Algeria

Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia

32,531,853 (July 2005 est.)

• Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1% note: almost all Algerians are Berber in origin, not Arab;
• the minority who identify themselves as Berber live mostly in the mountainous region of Kabylie east of Algiers;
• the Berbers are also Muslim but identify with their Berber rather than Arab cultural heritage;
• Berbers have long agitated, sometimes violently, for autonomy; the government is unlikely to grant autonomy but has offered to begin sponsoring teaching Berber language in schools
  

Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc

• Soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices;
• desertification;
• dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters;
• Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff;
• inadequate supplies of potable water
  

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Prime Minister Ahmed OUYAHIA (since 9 May 2003)

• Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI];
• Democratic National Rally or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA, chairman];
• Islamic Salvation Front or FIS (outlawed April 1992) [Ali BELHADJ and Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR (self-exiled in Germany)];
• National Entente Movement or MEN [Ali BOUKHAZNA]; National Liberation Front or FLN [Abdelaziz BELKHADEM, secretary general (also serves as Foreign Minister)];
• National Reform Movement or Islah (formerly MRN) [Abdellah DJABALLAH];
• National Renewal Party or PRA [Yacine TERKMANE];
• Progressive Republican Party [Khadir DRISS];
• Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Said SAADI, secretary general];
• Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement [Fatah RABEI];
• Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general (self-exiled in Switzerland)];
• Social Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL];
• Society of Peace Movement or MSP [Boujerra SOLTANI];
• Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUN] note: a law banning political parties based on religion was enacted in March 1997
  

5 July 1962 (from France)

Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)

6.1% (2004 est.)

25.4% (2004 est.)

lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 26.8% (1995)

$32.16 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%

US 22.6%, Italy 17.2%, France 11.4%, Spain 10.1%, Canada 7.5%, Brazil 6.1%, Belgium 4.6% (2004)

$15.25 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

France 30.3%, Italy 8.2%, Germany 6.5%, Spain 5.5%, US 5.2%, China 5.1%, Turkey 4.3% (2004)

$122.8 million (2002 est.)

Algerian dinar (DZD)

Agreement for the Establishment of a Joint Commission of Co-operation

Agreement on Bilateral Co-operation in the Fields of Sports and Recreation

Agreement on Co-operation in the Fields of Science and Technology

Agreement on Merchant Shipping Relations

Agreement on Tourism Co-operation

Agreement regarding Animal Health

Agreement regarding Mutual Administrative Assistance between their Customs and Administration

Bilateral Air Service Agreement

Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and Capital

Agreement on the Establishment of a Binational Commission of Co-operation

Agreement on Co-operation in the Fields of Mining and Energy

Agreement on Economic Co-operation and Partnership

Agreement on the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments

Memorandum of Understanding on Information and Communications Technologies 

Trade Agreement

Agreement on Extradition

Agreement on Institutional C-operation in the field of Agriculture

Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters

Agreement regarding co-operation on Phytosanitary Matters

Framework Agreement on Co-operation in the Fields of Fisheries and Marine and Coastal Management

Protocol on Co-operation in the Areas of Technological Expertise, Capacity Building and Training Programmes, Joint Ventures, the Exchange of Information and Investment Programmes in the Water and Forestry Sectors

Commonwealth of Australia

• English 79.1%,
• Chinese 2.1%,
• Italian 1.9%,
• other 11.1%,
• unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census)

Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean

20,090,437 (July 2005 est.)

• Caucasian 92%,
• Asian 7%,
• aboriginal and other 1%

Bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel,   tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum

• Soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices;
• soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water;
• desertification;
• clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species;
• the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site;
• limited natural fresh water resources

Party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Democratic, federal-state system recognizing the British monarch as sovereign

Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11 March 1996)

• Australian Democrats [Lyn ALLISON];
• Australian Labor Party [Kim BEAZLEY];
• Australian Progressive Alliance [Meg LEES];
• Australian Greens [Bob BROWN];
• Liberal Party [John Winston HOWARD];
• The Nationals [Mark VAILE];
• One Nation Party [Len HARRIS];
• Family First Party [Steve FIELDING

1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

3.5% (2004 est.)

