wned: 8 (Iceland 4, Norway 4) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Torshavn

Military Faroe Islands

Military branches:
no regular military forces

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 10,695 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 8,852 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 366 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Transnational Issues Faroe Islands

Disputes - international:
because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been
realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been
deferred; Iceland disputes the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line
boundary; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that
the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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@Fiji

Introduction Fiji

Background:
Fiji became independent in 1970, after nearly a century as a
British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military
coups in 1987, caused by concern over a government perceived as
dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers
brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). The
coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian
control of Fiji, led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss
resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians
became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more
equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a
government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a civilian-led coup in May
2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil.
Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a
democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia
QARASE. Re-elected in May 2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006
military coup led by Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially
appointed himself acting president. In January 2007, BAINIMARAMA was
appointed interim prime minister.

Geography Fiji

Location:
Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds
of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geograph