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Region:
Oceania-Melanesia
Capital:
Honiara
Population:
523,617 (July
2004 est.)
Surface
area:
28,896 sq km
Currency:
dollar
GDP
per capita:
purchasing power
parity - $1,700
(2001 est.)
Background:
The UK established
a protectorate
over the Solomon
Islands in the
1890s. Some of
the bitterest
fighting of World
War II occurred
on these islands.
Self-government
was achieved
in 1976 and independence
two years later.
Ethnic violence,
government malfeasance,
and endemic crime
have undermined
stability and
civil society.
In June 2003,
Prime Minister
Sir Allen KEMAKEZA
sought the assistance
of Australia
in reestablishing
law and order;
the following
month, an Australian-led
multinational
force arrived
to restore peace
and disarm ethnic
militias.
Economy
– Overview
The bulk of the
population depends
on agriculture,
fishing, and
forestry for
at least part
of their livelihood.
Most manufactured
goods and petroleum
products must
be imported.
The islands are
rich in undeveloped
mineral resources
such as lead,
zinc, nickel,
and gold. However,
severe ethnic
violence, the
closing of key
business enterprises,
and an empty
government treasury
have led to serious
economic disarray,
indeed near collapse.
Tanker deliveries
of crucial fuel
supplies (including
those for electrical
generation) have
become sporadic
due to the government's
inability to
pay and attacks
against ships.
Telecommunications
are threatened
by the nonpayment
of bills and
by the lack of
technical and
maintenance staff
many of whom
have left the
country. The
disintegration
of law and order
left the economy
in tatters by
mid-2003, and
on 24 July 2003
more than 2000
Australian soldiers
entered the Solomon
Islands to restore
order and to
facilitate the
restoration of
basic services.
United
Nations membership
date:
19 September
1978
New
York Mission:
Solomon Islands
to the United
Nations
800 Second Avenue,
Suite 400L
New York, N.Y.
10017-4709USA
Telephone: 212-599-6192,
6193
Fax: 212-661-8925
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