1 People:

Finland Basic Facts:

o Population: 5.26 million (as of July 2012), 40.5 per square mile, 116th highest o Languages: Official = Finnish, others include Swedish and Sami o Religion: Christianity; 79.9 % Lutheran and about 1.1% Orthodox. o Society = secularized o 40th highest life expectancy (79.41) o 85% of people in urban areas

State: o Independence: December 6, 1917. Previously a grand duchy in the Russian empire for 108 years, and a part of Sweden for 600 years before that o Form: Parliamentary republic (executive branch accountable to legislature), parliament has 200 members in one chamber, elected every 4 years, multiparty coalition cabinet o President: Sauli Niinisto o Prime Minister: Jyrki Katainen o Speaker of Parliament: Eero Heinaluoma o International cooperation: Member of United Nations since 1955 and European Union since 1995 Society/Economy: Known for high standard of education, social security and healthcare (financed by govt.) Highly industrialized, free-market Per capita export equal to Austria, Belgium, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Trade is important = exports 1/3 GDP (forestry=important export) Manufacturing = wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics (high tech) Dependent on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods (except for timber and several minerals), GAS + ELECTRICITY FROM RUSSIA!!!!! One of best performing economies, but Finland had one of he deepest contractions b/c of hit on exports and domestic demand. Recovery in 2010, but left a deep mark on govt finances and debt ratio, marginal growth, govt finances = deficit for next few years. Rapidly aging population, decreasing productivity, fiscal sustainability, and economic growth GDP: $194.3 billion in 2011 2.7% growth in 2011 per capita = 36,000 2.9% = agriculture, 27.7% = industry, 69.4% = services

Geography:

7.8% unemployment rate BUDGET = revenues: $136.4 billion, expenditures: $137.8 billion Main exports: Electrotechnical goods, metal products, machinery, transport equipment, wood and paper products, chemicals Main imports: Raw materials, investment goods, energy, consumer goods (for example cars and textiles) Currency = Euro

Area: 338,424 km (131,985 square miles), the fifth-largest country in Western Europe Greatest length from north to south: 1,160 km (720 miles) Greatest width from east to west: 540 km (335 miles) Capital: Helsinki (1.25 million inhabitants in metropolitan area) Transnational Issues: NONSIGNIFICANT: various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands

FINLAND HAS STRONG RELATIONS WITH OTHER SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES, also CORDIAL BUT TENSE RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (#1):

http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/finnish-fm-confirmssupport-to-pa/ http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/israel-palestinians.7m2/ http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=383218 http://yle.fi/uutiset/finland_backs_palestinian_un_upgrade/6395002

Myanmars transition to democracy (#2):

Finland recognised Burma on 21 June 1954 Diplomatic relations established on 21 June 1954 http://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/finland-accelerate-myanmars-peace-process