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Greece
Map of Greece
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Southern Europe page
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Greece
Map of Greece |
Population: 10,5 million
Capital: Athens
Offisial language: Greek
Major ethnic groups: Greek 98%, other 2%
note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in
Greece
Background: Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories with Greek-speaking populations. Following the defeat of communist rebels in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 had suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, was itself overthrown seven years later. Democratic elections in 11034 abolished the monarchy and created a parliamentary republic; Greece joined the EU in 1981. (Source: WorldFactbook 2000 CIA)
More Background: BBC Country profile: Greece
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Italy
Map of Italy |
Population: 57,5 million
Capital: Rome
Offisial language: Italian
Major ethnic groups: Italian (includes small clusters of German-,
French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians
in the south)
Background: Italy became a nation-state belatedly - in 1861 when the city-states of the peninsula and Sicily were united under King Victor EMMANUEL. The Fascist dictatorship of Benito MUSSOLINI that took over after World War I led to a disastrous alliance with Nazi Germany and Italian defeat in World War II. Revival followed. Italy was a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC) and joined the growing political and economic unification of Western Europe, including the introduction of the euro in 1999. Persistent problems include illegal immigration, the ravages of organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared with the more prosperous north. (Source: WorldFactbook 2000 CIA)
More Background: BBC Country profile: Italy
Artists from Italy:
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Malta
Map of Malta |
Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
Population: 400.000
Capital: Valletta
Official language: Maltese, English
Ethnic groups: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians
and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean
stock)
Background: Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta
in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars
and remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A
decade later Malta became a republic. Over the last 15 years, the island
has become a major freight transshipment point, financial center, and tourist
destination. It is an official candidate for EU membership.
(Source: WorldFackbook 2000 CIA)
More Background: BBC
Country profile: Malta