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Background:
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2005: UN-led diplomatic attempt to
re-unite Syrdonia/Kurekstan ends with the Kurekstan Delegation walking away
and closing off their borders. Syrdonia loses access to their primary
shipping ports and invades Kurekstan, claiming the closure was an attempt to economically cripple Syrdonia.
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Climate:
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hot, dry summers with cool, somewhat less dry winters
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Terrain:
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desert, mountains
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Natural resources:
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gold, silver, barite, brucite, silica, diatomite,
perlite, limestone, gypsum, gemstones, magnesite, clay, sand and gravel,
cattle, alfalfa, potatoes
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Natural hazards:
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flooding, wildfires
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Population:
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5,200,000 (July 2004 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 27% 1,404,000(male 708,000/female 696,000)
15-64 years: 68% (male 1,778,000/female 1,758,000)
65 years and over: 5% (male 133,000/female 127,000) (2004 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 24.23
years
male: 24.03 years
female: 24.44 years (2005 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.86% (2005 est.)
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Birth rate:
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16.83 births/1,000 population (2004
est.)
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Death rate:
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5.96 deaths/1,000 population (2004
est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 41.04
deaths/1,000 live births
male: 44.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 37.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population:
72.36 years
male: 69.94 years
female: 74.91 years (2005 est.)
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Nationality:
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noun: Syrdonian(s)
adjective: Syrdonia
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Ethnic groups:
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Mixed Native/European 70%, Native 30% (estimated)
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Religions:
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Enano 60%, Cholo
30%, Others 10%
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Languages:
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Spanglish, English
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Literacy:
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definition: age
15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.4%
male: 85.6%
female: 73% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Democratic People’s
Republic of Syrdonia
conventional short form: Syrdonia
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Government type:
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Theocratic
republic
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Capital:
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Springdale
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Independence:
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10 August 1973;
separated from Syrdonia-Kurekstan
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National holiday:
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10 August; National Day; celebrates the country’s
independence
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Constitution:
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12-13 April 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the
presidency and eliminate the prime ministership
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Legal system:
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the Constitution codifies Enano
principles of government
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Suffrage:
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formerly 18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President-General Juan
Valdez
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
seven-year term; prime minister appointed by the president from among
members of parliament
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Senate The upper chamber, the "Senado," consists of 128 seats. Of these, 64
are elected by popular vote; one senator per
county and 64 are appointed by county legislatures. All are elected to six-year terms. The lower chamber,
the "Congreso de los Diputados,"
has 350 seats. Deputies are elected by
popular vote to three-year terms. Each deputy represents about
100,000 citizens.
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Judicial branch:
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Judges appointed from Enano
scholars
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Flag description:
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two equal horizontal bands of
red (top), and black on the bottom. The middle is a light blue containing a
black outline pyramid with a yellow light streaming from the very top of
the pyramid; meaning great guidance shining the light onto others.
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Military branches:
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Syrdonian
Armed Forces: Land Forces, Air Force, LAF, LAAF
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Military manpower - military age and obligation:
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18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16
years of age for volunteers; soldiers as young as 9 were recruited extensively
during prior wars; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age 18-49: 1,300,545
(2005 est.)
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age 18-49: 1,300,545
(2005 est.)
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
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males age 18-49: 347,000
(2005 est.)
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$4.3 billion (2003 est.)
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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3.3% (2003)
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Disputes - international:
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Dispute between Syrdonia and Kurekstan, on both
historic and cultural grounds.
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Illicit drugs:
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Produces and smuggles cocaine headed to Europe
and the US;
some money-laundering activity; domestic
consumption of drugs in urban centers is increasing.
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This page was last updated on 06 March, 2008
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