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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, 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 Michael D. KIRBY

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):

$9.821 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$4.227 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,900 (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)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12.6% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

33.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.83 billion

expenditures: $1.841 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt:

23.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

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:

3.881 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 90.6%

hydro: 9.4%

nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

5.551 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports:

220 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports:

3.361 billion kWh (2005)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:

14,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports:

31.69 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:

14,200 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.35 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.35 billion cu m (2005)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$410 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$1.361 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Exports - partners:

Russia 23.7%, Italy 11.5%, Romania 10.1%, Ukraine 10%, Germany 8.6%, Belarus 6% (2006)

Imports:

$3.677 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles

Imports - partners:

Russia 20.8%, Ukraine 16.9%, Romania 13.4%, Germany 8.7%, Italy 6.1%, Poland 4.4% (2006)

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:

lei per US dollar - 12.177 (2007), 13.131 (2006), 12.6 (2005), 12.33 (2004), 13.945 (2003)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications Moldova

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.018 million (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.358 million (2006)

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

international: country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3 (Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik) (2006)

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:

112,026 (2007)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (1999)

Internet users:

727,700 (2006)

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: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 15,668 GRT/17,585 DWT

by type: cargo 8

foreign-owned: 3 (Ukraine 3) (2007)

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:

males age 16-49: 33,053

females age 16-49: 31,712 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.4% (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 15 July, 2008

The World Factbook

Monaco

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: 1.95 sq km

land: 1.95 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:

32,796 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.8% (male 2,488/female 2,369)

15-64 years: 62.4% (male 10,110/female 10,353)

65 years and over: 22.8% (male 3,048/female 4,428) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 45.5 years

male: 43.5 years

female: 47.5 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.375% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

9.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

12.96 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

7.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 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: 0.69 male(s)/female

total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)