Afghanistan
A virtual guide to Afghanistan. This page aims to give you a broad overview of Afghanistan's art, culture, people, environment, geography, history, economy and government.
Beside a country profile with facts and figures, the page offers links to sources which provide you with all the information you need to know about this Southern Asian nation, e.g.: official web sites of Afghanistan, addresses of Afghan and foreign embassies, domestic airlines, country guides, maps, and local news from Afghanistan.







Islamic Republic of Afghanistan | Afghanestan


New Flag of Afghanistan

Afghanistan's recent history is characterized by war and civil unrest. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979, but was forced to withdraw 10 years later by anti-Communist mujahidin forces supplied and trained by the US, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and others.
Fighting subsequently continued among the various mujahidin factions, giving rise to a state of warlordism that eventually spawned the Taliban.
Backed by foreign sponsors, the Taliban developed as a political force and eventually seized power. The Taliban were able to capture most of the country, aside from Northern Alliance strongholds primarily in the northeast, until US and allied military action in support of the opposition following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks forced the group's downfall. In late 2001, major leaders from the Afghan opposition groups and diaspora met in Bonn, Germany, and agreed on a plan for the formulation of a new government structure that resulted in the inauguration of Hamid KARZAI as Chairman of the Afghan Interim Authority (AIA) on 22 December 2001.
The AIA held a nationwide Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly) in June 2002, and KARZAI was elected President by secret ballot of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA). The Transitional Authority has an 18-month mandate to hold a nationwide Loya Jirga to adopt a constitution and a 24-month mandate to hold nationwide elections. In December 2002, the TISA marked the one-year anniversary of the fall of the Taliban.
In addition to occasionally violent political jockeying and ongoing military action to root out remaining terrorists and Taliban elements, the country suffers from enormous poverty, a crumbling infrastructure, and widespread land mines.
(Source: CIA - The World Factbook)

border countries: China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

Albania
A virtual guide to Albania. Get an overview of Albania's art, culture, people, environment, geography, history, economy and its government.
Beside a country profile with facts and figures, this page offers maps, statistics, weather information, and links to sources that provide you with information about this Southwestern European nation, e.g.: official web sites of Albania, addresses of Albania`s and foreign embassies, domestic airlines, local news, city- and country guides with extensive travel and tourism information on accommodation, tourist attractions, events and more.
Republic of Albania | Shqipëria


Flag of Albania

Background:
In 1990 Albania ended 44 years of xenophobic communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven difficult as corrupt governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, a dilapidated infrastructure, widespread gangsterism, and disruptive political opponents. International observers judged local elections in 2000 to be acceptable and a step toward democratic development, but serious deficiencies remain to be corrected before the the 2001 parliamentary elections.
(Source: CIA - The World Factbook)

border countries: Greece, Macedonia, Rep. of, Montenegro, Serbia




Algeria
Destination Algeria, this page is about many aspects of Algeria. Here you will find comprehensive information about Algeria in its diversity: geography, economy, science, people, culture, environment, government and history.
You will have access to newspapers from Algeria and you will find travel and tourism information for Algeria.



People's Democratic Republic of Algeria | Al Jaza'ir


Flag of Algeria


al Jaza'ir



Background:
Algeria is Africa's second largest country, covering an area of nearly 2.5 million square miles. Algeria's indigenous Berber people has been under foreign rule for much of the last 3000 years. The Phoenicians (1000 BC) and the Romans (200 BC) were the most important of these. With the incursion of Muslim Arabs in the 7th-8th century into the region, Islamic influence came to the Berbers and almost a millenium of domination by Arab dynasties.
In the beginning of the 16th century the region was placed under protection of the ottoman Sultan of Istanbul, followed by reigns of ottoman beys, pachas, and aghas, brought to an end with the beginning of the French colonization in 1830. The French occupation condemned Algeria's population to economic, social and political inferiority and caused an armed resistance lasting for decades. After a century of rule by France, Algeria became independent in 1962 and Arabic became official language - with a little help of Quran teachers from Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Since then le pouvoir ("the power"), an elite of business leaders and generals behind a democratic façade has run Algeria.

