Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
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@Georgia ———-
Beset by ethnic and civil strife since independence in 1991, Georgia began to stabilize in 1994. Separatist conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been dormant for more than two years, although political settlements remain elusive. Russian peacekeepers are deployed in both regions and a UN Observer Mission is operating in Abkhazia. As a result of these conflicts, Georgia still has about 250,000 internally displaced people. In November 1995, Georgia held peaceful, generally free and fair nationwide presidential and parliamentary elections. Although the country continues to suffer from a crippling economic crisis, aggravated by a severe energy shortage, some progress has been made and the Georgian Government remains committed to economic reform in cooperation with the IMF and the World Bank. Violence and organized crime were sharply curtailed in 1995.
Map —-
Location: 42 00 N, 43 30 E — Southwestern Asia, bordering the
Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
Flag ——
Description: maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side
corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below
Geography ————-
Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between
Turkey and Russia