Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (provincias,
singular-provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial);
Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma,
Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas,
Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa
Clara
Independence: 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered
by the US from 1898 to 1902)
National holiday: Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953); Liberation Day, 1
January (1959)
Constitution: 24 February 1976
Legal system: based on Spanish and American law, with large elements
of Communist legal theory; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of the Council of State and President of the
Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February
1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished; president since
2 December 1976); First Vice President of the Council of State and
First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz
(since 2 December 1976); note-the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
head of government: President of the Council of State and President of
the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from
February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished;
president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the Council
of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen.
Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note-the president is both
the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the Council
of State, appointed by the National Assembly
note: there is also a Council of State whose members are elected by
the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly; election last held 24 February 1998 (next to be held NA)
election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of
legislative vote-NA; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president; percent
of legislative vote-NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or
Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (601 seats, elected directly from
slates approved by special candidacy commissions; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 11 January 1998 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote-NA; seats-PCC 601
Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo Popular),
president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the
National Assembly
Political parties and leaders: only party-Cuban Communist Party or PCC
[Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary]
International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer),
NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note-Cuba has an Interests
Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Fernando
REMIREZ DE ESTENOZ; address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss Embassy,
2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: [1] (202)
797-8518
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note-the US has an
Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer
Michael G. KOZAK; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and
M Streets, Vedado Seccion, Havana; telephone: 33-3551 through 3559 and
33-3543 through 3547 (operator assistance required); FAX: 33-3700;
protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland
Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom)
alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist
side bears a white five-pointed star in the center
@Cuba:Economy
Economy-overview: The state plays the primary role in the economy and
controls practically all foreign trade. The government has undertaken
several reforms in recent years to stem excess liquidity, increase
labor incentives, and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer
goods, and services. The liberalized agricultural markets introduced
in October 1994, at which state and private farmers sell above-quota
production at unrestricted prices, have broadened legal consumption
alternatives and reduced black market prices. Government efforts to
lower subsidies to unprofitable enterprises and to shrink the money
supply caused the semi-official exchange rate for the Cuban peso to
move from a peak of 120 to the dollar in the summer of 1994 to 23 to
the dollar by yearend 1997. New taxes introduced in 1996 helped drive
down the number of self-employed workers from 208,000 in January 1996
to 176,000 by September 1997. Havana announced in 1995 that GDP
declined by 35% during 1989-93, the result of lost Soviet aid and
domestic inefficiencies. The drop in GDP apparently halted in 1994,
when Cuba reported 0.7% growth, followed by increases of 2.5% in 1995
and 7.8% in 1996. Growth slowed again in 1997, to 2.5%, in part due to
a poor sugar harvest. Export earnings declined 3% in 1997, to $1.9
billion, the result of lower sugar export volume and lower world
prices for nickel and sugar. Imports remained unchanged in 1997 at
$3.2 billion. Tourism plays a key role in foreign currency earnings.
The disparity between those at the top of the ladder and those at the
bottom has increased markedly in the past 10 years. Living standards
for the average Cuban remain at a depressed level compared with 1990.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$16.9 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 2.5% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,540 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.6%
industry: 34.8%
services: 57.6% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: NA%
Labor force:
total: 4.5 million economically active population (1996 est.)
by occupation: services and government 30%, industry 22%, agriculture
20%, commerce 11%, construction 10%, transportation and communications
7% (June 1990)
note: state sector 76%, non-state sector 24% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 8% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: sugar, petroleum, food, tobacco, textiles, chemicals,
paper and wood products, metals (particularly nickel), cement,
fertilizers, consumer goods, agricultural machinery
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1995 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 3.988 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 10.105 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 924 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: sugarcane, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice,
potatoes and other tubers, beans; livestock
Exports:
total value: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
commodities: sugar, nickel, tobacco, shellfish, medical products,
citrus, coffee
partners: Russia 18%, Netherlands 14% Canada 13% (1997 est.)
Imports:
total value: $3.2 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
commodities: petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals
partners: Spain 14%, Russia 12%, Mexico 9% (1997 est.)
Debt-external: $10.5 billion (convertible currency, 1996); another $20
billion owed to Russia (1996)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $46 million (1997 est.)
Currency: 1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Cuban pesos (Cu$) per US$1-1.0000 (non-convertible,
official rate, linked to the US dollar)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 229,000
Telephone system: among the world's least developed telephone systems
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station-1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean
region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 150, FM 5, shortwave 1
Radios: 2.14 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 58
Televisions: 2.5 million (1993 est.)
