population: 66.7% male: 78.6% female: 54.6% (1995 est.)
Government Tunisia
Country name: Republic of Tunisia conventional short form: Tunisiyah
Government type: republic
Capital: Tunis
Administrative divisions: 23 governorates; Ariana (Aryanah), Beja
(Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin 'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), El Kef (Al Kaf), Gabes
(Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba (Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan),
Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili (Qibili), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Medenine
(Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis), Sidi
Bou Zid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse (Susah), Tataouine
(Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan (Zaghwan)
Independence: 20 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 20 March (1956)
Constitution: 1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988
Legal system: based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI
(since 7 November 1987) head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed
GHANNOUCHI (since 17 November
Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: held 24
October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); prime minister appointed
by the president election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI
reelected for a third term without opposition; percent of vote - Zine
El Abidine BEN ALI nearly 100%
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab
(182 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election
results: percent of vote by party - RCD 92%; seats by party - RCD 148, MDS
13, UDU 7, PUP 7, Al-Tajdid 5, PSL 2; note - reforms enabled opposition
parties to win up to 20% of seats, increasing the number of seats they
hold from 19 in the last election to 34 now
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation
Political parties and leaders: Al-Tajdid Movement [Adel CHAOUCH];
Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel
Democratique) or RCD [President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (official ruling
party)]; Liberal Social Party or PSL [Mounir BEJI]; Movement of Democratic
Socialists or MDS [Khamis CHAMMARI]; Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed
Belhaj AMOR]; Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Abderrahmane TLILI]
Political pressure groups and leaders: the Islamic fundamentalist party,
Al Nahda (Renaissance), is outlawed
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
AMF, AMU, BSEC (observer), CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW,
OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hatem
ATALLAH FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858 telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850 chancery:
1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rust
M. DEMING embassy: 144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere mailing
address: use embassy street address telephone: [216] (1) 782-566 FAX:
[216] (1) 789-719
Flag description: red with a white disk in the center bearing a red
crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and
star are traditional symbols of Islam
Economy Tunisia
Economy - overview: Tunisia has a diverse economy, with
important agricultural, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing
sectors. Governmental control of economic affairs while still heavy has
gradually lessened over the past decade with increasing privatization,
simplification of the tax structure, and a prudent approach to
debt. Real growth averaged 5.4% in the past five years, and inflation is
slowing. Growth in tourism and increased trade have been key elements
in this steady growth, although tourism revenues have slowed since 11
September 2001 and may take a year or more to fully recover. Tunisia's
association agreement with the European Union entered into force on 1
March 1998, the first such accord between the EU and a Mediterranean
country. Under the agreement Tunisia will gradually remove barriers to
trade with the EU over the next decade. Broader privatization, further
liberalization of the investment code to increase foreign investment,
and improvements in government efficiency are among the challenges for
the future.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $64.5 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.8% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,600 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 33% services:
54% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: 6% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 31.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 41.7 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 2.69 million (2001 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor
Labor force - by occupation: services 55%, industry 23%, agriculture 22%
(1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15.6% (2000 est.)
Budget: revenues: $5.7 billion expenditures: $6.3 billion, including
capital expenditures of $1.5 billion (2001 est.)
Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore),
tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 5.2% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: 10.3 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.03% hydro: 0.97%
other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 9.562 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 19 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 2 million kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: olives, olive oil, grain, dairy products,
tomatoes, citrus fruit, beef, sugar beets, dates, almonds
Exports: $6.6 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: textiles, mechanical goods, phosphates and
chemicals, agricultural products, hydrocarbons
Exports - partners: France 28%, Italy 21%, Germany 14%, Belgium 6%,
Libya (2000)
Imports: $8.9 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals,
food
Imports - partners: France 30%, Italy 21%, Germany 11%, Spain 4%,
Belgium (2000)
Debt - external: $11.5 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $933.2 million (1995); note - ODA, $90 million
(1998 est.)
Currency: Tunisian dinar (TND)
Currency code: TND
Exchange rates: Tunisian dinars per US dollar - 1.44 (January 2002),
1.3753 (2001), 1.3707 (2000), 1.1862 (1999), 1.1387 (1998), 1.1059 (1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Tunisia
Telephones - main lines in use: 654,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 50,000 (1998)
Telephone system: general assessment: above the African average and
continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and
Tunis; Internet access available domestic: trunk facilities consist of
open-wire lines, coaxial cable, and microwave radio relay international:
5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and
Libya; participant in Medarabtel; two international gateway digital
switches
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 20, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 2.06 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions: 920,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .tn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000)
Internet users: 280,000 (2001)
Transportation Tunisia
Railways: total: 2,168 km standard gauge: 471 km 1.435-m gauge dual
gauge: 10 km 1.000-m and 1.435-m gauges (three rails) (2001) narrow gauge:
1,687 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways: total: 23,100 km paved: 18,226 km unpaved: 4,874 km (1996)
Waterways: none
Pipelines: crude oil 797 km; petroleum products 86 km; natural gas 742 km
Ports and harbors: Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Sfax, Sousse, Tunis,
Zarzis
Merchant marine: total: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 150,710
GRT/162,616 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 4, chemical tanker 4,
liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, short-sea passenger 3, specialized
tanker 1 (2002 est.)
