Part 127

Chapter 1273,504 wordsPublic domain

Democratic Alliance or DS [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic Party of the Albanians or PDSh/DPA [Menduh THACI]; Democratic Party of Turks in Macedonia [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Union for Integration or BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization--Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE) [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Jovan MANSIJEVSKI]; Liberal Party [Borce STOJANOVSKI]; Movement for Reconstruction of Macedonia or DOM [Liljana POPOVSKA]; New Alternative [Gjorgji OROVCANEC]; New Democracy or DR [Imer SELMANI]; New Social-Democratic Party or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI]; Party for Democratic Action in Macedonia or SDAM [Avdija PEPIC]; Party for European Future or PEI [Fijat CANOSKI]; Social-Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM [Branko CRVENKOVSKI]; Socialist Party or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV-ZINGO]; Union of Roma of Macedonia [Amdi BAJRAM]; United for Macedonia or OM [Ljube BOSKOVSKI]; VMRO-Macedonian [Borislav STOJMENOV]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Federation of Free Trade Unions [Svetlana PETROVIC]; Federation of Trade Unions [Vanco MURATOVSKI]; Trade Union of Education, Science and Culture [Dojcin CVETANOSKI]

International organization participation:

BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Zoran JOLEVSKI

chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 667-0501

FAX: [1] (202) 667-2131

consulate(s) general: Southfield (Michigan), Chicago

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Philip T. REEKER

embassy: Str. Samolilova, Nr. 21, 1000 Skopje

mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, US Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)

telephone: [389] 2 310-2000

FAX: [389] 2 310-2499

Flag description:

a yellow sun (the Sun of Liberty) with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field; the red and yellow colors have long been associated with Macedonia

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Vlado MALESKI/Todor SKALOVSKI

note: adopted 1991; the song, written in 1943, previously served as the anthem of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia while part of Yugoslavia

Economy ::Macedonia

Economy - overview:

Having a small, open economy makes Macedonia vulnerable to economic developments in Europe and dependent on regional integration and progress toward EU membership for continued economic growth. At independence in September 1991, Macedonia was the least developed of the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the total federal output of goods and services. The collapse of Yugoslavia ended transfer payments from the central government and eliminated advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence of infrastructure, UN sanctions on the downsized Yugoslavia, and a Greek economic embargo over a dispute about the country's constitutional name and flag hindered economic growth until 1996. Since then, Macedonia has maintained macroeconomic stability with low inflation, but it has so far lagged the region in attracting foreign investment and creating jobs, despite making extensive fiscal and business sector reforms. Official unemployment remains high at 33%, but may be overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market, estimated to be more than 20% of GDP, that is not captured by official statistics. In the wake of the global economic downturn, Macedonia has experienced decreased foreign direct investment, lowered credit, and a large trade deficit, but the financial system remained sound. Macroeconomic stability was maintained by a prudent monetary policy, which kept the domestic currency at the pegged level against the euro, at the expense of raising interest rates. As a result, GDP fell in 2009. but returned to positive in 2010.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$19.46 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 $19.18 billion (2009 est.)

$19.31 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars; Macedonia has a large informal sector

GDP (official exchange rate):

$9.58 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 169 -0.7% (2009 est.)

4.8% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$9,400 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $9,300 (2009 est.)

$9,400 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 12.1%

industry: 29.6%

services: 58.3% (2010 est.)

Labor force:

942,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 18.6%

industry: 29.5%

services: 51.9% (September 2009)

Unemployment rate:

33.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182 32.2% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line:

28.7% (2008)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.4%

highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

39 (2003) country comparison to the world: 68

Investment (gross fixed):

22.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Public debt:

25.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 32.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 41 -0.8% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 62 6.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.07% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 9.68% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$1.146 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 137 $1.184 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Stock of broad money:

$4.134 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126 $4.217 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$4.001 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $4.055 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$2.859 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 100 $823.5 million (31 December 2008)

$2.715 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

grapes, tobacco, vegetables, fruits; milk, eggs

Industries:

food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals

Industrial production growth rate:

1.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Electricity - production:

6.162 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Electricity - consumption:

7.797 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports:

1.635 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Oil - consumption:

20,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Oil - exports:

4,672 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Oil - imports:

20,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Natural gas - consumption:

80 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Natural gas - imports:

82 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Current account balance:

-$328 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 -$645.6 million (2009 est.)

Exports:

$3.171 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $2.686 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities:

food, beverages, tobacco; textiles, miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel

Exports - partners:

Germany 20.31%, Greece 13.09%, Italy 11.08%, Bulgaria 10.61%, Croatia 7.74% (2009)

Imports:

$5.113 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 $4.842 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food products

Imports - partners:

Germany 15.11%, Greece 14.88%, Bulgaria 9.08%, Italy 7.68%, Turkey 7.59%, Slovenia 6.26%, Hungary 4.31% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.127 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 $2.292 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt - external:

$5.52 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 $5.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$3.528 billion (31 October 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 $3.357 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar - 47.601 (2010), 44.1 (2009), 41.414 (2008), 44.732 (2007), 48.978 (2006)

Communications ::Macedonia

Telephones - main lines in use:

442,200 (2009) country comparison to the world: 100

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.943 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 135

Telephone system:

general assessment: competition from the mobile-cellular segment of the telecommunications market has led to a drop in fixed-line telephone subscriptions

domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership about 115 per 100 persons

international: country code - 389 (2009)

Broadcast media:

public television broadcaster operates 3 national channels and a satellite network; 5 privately-owned TV channels broadcast nationally; roughly 50 local commercial TV stations broadcasting; large number of cable operators offering domestic and international programming; public radio broadcaster operates over multiple stations; 3 privately-owned radio stations broadcast nationally; roughly 65 local commercial radio stations functioning (2007)

