Region: Caribbean
Capital:
Havana
Population:
11,308,764 (July
2004 est.)
Surface
area:
110,861 sq km
Currency:
peso
GDP
per capita:
purchasing power
parity - $2,800
(2003 est.)
Background:
The native Amerindian
population of
Cuba began to
decline after
the European
discovery of
the island by
Christopher COLUMBUS
in 1492 and following
its development
as a Spanish
colony during
the next several
centuries. Large
numbers of African
slaves were imported
to work the coffee
and sugar plantations
and Havana became
the launching
point for the
annual treasure
fleets bound
for Spain from
Mexico and Peru.
Spanish rule
was severe and
exploitative
and occasional
rebellions were
harshly suppressed.
It was US intervention
during the Spanish-American
War in 1898 that
finally overthrew
Spanish rule.
The subsequent
Treaty of Paris
established Cuban
independence,
which was granted
in 1902 after
a three-year
transition period.
Fidel CASTRO
led a rebel army
to victory in
1959; his iron
rule has held
the regime together
since then. Cuba's
Communist revolution,
with Soviet support,
was exported
throughout Latin
America and Africa
during the 1960s,
1970s, and 1980s.
The country is
now slowly recovering
from a severe
economic recession
in 1990, following
the withdrawal
of former Soviet
subsidies, worth
$4 billion to
$6 billion annually.
Cuba portrays
its difficulties
as the result
of the US embargo
in place since
1961. Illicit
migration to
the US - using
homemade rafts,
alien smugglers,
air flights,
or via the southwest
border - is a
continuing problem.
Some 2,500 Cubans
attempted the
crossing of the
Straits of Florida
in 2003; the
US Coast Guard
apprehended about
60% of the individuals.
Economy
– Overview
The government
continues to
balance the need
for economic
loosening against
a desire for
firm political
control. It has
undertaken limited
reforms to increase
enterprise efficiency
and alleviate
serious shortages
of food, consumer
goods, and services.
A major feature
of the economy
is the dichotomy
between relatively
efficient export
enclaves and
inefficient domestic
sectors. The
average Cuban's
standard of living
remains at a
lower level than
before the depression
of the 1990s,
which was caused
by the loss of
Soviet aid and
domestic inefficiencies.
The government
reluctantly allows
a large dollar
market sector,
fueled by tourism
and remittances
from Cubans abroad.
United
Nations membership
date:
24 October 1945
New
York Mission:
Permanent Mission
of Cuba to the
United Nations
315 Lexington
Avenue and 38th
Street
New York, N.Y.
10016 USA
Telephone: 212-689-7215,
7216, 7217
Fax: 212-779-1697
Website:
http://www.un.int/cuba
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