Airports: 30 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047
m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to
1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2001)
Military Tunisia
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces,
National Guard
Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,806,881 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,597,565
(2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 105,146
(2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $356 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.5% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Tunisia
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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East Timor
Introduction East Timor
Background: The Portuguese colony of Timor declared itself independent
from Portugal on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by
Indonesian forces nine days later. It was subsequently incorporated
into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of Timor Timur. A so-called
campaign of pacification followed, during which time an estimated
100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives. On 30 August 1999,
in a UN-supervised popular referendum, the people of Timor Timur
voted for independence from Indonesia. On 20 May 2002, East Timor was
internationally recognized as an independent state and the world's
newest democracy.
Geography East Timor
Location: Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda
Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note - East
Timor includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi
(Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and
the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco
Geographic coordinates: 8 50 S, 125 55 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 15,007 sq km land: NA sq km water: NA sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 228 km border countries: Indonesia 228 km
Coastline: 706 km
Maritime claims: NA NM territorial sea: economic zone: NA NM
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Terrain: mountainous
Elevation extremes: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m highest
point: Natural resources: gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Land use: arable land: NA% other: NA% permanent crops: NA%
Irrigated land: 1,065 sq km (est.)
Natural hazards: floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis,
tropical cyclones
Environment - current issues: widespread use of slash and burn
agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion
Environment - international agreements: NA
Geography - note: Timor is the Malay word for "Orient"; the island of
Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost
of the Lesser Sunda Islands
People East Timor
Population: 952,618 (July 2002 est.) note: other estimates range as
low as 800,000 (2002 est.)
Age structure: NA
Population growth rate: 7.26% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 28.07 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 6.52 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: 51.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: NA
Infant mortality rate: 51.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.85 years male: 62.64
years female: 67.17 years (2002 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.88 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Timorese adjective: Timorese
Ethnic groups: Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese
minority
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 3%, Hindu 0.5%,
Buddhist, Animist (1992 est.)
Languages: Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian,
English note: Galole, Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by significant
numbers of people
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 48% (2001) male: NA% female: NA%
Government East Timor
Country name: conventional long form: Democratic Republic of East Timor
conventional short form: East Timor local short form: Timor Lorosa'e
[Tetum];
Portuguese Timor local long form: Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
Government type: republic
Capital: Dili
Administrative divisions: 13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro,
Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los
Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque
Independence: 28 November 1975 (date of proclamation of independence
from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international
recognition of East Timor's independence from Indonesia
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Constitution: 22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jose Alexander GUSMAO
(since 20 May 2002); note - the president plays a largely symbolic
role but is able to veto some legislation head of government: Prime
Minister Mari Bin Amude ALKATIRI (since 20 May 2002) cabinet: Council
of State elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2007);
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president
election results: Jose Alexander GUSMAO elected president; percent of
vote - Jose Alexander GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do Amaral 17.3%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament (number of seats
can vary, minimum requirement of 52 and a maximum of 65 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - for its first
term of office, the National Parliament is comprised of 88 members
on an exceptional basis elections: last held 30 August 2001 (next to
be held NA August 2006) election results: percent of vote by party -
FRETILIN 57.37%, PD 8.72%, PSD 8.18%, ASDT 7.84%, UDT 2.36%, PNT 2.21%,
KOTA 2.13%, PPT 2.01%, PDC 1.98%, PST 1.78%, independents/other 5.42%;
seats by party - FRETILIN 55, PD 7, PSD 6, ASDT 6, PDC 2, UDT 2, KOTA 2,
PNT 2, PPT 2, UDC/PDC 1, PST 1, PL 1, independent 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice, one judge appointed by the
National Parliament and the rest appointed by the Superior Council for
the Judiciary
Political parties and leaders: Associacao Social-Democrata Timorense or
ASDT [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL]; Christian Democratic Party of Timor
or PDC [Antonio XIMENES]; Christian Democratic Union of Timor or UDC
[Vicente da Silva GUTERRES]; Democratic Pary or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO];
Maubere Democratic Party or PDM [leader NA]; People's Party of Timor or
PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or
FRETILIN [Lu OLO]; Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario
CARRASCALAO]; Socialist Party of Timor or PST [leader NA]; Sons of
the Mountain Warriors (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes)
or KOTA [Clementino dos Reis AMARAL]; Timor Democratic Union or UDT
[Joao CARRASCALAO]; Timor Labor Party or TRABALHISTA [Paulo Freitas
DA SILVA]; Timorese Nationalist Party or PNT [Abilio ARAUJO]; Timorese
