Government - note

This entry includes miscellaneous government information of significance not included elsewhere. Country

Government - note

French Polynesia under certain acts of France, French Polynesia has acquired autonomy in all areas except those relating to police and justice, monetary policy, tertiary education, immigration, and defense and foreign affairs; the duties of its president are fashioned after those of the French prime minister

Malawi no party has a majority in the fractured legislature

New Zealand while not an official symbol, the Kiwi, a small native flightless bird, represents New Zealand

Solomon Islands by the end of 2007, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) - originally made up of police and troops from Australia, NZ, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga - had been scaled back to 303 police officers, 197 civilian technical advisers, and 72 military advisers from 15 countries across the region

Somalia although an interim government was created in 2004, other regional and local governing bodies continue to exist and control various regions of the country, including the self-declared Republic of Somaliland in northwestern Somalia and the semi-autonomous State of Puntland in northeastern Somalia

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@2141

Field Listing :: Group

Country

Group

Afghanistan All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, South Asia

Akrotiri All, Europe, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Albania All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Algeria All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Africa

American Samoa All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Andorra All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Angola All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Anguilla All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Antarctica All, APLAA, South America/Global, Antarctica

Antigua and Barbuda All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Arctic Ocean All, APLAA, South America/Global, Oceans

Argentina All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Armenia All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Middle East

Aruba All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Ashmore and Cartier Islands All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Atlantic Ocean All, APLAA, South America/Global, Oceans

Australia All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Austria All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Azerbaijan All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Middle East

Bahamas, The All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Bahrain All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Bangladesh All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, South Asia

Barbados All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Belarus All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Europe

Belgium All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Belize All, APLAA, South America/Meso America, Central America

Benin All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Bermuda All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, North America

Bhutan All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, South Asia

Bolivia All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Bosnia and Herzegovina All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Botswana All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Bouvet Island All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Antarctica

Brazil All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

British Indian Ocean Territory All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia

British Virgin Islands All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Brunei All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Bulgaria All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Burkina Faso All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Burma All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Burundi All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Cambodia All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Cameroon All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Canada All, APLAA, Eurasia/North America, North America

Cape Verde All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Cayman Islands All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Central African Republic All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Chad All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Chile All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

China All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Christmas Island All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Clipperton Island All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, North America

Cocos (Keeling) Islands All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Colombia All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Comoros All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Congo, Democratic Republic of the All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Congo, Republic of the All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Cook Islands All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Coral Sea Islands All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Costa Rica All, APLAA, South America/Meso America, Central America

Cote d'Ivoire All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Croatia All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Cuba All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Cyprus All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Czech Republic All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Denmark All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Dhekelia All, Europe, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Djibouti All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Dominica All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Dominican Republic All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Ecuador All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Egypt All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Africa

El Salvador All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Equatorial Guinea All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Eritrea All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Estonia All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Ethiopia All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

European Union All, Europe, Europe

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Faroe Islands All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Fiji All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Finland All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

France All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

French Polynesia All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Australia - Oceania

French Southern and Antarctic Lands All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Antarctica

Gabon All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Gambia, The All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Gaza Strip All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Georgia All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Middle East

Germany All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Ghana All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Gibraltar All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Greece All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Greenland All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, North America

Grenada All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Guam All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Guatemala All, APLAA, South America/Meso America, Central America

Guernsey All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Guinea All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Guinea-Bissau All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Guyana All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Haiti All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Heard Island and McDonald Islands All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Antarctica

Holy See (Vatican City) All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Honduras All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Hong Kong All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Hungary All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Iceland All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

India All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, South Asia

Indian Ocean All, APLAA, South America/Global, Oceans

Indonesia All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Iran All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Iraq All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Ireland All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Isle of Man All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Israel All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Italy All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Jamaica All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Jan Mayen All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Japan All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Jersey All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Jordan All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Kazakhstan All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Central Asia

Kenya All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Kiribati All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Korea, North All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Korea, South All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Kosovo All, Europe

Kuwait All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Kyrgyzstan All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Central Asia

Laos All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Latvia All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Lebanon All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Lesotho All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Liberia All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Libya All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Africa

Liechtenstein All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Lithuania All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Luxembourg All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Macau All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Macedonia All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Madagascar All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Malawi All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Malaysia All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Maldives All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, South Asia

Mali All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Malta All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Marshall Islands All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Mauritania All, NESA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Mauritius All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Mayotte All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Africa

Mexico All, APLAA, South America/Meso America, North America

Micronesia, Federated States of All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Moldova All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Europe

Monaco All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Mongolia All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Montenegro All, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Montserrat All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Morocco All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Africa

Mozambique All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Namibia All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Nauru All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Navassa Island All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Nepal All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, South Asia

Netherlands All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Netherlands Antilles All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

New Caledonia All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Australia - Oceania

New Zealand All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Nicaragua All, APLAA, South America/Meso America, Central America

Niger All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Nigeria All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Niue All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Norfolk Island All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Northern Mariana Islands All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Norway All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Oman All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Pacific Ocean All, APLAA, South America/Global, Oceans

Pakistan All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, South Asia

Palau All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Panama All, APLAA, South America/Meso America, Central America

Papua New Guinea All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Paracel Islands All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Paraguay All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Peru All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Philippines All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Pitcairn Islands All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Poland All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Portugal All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Puerto Rico All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Qatar All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Romania All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Russia All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Central Asia

Rwanda All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Saint Barthelemy All, Central America

Saint Helena All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Saint Kitts and Nevis All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Saint Lucia All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Saint Martin All, Central America

Saint Pierre and Miquelon All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, North America

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Samoa All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

San Marino All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Sao Tome and Principe All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Saudi Arabia All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Senegal All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Serbia All, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Seychelles All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Sierra Leone All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Singapore All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Slovakia All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Slovenia All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Solomon Islands All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Somalia All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

South Africa All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands All, APLAA, South America/Global

Southern Ocean All, APLAA, South America/Global, Oceans

Spain All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe