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Extensible Markup Language | 1995-06-15 | 5KB | 19 lines

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> <!DOCTYPE card PUBLIC "-//Apple, Inc.//DTD card V 2.0//EN" "" > <card> <id>7772</id> <filler1>0</filler1> <cantDelete> <false /> </cantDelete> <showPict> <true /> </showPict> <dontSearch> <false /> </dontSearch> <owner>5472</owner> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="stylesheet_3106.css" /> <content> <layer>background</layer> <id>31</id> <text>BELARUSOfficial name: Respublika Belarus (Republic of Belarus). Formerly known as Byelorussia.Member of: UN, CIS, OSCEArea: 207600 km2 (80200 sq mi)Population: 10353000 (1993 est)Capital: Minsk (Mensk) 1643000 (including suburbs; 1991 est)Other major cities: Gomel (Homel) 503000, Vitebsk (Vitsyebsk) 369000, Mogilev (Mahilyou) 363000 (1991 est)Languages: Belarussian (also known as Belorussian) (79%), Russian (13%), Polish (4%)Religions: Belarussian Orthodox majority; Roman Catholic minorityGOVERNMENTA 160-member Assembly (Sejm) and a President ΓÇô who appoints a Prime Minister and a Council of Ministers ΓÇô are elected by universal adult suffrage for four years.GEOGRAPHYBelarus comprises lowlands covered with glacial debris in the north, fertile well-drained tablelands and ridges in the center, and the low-lying Pripet Marshes in the south and east. Much of the country is flat and the highest point, Dzyarzhynskaya Mountain, reaches only 346 m (1135 ft). Climate: The continental climate is moderated by the proximity of the Baltic Sea. Belarussian winters are considerably milder than those experienced in European Russia to the east.ECONOMYAlthough Belarus has few natural resources, its economy is overwhelmingly industrial. Major heavy engineering, chemical, fertilizer, oil refining and synthetic fiber industries were established as part of the centrally planned Soviet economy, but output has declined since 1991. Belarus is dependent upon trade with other former Soviet republics, from which it imports the raw materials for its industries and upon which it relies as a market for its industrial goods. Little progress has been made towards establishing a market economy. Severe economic problems include high inflation and contamination from Chernobyl (see below). Agriculture is dominated by raising fodder crops for beef cattle, pigs and poultry. Flax is grown for export and the local linen industry. Extensive forests supply important woodworking and paper industries. Currency: Belarus uses Russian currency.HISTORYThe Belarussian Slavs arrived in the region between the 6th and 8th centuries ad. A number of small Belarussian states flourished after c. 700 but were soon conquered by Kievan RusΓÇÖ. When the Tatars overran Kievan RusΓÇÖ (1240), the Belarussian lands came under Lithuanian rule. After 1569, when Lithuania and Poland became one state, the area was dominated by a Polish Roman Catholic aristocracy. In 1648ΓÇô54, the Orthodox Belarussians, who had been reduced to serfdom, rose in revolt against a resented Polish elite that controlled the land, administration and trade. The Belarussians came under Russian rule as a result of the three partitions of Poland (1772, 1793 and 1795).The region suffered some of the fiercest fighting between Russia and Germany during World War I. Following the Russian Revolution, a Byelorussian Soviet republic was proclaimed (1919). The republic was invaded by the Poles in the same year and divided between Poland and the USSRin 1921. Byelorussia was devastated during World War II. In 1945 the Belarussians were reunited in a single Soviet republic. A perceived lack of Soviet concern for the republic at the time of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station (just over the Ukrainian border) strengthened a reawakening Belarussian national identity. Contamination from Chernobyl affected about 20% of the republic, causing some areas to be sealed off and necessitating the eventual resettlement of up to 2 000 000 people. Byelorussia declared independence following the abortive coup by Communist hardliners in Moscow and ΓÇô as Belarus ΓÇô received international recognition when the USSR was dissolved (1991). In 1994 Belarus negotiated a close economic and monetary link with Russia.</text> </content> <name>Belarus</name> <script></script> </card>