5.1% (December 2004 est.)

lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 25.4% (1994)

$86.89 billion (2004 est.)

coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery and transport equipment

Japan 18.6%, China 9.2%, US 8.1%, South Korea 7.7%, New Zealand 7.4%, India 4.6%, UK 4.2% (2004)

$98.1 billion (2004 est.)

machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum products

US 14.8%, China 12.7%, Japan 11.8%, Germany 5.8%, Singapore 4.4%, UK 4.1% (2004)

ODA, $894 million (FY99/00)

Australian dollar (AUD)

Convention For Exchange of Money Orders

Commercial Agreement

Parcel Post Agreement

International Observer Scheme Whaling Stations

Memorandum of Understanding on Development Cooperation

Exchange of Notes to Establish an Arrangement for the Exchange of Personnel

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of Australia relating to Air Services

Agreement on Bilateral Cooperation in the Fields of Sport and Recreation

Treaty on Extradition

Exchange of Notes for the Export of Monazite to South Africa

Arrangement on Development Cooperation

South Africa-Australia Joint Ministerial Commission 9-10 July 1997

Amended Treaty on Extradition

Bilateral Employment Arrangement

Double Taxation Agreement

Agreement for the Reciprocal Protection of Classified Information of Defence Interest

The Bahamas

English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba

301,790

• Black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%

Salt, aragonite, timber, arable land

• Coral reef decay;
• solid waste disposal
  

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Ivy DUMONT (since NA May 2002)

Perry CHRISTIE (since 3 May 2002)

• Free National Movement or FNM [Tommy TURNQUEST];
• Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]

10 July 1973 (from UK)

Independence Day, 10 July (1973)

3% (2005 est.)

10.2% (2004 est.)

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: 27% (2000)

$1.507 billion (2004 est.)

NA

US 40.3%, Poland 13.3%, Spain 11.7%, Germany 5.9%, France 4.3% (2004)

$5.806 billion (2004 est.)

NA

US 22.4%, South Korea 18.9%, Brazil 9.2%, Japan 7.9%, Italy 7.8%, Venezuela 6.6% (2004)

$9.8 million (1995)

Bahamian dollar (BSD)

Kingdom of Belgium (Flanders)

• Dutch (official) 60%,
• French (official) 40%,
• German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands

• Fleming 58%,
• Walloon 31%,
• mixed or other 11%

Construction materials, silica sand, carbonates

• The environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation;
• air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries;
• uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges

Party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch

Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July 1999)

• Flemish parties:
  • Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [Jo VANDEURZEN];
  • Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Bart SOMERS];
  • GROEN! (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens) [Vera DUA];
  • New Flemish Alliance or NVA [Bart DE WEVER];
  • Socialist Party.Alternative or SP.A [Caroline GENNEZ];
  • Spirit [Geert LAMBERT] (new party now associated with SP.A);
  • Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Frank VANHECKE]
• Francophone parties:
  • Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX, Evelyne HUYTEBROECK, Claude BROUIR];
  • Humanist and Democratic Center of CDH [Joelle MILQUET];
  • National Front or FN [Daniel FERET];
  • Reformist Movement or MR [Didier REYNDERS];
  • Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO];
  • other minor parties

4 October 1830 (a provisional government declares independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King Leopold I ascends to the throne)

21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I

2.6% (2004 est.)

12% (first half, 2004)

Lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 23% (1996

$255.7 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs

Germany 19.9%, France 17.2%, Netherlands 11.8%, UK 8.6%, US 6.5%, Italy 5.2% (2004)

$235 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products

Germany 18.4%, Netherlands 17%, France 12.5%, UK 6.8%, Ireland 6.3%, US 5.5% (2004)

ODA, $1.072 billion (2002)

euro (EUR)

• Tswana (or Setswana) 79%,
• Kalanga 11%,
• Basarwa 3%,
• other, including Kgalagadi and white 7%

• Overgrazing;
• desertification;
• limited fresh water resources

• Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Festus G. MOGAE];
• Botswana National Front or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO];
• Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Otlaadisa KOOSALETSE];
• Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]
  note: a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the BAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats;
• the BAM parties are: the United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO];
• the Independence Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO];
• the Botswana Progressive Union [D. K. KWELE]

3.5% (2004 est.)

