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===========

Iceland Government 1996

Names:

conventional long form:

Republic of Iceland

conventional short form:

Iceland

local long form:

Lyoveldio Island

local short form:

Island

Digraph:

Type:

republic

Capital:

Reykjavik

Administrative divisions:

23 counties (syslar, singular - sysla) and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular - kaupstadhur); Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*, Myrasysla, Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasys-la, Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*, Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla, Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla

Independence:

17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

National holiday:

Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17 June (1944)

Constitution:

16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944

Legal system:

civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state:

President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980); election last held on 29 June 1988 (next scheduled for June 1996); results - there was no election in 1992 as President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR was unopposed

head of government:

Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)

cabinet:

Cabinet; appointed by the president

Legislative branch:

unicameral

Parliament (Althing):

elections last held on 8 April 1995 (next to be held by April 1999); results - Independence Party 37.1%, Progressive Party 23.3%, Social Democratic Party 11.4%, Socialists 14.3%, People's Movement 7.2%, Women's Party 4.9%; seats - (63 total) Independence 25, Progressive 15, Social Democratic 7, Socialists 9, People's Movement 4, Women's Party 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (Haestirettur)

Political parties and leaders:

Independence Party (conservative), David ODDSSON; Progressive Party, Halldor ASGRIMSSON; Social Democratic Party, Jon Baldvin HANNIBALSSON; People's Alliance (left socialist), Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON; Women's Party; People's Movement (moderate left); National Awakening, Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR

Member of:

Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:

chief of mission:

Ambassador Einar BENEDIKTSSON

chancery:

Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005

telephone:

[1] (202) 265-6653 through 6655

FAX:

[1] (202) 265-6656

consulate(s) general:

New York

US diplomatic representation:

chief of mission:

Ambassador Parker W. BORG

embassy:

Laufasvegur 21, Box 40, Reykjavik

mailing address:

US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, Reykjavik; FPO AE 09728-0340

telephone:

[354] (1) 629100

FAX:

[354] (1) 629139

Flag:

blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

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