@Cuba:Transportation
Railways:
total: 4,677 km
standard gauge: 4,677 km 1.435-m gauge (132 km electrified)
note: a large amount of track is in private use by sugar plantations
Highways:
total: 27,700 km
paved: 15,484 km
unpaved: 12,216 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 240 km
Ports and harbors: Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas,
Nuevitas, Santiago de Cuba
Merchant marine:
total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 91,981 GRT/126,416 DWT
ships by type: cargo 9, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 1,
refrigerated cargo 6
note: Cuba owns an additional 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
463,155 DWT operating under the registries of Panama, Cyprus, Malta,
and Belize (1997 est.)
Airports: 171 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 77
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 36 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 94
914 to 1,523 m: 33
under 914 m: 61 (1997 est.)
@Cuba:Military
Military branches: Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) includes ground
forces, Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR),
Territorial Troops Militia (MTT), and Youth Labor Army (EJT); The
Border Guard (TGF), which is controlled by the Interior Ministry
Military manpower-military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 3,060,954
females age 15-49: 3,010,932 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 1,898,351
females: 1,861,976 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually:
males: 67,200
females: 63,716 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: roughly 4% (1995 est.)
Military-note: Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and
supplier of Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993
@Cuba:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to
US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can
terminate the lease
Illicit drugs: territory serves as lesser transshipment zone for
cocaine bound for the US
______________________________________________________________________
CYPRUS
@Cyprus:Geography
Location: Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of
Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 33 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 9,250 sq km (note-3,355 sq km are in the Turkish Cypriot area)
land: 9,240 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area-comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 648 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, wet
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: Olympus 1,952 m
Natural resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt,
marble, clay earth pigment
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 13%
other: 70% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 390 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity
Environment-current issues: water resource problems (no natural
reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall; sea water
intrusion to island's largest aquifier; increased salinization 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, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Cyprus:People
Population: 748,982 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25% (male 94,006; female 89,256)
15-64 years: 65% (male 245,739; female 241,935)
65 years and over: 10% (male 33,989; female 44,057) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.69% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 13.93 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 7.51 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.97 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.79 years
male: 74.62 years
female: 79.07 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.03 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot
Ethnic groups: Greek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek
Cypriot area; 0.5% of the Greeks live in the Turkish Cypriot area),
Turkish 18% (1.3% of the Turks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 98.7%
of the Turks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), other 4% (99.2% of the
other ethnic groups live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.8% of the other
ethnic groups live in the Turkish Cypriot area)
Religions: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian
Apostolic, and other 4%
Languages: Greek, Turkish, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 98%
female: 91% (1987 est.)
@Cyprus:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
note: the Turkish Cypriot area refers to itself as the "Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)
Data code: CY
Government type: republic
note: a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the
island began after the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this
separation was further solidified following the Turkish intervention
in July 1974 following a Greek junta-based coup attempt, which 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 has been recognized only by Turkey; both sides publicly call for
the resolution of intercommunal differences and creation of a new
federal system of government
National capital: Nicosia
note: the Turkish Cypriot area's capital is Lefkosa (Nicosia)
Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca,
Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note-Turkish Cypriot area administrative
divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and
small parts of Nicosia and Larnaca
Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK)
note: Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975
from Republic of Cyprus
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October
note: Turkish Cypriot area celebrates 15 November as Independence Day
Constitution: 16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a
new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better
relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held
intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own
constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State
of Cyprus," which was renamed the "Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus" in 1983; a new constitution for the Turkish Cypriot area
passed by referendum on 5 May 1985
Legal system: based on common law, with civil law modifications
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993);
note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government;
post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960
constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
head of government: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February
1993); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960
constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and
vice president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 15 February 1998 (next to be held NA February 2003)
election results: Glafcos CLERIDES elected president; percent of
