TURKMENISTAN
CAPITAL
: Ashgabat (Ashkhabad)
FLAG
: Green field with claret stripe of five carpet patterns; white crescent
and five white stars symbolizing five major regions of Turkmenistan to the
right of the stripe. In 1997, two crossed olive branches were added
beneath the carpet patterns.
ANTHEM
:
Independence Turkmenistan.
MONETARY UNIT
: Manat (
MN
), the unit of currency, was introduced by the government in November
1993. In January 2003, $1 =
MN
5,200, but exchange rates fluctuate widely.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
: The metric system is used.
HOLIDAYS
: New Year's Day, 1 January; Flag Day, 19 February; International
Women's Day, 8 March; Novruz Bairam (first day of spring), 21
March; Victory Day, 9 May; Revival and Unity Day, 18 May; Independence
Day, 27 October; Neutrality Day, 12 December.
TIME
: 5
PM
= noon GMT.
FLORA AND FAUNA
The Kara Kum (Black Sea) desert covers most of the country, and there is
little plant or animal life. Herders raise goats, camels, and sheep in
the desert. Farmers use reservoirs for irrigation to grow crops not
indigenous to the area.
ARMED FORCES
In 2002 the total armed forces consisted of 17,500 personnel. The army
numbered 14,500 with equipment including 702 main battle tanks and 930
armored infantry fighting vehicles. The 3,000-member air force operates
89 combat aircraft. There are plans to form a navy in the future. The
defense budget for 1999 was $90 million or 3.4% of GDP.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Turkmenistan was admitted to the UN on 2 March 1992, and is a member of
the Asian Development Bank, ESCAP, OSCE, ECO, IMF, UNESCO, WHO, and the
World Bank. It is a member of the CIS, and is recognized by the United
States, EU countries, and many other nations of the world. It has
observer status with the WTO. The United States established formal
diplomatic relations with Turkmenistan in February 1992.
FISHING
The Caspian Sea provides fishing resources; fishing is an important
export activity. In 2000, the total catch was 12,228 tons, primarily
Azov sea sprat.
FORESTRY
About 8% of the land is forested. Arid conditions and the expansive Kara
Kum desert inhibit the development of commercial forestry.
INSURANCE
The joint-stock insurance company "TIS" is operating
direct insurance lines for aviation, cargo, fire, accident, and auto in
Ashgabat.
HOUSING
In 1989, 27.3% of all privately owned urban housing had running water,
7.2% had sewer lines, 16% had central heating, and 1% had hot water. In
1990, Turkmenistan had 11.1 sq ft of housing space per capita and, as of
1 January 1991, 108,000 households (or 30.9%) were on waiting lists for
urban housing.
DEPENDENCIES
Turkmenistan has no territories or colonies.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Central Asia and the World: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan,
Kyrgystan, and Turkmenistan.
Edited by Michael Mandelbaum. New York: Council on Foreign Relations
Press, 1994.
Dailey, Erika.
Human Rights in Turkmenistan.
New York: Helsinki Watch, 1993.
History of United Turkmenistan.
Ankara: Turkish Association for Friendship with Turkmenistan, 1995.
International Monetary Fund.
Turkmenistan.
Washington, D.C.: International Monetary Fund, 1992.
Maslow, Jonathan Evan.
Sacred Horses: The Memoirs of a Turkmen Cowboy.
New York: Random House, 1994.
Republic of Turkmenistan: Short Analysis of Social and Political
Situation.
Moscow: Gorbachev Foundation, Dept. of Commercial Publications, 1992.