chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383
FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391
consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Miriam K. HUGHES
embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 96941
telephone: [691] 320-2187
FAX: [691] 320-2186
Flag description:
light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars
are arranged in a diamond pattern
Economy
Micronesia, Federated States of
Economy - overview:
Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and
fishing. The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting,
except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a tourist
industry exists, but the remote location, a lack of adequate
facilities, and limited air connections hinder development. Under
the original terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US
provided $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001; the
level of aid has been subsequently reduced. The Amended Compact of
Free Association with the US guarantees the Federated States of
Micronesia (FSM) millions of dollars in annual aid through 2023, and
establishes a Trust Fund into which the US and the FSM make annual
contributions in order to provide annual payouts to the FSM in
perpetuity after 2023. The country's medium-term economic outlook
appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US assistance but
also to the current slow growth of the private sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$277 million; note - supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps
$100 million annually (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$232 million (2005)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 28.9%
industry: 15.2%
services: 55.9% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
37,410 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 34.4%
services: 64.7%
note: two-thirds are government employees (FY05 est.)
Unemployment rate:
22% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
26.7% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $127.3 million ($69 million less grants)
expenditures: $144.2 million (FY05 est.)
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2005)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.03% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$22.45 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$72.49 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
NA (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, bananas,
cassava (tapioca), sakau (kava), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs,
chickens; fish
Industries:
tourism, construction; fish processing, specialized aquaculture;
craft items (from shell, wood, and pearls)
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
192 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - consumption:
178.6 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source:
NA
Current account balance:
-$34.3 million (FY05 est.)
Exports:
$14 million (f.o.b.) (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish, garments, bananas, black pepper, sakau (kava), betel nut
Exports - partners:
Japan, US, Guam (2006)
Imports:
$132.7 million f.o.b. (2004)
Imports - commodities:
food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Imports - partners:
US, Japan, Hong Kong (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
$106.4 million (2005)
Debt - external:
$60.8 million (FY05 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications
Micronesia, Federated States of
Telephones - main lines in use:
8,700 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
27,400 (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate system
domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used
mostly for government purposes), satellite (Intelsat) ground
stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; cellular service
available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:
9,400 (1996)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (cable TV also available) (2004)
Televisions:
2,800 (1999)
Internet country code:
.fm
Internet hosts:
866 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
15,000 (2007)
Transportation
Micronesia, Federated States of
Airports:
6 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
Roadways:
total: 240 km
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 3
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Tomil Harbor
Military
Micronesia, Federated States of
Military branches:
no regular military forces
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 26,686 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 21,748 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,310
female: 1,262 (2008 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Micronesia, Federated States of
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
major consumer of cannabis
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Moldova
Introduction
Moldova
Background:
Formerly part of Romania, Moldova was incorporated into the Soviet
Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the
USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory
east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority
population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a
"Transnistria" republic. One of the poorest nations in Europe,
Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as
its president in 2001.
Geography
Moldova
Location:
Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Geographic coordinates:
47 00 N, 29 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 33,843 sq km
land: 33,371 sq km
water: 472 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 1,390 km
border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 940 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
moderate winters, warm summers
Terrain:
rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dniester River 2 m
highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
Natural resources:
lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 54.52%
permanent crops: 8.81%
other: 36.67% (2005)
Irrigated land:
3,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
11.7 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.31 cu km/yr (10%/58%/33%)
per capita: 549 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
landslides
Environment - current issues:
heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides
such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil
erosion from poor farming methods
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals
including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone
People
Moldova
Population:
4,324,450 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 361,000/female 341,785)
15-64 years: 72.9% (male 1,528,080/female 1,622,620)
65 years and over: 10.9% (male 174,448/female 296,517) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.3 years
male: 32.4 years
female: 36.4 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.092% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
11.01 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
10.8 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.5 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 14.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.5 years
male: 66.81 years
female: 74.41 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.26 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 300 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Moldovan(s)
adjective: Moldovan
Ethnic groups:
Moldovan/Romanian 78.2%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.8%, Gagauz 4.4%,
Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1.3% (2004 census)
note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region
Religions:
Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)
Languages:
Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language),
Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.7%
female: 98.6% (2005 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
7.6% of GDP (2006)
Government
Moldova
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
conventional short form: Moldova
local long form: Republica Moldova
local short form: Moldova
former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan Soviet
Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Chisinau (Kishinev)
note: pronounced kee-shee-now
geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 28 51 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:
32 raions (raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities
(municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala
autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)
raions: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir,
Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari,
Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova,
Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti,
Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni
municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau
autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia
territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria)
Independence:
27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 August (1991)
Constitution:
new constitution adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994;
replaced old Soviet constitution of 1979
Legal system:
based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of
legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; accepts
many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) documents; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Zinaida GRECEANII (since 31 March
2008); First Deputy Prime Minister Igor DODON (since 31 March 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by president, subject to approval of
Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 4 April 2005 (next
to be held in 2009); note - prime minister designated by the
president upon consultation with Parliament; within 15 days from
designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of
confidence from the Parliament regarding his/her work program and
entire cabinet; prime minister designated 21 March 2008; cabinet
received a vote of confidence 31 March 2008
election results: Vladimir VORONIN reelected president;
parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 75, Gheorghe DUCA 1; Zinaida
GRECEANII designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of
confidence - 56 of 101
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and
electoral blocs elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 March 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 46.1%, Democratic
Moldova Bloc (AMN, PD, PSL) 28.4%, PPCD 9.1%, other parties 16.4%;
seats by party - PCRM 56, Democratic Moldova Bloc (AMN, PD, PSL) 34,
PPCD 11
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for
constitutional judicature)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic People's Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]; Communist
Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN];
Democratic Party or PD [Dumitru DIACOV]; Liberal Democratic Party or
PLDM [Vladmir FILAT]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Vitalia
PAVLICENKO]; Our Moldova Alliance or AMN [Serafim URECHEAN]; Party
for Social Democracy or PDSM [Dumitru BRAGHIS]; Social Liberal Party
or PSL [Oleg SEREBRIAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OIF,
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nicolae CHIRTOACA
chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Asif CHAUDHRY
embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [373] (22) 40-8300
FAX: [373] (22) 23-3044
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;
emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in
black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak
and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in
its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red
over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in
black-outlined yellow; same color scheme as Romania
Economy
Moldova
Economy - overview:
Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despite
recent progress from its small economic base. It enjoys a favorable
climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a
result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring
fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import almost
all of its energy supplies. Moldova's dependence on Russian energy
was underscored at the end of 2005, when a Russian-owned electrical
station in Moldova's separatist Transnistria region cut off power to
Moldova and Russia's Gazprom cut off natural gas in disputes over
pricing. Russia's decision to ban Moldovan wine and agricultural
products, coupled with its decision to double the price Moldova paid
for Russian natural gas, slowed GDP growth in 2006. However, in 2007
growth returned to the 6% level Moldova had achieved in 2000-05,
boosted by Russia's partial removal of the bans, solid fixed capital
investment, and strong domestic demand driven by remittances from
abroad. Economic reforms have been slow because of corruption and
strong political forces backing government controls. Nevertheless,
the government's primary goal of EU integration has resulted in some
market-oriented progress. The granting of EU trade preferences and
increased exports to Russia will encourage higher growth rates in
2008, but the agreements are unlikely to serve as a panacea, given
the extent to which export success depends on higher quality
standards and other factors. The economy remains vulnerable to
higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the skepticism of
foreign investors. Also, the presence of an illegal separatist
regime in Moldova's Transnistria region continues to be a drag on
the Moldovan economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$9.756 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.227 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,300 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17.8%
industry: 21.7%
services: 60.5% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
1.333 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 40.7%
industry: 12.1%
services: 47.2% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
2.1%; note - roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed
abroad (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
29.5% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 26.4% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.2 (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):
33.3% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.83 billion
expenditures: $1.841 billion (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Public debt:
23.3% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12.3% (2007 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
18.83% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$965 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$1.449 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.896 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed,
tobacco; beef, milk
Industries:
sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery;
foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines;
hosiery, shoes, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
3.824 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
5.806 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
229 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - imports:
3.741 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 90.6%
hydro: 9.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
15,770 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
50.03 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
14,450 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
50 million cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.44 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
2.44 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
-$694.7 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$1.361 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, machinery
Exports - partners:
Russia 25.3%, Romania 13%, Italy 10%, Ukraine 8.7%, Germany 8.5%,
Poland 6.2%, Belarus 4.2% (2007)
Imports:
$3.677 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals,
textiles
Imports - partners:
Russia 20.5%, Ukraine 15.8%, Romania 15%, Germany 8.7%, Italy 5.7%,
Poland 4.1% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$191.8 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.334 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.3 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$573.9 million (2004)
Currency (code):
Moldovan leu (MDL)
Currency code:
MDL
Exchange rates:
Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar - 12.177 (2007), 13.131 (2006),
12.6 (2005), 12.33 (2004), 13.945 (2003)
Communications
Moldova
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.08 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.883 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside
Chisinau; some modernization is under way
domestic: depending on location, new subscribers may face long wait
for service; multiple private operators of GSM mobile-cellular
telephone service are operating; GPRS system is being introduced; a
CDMA mobile telephone network began operations in 2007; combined
fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 70 per 100
persons
international: country code - 373; service through Romania and
Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3
(Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 29, shortwave NA (2006)
Radios:
3.22 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
40 (2006)
Televisions:
1.26 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.md
Internet hosts:
223,869 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (1999)
Internet users:
700,000 (2007)
Transportation
Moldova
Airports:
10 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Pipelines:
gas 1,980 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 1,138 km
broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
total: 12,666 km
paved: 12,117 km
unpaved: 549 km (2007)
Waterways:
424 km (on Dniester and Prut rivers) (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 39
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 32, chemical tanker 2, combination
ore/oil 2, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 17 (Egypt 1, Romania 3, Russia 3, Syria 1, Turkey 3,
Ukraine 5, Yemen 1) (2008)
Military
Moldova
Military branches:
National Army: Ground Forces, Rapid Reaction Forces, Air and Air
Defense Forces (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 12-month service
obligation (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,161,924
females age 16-49: 1,187,771 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 877,070
females age 16-49: 994,091 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 33,053
female: 31,712 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues
Moldova
Disputes - international:
Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor the
transit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away
Transnistria region, which remains under OSCE supervision
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Moldova is a major source and, to a lesser
extent, a transit country for women and girls trafficked for the
purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; Moldovan women are
trafficked to the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe;
girls and young women are trafficked within the country from rural
areas to Chisinau; children are also trafficked to neighboring
countries for forced labor and begging; labor trafficking of men to
work in the construction, agriculture, and service sectors of Russia
is increasingly a problem
tier rating: Tier 3 - Moldova does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so; the government failed to follow-up on
allegations of officials complicit in trafficking cited in the 2007
Report, and it did not demonstrate proactive efforts to identify
trafficking victims (2008)
Illicit drugs:
limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS
consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest
Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly the
US; widespread crime and underground economic activity
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008