Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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In 1979 the Federated States of Micronesia, a UN Trust Territory under US administration, adopted a constitution. In 1986 independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association with the US, which was amended and renewed in 2004. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.
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Location:
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Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
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Geographic coordinates:
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6 55 N, 158 15 E
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Map references:
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Oceania
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Area:
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total: 702 sq km
land: 702 sq km
water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie)
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Area - comparative:
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four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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6,112 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Climate:
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tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage
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Terrain:
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islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m
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Natural resources:
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forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate
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Land use:
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arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 45.71%
other: 48.58% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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NA
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Natural hazards:
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typhoons (June to December)
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Environment - current issues:
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overfishing, climate change, pollution
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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four major island groups totaling 607 islands
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Population:
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108,105 (July 2005 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 37.1% (male 20,439/female 19,674)
15-64 years: 59.8% (male 32,382/female 32,313)
65 years and over: 3% (male 1,461/female 1,836) (2005 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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-0.08% (2005 est.)
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Birth rate:
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25.11 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
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Death rate:
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4.87 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-21.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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NA
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 30.21 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 33.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 69.75 years
male: 67.96 years
female: 71.62 years (2005 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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3.25 children born/woman (2005 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA
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Nationality:
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noun: Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
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Ethnic groups:
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nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%
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Languages:
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English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia
conventional short form: none
former: Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
abbreviation: FSM
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Government type:
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constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004
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Capital:
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Palikir
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Administrative divisions:
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4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap
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Independence:
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3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
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National holiday:
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Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
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Constitution:
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10 May 1979
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Legal system:
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based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators at large for four-year terms; election last held 11 May 2003 (next to be held May 2007); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed
election results: Joseph J. URUSEMAL elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA%
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Congress (14 seats; four - one elected from each state to serve four-year terms and 10 - elected from single-member districts delineated by population to serve two-year terms; members elected by popular vote)
elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 4 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007); elections for two-year term seats last held 8 March 2005 (next to be held March 2007)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court
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Political parties and leaders:
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no formal parties
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU
chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383
FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391
consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Suzanne K. HALE
embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941
telephone: [691] 320-2187
FAX: [691] 320-2186
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Flag description:
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light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern
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Economy - overview:
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Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and fishing. The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a tourist industry exists, but the remote location, a lack of adequate facilities, and limited air connections hinder development. The Amended Compact of Free Association with the US guarantees the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) millions of dollars in annual aid through 2023, and establishes a Trust Fund into which the US and the FSM make annual contributions in order to provide annual payouts to the FSM in perpetuity after 2023. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US assistance but also to the slow growth of the private sector. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure remain major impediments to long-term growth.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$277 million
note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1% (2002 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 50%
industry: 4%
services: 46% (2000 est.)
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Labor force:
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NA
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Labor force - by occupation:
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two-thirds are government employees
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Unemployment rate:
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16% (1999 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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26.7%
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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1% (2002 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $161 million ($69 million less grants)
expenditures: $160 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1998 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens
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Industries:
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tourism, construction, fish processing, specialized aquaculture, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA
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Electricity - production:
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192 million kWh (2002)
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Electricity - consumption:
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178.6 million kWh (2002)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2002)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2002)
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Exports:
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$22 million (f.o.b.) (FY99/00 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
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Exports - partners:
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Japan, US, Guam (2000)
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Imports:
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$149 million f.o.b. (FY99/00 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
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Imports - partners:
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US, Australia, Japan (2000)
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Debt - external:
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$53.1 million (FY02/03 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US pledged $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001; the level of aid has been subsequently reduced
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Currency (code):
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US dollar (USD)
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Exchange rates:
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the US dollar is used
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Fiscal year:
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1 October - 30 September
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Disputes - international:
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none
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This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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