Internet country code:

.mk

Internet hosts:

60,533 (2010) country comparison to the world: 84

Internet users:

1.057 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 97

Transportation ::Macedonia

Airports:

14 (2010) country comparison to the world: 149

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 10

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

under 914 m: 8 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 3 (2010)

Pipelines:

gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2009)

Railways:

total: 699 km country comparison to the world: 104 standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (234 km electrified) (2009)

Roadways:

total: 13,736 km (includes 216 km of expressways) (2009) country comparison to the world: 126

Military ::Macedonia

Military branches:

Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM): Joint Operational Command, with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV); Special Operations Regiment; Logistic Support Command; Training Command (2010)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 530,966

females age 16-49: 511,534 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 442,953

females age 16-49: 425,981 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 15,338

female: 14,445 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

6% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

Transnational Issues ::Macedonia

Disputes - international:

Kosovo and Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in September 2008; Greece continues to reject the use of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: fewer than 1,000 (ethnic conflict in 2001) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe; although not a financial center and most criminal activity is thought to be domestic, money laundering is a problem due to a mostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement

page last updated on January 12, 2011

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@Madagascar (Africa)

Introduction ::Madagascar

Background:

Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896 but regained independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner. RAVALOMANANA achieved a second term following a landslide victory in the generally free and fair presidential elections of 2006. In early 2009, protests over increasing restrictions on opposition press and activities resulted in RAVALOMANANA stepping down and the presidency was conferred to the mayor of Antananarivo, Andry RAJOELINA. Following negotiations in July and August of 2009, a power-sharing agreement with a 15-month transitional period was established, but has not yet been implemented.

Geography ::Madagascar

Location:

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:

20 00 S, 47 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 587,041 sq km country comparison to the world: 46 land: 581,540 sq km

water: 5,501 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

4,828 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath

Climate:

tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Terrain:

narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m

Natural resources:

graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 5.03%

permanent crops: 1.02%

other: 93.95% (2005)

Irrigated land:

10,860 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

337 cu km (1984)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 14.96 cu km/yr (3%/2%/96%)

per capita: 804 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation

volcanism: Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in historical times

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several endangered species of flora and fauna unique to the island

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel

People ::Madagascar

Population:

21,281,844 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Age structure:

0-14 years: 43.5% (male 4,523,033/female 4,460,473)

15-64 years: 53.5% (male 5,483,684/female 5,557,098)

65 years and over: 3% (male 280,677/female 348,591) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.1 years

male: 17.8 years

female: 18.3 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.993% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Birth rate:

37.89 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Death rate:

7.97 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 92

Urbanization:

urban population: 29% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 3.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 52.84 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 47 male: 57.69 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 47.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 63.26 years country comparison to the world: 175 male: 61.27 years

female: 65.3 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.09 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

14,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, malaria, and plague

water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)

adjective: Malagasy

Ethnic groups:

Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran

Religions:

indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%

Languages:

French (official), Malagasy (official), English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 68.9%

male: 75.5%

female: 62.5% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years

male: 10 years

female: 10 years (2008)

Education expenditures:

2.9% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 152

Government ::Madagascar

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar

conventional short form: Madagascar

local long form: Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara

local short form: Madagascar/Madagasikara

former: Malagasy Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 18 55 S, 47 31 E

time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Independence:

26 June 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Constitution:

passed by referendum 17 November 2010; promulgated 11 December 2010 (2010)

Legal system:

based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Andry RAJOELINA (since 18 March 2009)

head of government: Prime Minister Albert Camille VITAL (since 18 December 2009)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 December 2006 (next to be held on 4 May 2011); prime minister appointed by the president

election results: percent of vote - Marc RAVALOMANANA 54.8%, Jean LAHINIRIKO 11.7%, Roland RATSIRAKA 10.1%, Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO 9.1%, Norbert RATSIRAHONANA 4.2%, Ny Hasina ANDRIAMANJATO 4.2%, Elia RAVELOMANANTSOA 2.6%, Pety RAKOTONIAINA 1.7%, other 1.6%; note - RAVALOMANANA stepped down on 17 March 2009

note:: on 17 March 2009, democratically elected President Marc RAVALOMANANA stepped down handing the government over to the military, which in turn conferred the presidency on opposition leader and Antananarivo mayor Andry RAJOELINA, who will head the High Transition Authority; a power-sharing agreement reached in August 2009 established a 15-month transition period, concluding in general elections in 2010; as of December 2009 the agreement had not been fully implemented

Legislative branch:

bicameral legislature consists of a Senate or Senat (100 seats; two-thirds of the members appointed by regional assemblies; the remaining one-third appointed by the president; members to serve four-year terms) and a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (127 seats - reduced from 160 seats by an April 2007 national referendum; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections: National Assembly - last held on 23 September 2007 (next to be held on 16 March 2011); note - a power-sharing agreement in the summer of 2009 established a 15-month transition, concluding in general elections

election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - TIM 106, LEADER/Fanilo 1, independents 20

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle

Political parties and leaders:

Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [Pierrot RAJAONARIVELO]; Democratic Party for Union in Madagascar or PSDUM [Jean LAHINIRIKO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Party or FP [Guy-Willy RAZANAMASY]; I Love Madagascar or TIM [Marc RAVALOMANANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD [Evariste MARSON]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR; Committee for National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert Zafy]; National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Eulalie N. RAVELOSOA

chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525 through 5526

FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034

consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador R. Niels MARQUARDT

embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101

mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo

telephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56

FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side; by tradition, red stands for sovereignty, green for hope, white for purity

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Pasteur RAHAJASON/Norbert RAHARISOA

note: adopted 1959

Economy ::Madagascar

Economy - overview: