Political parties and leaders:
Clandestine Communist Party of Colombia or PCC [Jaime CAICEDO];
Colombian Conservative Party or PC [Carlos HOLGUIN Sardi];
Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Samuel MORENO Rojas]; Liberal
Party or PL [Cesar GAVIRIA]; Social National Unity Party or PSUN
[Juan Manuel SANTOS]
note: Colombia has about 60 formally recognized political parties,
most of which do not have a presence in either house of Congress
Political pressure groups and leaders:
two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia - Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC and National Liberation Army or
ELN; largest illegal paramilitary group, a roughly organized
umbrella group of disparate paramilitary forces, is United
Self-Defense Groups of Colombia or AUC
International organization participation:
BCIE, CAN, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur
(associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Carolina BARCO Isakson chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338 FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William B. WOOD embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831 mailing address: Carrera 45 #22D-45, Bogota, D.C., APO AA 34038 telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811 FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and
red; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the
Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center
Economy Colombia
Economy - overview:
Colombia's economy has been on a recovery trend during the past two
years despite a serious armed conflict. The economy continues to
improve thanks to austere government budgets, focused efforts to
reduce public debt levels, an export-oriented growth strategy, and
an improved security situation in the country. Ongoing economic
problems facing President URIBE range from reforming the pension
system to reducing high unemployment. New exploration is needed to
offset declining oil production. On the positive side, several
international financial institutions have praised the economic
reforms introduced by URIBE, which succeeded in reducing the
public-sector deficit below 1.5% of GDP. The government's economic
policy and democratic security strategy have engendered a growing
sense of confidence in the economy, particularly within the business
sector. Coffee prices have recovered from previous lows as the
Colombian coffee industry pursues greater market shares in developed
countries such as the United States.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$341.1 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$97.73 billion (2005 est.)