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Old 03-04-2008, 09:45 AM
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Default Venezuela deploys troops to Colombian border

AP


BOGOTA, Colombia - Venezuelan troops mobilized for the Colombian border on Tuesday after President Hugo Chavez ordered 10 battalions to the frontier.

Hundreds of Venezuelan troops were seen boarding four buses and eight trucks at the Paramaracay base in the central city of Valencia on Tuesday morning. A helicopter flew overhead.

A base official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they were heading for the Colombian border, though she didn't specify the location.

Elsewhere, in the northern state of Lara, pro-Chavez Gov. Luis Reyes said Tuesday that battalions in his state were heading for the border.

"There are mobilizations in Lara state toward the border zone," Reyes said.

Chavez in court?
Also Tuesday, Colombia President Alvaro Uribe said his government would ask the International Criminal Court to try Venezuelan leader Chavez for financing and supporting Colombia's main rebel group.

The Uribe government claims documents found in the laptop of a slain commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia indicate Chavez's government recently gave $300 million to the group known as the FARC.

The United States and the European Union classify the FARC as an international terrorist organization.

"Colombia is proposing that the International Criminal Court charge Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela, for the support and financing of genocide," Uribe told journalists after meeting with an ex-congresswoman who was recently freed by the FARC after more than six years as a hostage.

Uribe did not explain what arguments against Chavez would be presented to the Netherlands-based court.

The Colombian government says documents found in the laptop of Raul Reyes, a senior FARC leader killed Saturday in a raid on a guerrilla camp just inside Ecuador, show Chavez's ties with the rebels date back more than a decade.

The documents indicate, Colombia alleges, that the FARC even sent Chavez money when he was in jail from 1992-94 for leading a failed coup.

Venezuela says Colombia is lying about the documents.
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Old 03-04-2008, 10:37 AM
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Default geez

anoher place for another war.
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Old 03-04-2008, 12:44 PM
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Retired Gen. Alberto Muller Rojas, a former aide and close ally of Chavez, told The Associated Press that the 10 battalions being sent to the border region include approximately 9,000 men. He called the troop deployment entirely "preventive."

Chavez deployed troops in response to Colombia's killing of a top rebel leader on Ecuadorean soil over the weekend. Ecuador has also sent troops to its border with Colombia, denouncing the military strike as a violation of its sovereignty.

Venezuela's military currently has about 100,000 regular troops and a growing force of reservists that now totals 280,000, said Muller, who in retirement is vice president of Chavez's socialist party.

Colombia's U.S.-backed military has 255,000 regular troops and 62,000 reservists, according to the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.
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Old 03-04-2008, 01:47 PM
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Default Venezuela

This page was last updated on 28 February, 2008

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three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of eight white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band








Introduction VenezuelaTop of Page
Background:

Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1999, seeks to implement his "21st Century Socialism," which purports to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking globalization and undermining regional stability. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples. Geography VenezuelaTop of Page
Location:



Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Geographic coordinates:





8 00 N, 66 00 W
Map references:





South America
Area:



total: 912,050 sq km
land: 882,050 sq km


water: 30,000 sq km
Area - comparative:





slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:



total: 4,993 km


border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
Coastline:





2,800 km
Maritime claims:



territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 15 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:





tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain:





Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
Elevation extremes:



lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
Natural resources:





petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
Land use:



arable land: 2.85%
permanent crops: 0.88%


other: 96.27% (2005)
Irrigated land:





5,750 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:





1,233.2 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):



total: 8.37 cu km/yr (6%/7%/47%)


per capita: 313 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:





subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:





sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations
Environment - international agreements:



party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands


signed but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:



on major sea and air routes linking North and South America; Angel Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall People VenezuelaTop of Page
Population:



26,023,528 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:



0-14 years: 31.6% (male 4,169,979/female 4,046,170)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 8,120,661/female 8,369,065)


65 years and over: 5.1% (male 586,863/female 730,790) (2007 est.)
Median age:



total: 24.9 years
male: 24.3 years


female: 25.5 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:





1.486% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:





21.22 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:





5.08 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:





-1.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:



at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.031 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.803 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:



total: 22.52 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.14 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 18.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:



total population: 73.28 years
male: 70.24 years


female: 76.48 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:





2.55 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:





0.7%; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:





110,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:





4,100 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:



degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A


vectorborne disease: dengue fever, malaria, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis (2008)
Nationality:



noun: Venezuelan(s)


adjective: Venezuelan
Ethnic groups:





Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people
Religions:





nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
Languages:





Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Literacy:



definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 93.3%
female: 92.7% (2001 census) Government VenezuelaTop of Page
Country name:

conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
conventional short form: Venezuela
local long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela


local short form: Venezuela
Government type:





federal republic
Capital:



name: Caracas
geographic coordinates: 10 30 N, 66 56 W


time difference: UTC-4.5 (half an hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:



23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital district* (distrito capital), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**, Distrito Federal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulia


note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands
Independence:





5 July 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:





Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Constitution:





30 December 1999
Legal system:





open, adversarial court system
Suffrage:





18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:



chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Executive Vice President Ramon Alonzo CARRIZALEZ Rengifo (since 4 January 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Executive Vice President Ramon Alonzo CARRIZALEZ Rengifo (since 4 January 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 3 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2012)
note: in 1999, a National Constituent Assembly drafted a new constitution that increased the presidential term to six years; an election was subsequently held on 30 July 2000 under the terms of this constitution


election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of vote - Hugo CHAVEZ Frias 62.9%, Manuel ROSALES 36.9%
Legislative branch:



unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (167 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; three seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)
elections: last held 4 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - pro-government 167 (MVR 114, PODEMOS 15, PPT 11, indigenous 2, other 25), opposition 0; total seats by party as of 1 January 2008 - pro-government 152 (PSUV 114, PPT 11, indigenous 2, other 25), PODEMOS 15
Judicial branch:





Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia (magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single 12-year term)
Political parties and leaders:





A New Time or UNT [Manuel ROSALES]; Christian Democrats or COPEI [Cesar PEREZ Vivas]; Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV [Jeronimo CARRERA]; Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS Allup]; Fatherland for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNOZ]; Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Hector MUJICA]; United Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV [Hugo CHAVEZ]; Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique SALAS Romer]; We Can or PODEMOS [Ismael GARCIA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:





FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS groups; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action)
International organization participation:





CAN, Caricom (observer), CDB, CSN, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:



chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo ALVAREZ Herrera
chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214
FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820


consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US:



chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick DUDDY
embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas 1080
mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037
telephone: [58] (212) 975-9234, 975-6411


FAX: [58] (212) 975-8991
Flag description:



three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of eight white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band Economy VenezuelaTop of Page
Economy - overview:



Venezuela remains highly dependent on oil revenues, which account for roughly 90% of export earnings, more than 50% of the federal budget revenues, and around 30% of GDP. A nationwide strike between December 2002 and February 2003 had far-reaching economic consequences - real GDP declined by around 9% in 2002 and 8% in 2003 - but economic output since then has recovered strongly. Fueled by high oil prices, record government spending helped to boost GDP in 2006 by about 9% and in 2007 by about 8%. This spending, combined with recent minimum wage hikes and improved access to domestic credit, has created a consumption boom but has come at the cost of higher inflation-roughly 20 percent in 2007. Imports also have jumped significantly. Embolden by his December 2006 reelection, President Hugo CHAVEZ in 2007 nationalized firms in the petroleum, communications, and electricity sectors, which reduced foreign influence in the economy. Although voters in December 2007 rejected CHAVEZ's proposed constitutional changes, CHAVEZ still has significant control of the economy and has indicated he intends to continue to consolidate and centralize authority over the economy by implementing "21st Century Socialism."
GDP (purchasing power parity):





$335 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):





$226.9 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:





8.3% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):





$12,800 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:



agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 40%


services: 56.5% (2007 est.)
Labor force:





12.5 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:



agriculture: 13%
industry: 23%


services: 64% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:





9.1% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:





37.9% (end 2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:



lowest 10%: 0.7%


highest 10%: 35.2% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:





48.2 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):





20.7% (Year ending November 2007)
Investment (gross fixed):





25.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:



revenues: $63.27 billion


expenditures: $68.22 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:





27% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:





corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
Industries:





petroleum, construction materials, food processing, textiles; iron ore mining, steel, aluminum; motor vehicle assembly
Industrial production growth rate:





5.5% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:





99.2 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:





73.36 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:





0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:





0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:





2.802 million bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - consumption:





599,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:





2.203 million bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - imports:





0 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:





79.73 billion bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:





27.53 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:





27.53 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:





0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:





0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:





4.112 trillion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:





$17.02 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:





$65.94 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:





petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures
Exports - partners:





US 46.2%, Netherlands Antilles 13.5%, China 3.2% (2006)
Imports:





$44.38 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:





raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials
Imports - partners:





US 30.6%, Colombia 10.2%, Brazil 10.1%, Mexico 5.9%, China 4.9%, Panama 4.8% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:





$48.66 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:





$31.63 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:





$45.44 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:





$45.4 billion (2006 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:





$11.56 billion (2006 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:





$8.251 billion (2006)
Currency (code):





bolivar (VEB)
Exchange rates:





bolivares per US dollar - 2,147 (2007), 2,147 (2006), 2,089.8 (2005), 1,891.3 (2004), 1,607 (2003)
Fiscal year:



calendar year Communications VenezuelaTop of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:



4.217 million (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:





18.79 million (2006)
Telephone system:



general assessment: modern and expanding
domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recent substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas; substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines; installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable of digital multimedia services; fixed-line teledensity, at 16 per 100 persons, is low by regional standards; mobile-cellular subscribership jumped 50 percent in 2006


international: country code - 58; submarine cable systems provide connectivity to the Caribbean, Central and South America, and US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat; participating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in the construction of an international fiber-optic network
Radio broadcast stations:





AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:





66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:





.ve
Internet hosts:





126,500 (2007)
Internet users:



4.14 million (2006) Transportation VenezuelaTop of Page
Airports:



390 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:



total: 128
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
914 to 1,523 m: 61


under 914 m: 18 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:



total: 262
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 97


under 914 m: 149 (2007)
Heliports:





2 (2007)
Pipelines:





extra heavy crude oil 992 km; gas 5,400 km; oil 7,607 km; refined products 1,650 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2007)
Railways:



total: 682 km


standard gauge: 682 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:



total: 96,155 km
paved: 32,308 km


unpaved: 63,847 km (1999)
Waterways:



7,100 km


note: Orinoco River (400 km) and Lake de Maracaibo navigable by oceangoing vessels (2005)
Merchant marine:



total: 59 ships (1000 GRT or over) 808,721 GRT/1,285,783 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 14, chemical tanker 3, container 1, liquefied gas 6, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned: 12 (Denmark 3, Greece 3, Mexico 3, Panama 1, Russia 1, Spain 1)


registered in other countries: 11 (Bahamas 1, Panama 10) (2007)
Ports and terminals:



La Guaira, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon Military VenezuelaTop of Page
Military branches:



National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or FAN): Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada; includes Marines, Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)
Military service age and obligation:





18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 30 months; all citizens of military service age (between 18 and 50 years old) are obligated to register for military service (2007)
Manpower available for military service:



males age 18-49: 6,236,012


females age 18-49: 6,137,622 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:



males age 18-49: 4,907,947


females age 18-49: 5,151,843 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:



males age 18-49: 252,396


females age 18-49: 237,300 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:



1.2% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues VenezuelaTop of Page
Disputes - international:



claims all of the area west of the Essequibo River in Guyana, preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; dispute with Colombia over maritime boundary and Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Venezuela's shared border region; in 2006, an estimated 139,000 Colombians sought protection in 150 communities along the border in Venezuela; US, France, and the Netherlands recognize Venezuela's granting full effect to Aves Island, thereby claiming a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest Venezuela's full effect claim
Trafficking in persons:



current situation: Venezuela is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor; women and children from Colombia, China, Peru, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic are trafficked to and through Venezuela and subjected to commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor; Venezuelans are trafficked internally and to Western Europe, particularly Spain and the Netherlands, and to countries in the Caribbean region for commercial sexual exploitation; Venezuela is a transit country for illegal migrants from other countries in the region and for Asian nationals, some of whom are believed to be trafficking victims


tier rating: Tier 3 - Venezuela does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so
Illicit drugs:



small-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for the processing of opiates and coca derivatives; however, large quantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombia bound for US and Europe; significant narcotics-related money-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombia and on Margarita Island; active eradication program primarily targeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents on border This page was last updated on 28 February, 2008
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Old 03-04-2008, 01:50 PM
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Default Colombia

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Legend: Definition Field Listing Rank Order Introduction ColombiaTop of Page
Background:

Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A 40-year conflict between government forces and anti-government insurgent groups and illegal paramilitary groups - both heavily funded by the drug trade - escalated during the 1990s. The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government, and violence has been decreasing since about 2002, but insurgents continue attacks against civilians and large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence. More than 32,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006 and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) as a formal organization had ceased to function. Still, some renegades continued to engage in criminal activities. The Colombian Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its municipalities. However, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders. Geography ColombiaTop of Page
Location:




Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama
Geographic coordinates:







4 00 N, 72 00 W
Map references:







South America
Area:




total: 1,138,910 sq km
land: 1,038,700 sq km
water: 100,210 sq km



note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank
Area - comparative:







slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:




total: 6,309 km



border countries: Brazil 1,644 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 1,800 km, Venezuela 2,050 km
Coastline:







3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)
Maritime claims:




territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm



continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:







tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
Terrain:







flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains
Elevation extremes:




lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m



note: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation
Natural resources:







petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower
Land use:




arable land: 2.01%
permanent crops: 1.37%



other: 96.62% (2005)
Irrigated land:







9,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:







2,132 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):




total: 10.71 cu km/yr (50%/4%/46%)



per capita: 235 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:







highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:







deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions
Environment - international agreements:




party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands



signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:




only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea People ColombiaTop of Page
Population:




44,379,598 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:




0-14 years: 29.8% (male 6,696,471/female 6,539,612)
15-64 years: 64.8% (male 14,012,140/female 14,732,874)



65 years and over: 5.4% (male 1,042,645/female 1,355,856) (2007 est.)
Median age:




total: 26.6 years
male: 25.6 years



female: 27.5 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:







1.433% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:







20.16 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:







5.54 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:







-0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:




at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.024 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.951 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.769 male(s)/female



total population: 0.961 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:




total: 20.13 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 23.86 deaths/1,000 live births



female: 16.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:




total population: 72.27 years
male: 68.44 years



female: 76.24 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:







2.51 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:







0.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:







190,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:







3,600 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:




degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever



water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)
Nationality:




noun: Colombian(s)



adjective: Colombian
Ethnic groups:







mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%
Religions:







Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
Languages:







Spanish
Literacy:




definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92.9%
female: 92.7% (2004 est.) Government ColombiaTop of Page
Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Colombia
conventional short form: Colombia
local long form: Republica de Colombia



local short form: Colombia
Government type:







republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Capital:




name: Bogota
geographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 W



time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:







32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada
Independence:







20 July 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday:







Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Constitution:







5 July 1991; amended many times
Legal system:







based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US procedures was enacted into law in 2004 and is gradually being implemented; judicial review of executive and legislative acts
Suffrage:







18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:




chief of state: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of a coalition of the three largest parties that supported President URIBE's reelection - the PSUN, PC, and CR - and independents
elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 28 May 2006 (next to be held in May 2010)



election results: President Alvaro URIBE Velez reelected president; percent of vote - Alvaro URIBE Velez 62%, Carlos GAVIRIA Diaz 22%, Horacio SERPA Uribe 12%, other 4%
Legislative branch:




bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (166 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 12 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2010); House of Representatives - last held 12 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2010)



election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PSUN 20, PC 18, PL 18, CR 15, PDI 10, other parties 21; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 35, PSUN 33, PC 29, CR 20, PDA 8, other parties 41
Judicial branch:







four roughly coequal, supreme judicial organs; Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (highest court of criminal law; judges are selected by their peers from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms); Council of State (highest court of administrative law; judges are selected from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms); Constitutional Court (guards integrity and supremacy of the constitution; rules on constitutionality of laws, amendments to the constitution, and international treaties); Superior Judicial Council (administers and disciplines the civilian judiciary; resolves jurisdictional conflicts arising between other courts; members are elected by three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:




Colombian Conservative Party or PC [Julio MANZUR Abdala]; Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Carlos GAVIRIA Diaz]; Liberal Party or PL [Cesar GAVIRIA Trujillo]; Radical Change or CR [German VARGAS Lleras]; Social National Unity Party or U Party [Carlos GARCIA Orjuela]



note: Colombia has 15 formally recognized political parties, and numerous unofficial parties that did not meet the vote threshold in the March 2006 legislative elections required for recognition
Political pressure groups and leaders:







two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia - Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC and National Liberation Army or ELN
International organization participation:







BCIE, CAN, Caricom (observer), CDB, CSN, FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:




chief of mission: Ambassador Carolina BARCO Isakson
chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643



consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation from the US:




chief of mission: Ambassador William BROWNFIELD
embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831
mailing address: Carrera 45 #22D-45, Bogota, D.C., APO AA 34038
telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811



FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197
Flag description:




three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red
note: similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center Economy ColombiaTop of Page
Economy - overview:




Colombia's economy has experienced positive growth over the past five years despite a serious armed conflict. In fact, 2007 is regarded by policy makers and the private sector as one of the best economic years in recent history, after 2005. The economy continues to improve in part because of austere government budgets, focused efforts to reduce public debt levels, an export-oriented growth strategy, improved domestic security, and high commodity prices. Ongoing economic problems facing President URIBE include reforming the pension system, reducing high unemployment, and funding new exploration to offset declining oil production. The government's economic reforms and democratic security strategy, coupled with increased investment, have engendered a growing sense of confidence in the economy. However, the business sector continues to be concerned about failure of the US Congress to approve the signed FTA.
GDP (purchasing power parity):







$320.4 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):







$171.7 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:







6.5% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):







$7,200 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:




agriculture: 11.5%
industry: 36%



services: 52.4% (2007 est.)
Labor force:







20.65 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:




agriculture: 22.7%
industry: 18.7%



services: 58.5% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:







10.6% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:







49.2% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:




lowest 10%: 7.9%



highest 10%: 34.3% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:







53.8 (2005)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):







5.5% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):







27.3% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:




revenues: $64.02 billion



expenditures: $64.35 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2007 est.)
Public debt:







53.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:







coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp
Industries:







textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds
Industrial production growth rate:







6% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:







50.47 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:







38.91 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:







1.758 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:







16 million kWh (2005)
Oil - production:







539,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:







264,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:







289,700 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:







6,453 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:







1.542 billion bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:







6.397 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:







6.397 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:







0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:







0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:







109.7 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:







$-5.132 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:







$28.39 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:







petroleum, coffee, coal, nickel, emeralds, apparel, bananas, cut flowers
Exports - partners:







US 35.8%, Venezuela 11.4%, Ecuador 5.4% (2006)
Imports:







$30.83 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:







industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity
Imports - partners:







US 26.8%, Brazil 8.6%, Mexico 8.5%, China 6%, Venezuela 5.6%, Japan 4.1% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:







$511.1 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:







$23.14 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:







$43.3 billion (30 June 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:







$45.01 billion (2006 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:







$10.01 billion (2006 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:







$56.2 billion (2006)
Currency (code):







Colombian peso (COP)
Exchange rates:







Colombian pesos per US dollar - 2,013.8 (2007), 2,358.6 (2006), 2,320.75 (2005), 2,628.61 (2004), 2,877.65 (2003)
Fiscal year:




calendar year Communications ColombiaTop of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:




7.865 million (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:







29.763 million (2006)
Telephone system:




general assessment: modern system in many respects; telecommunications sector liberalized during the 1990s; multiple providers of both fixed-line and mobile-cellular services; fixed-line connections stand at about 18 per 100 persons; mobile cellular usage is about 70 per 100 persons
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic satellite system with 41 earth stations; fiber-optic network linking 50 cities



international: country code - 57; submarine cables provide links to the US, parts of the Caribbean, and Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat; 3 fully digitalized international switching centers (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:







AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:







60 (1997)
Internet country code:







.co
Internet hosts:







1.014 million (2007)
Internet users:




6.705 million (2006) Transportation ColombiaTop of Page
Airports:




934 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:




total: 103
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 39
914 to 1,523 m: 42



under 914 m: 12 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:




total: 831
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
914 to 1,523 m: 216



under 914 m: 580 (2007)
Heliports:







2 (2007)
Pipelines:







gas 4,329 km; oil 6,140 km; refined products 3,145 km (2007)
Railways:




total: 3,304 km
standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge



narrow gauge: 3,154 km 0.914-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:




total: 112,988 km
paved: 16,270 km



unpaved: 96,718 km (2004)
Waterways:







18,000 km (2006)
Merchant marine:




total: 15 ships (1000 GRT or over) 35,949 GRT/49,161 DWT
by type: cargo 11, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 3



registered in other countries: 5 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Panama 4) (2007)
Ports and terminals:




Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Turbo Military ColombiaTop of Page
Military branches:




National Army (Ejercito Nacional), National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval Aviation, Naval Infantry (Infanteria de Marina, Colmar), and Coast Guard), Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Colombia, FAC) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:







18-24 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:




males age 18-49: 10,212,456



females age 18-49: 10,561,562 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:




males age 18-49: 6,986,228



females age 18-49: 8,794,465 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:




males age 18-49: 389,735



females age 18-49: 383,146 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:




3.4% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues ColombiaTop of Page
Disputes - international:




memorials and countermemorials were filed by the parties in Nicaragua's 1999 and 2001 proceedings against Honduras and Colombia at the ICJ over the maritime boundary and territorial claims in the western Caribbean Sea - final public hearings are scheduled for 2007; dispute with Venezuela over maritime boundary and Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes Islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics, guerrilla, and paramilitary activities penetrate all of its neighbors' borders and have caused over 300,000 persons to flee the country, mostly into neighboring states
Refugees and internally displaced persons:







IDPs: 1.8-3.8 million (conflict between government and illegal armed groups and FARC factions; drug wars) (2006)
Illicit drugs:




illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's leading coca cultivator with 144,000 hectares in coca cultivation in 2005, a 26% increase over 2004, producing a potential of 545 mt of pure cocaine; the world's largest producer of coca derivatives; supplies cocaine to most of the US market and the great majority of other international drug markets; in 2005, aerial eradication dispensed herbicide to treat over 130,000 hectares but aggressive replanting on the part of coca growers means Colombia remains a key producer; a significant portion of non-US narcotics proceeds are either laundered or invested in Colombia through the black market peso exchange; important supplier of heroin to the US market; opium poppy cultivation fell 50% between 2003 and 2004 to 2,100 hectares yielding a potential 3.8 metric tons of pure heroin, mostly for the US market; no poppy estimate was conducted in 2005 This page was last updated on 28 February, 2008
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Old 03-04-2008, 01:53 PM
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Boats Boats is offline
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Location: Sauk Village, IL
Posts: 21,784
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If I had to pick I'd take Columbia only because they have nothing to loose. What a waste - why are they having issues anyway? What started this or has it just peaked for some reason? Give me the abbreviated version - Keiths data is good but too much to read.
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O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
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Old 03-04-2008, 02:40 PM
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DeadlyDaring DeadlyDaring is offline
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Location: Adelaide Sth Australia
Posts: 766
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You can read all the reasons why and why not's here
http://www.colombiatimes.com/

It makes a lot of sense
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even if you have to leave them alone to do it!
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