nventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso
Islands, Juan de Nova Island, Tromelin Island
local long form: none
local short form: Bassas da India, Ile Europa, Iles Glorieuses, Ile
Juan de Nova, Ile Tromelin

Dependency status:
possessions of France; administered by the Senior Administrator of
the Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF),
resident in Reunion

Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Senior Administrator Michel CHAMPON

Flag description:
the flag of France is used

Economy Iles Eparses

Economy - overview:
no economic activity

Communications Iles Eparses

Communications - note:
Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, Tromelin
Island: 1 meteorological station on each possession; note -
meteorological station on Tromelin Island is important for
forecasting cyclones

Transportation Iles Eparses

Airports:
4 (2006)

Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only

Transportation - note:
aids to navigation - lighthouses: Europa Island 18m; Juan de Nova
Island (W side) 37m; Tromelin Island (NW point) 11m

Military Iles Eparses

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues Iles Eparses

Disputes - international:
Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova
Island: claimed by Madagascar
Tromelin Island: claimed by Mauritius

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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@India

Introduction India

Background:
The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world,
dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest
infiltrated onto Indian lands about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the
earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture.
Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkish in the 12th
were followed by those of European traders, beginning in the late
15th century. By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political
control of virtually all Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the
British army played a vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent
resistance to British colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI a