Georgia
The region of present-day Georgia contained the ancient
kingdoms of Colchis and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman
influence in the first centuries AD and Christianity became the
state religion in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks
was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th to the 13th centuries)
that was cut short by the Mongol invasion of 1236. Subsequently, the
Ottoman and Persian empires competed for influence in the region.
Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century.
Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian
revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the
Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Despite myriad problems, some
progress on market reforms and democratization has been made since
then. An attempt by the government to manipulate legislative
elections in November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led
to the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. New
elections in early 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along
with his National Movement Party.
Germany
As Europe's largest economy and most populous nation,
Germany remains a key member of the continent's economic, political,
and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany
in two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century
and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the
US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the
Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal
Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic
(GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic
and security organizations, the EC, which became the EU, and NATO,
while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led
Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War
allowed for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany has
expended considerable funds to bring Eastern productivity and wages
up to Western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU
countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro.
Ghana
Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast
and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first
sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. A
long series of coups resulted in the suspension of the constitution
in 1981 and the banning of political parties. A new constitution,
restoring multiparty politics, was approved in 1992. Lt. Jerry
RAWLINGS, head of state since 1981, won presidential elections in
1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally prevented from running for a
third term in 2000. He was succeeded by John KUFUOR, who defeated
former Vice President Atta MILLS in a free and fair election.
Gibraltar
Strategically important, Gibraltar was ceded to Great
Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison
was formally declared a colony in 1830. In referendums held in 1967
and 2002, Gibraltarians ignored Spanish pressure and voted
overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency.
Glorioso Islands
A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso
Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile
Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison
operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse.
Greece
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, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II,
Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied
by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war
between royalist supporters of the king and communist rebels.
Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece was able to join NATO
in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many
political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted
seven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created
a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. Greece joined
the European Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992);
it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001.
Greenland
The world's largest island, Greenland is about 81%
ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from
Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century and Greenland
was made an integral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European
Community (now the European Union) with Denmark in 1973 but withdrew
in 1985 over a dispute over stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was
granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament. The law
went into effect the following year. Denmark continues to exercise
control of Greenland's foreign affairs.
Grenada
One of the smallest independent countries in the western
hemisphere, Grenada was seized by a Marxist military council on 19
October 1983. Six days later the island was invaded by US forces and
those of six other Caribbean nations, which quickly captured the
ringleaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers. Free elections
were reinstituted the following year.
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe has been a French possession since 1635. The
island of Saint Martin is shared with the Netherlands; its southern
portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands
Antilles and its northern portion is named Saint-Martin and is part
of Guadeloupe
Guam
Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the
Japanese in 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The
military installation on the island is one of the most strategically
important US bases in the Pacific.