this was the second parliamentary election in less than four months;
the earlier parliament (elected 5 April 2009) could not agree on a
presidential candidate
election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 44.7%, PLDM 16.6%,
PL 14.7%, PD 12.5%, AMN 7.4%; seats by party - PCRM 48, PLDM 18, PL
15, PD 13, AMN 7
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for
constitutional judicature)
Political parties and leaders:
Centrist Union or UCM [Vasile TARLEV]; 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]; Liberal
Party or PL [Mihai GHIMPU]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Vitalia
PAVLICENKO]; Our Moldova Alliance or AMN [Serafim URECHEAN]; Party
for Social Democracy or PDSM [Dumitru BRAGHIS]
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, and again in January 2009, during a similar dispute.
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 2006-07. However, in 2008
growth exceeded 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, 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.
The deteriorating global economic crisis did not seriously effect
the Moldovan economy in 2008 due to its low exposure to the
international financial system, but a global economic slowdown,
particularly in the EU and Russia, could hurt the economy in 2009 as
Moldova relies heavily on remittances from Moldovans abroad.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$10.8 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
$10.07 billion (2007 est.)
$9.684 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$6.047 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
4% (2007 est.)
4.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,500 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
$2,300 (2007 est.)
$2,200 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 19.4%
industry: 20%
services: 60.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
1.327 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 40.6%
industry: 16%
services: 43.3% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
1.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Population below poverty line:
29.5% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 28.2% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.2 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 95
40.6 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
32.5% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Budget:
revenues: $2.453 billion
expenditures: $2.513 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
22.3% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
63.4% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
12.3% (2007 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
21.06% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 22
18.83% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$1.116 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 85
$965 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$1.928 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 83
$1.449 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.406 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 90
$1.896 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 102
$573.9 million (2004)
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% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - production:
3.617 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Electricity - consumption:
4.37 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Electricity - exports:
240 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
2.931 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Oil - consumption:
17,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Oil - exports:
36.49 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Oil - imports:
14,230 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Natural gas - production:
50 million cu m (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Natural gas - consumption:
2.52 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - imports:
2.52 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Current account balance:
-$1.015 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
-$695.5 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$1.641 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
$1.368 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, machinery
Exports - partners:
Morocco 48.3%, Russia 15.2%, Romania 8.1%, Italy 5% (2008)
Imports:
$4.87 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$3.676 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals,
textiles
Imports - partners:
Ukraine 20.6%, Russia 19.5%, Romania 14.6%, Germany 8.1%, Italy
5.1%, Belarus 4.3% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.672 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$1.334 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.125 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 110
$3.326 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$1.813 billion (2008)
country comparison to the world: 94
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar - 10.326 (2008 est.), 12.177
(2007), 13.131 (2006), 12.6 (2005), 12.33 (2004)
Communications ::Moldova
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.115 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 73
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.423 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 117
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 85 per 100 persons
international: country code - 373; service through Romania and
Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3
(Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 29, shortwave NA (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
40 (2006)
Internet country code:
.md
Internet hosts:
367,150 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 52
Internet users:
850,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 96
Transportation ::Moldova
Airports:
11 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 154
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 1,906 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 1,138 km
country comparison to the world: 87
broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 12,666 km
country comparison to the world: 130
paved: 12,117 km
unpaved: 549 km (2007)
Waterways:
424 km (on Dniester and Prut rivers) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 87
Merchant marine:
total: 39
country comparison to the world: 78
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: Land Forces, Rapid Reaction Forces, Air and Air
Defense Forces (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 17 years of age for
voluntary service; male registration required at age 16; 12-month
service obligation (2009)
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: 877,665
females age 16-49: 987,356 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 31,633
female: 30,214 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
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
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Monaco (Europe)
Introduction ::Monaco
Background:
The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present-day Monaco in
1215. The current ruling Grimaldi family secured control in the late
13th century, and a principality was established in 1338. Economic
development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad
linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the
principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling
facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation
center.
Geography ::Monaco
Location:
Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern
coast of France, near the border with Italy
Geographic coordinates:
43 44 N, 7 24 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 2 sq km
country comparison to the world: 248
land: 2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 4.4 km
border countries: France 4.4 km
Coastline:
4.1 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
Climate:
Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain:
hilly, rugged, rocky
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Agel 140 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See);
almost entirely urban
People ::Monaco
Population:
32,965 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.6% (male 2,466/female 2,349)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 10,184/female 10,395)
65 years and over: 23% (male 3,068/female 4,503) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 45.7 years
male: 43.6 years
female: 47.7 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.394% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Birth rate:
9.1 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Death rate:
12.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Net migration rate:
7.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 191
male: 5.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.09 years
country comparison to the world: 21
male: 76.3 years
female: 84.09 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.75 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Ethnic groups:
French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
Languages:
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Education expenditures:
4.4% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 93
Government ::Monaco
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
conventional short form: Monaco
local long form: Principaute de Monaco
local short form: Monaco
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Monaco
geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 25 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined
by the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers,
singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville,
Monte-Carlo
Independence:
1419 (beginning of rule by the House of Grimaldi)
National holiday:
National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)
Constitution:
17 December 1962; modified 2 April 2002
Legal system:
based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)
head of government: Minister of State Jean-Paul PROUST (since 1 June
2005)
cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed
by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates
presented by the French Government
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16
members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportional
representation; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 February 2008 (next to be held in February
2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - UPM 52.2%, REM 40.5%,
Monaco Together 7.3%; seats by party - UPM 21, REM 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarch
on the basis of nominations by the National Council)
Political parties and leaders:
Union for Monaco or UPM (including National Union for the Future of
Monaco or UNAM); Rally and Issues for Monaco or REM; Monaco Together
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen
Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador to the US and Representative to the UN
Gilles NOGHES
chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Suite 2K-100, Washington, DC
20008
telephone: (202) 234-1530
FAX: (202) 552-5778
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador to
France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille
(France), under the authority of the US ambassador to France,
handles routine diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the
flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is
white (top) and red
Economy ::Monaco
Economy - overview:
Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular
resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The
principality also is a major banking center and has successfully
sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added,
nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low
business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who
have established residence and for foreign companies that have set
up businesses and offices. The state retains monopolies in a number
of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal
service. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in
prosperous French metropolitan areas.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$976.3 million (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
note: Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates
are extremely rough
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
0.9% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$30,000 (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0%
industry: 4.9%
services: 95.1% (2005)
Labor force:
44,000
country comparison to the world: 185
note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
0% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 2
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $863 million
expenditures: $920.6 million (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 15
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
none
Industries:
tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Exports:
$716.3 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 158
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France
Imports:
$916.1 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 172
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France
Debt - external:
$18 billion (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007),
0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Communications ::Monaco
Telephones - main lines in use:
35,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 175
Telephones - mobile cellular:
22,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 205
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern automatic telephone system; the country's
sole fixed line operator offers a full range of services to
residential and business customers
domestic: combined fixed line and mobile telephone density exceeds
100%
international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations;
connected by cable into the French communications system
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 11, shortwave 1 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (1998)
Internet country code:
.mc
Internet hosts: