(1997)
Televisions: 4.59 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 13 (1999)
@Colombia:Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,380 km
standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge (connects Cerrejon coal mines to
maritime port at Bahia de Portete)
narrow gauge: 3,230 km 0.914-m gauge (1,830 km in use) (1995)
Highways:
total: 115,564 km
paved: 13,868 km
unpaved: 101,696 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 18,140 km, navigable by river boats (April 1996)
Pipelines: crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km; natural
gas 830 km; natural gas liquids 125 km
Ports and harbors: Bahia de Portete, Barranquilla, Buenaventura,
Cartagena, Leticia, Puerto Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco,
Turbo
Merchant marine:
total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 51,343 GRT/67,168 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 5, container 1, multi-functional large
load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 1,101 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 90
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 37
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1,011
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 62
914 to 1,523 m: 330
under 914 m: 618 (1999 est.)
@Colombia:Military
Military branches: Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional,
includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 10,599,704 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 7,093,676 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 370,356 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $3.4 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.7% (FY99)
@Colombia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in
the Gulf of Venezuela; territorial disputes with Nicaragua over
Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and cannabis;
world's leading coca cultivator (cultivation of coca in 1998 - 101,500
hectares, a 28% increase over 1997); cultivation of opium in 1998
remained steady at 6,600 hectares; potential production of opium in
1997 - 66 metric tons, a 5% increase over 1996; the world's largest
processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of cocaine to the
US and other international drug markets, and an important supplier of
heroin to the US market; active aerial eradication program
______________________________________________________________________
COMOROS
@Comoros:Introduction
Background: Unstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups
since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands
of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. A
subsequent attempt by the government to reestablish control over the
rebellious islands by force failed, and presently the Organization of
African Unity is brokering negotiations to effect a reconciliation.
@Comoros:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel,
about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern
Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 44 15 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 2,170 sq km
land: 2,170 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than 12 times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 340 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low
hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 35%
permanent crops: 10%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 30% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: cyclones possible during rainy season (December to
April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
Environment - current issues: soil degradation and erosion results
from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing;
deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: important location at northern end of Mozambique
Channel
@Comoros:People
Population: 578,400 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 123,891; female 123,241)
15-64 years: 54% (male 155,062; female 159,287)
65 years and over: 3% (male 8,072; female 8,847) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.05% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 40.05 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 9.59 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 86.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.03 years
male: 57.85 years
female: 62.28 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.38 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Comoran(s)
adjective: Comoran
Ethnic groups: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions: Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of
Swahili and Arabic)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.3%
male: 64.2%
female: 50.4% (1995 est.)
@Comoros:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
conventional short form: Comoros
local long form: Republique Federale Islamique des Comores
local short form: Comores
Data code: CN
Government type: independent republic
Capital: Moroni
Administrative divisions: three islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja),
Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali)
note: there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni,
Moroni, and Moutsamoudou
Independence: 6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution: 20 October 1996
Legal system: French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 6 May 1999); note -
the interim government of President Tajiddine Ben Said MASSOUNDE,
which had assumed power on 6 November 1998 upon the death of President
Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim, was overthrown in a bloodless coup on 30
April 1999
head of government: Prime Minister Bianrifi TARMIDI (since 2 December
1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 6 and 16 March 1996 (next to be held NA); prime
minister appointed by the president
note: President AZALI claimed a one-year term at the time of the coup;
elections, in theory, should be held in the spring of 2000 but are
likely to be dependent on the island of Anjouan remaining part of the
federation
election results: results of the last presidential election before the
coup were: Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; percent of vote
- 64.3%
Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (15
seats: five from each island); members selected by regional councils
for six-year terms) and a Federal Assembly or Assemblee Federale (43
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note
- the Federal Assembly was dissolved following the coup of 30 April
1999
elections: Federal Assembly - last held 1 and 8 December 1996 (next to
be held NA)
election results: Federal Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - RND 39, FNJ 3, independent 1
note: the constitution stipulates that only parties that win six seats
in the Federal Assembly (two from each island) are permitted to be in
opposition, but if no party accomplishes that, the second most
successful party will be in opposition; in the elections of December
1996 the FNJ appeared to qualify as opposition
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supremes, two members appointed
by the president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one by
the Council of each island, and former presidents of the republic
Political parties and leaders: Front National pour la Justice or FNJ
(Islamic party in opposition) [Ahmed Abdallah MOHAMED, Ahmed
ABOUBACAR, Soidiki M'BAPANOZA]; Rassemblement National pour le
Development or RND (party of the government)
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS
(associate), ILO, IMF, InOC, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmed DJABIR (ambassador to the
US and Canada and permanent representative to the UN)
chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal and
Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 420 East 50th
Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone: (212) 983-4712
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy
in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros
Flag description: green with a white crescent in the center of the
field, its points facing downward; there are four white five-pointed
stars placed in a line between the points of the crescent; the
crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; the
four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali,
Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of France,
but claimed by Comoros); the design, the most recent of several, is
described in the constitution approved by referendum on 7 June 1992
@Comoros:Economy
Economy - overview: One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is
made up of three islands that have inadequate transportation links, a
young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources.
The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a
subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy
dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture,
including fishing, hunting, and forestry, is the leading sector of the
economy. It contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force,
and provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient
in food production; rice, the main staple, accounts for the bulk of
imports. The government is struggling to upgrade education and
technical training, to privatize commercial and industrial
enterprises, to improve health services, to diversify exports, to
promote tourism, and to reduce the high population growth rate.
Continued foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP
growth is to be met.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $410 million (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 0% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $725 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 5%
services: 55% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1998)
Labor force: 144,500 (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 80%, government 3%
Unemployment rate: 20% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $48 million
expenditures: $53 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)
Industries: tourism, perfume distillation, textiles, furniture,
jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 15 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 86.67%
hydro: 13.33%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 14 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra,
coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)
Exports: $9.3 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports - commodities: vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil,
copra
Exports - partners: France 43%, US 43%, Germany 7% (1997)
Imports: $49.5 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods;
petroleum products, cement, transport equipment
Imports - partners: France 59%, South Africa 15%, Kenya 6% (1997)
Debt - external: $197 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $28.1 million (1997)
Currency: 1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 485.44 (January 2000),
461.77 (1999), 442.46 (1998), 437.75 (1997), 383.66 (1996), 374.36
(1995)
note: prior to January 1999, the official rate was pegged to the
French franc at 75 CFs per French franc; since 1 January 1999, the CF
is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Comoros:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 5,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF
radiotelephone communication stations
domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay
international: HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and
Reunion
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 90,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1998)
Televisions: 1,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Comoros:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 880 km
paved: 673 km
unpaved: 207 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 4 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1999 est.)
@Comoros:Military
Military branches: Comoran Security Force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 136,914 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 81,477 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
@Comoros:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims French-administered Mayotte; the
islands of Anjouan (Nzwani) and Moheli (Mwali) have moved to secede
from Comoros
______________________________________________________________________
CONGO
______________________________________________________________________
CONGO
______________________________________________________________________
COOK ISLANDS
@Cook Islands:Introduction
Background: Named after Captain Cook, who sighted them in 1770, the
islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative
control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965 residents chose
self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration
of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are
continuing problems.
@Cook Islands:Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 21 14 S, 159 46 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 240 sq km
land: 240 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 120 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain: low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Te Manga 652 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 78% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (November to March)
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the
Sea
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
@Cook Islands:People
Population: 20,407 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 1.6% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 22.18 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.14 years
male: 69.2 years
female: 73.1 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.14 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective: Cook Islander
Ethnic groups: Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European
7.7%, Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%
Religions: Christian (majority of populace are members of the Cook
Islands Christian Church)
Languages: English (official), Maori
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
@Cook Islands:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cook Islands
Data code: CW
Dependency status: self-governing in free association with New
Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New
Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs, in consultation
with the Cook Islands
Government type: self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital: Avarua
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: none (became self-governing in free association with New
Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full
independence by unilateral action)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 4 August (1965)
Constitution: 4 August 1965
Legal system: based on New Zealand law and English common law
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Apenera SHORT (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner
Jon JONESSEN (since NA January 1998), representative of New Zealand
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Terepai MAOATE (since 18
November 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Norman GEORGE (since NA)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively
responsible to Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is
appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is
appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative
elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats usually
becomes prime minister
note: ten years of rule by the Cook Islands Party (CIP) came to an end
18 November 1999 with the resignation of Prime Minister Joe WILLIAMS;
WILLIAMS had led a minority government since October 1999 when the New
Alliance Party (NAP) left the government coalition and joined the main
opposition Democratic Alliance Party (DAP); on 18 November 1999, DAP
leader Dr. Terepai MAOATE was sworn in as prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held NA June 1999 (next to be held by NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CIP
12, DAP 12, NAP 1
note: the House of Arikis (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but
has no legislative powers
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leaders: Cook Islands Party or CIP [Joe
WILLIAMS]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP ; New
Alliance Party or NAP
International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP (associate),
FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, OPCW,
Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing in free
association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing in free
association with New Zealand)
Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars
(one for every island) centered in the outer half of the flag
@Cook Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: Like many other South Pacific island nations, the
Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by the isolation of the
country from foreign markets, lack of natural resources, periodic
devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate infrastructure.
Agriculture provides the economic base with major exports made up of
copra and citrus fruit. Manufacturing activities are limited to
fruit-processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits are made
up for by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid,
overwhelmingly from New Zealand. Efforts to exploit tourism potential,
encourage offshore banking, and expand the mining and fishing
industries have been partially successful in stimulating investment
and growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $112 million (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,600 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 18%
industry: 9%
services: 73% (1995)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 6,601 (1993)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services
56% (1995)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: fruit processing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 15 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 14 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans,
pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee
Exports: $4.2 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
Exports - commodities: copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit,
coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Exports - partners: NZ 80%, Japan, Hong Kong (1993)
Imports: $85 million (c.i.f., 1994)
Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital
goods
Imports - partners: NZ 49%, Italy, Australia (1993)
Debt - external: $141 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $13.1 million (1995); note - New Zealand
furnishes the greater part
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9451 (January
2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996),
1.5235 (1995)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Cook Islands:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 4,180 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1994)
Telephone system:
domestic: the individual islands are connected by a combination of
satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF
radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small
exchanges connected to subscribers by open wire, cable, and
fiber-optic cable
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 14,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (plus eight low-power repeaters)
(1997)
Televisions: 4,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Cook Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km