Popular Democratic Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida Santos COSTA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: IBRD, IMF note: UN membership
is expected in September
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
(vacant); Charge d'Affaires Constancio PINTO chancery: NA consulate(s)
general: NA FAX: NA telephone: NA
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
(vacant) embassy: Farol district, Dili mailing address: NA telephone:
(670) 390 324 684 FAX: (670) 390 313 206
Flag description: red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the
hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that
extends to the center of the flag; there is a white star in the center
of the black triangle
Economy East Timor
Economy - overview: In late 1999, about 70% of the economic
infrastructure of East Timor was laid waste by Indonesian troops and
anti-independence militias, and 260,000 people fled westward. Over the
next three years, however, a massive international program, manned by
5,000 peacekeepers (8,000 at peak) and 1,300 police officers, led to
substantial reconstruction in both urban and rural areas. By mid-2002,
all but about 50,000 of the refugees had returned. The country faces
great challenges in continuing the rebuilding of infrastructure and the
strengthening of the infant civil administration. One promising long-term
project would be development of oil resources in nearby waters.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $415 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 18% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25.4% industry: 17.2% services:
57.4% (2001)
Population below poverty line: 42% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 38
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 50% (including underemployment)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA
Industries: printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth
Industrial production growth rate: 8.5%
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other:
0% nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh
Agriculture - products: coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes,
soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla
Exports: $8 million (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - the potential
for oil and vanilla exports
Exports - partners: NA
Imports: $237 million (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: NA
Imports - partners: NA
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $2.2 billion (1999-2002 est.)
Currency: US dollar (USD)
Currency code: USD
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Communications East Timor
Telephones - main lines in use: NA
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
Internet country code: .tp
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
Internet users: NA
Transportation East Timor
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 3,800 km paved: 428 km unpaved: 3,372 km (1995)
Waterways: NA
Pipelines: NA
Ports and harbors: NA
Merchant marine: total: NA ships by type: NA
Airports: 8 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to
2,427 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m:
2 (2001)
Heliports: 1 (2001)
Military East Timor
Military branches: the East Timor Defense Force or FALINTIL-FDTL
comprises a light-infantry Army and a small Naval component; note -
plans are to develop a force of 1,500 active personnel and 1,500 reserve
personnel over the next five years
Military manpower - military age: 18-21 years of age
Military manpower - availability: NA
Military manpower - fit for military service: NA
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $4.4 million (FY03)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues East Timor
Disputes - international: East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee meets
to survey and delimit land boundary; Indonesia seeks resolution of East
Timor refugees in Indonesia; Australia-East Timor-Indonesia are working to
resolve maritime boundary and sharing of seabed resources in "Timor Gap"
Illicit drugs: NA
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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Turkey
Introduction
Turkey
Background: Turkey was created in 1923 from the Turkish remnants of
the Ottoman Empire. Soon thereafter the country instituted secular laws
to replace traditional religious fiats. In 1945 Turkey joined the UN
and in 1952 it became a member of NATO. Turkey occupied the northern
portion of Cyprus in 1974 to prevent a Greek takeover of the island;
relations between the two countries remain strained but have begun to
improve over the past three years. In 1984, the Kurdistan Workers' Party
(PKK), a Marxist-Leninist, separatist group, initiated an insurgency in
Southeast Turkey, often using terrorist tactics to try to attain its goal
of an independent Kurdistan. The group - whose leader, Abdullah OCALAN,
was captured in Kenya in February 1999 and sentenced to death by a Turkish
court - has observed a unilateral cease-fire since September 1999,
although there have been occasional clashes between Turkish military
units and some of the 4,000-5,000 armed PKK militants, most of whom
currently are encamped in northern Iraq. The PKK changed its name to
the Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (KADEK) in April 2002.
Geography Turkey
Location: southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia (that portion of
Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering
the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean
Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria
Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 35 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 780,580 sq km water: 9,820 sq km land: 770,760 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries: total: 2,648 km border countries: Armenia 268 km,
Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km, Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran
499 km, Iraq 352 km, Syria 822 km
Coastline: 7,200 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the
maritime boundary agreed upon with the former USSR territorial sea:
6 NM in the Aegean Sea; 12 NM in Black Sea and in Mediterranean Sea
Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher
in interior
Terrain: mostly mountains; narrow coastal plain; high central plateau
(Anatolia)
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point:
Mount Ararat 5,166 m
Natural resources: antimony, coal, chromium, mercury, copper, borate,
sulfur, iron ore, arable land, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 35% permanent crops: 3% other: 62% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 42,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: very severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey,
along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van
Environment - current issues: water pollution from dumping of chemicals
and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation;
concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic