Part 60

Chapter 603,629 wordsPublic domain

international: country code - 53; fiber-optic cable laid to but not linked to US network; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) (2009)

Broadcast media:

government owns and controls all broadcast media with private ownership of electronic media prohibited; government operates 4 national TV networks and many local TV stations; government operates 6 national radio networks, an international station, and many local radio stations; Radio-TV Marti is beamed from the US (2007)

Internet country code:

.cu

Internet hosts:

3,025 (2010) country comparison to the world: 145

Internet users:

1.606 million country comparison to the world: 79 note: private citizens are prohibited from buying computers or accessing the Internet without special authorization; foreigners may access the Internet in large hotels but are subject to firewalls; some Cubans buy illegal passwords on the black market or take advantage of public outlets to access limited email and the government-controlled "intranet" (2009)

Transportation ::Cuba

Airports:

136 (2010) country comparison to the world: 43

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 65

over 3,047 m: 7

2,438 to 3,047 m: 9

1,524 to 2,437 m: 17

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 27 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 71

914 to 1,523 m: 13

under 914 m: 58 (2010)

Pipelines:

gas 41 km; oil 230 km (2009)

Railways:

total: 8,598 km country comparison to the world: 24 standard gauge: 8,322 km 1.435-m gauge (176 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 276 km 1.000-gauge

note: 4,533 km of the track is used by sugar plantations; 4,257 km is standard gauge; 276 km is narrow gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 60,858 km country comparison to the world: 75 paved: 29,820 km (includes 638 km of expressway)

unpaved: 31,038 km (2000)

Waterways:

240 km (almost all navigable inland waterways are near the mouths of rivers) (2010) country comparison to the world: 95

Merchant marine:

total: 5 country comparison to the world: 129 by type: cargo 2, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 2

registered in other countries: 6 (Cyprus 1, former Netherlands Antilles 1, Panama 4) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Antilla, Cienfuegos, Guantanamo, Havana, Matanzas, Mariel, Nuevitas Bay, Santiago de Cuba, Tanamo

Military ::Cuba

Military branches:

Revolutionary Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias, FAR): Revolutionary Army (Ejercito Revolucionario, ER, includes Territorial Militia Troops (Milicia de Tropas de Territoriales, MTT)); Revolutionary Navy (Marina de Guerra Revolucionaria, MGR, includes Marine Corps); Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Forces (DAAFAR), Youth Labor Army (Ejercito Juvenil del Trabajo, EJT) (2010)

Military service age and obligation:

17-28 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year service obligation; both sexes subject to military service (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,078,049

females age 16-49: 3,004,713 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,516,543

females age 16-49: 2,450,902 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 74,084

female: 70,445 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Military - note:

the collapse of the Soviet Union deprived the Cuban military of its major economic and logistic support and had a significant impact on the state of Cuban equipment; the army remains well trained and professional in nature; while the lack of replacement parts for its existing equipment has increasingly affected operational capabilities, Cuba remains able to offer considerable resistance to any regional power (2010)

Transnational Issues ::Cuba

Disputes - international:

US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the facility can terminate the lease

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Cuba is principally a source country for children subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically commercial sexual exploitation within the country; the scope of trafficking within Cuba is difficult to gauge due to the closed nature of the government and sparse non-governmental or independent reporting

tier rating: Tier 3 - Cuba does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; in a positive step, the Government of Cuba shared information about human trafficking and its efforts to address the issue; the government did not prohibit all forms of trafficking during the reporting period, nor did it provide specific evidence that it prosecuted and punished trafficking offenders, protected victims of all forms of trafficking, or implemented victim protection policies or programs to prevent human trafficking (2010)

Illicit drugs:

territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone for US- and European-bound drugs; established the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999 (2008)

page last updated on January 20, 2011

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@Curacao (Central America and Caribbean)

Introduction ::Curacao

Background:

Originally settled by Arawak Indians, Curacao was seized by the Dutch in 1634 along with the neighboring island of Bonaire. Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, Curacao was hard hit by the abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity (and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20th century with the construction of the Isla Refineria to service the newly discovered Venezuelan oil fields. In 1954, Curacao and several other Dutch Caribbean possesions were reorganized as the Netherlands Antilles, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In referenda in 2005 and 2009, the citizens of Curacao voted to become a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The change in status became effective in October of 2010 with the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.

Geography ::Curacao

Location:

Caribbean, an island in the Caribbean Sea - located 56.35 km off the coast of Venezuela

Geographic coordinates:

12 10 N, 69 00 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 444 sq km country comparison to the world: 198 land: 444 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

more than two times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

none

Coastline:

364 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Climate:

tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures; semi-arid with average rainfall of 600 mm/year

Terrain:

generally low, hilly terrain

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point: Mt. Christoffel, 372m

Natural resources:

calcium phosphates, aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit

Land use:

arable land: 10%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 90%

Irrigated land:

Total renewable water resources:

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

Natural hazards:

Curacao is south of the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened

Environment - current issues:

Geography - note:

Curacao is a part of the Windward Islands (southern) group

People ::Curacao

Population:

142,180 (est. January 2010) country comparison to the world: 187

Age structure:

0-14 years: 21.1% (males 15,337/females 14,589)

15-64 years: 66.7% (males 42,896/females 51,998)

65 years and over: 12.2% (males 6,972/females 10,388) (2010)

Population growth rate:

Birth rate:

Death rate:

8 deaths/1,000 population (2009) country comparison to the world: 106

Net migration rate:

1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 50

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.15 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female

total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (2010)

Life expectancy at birth:

total: NA

males: 72.4 years

females: 80.1 years (2009)

Total fertility rate:

2.1 children born/woman (2009) country comparison to the world: 120

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Religions:

Roman Catholic 80.1%, Protestant 5.5%, none 4.6%, Pentecostal 3.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, Jewish 0.8%, other 1.3%, not reported 0.3% (2001 census)

Languages:

Papiamento 81.2% (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect), Dutch 8% (official), Spanish 4%, English 2.9%, other 3.9% (2001 census)

Government ::Curacao

Country name:

Dutch long form: Land Curacao

Dutch short form: Curacao

Papiamentu long form: Pais Korsou

Papiamentu short form: Korsou

former: Netherlands Antilles; Curacao and Dependencies

Dependency status:

constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

Government type:

parliamentary

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 68 55 W

time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Independence:

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

National holiday:

Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)

Constitution:

Staatsregeling, 10 October 2010; revised Kingdom Charter pending

Legal system:

based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influence

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980); represented by Governor General Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 10 October 2010)

head of government: Prime Minister Gerrit SCHOTTE (since 10 October 2010)

cabinet: Executive Council (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister by the parliament

Legislative branch:

unicameral parliament or Staten (21 seats; members elected by popular vote for four year terms)

elections: last held 27 August 2010 (next to be held in 2014)

election results: percent of vote by party - PAR 30%, MFK 21%, PS 19%, MAN 9%, FOL 7%, PNP 6%; seats by party - PAR 8, MFK 5, PS 4, MAN 2, FOL 1, PNP 1

Judicial branch:

Common Court of Justice, Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:

Frente Obrero Liberashon (Workers' Liberation Front) or FOL [Anthony GODETT]; Movimentu Antiyas Nobo (New Antilles Movement) or MAN [Charles COOPER]; Movementu Futuro Korsou or MFK [Gerrit SCHOTTE]; Partido Antia Restruktura or PAR [Emily DE JONGH-ELHAGE]; People's National Party or PNP [Ersilia DE LANNOOY]; Pueblo Soberano or PS [Herman WIELS]

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Consul General Valerie BELON

consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curacao

mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao

telephone: [599] (9) 4613066

FAX: [599] (9) 4616489

Flag description:

on a blue field a horizontal yellow band somewhat below the center divides the flag into proportions of 5:1:2; two five-pointed white stars - the smaller above and to the left of the larger - appear in the canton; the blue of the upper and lower sections symbolizes the sky and sea respectively; yellow represents the sun; the stars symbolize Curacao and its uninhabited smaller sister island of Klein Curacao; the five star points signify the five continents from which Curacao's people derive

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Guillermo ROSARIO, Mae HENRIQUEZ, Enrique MULLER, Betty DORAN/Frater Candidus NOWENS, Errol "El Toro" COLINA

note: adapted 1978; the lyrics, originally written in 1899, were rewritten in 1978 to make them less colonial in nature

Economy ::Curacao

Economy - overview:

Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. Although GDP grew slightly during the past decade, the island enjoys a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the region. Curacao has an excellent natural harbor that can accommodate large oil tankers. The Venezuelan state oil company leases the single refinery on the island from the government; most of the oil for the refinery is imported from Venezuela; most of the refined products are exported to the US. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with the US, Brazil, Italy, and Mexico being the major suppliers. The government is attempting to diversify its industry and trade and has signed an Association Agreement with the EU to expand business there. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture. Budgetary problems complicate reform of the health and pension systems for an aging population.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.838 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 177 $2.606 billion (2007 est.)

$2.452 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.08 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.5% (2008) country comparison to the world: 98 2.2% (2007)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$14,970 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1%

industry: 15%

services: 84% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

63,000 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 1.2%

industry: 16.9%

services: 81.8%

Unemployment rate:

10.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.7% (2009 est,) country comparison to the world: 46 6.8% (2008 est.)

Agriculture - products:

aloe, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit

Industries:

tourism, petroleum refining, petroleum transshipment facilities, light manufacturing

Industrial production growth rate:

Electricity - production:

848.5 kWh (2005) country comparison to the world: 214

Exports:

$876 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 note: excludes oil

Exports - commodities:

petroleum products

Exports - partners:

US 13.1%, Guatemala 10.8%, Singapore 10.7%, Dominican Republic 9.6%, Haiti 7.6%, The Bahamas 6.1%, Honduras 4.5%, Mexico 4.2% (2009 est.)

Imports:

$1.34 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Imports - commodities:

crude petroleum, food, manufactures

Imports - partners:

Venezuela 57.3%, US 19.2%, Brazil 8.1% (2009 est.)

Exchange rates:

Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar - 1.79 (2009), 1.79 (2008), 1.79 (2007), 1.79 (2006)

Transportation ::Curacao

Airports:

1 country comparison to the world: 231

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1

over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)

Roadways:

total: 550 km country comparison to the world: 191

Ports and terminals:

Bullen Baai, Fuik Bay, Willemstad

Military ::Curacao

Military branches:

the Royal Netherlands Navy maintains a permanent and active presence in the region from its main operating base on Curacao; other local security forces include a coast guard, para-military National Guard (Vrijwilligers Korps Curacao), and Police Force (2010)

Military service age and obligation:

no conscription (2010)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

page last updated on January 19, 2011

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@Cyprus (Europe)

Introduction ::Cyprus

Background:

A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to seize control of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot-occupied area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"), but it is recognized only by Turkey. The election of a new Cypriot president in 2008 served as the impetus for the UN to encourage both the Turkish and Cypriot Governments to reopen unification negotiations. In September 2008, the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities started negotiations under UN auspices aimed at reuniting the divided island. The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although the EU acquis - the body of common rights and obligations - applies only to the areas under the internationally recognized government, and is suspended in the areas administered by Turkish Cypriots. However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights accorded to other citizens of European Union states.

Geography ::Cyprus

Location:

Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey

Geographic coordinates:

35 00 N, 33 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 9,251 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus) country comparison to the world: 170 land: 9,241 sq km

water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries:

total: 150.4 km (approximately)

border sovereign base areas: Akrotiri 47.4 km, Dhekelia 103 km (approximately)

Coastline:

648 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

Terrain:

central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m

highest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 m

Natural resources:

copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment

Land use:

arable land: 10.81%

permanent crops: 4.32%

other: 84.87% (2005)

Irrigated land:

400 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

0.4 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.21 cu km/yr (27%/1%/71%)

per capita: 250 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

moderate earthquake activity; droughts

Environment - current issues:

water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia)

People ::Cyprus

Population:

1,102,677 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17% (male 94,655/female 89,337)

15-64 years: 73.1% (male 411,952/female 381,074)

65 years and over: 9.9% (male 46,610/female 61,120) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 34.5 years

male: 33.2 years

female: 36.3 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.663% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Birth rate:

11.38 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Death rate:

6.42 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Net migration rate:

11.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Urbanization:

urban population: 70% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.57 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 155 male: 11.46 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 7.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.66 years country comparison to the world: 52 male: 74.88 years

female: 80.57 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.45 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Nationality:

noun: Cypriot(s)

adjective: Cypriot

Ethnic groups:

Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001)

Religions:

Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, other (includes Maronite and Armenian Apostolic) 4%

Languages:

Greek (official), Turkish (official), English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 97.6%

male: 98.9%

female: 96.3% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years

male: 14 years

female: 14 years (2008)

Education expenditures:

7.1% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 19

Government ::Cyprus

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus

conventional short form: Cyprus

local long form: Kypriaki Dimokratia/Kibris Cumhuriyeti

local short form: Kypros/Kibris

note: the Turkish Cypriot community, which administers the northern part of the island, refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC")

Government type:

republic

note: a separation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in July 1974 that followed a Greek military-junta-supported coup attempt that gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"), which is recognized only by Turkey

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 35 10 N, 33 22 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Nicosia (Lefkosia) and Larnaca

Independence:

16 August 1960 (from the UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are only recognized by Turkey

National holiday:

Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as Independence Day

Constitution:

16 August 1960