vote-Glafcos CLERIDES 50.8%, George IAKOVOU 49.2%
note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish Cypriot
area since 13 February 1975 ("president" elected by popular vote for a
five-year term); elections last held 15 and 22 April 1995 (next to be
held NA April 2000); results-Rauf R. DENKTASH 62.5%, Dervis EROGLU
37.5%; Dervis EROGLU has been "prime minister" of the Turkish Cypriot
area since 16 August 1996; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet)
in the Turkish Cypriot area
Legislative branch: unicameral-Greek Cypriot area: House of
Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats of which only 56
assigned to the Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms); Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly
of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Greek area: last held 26 May 1996 (next to be held May
2001); Turkish area: last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held
December 1998)
election results: Greek area: House of Representatives-percent of vote
by party-DISY 34.5%, AKEL (Communist) 33.0%, DIKO 16.4%, EDEK 8.1%,
KED 3.7%, others 4.1%; seats by party-DISY 20, AKEL (Communist) 19,
DIKO 10, EDEK 5, KED 2; Turkish area: Assembly of the Republic-percent
of vote by party-UBP 29.9%, DP 29.2%, CTP 24.2% TKP 13.3%, others
3.4%; seats by party-UBP (conservative) 17, DP 15, CTP 13, TKP 5; as
of 13 May 1997, seats by party-UBP 18, DP 13, CTP 13, TKP 5,
independent 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Supreme
Council of Judicature
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot area
Political parties and leaders: Greek Cypriot area: Restorative Party
of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios
CHRISTOFIAS]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS];
Democratic Party or DIKO [Spyros KYPRIANOU]; United Democratic Union
of Cyprus or EDEK [Vassos LYSSARIDIS]; Eurodemocratic Renewal Movement
[Alexis GALANOS]; United Democrats Movement or EDI (formerly Free
Democrats Movement or KED) [George VASSILIOU]; New Horizons [Nikolaos
KOUTSOU, secretary general]; Ecologists [Yeoryios PERDHIKIS]; Turkish
Cypriot area: National Unity Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Communal
Liberation Party or TKP [Mustafa AKINCI]; Republican Turkish Party or
CTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT]; Unity and Sovereignty Party or BEP [Arif Salih
KIRDAG]; Democratic Party or DP [Serdar DENKTASH]; National Birth
Party or UDP [Enuer EMIN]; New Cyprus Party of YKP [Alpay DURDURAN];
Our Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or
PEO (Communist controlled); Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK
(pro-West); Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen;
Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is
International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU
(applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
NAM, OAS (observer), OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Andros A. NIKOLAIDES
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772
FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710
consulate(s) general: New York
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is Ahmet
ERDENGIZ, office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC, telephone [1]
(202) 887-6198
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth C. BRILL
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 4536, FPO AE 09836
telephone: [357] (2) 776400
FAX: [357] (2) 780944
Flag description: white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island
(the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two
green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches
symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and
Turkish communities
note: the Turkish Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the top
and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on a white
field
@Cyprus:Economy
Economy-overview: The Greek Cypriot economy is small and prosperous,
but highly susceptible to external shocks. Industry contributes 22% to
GDP and employs 25% of the labor force, while the service sector
contributes 73% to GDP and employs 62% of the labor force. Erratic
growth rates in the 1990s reflect the economy's vulnerability to
swings in tourist arrivals, caused by political instability on the
island and fluctuations in economic conditions in Western Europe. The
Turkish Cypriot economy has about one-third the per capita GDP of the
south. Because it is recognized only by Turkey, it has had much
difficulty arranging foreign financing, and foreign firms have
hesitated to invest there. The economy remains heavily dependent on
agriculture and government service, which together employ about half
of the work force. Moreover, the small, vulnerable economy has
suffered because the Turkish lira is legal tender. To compensate for
the economy's weakness, Turkey provides direct and indirect aid to
nearly every sector. In January 1997, Turkey signed a $250 million
economic cooperation accord with the Turkish Cypriot area to support
tourism, education, and industry.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$11.19 billion (Greek Cypriot area:
purchasing power parity-$9.75 billion; Turkish Cypriot area:
purchasing power parity - $1.44 billion) (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 2.4% (Greek Cypriot area: 2.5%; Turkish Cypriot
area: 1.7%) (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$13,500 (Greek Cypriot area:
purchasing power parity-$15,000; Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing
power parity-$8,000) (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: Greek Cypriot area: agriculture 4.4%;
industry 22.4%; services 73.2% (1996); Turkish Cypriot area:
agriculture 10%; industry 24.6%; services 65.4% (1995)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: Greek Cypriot area: 3.5% (1997
est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 87.5% (1997 est.)
Labor force:
total: Greek Cypriot area: 299,700
by occupation: services 62%, industry 25%, agriculture 13% (1995)
total: Turkish Cypriot area: 76,500 (1996)
by occupation: services 66%, industry 11%, agriculture 23% (1995)
Unemployment rate: Greek Cypriot area: 3.3% (1997 est.); Turkish
Cypriot area: 6.4% (1996)
Budget:
revenues: Greek Cypriot area-$2.9 billion, Turkish Cypriot area-$171
million
expenditures: Greek Cypriot area-$3.4 billion, including capital
expenditures of $345 million, Turkish Cypriot area-$306 million,
including capital expenditures of $56.8 million (1997 est.)
Industries: food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products,
tourism, wood products
Industrial production growth rate: Greek Cypriot area: -4% (1996);
Turkish Cypriot area: 5.1% (1995)
Electricity-capacity: 666,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 2.6 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 3,530 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: potatoes, citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes,
olives, vegetables