registered in other countries: 106 (Antigua and Barbuda 8, Bahamas
1, France 3, Italy 8, Liberia 13, Malta 20, Marshall Islands 12,
Panama 25, Portugal 2, Russia 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6,
Singapore 2, Tonga 1, UK 1, Vanuatu 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Basel

Military
Switzerland

Military branches:

Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer
Luftwaffe) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

19 years of age for male compulsory military service; 18 years of
age for voluntary male and female military service; the Swiss
Constitution states that "every Swiss male is obliged to do military
service"; every Swiss male has to serve at least 260 days in the
armed forces; conscripts receive 18 weeks of mandatory training,
followed by seven 3-week intermittent recalls for training during
the next 10 years (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,852,580
females age 16-49: 1,807,667 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,513,984
females age 16-49: 1,478,761 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 49,205
female: 45,220 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Switzerland

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

a major international financial center vulnerable to the layering
and integration stages of money laundering; despite significant
legislation and reporting requirements, secrecy rules persist and
nonresidents are permitted to conduct business through offshore
entities and various intermediaries; transit country for and
consumer of South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and
Western European synthetics; domestic cannabis cultivation and
limited ecstasy production

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Syria

Introduction
Syria

Background:

Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I,
France administered Syria until its independence in 1946. The
country lacked political stability, however, and experienced a
series of military coups during its first decades. Syria united with
Egypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab Republic. In
September 1961, the two entities separated, and the Syrian Arab
Republic was reestablished. In November 1970, Hafiz a