Algeria is a member state of the League of Arab States
border countries: Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Tunisia
related countries: France

American Samoa
Destination American Samoa, this page is about many aspects of the archipelago. Here you will find comprehensive information about American Samoa in its diversity: geography, economy, science, people, culture, environment, government and history.
You will have access to newspapers from American Samoa and you will find extensive travel and tourism information for American Samoa.
American Samoa - Dependency of the USA


Flag of American Samoa

Background:
American Samoa is a small archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean and is comprised of five volcanic islands (Tutuila, Ta'u, Ofu, Olosega, Aunu'u, Nu'utele) and two coral atolls (Swain's and Rose Islands). Tutuila contains about two thirds of the total area and is home to 95% of the 64 000 islanders.
In the time of 1000 B.C. Southeast Asian immmigrants arrived in the Samoan islands and from there they settled the rest of Polynesia.
First sparsely contacts with Europeans began in the early 1700s, intensified with the arrival of English missionaries and traders in the 1830s.
International rivalries had been settled by the Treaty of Berlin in 1899 in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion.
Despite of modern influences Samoan people still hold firmly to "Fa'asamoa", the traditional Samoan way, related to their language, dress, food, customs and even property.

related countries: Samoa, New Zealand, USA

other Polynesian islands: Cook Islands, French Polynesia (Tahiti), Niue, Pitcairn, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu



Andorra
keywords: Andorra information, Andorra news papers, tourist information for Andorra, Andorra map
Principality of Andorra | Principat d'Andorra
Country Profile


Flag of Andorra

Background:
Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra has achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra has achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes. .
(Source: CIA - The World Factbook)

border countries: France, Spain

Angola


A virtual guide to Angola. This page aims to give you a broad overview of Angolan art, culture, people, environment, geography, history, economy and government.
Beside a country profile this page contains links to sources that will provide you with in-depth information about this South African nation, e.g.: official web sites of Angola, addresses of Angolan and foreign embassies, domestic airlines, city- and country guides with extensive travel and tourism information on accommodation, tourist attractions, events and more like weather information, maps, statistics and local newspapers from Angola.
Republic of Angola | República de Angola
Country Profile


Flag of Angola

Background:
Civil war has been the norm in Angola since independence from Portugal in 1975. A 1994 peace accord between the government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) provided for the integration of former UNITA insurgents into the government and armed forces. A national unity government was installed in April of 1997, but serious fighting resumed in late 1998, rendering hundreds of thousands of people homeless. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost in fighting over the past quarter century. The death of Jonas SAVIMBI and a cease fire with UNITA may bode well for the country. .
(Source: CIA - The World Factbook)

border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo (former Zaire), Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Zambia

related countries: Portugal

Anguilla
Destination Anguilla, a virtual travel guide to the island in the British West Indies. This page aims to give you a broad overview of Anguilla's art, culture, people, environment, geography, history, economy and government.
Beside a country profile with facts and figures, the page contains links to sources which provide you with all the information you need to know about this Caribbean island, e.g.: official web sites of Anguilla, domestic airlines, city- and country guides with extensive travel and tourism information on accommodation, tourist attractions, events and more like Anguilla weather information, maps, statistics and local newspapers.
Anguilla Sovereignty: United Kingdom
Country Profile


Flag of Anguilla

Background:
Originally inhabited by Arawak and Carib peoples, Anguilla became a British colony after English settlers arrived in 1650. Its people are of mainly African descent.
Anguilla, as the first in the chain of the Leeward islands, is located in the Eastern Caribbean, east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
It is only a few minutes by air from the major international airport of St. Maarten and is serviced by regular flights from the other international Caribbean gateways of Antigua and Puerto Rico. Anguilla's location, and its reputation as a friendly and virtually crime free society, has enabled it to establish itself as a high end tourist destination.



related countries: UK,
British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, U.S. Virgin Islands

Antigua and Barbuda
Destination Antigua and Barbuda, a virtual travel guide to Antigua, Barbuda, and Redonda. This page aims to give you an overview of Antigua and Barbuda's art, culture, people, environment, geography, history, economy and government.
Beside a country profile with facts and figures, the page contains links to sources which provide you with all the information you need to know about this Caribbean island nation, e.g.: official web sites of Antigua and Barbuda, country guides with extensive travel and tourism information on accommodation, tourist attractions, events and more like weather information, maps, statistics and local newspapers from Antigua and Barbuda.



Antigua and Barbuda
Country Profile


Flag of Antigua and Barbuda

Background:
Antigua, Barbuda, and Redonda form the independent nation of Antigua and Barbuda, within the Commonwealth of Nations.
They are part of the Leeward Islands in the West Indies. The island nation located in the eastern Caribbean Sea was populated by Amerindian tribes when Christopher Columbus "discovered" it in 1493. He named the island "Santa Maria de la Antigua".
Settlements by the Spanish and French were succeeded by the English who formed a colony in 1667. They established slavery to run the sugar plantations on Antigua.
Antigua and Barbuda became an independent nation in 1981, but it is still British in many of its traditions.



Neighboring island states: Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Related countries: UK