Tajikistan
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Name: Republic of Tajikistan National Name: Jumhuri Tojikston Introduction: From 875 to 999 AD Tajikistan was part of Samanid Empire and they were the last Persian Speaking Empire to rule in Central Asia. In 1860’s it came under the control of Russia. After the Russian Revolution in 1917 guerillas known as basmachi throughout Central Asia, waged a war against Bolshevik armies to maintain independence but all in vain and Tazikistan became part of Soviet Union in 1924 and remained under its control until it gained independence during breakup of USSR on Sep 9 of 1991 followed by civil war from 1992 to 1997, but Tazik government successfully negotiated peace process and implemented it by 2000. Location: It is in Central Asia, west of China and is the smallest nation by area in Central Asia. Borders: It shares borders with Afghanistan to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east. Terrain: 93% percent of Tajikistan's territory is mountainous, 1% of the area is covered with lakes and the mountain glaciers are the source of its rivers. It is rugged and an earthquake-prone area, with lush valleys to the south and north. Pamir and Alay mountains dominate landscape and the only major areas of lower land are in the north which is part of the Fergana Valley, and in the southern Kafirnigan and Vakhsh valleys which form the Amu Darya and this area have much higher rainfall. Climate: Mid-latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters and semi arid to polar in Pamir Mountains. Ethnic Group: It includes Tajik which are 67%, Uzbek 23%, Russian 3.5% and other 6.5%. Tazik are the descendants of ancient Eastern Iranian inhabitants of Central Asia, they are the Soghdians and the Bactrians, and some other groups, of western Iranian Persians and non-Iranian peoples, Mongols, and Turks. Religion: Sunni Muslim 85%, Shi'a Muslim 5%, other 10%. Area: 143,100 sq. km Capital: Dushanbe Currency: Somoni (TJS) Life Expectancy: Total population: 64.61 years, men -- 61.68 years and women - 67.59 years. Population: 7,320,815 (2006 est) Population Growth Rate: 1.895% (2007 est) Populations bellow Poverty Line: 60% (2004 est) Language: Tajik is the official language; Russian is also widely used in government and business. However 77% of the country is rural and they speak mostly Tajik. Literacy: 88% Internet TLD: .tj Calling Code: +992 Nationality: Tajikistani Independence: On September 9, 1991 from Soviet Union. Government: Republic Constitution: November 6, 1994 Executive Branch: President is the chief of the State and Supreme assembly Chairman. Prime minister is the head of the Government and the Cabinet consists of the Council of Ministers appointed by the president and approved by the Supreme Assembly. Legislative Branch: It is bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli which consists of the Assembly of Representatives or Majlisi Namoyanandagon the lower chamber with 63 seats and members are elected by popular vote for 5-year term and the National Assembly or Majlisi Milliy the upper chamber with 33 seats; 25 selected by local deputies, 8 appointed by the president and members are elected for 5 year term. Judiciary Branch: Supreme Court is the highest court and the judges are appointed by the president. Military Branch: Ground Troops, Air and Air Defense Troops and the Mobile Troops. Legal System: It is based on civil law system. There is no judicial review of legislative acts. Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal National Flag: Adopted in November 1992 and has three horizontal stripes of red on top representing the unity of the nation, a wider stripe of white (twice the size of other two strips)symbolizing cotton and unity of the people and finally green representing the nature of the country. There is a symbol in the middle of the white strip, of a crown symbol surrounded by seven stars. National Anthem: Surudi Milli National Holiday: Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991) Coat of Arm: The crown at the centre of the logo is the same as the Tajik national flag, and refers to the Persian word Taj, which means crown, from which the name of the Tajiki people is said to be derived.At the base of the logo is a representation of a book and the Pamir Mountains.The logo is bordered by cotton on one side and wheat on the other, also a banner of the national red-white-green colors of Tajikistan is wrapped around the cotton and wheat. Economy: Tajikistan is one of the poorest countries in the world with foreign revenue precariously dependent upon exports of cotton and aluminum and the economy is highly vulnerable to external shocks. It has one of the lowest per capita GDPs among the 15 former Soviet republics. The illicit trafficking of Afghan opium and heroin through Tajikistan is a serious long-term threat to Tajikistan's stability and development. Improved fiscal discipline by the Government of Tajikistan has supported the return to positive economic growth. The government of the country is trying to improve the economy, the budget was nearly in balance in 2001 and budget targeted a fiscal deficit of 0.3% of GDP, including recent increases in social sector spending. In 2002 debt restructuring agreement was reached with Russia, including a $250 million write-off of Tajikistan's $300 million debt. Tajikistan now ranks third in the world in terms of water resources per head and a proposed investment to finish the hydropower dams Rogun and Sangtuda I and II would substantially add to electricity production, which could be exported for profit. A new bridge between Afghanistan and Tajikistan is being built, which may help the country to have access to trade with South Asia. It will also make it easy for the people of Tajikistan to travel by roads to nearby South Asian countries and will reduce the price on imported goods. GDP Total: $ 8.802 billion (2005 est) GDP Per capita: $ 1,300 (2006 est) GDP Growth Rate: 7 %.( 2006 est) Agriculture: Cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep and goats. Industries: Aluminum, zinc, lead, chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable oil, textiles, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers. Export: Aluminum, electricity , cotton, gold, fruits, vegetable oil and textiles. Import: Electricity, petroleum products, aluminum oxide, machinery and equipment and foodstuffs. |