23.8% (2004 est.)

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

$2.94 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles

European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2000)

$2.255 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal products

Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 74%, EFTA 17%, Zimbabwe 4% (2000)

$73 million (1995)

pula (BWP)

Agreement concerning Postal services - insured parcels

Extradition Treaty

Boundary Agreement

Labour Agreement

Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes and income

Agreement with regard to the establishment of a Representative office

Bilateral Agreement on the recognition of the Kgalaladi Transfrontier Park

Agreement for the Establishment of a Joint permanent Commission on Defence and Security

Declaration of Intent

Agreement regarding the Establishment of a Joint Permanent Commission for Co-operation

Federative Republic of Brazil

Brasilia

Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French

Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean

186,112,794

• White 53.7%,
• mulatto (mixed white and black) 38.5%,
• black 6.2%,
• other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 0.9%,
• unspecified 0.7% (2000 census)

Bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber

• Deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area;
• there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade;
• air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities;
• land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities;
• wetland degradation;
• severe oil spills

Party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1 January 2003)

Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003)

• Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Federal Deputy Michel TEMER];
• Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Federal Deputy Roberto JEFFERSON];
• Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Senator Eduardo AZAREDO];
• Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Federal Deputy Miguel ARRAES];
• Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Renato RABELO];
• Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Carlos LUPI];
• Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Pedro Miguel SANTANA LOPES];
• Green Party or PV [Jose Luiz de Franca PENNA];
• Liberal Front Party or PFL [Senator Jorge BORNHAUSEN];
• Liberal Party or PL [Federal Deputy Valdemar COSTA Neto];
• National Order Reconstruction Party or PRONA [Federal Deputy Dr. Eneas CARNEIRO];
• Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Federal Deputy Roberto FREIRE];
• Progressive Party or PP [Federal Deputy Pedro CORREA];
• Social Christian Party or PSC [Vitor Jorge ABDALA NOSSEIS];
• Worker's Party or PT [Jose GENOINO]

7 September 1822 (from Portugal)

Independence Day, 7 September (1822)

5.1% (2004 est.)

11.5% (2004 est.)

lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 48% (1998)

$95 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos

US 20.8%, Argentina 7.5%, Netherlands 6.1%, China 5.6%, Germany 4.1%, Mexico 4% (2004)

$61 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products, oil

US 18.3%, Argentina 8.9%, Germany 8.1%, China 5.9%, Nigeria 5.6%, Japan 4.6% (2004)

$30 billion (2002)

real (BRL)

Merchant Seaman Deserters

Commercial Agreement

Diplomatic Relations

Agreement for the Avoidance of Double taxation on Profits derived from Shipping and Air Transport

Exchange of Notes Regarding Custom Duties

Joint Communiqué between the Minister of External Relations of Brazil and the Minster of Foreign Affairs of South Africa

Agreement for Air Service Between and Beyond their Respective Territories

Agreement on Co-operation and Mutual Assistance in the Field of Combating the Production of and Illicit Traffic in Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances and Related Matters

Agreement on Co-operation in the Field of Culture

Presidential Declaration

Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Consultations on Issues of Common Interest

Agreement on Technical Co-operation

Agreement to Establish a Joint Commission

Canada

• English (official) 59.3%, French (official) 23.2%, other 17.5%

Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, north of the conterminous US

32,805,041 (July 2005 est.)

I ron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower

• Air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting,
• coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity;
• ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities

Party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution- Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution- Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Marine Life Conservation

A constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and a federation

ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

Paul MARTIN (since 12 December 2003)

• Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE];
• Conservative Party of Canada (a merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party) [Stephen HARPER];
• Green Party [Jim HARRIS];
• Liberal Party [Paul MARTIN];
• New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON]

1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (independence recognized)

Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

2.8% (2005 est.)

6.8% (2005 est.)

lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)

$364.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

NA

US 85.1%, Japan 2.1%, UK 1.6% (2004)

NA

US 58.9%, China 6.8%, Mexico 3.8% (2004)

ODA, $2.6 billion (2004)

Canadian dollar (CAD)