Principality of Andorra

NAME OF THE COUNTRY:

• Conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
• Conventional short form:Andorra
• Local long form: Principat d'Andorra
• Local short form: Andorra

ETYMOLOGY of ANDORRA:

• The origin of the name "Andorra" is not completely known.
• It is believed to be derived from al-Darra, the Arabic word for forest.

HISTORY of ANDORRA:

• French Count of Foix is said to have inherited the land of Andorra by marrying into a Spanish Lord’s family.
• Andorra came under dispute in the eleventh century.
• An agreement signed in 1278 divided the sovereignty of the land between the count of Foix and the bishop of La Seu d'Urgell, in Catalonia, Spain.
• King Henry IV of France issued an edict in 1607 that established the head of the French state and the Bishop of Urgell as co-princes of Andorra.
• During 1812–13, the First French Empire annexed Catalonia and divided it into four départements.
• In the annexure, Andorra was assigned to the district of Puigcerda.
• Until 1957, Andorra remained in an official state of belligerency as it was not included in the Versailles Peace Treaty.
• In 1933 France occupied Andorra after a period of social unrest.
• On July 12, 1934, Boris Skossyreff declared war on the bishop of Urgell.
• He was arrested and expelled from Spain.
• From 1936 to 1940, a French detachment was garrisoned in Andorra.
• During World War II, Andorra remained neutral.
• The country served as a smuggling route between Vichy France and Spain.
• Its political system was thoroughly modernized in 1993.
• It became a member of the United Nations and the Council of Europe in 1993.

DEMOGRAPHICS of ANDORRA:

• Andorrans are a minority in their own country.
• Majority of the population comprises of Spaniards, Portuguese, French, Britons and Italians .
• Andorrans have the world's longest life expectancy, cited at 83.5 years.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS of ANDORRA:

• Andorra has been run by a parliamentary democracy since March 1993.
• The two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain.
• They are represented locally by co-princes' representatives.
• The administrative divisions comprise of seven parishes namely- Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
• Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991 and made effective on 28 April 1993.
• The legal system is based on French and Spanish civil codes.
• There is no judicial review of legislative acts and the country has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
• French Coprince Nicolas SARKOZY is the chief-of-state and is represented by Philippe MASSONI.
• Spanish Coprince Bishop Joan Enric VIVES i SICILIA is represented by Nemesi MARQUES i OSTE.
• Executive Council President Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA is the head of the government since 27 May 2005.
• Executive Council president is elected by the General Council and formally appointed by the co-princes for a four-year term.
• The members of the unicameral General Council of the Valleys are elected by direct popular vote for a total of 28 seats.
• Andorra does not have a military base of its own.
• The responsibility of the country’s security rests with France and Spain.
• Andorra is one of only four nations (together with France, Monaco, and Turkey) that never signed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities.

CULTURE of ANDORRA:

• The population of Andorra is predominantly Roman Catholic.
• Their patron saint is Our Lady of Meritxell.
• The official and historic language is Catalan.
• Spanish and French are also widely spoken.
• Andorran culture is rich in folktales and folklore.
• Andorran culture has contributed to the conglomerate of Catalan culture.
• Folk dances like the contrapas, marratxa and Saint Anne's dance are popular in some parishes.
• Andorran music has French and Spanish influences.
• Andorra's national holiday is Our Lady of Meritxell Day which is observed on September 8.

ECONOMY of ANDORRA:

• The tourism industry makes for more than 80% of the GDP.
• The banking sector, with its partial "tax haven" status, also contributes substantially to the economy.
• Since agriculture is limited, most food items have to be imported.
• Most of the livestock comprises of sheep.
• Manufactured products include cigarettes, cigars and furniture.
• Andorra is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.
• The GDP (purchasing power parity) as calculated in 2005 was $ 2.77 billion.
• The small agricultural produce comprises of rye, wheat, barley, oats and vegetables.
• The main industries are tourism (skiing), cattle raising, timber, banking, tobacco and furniture.
• Consumer goods and electricity are imported.

INFRASTRUCTURE of ANDORRA:

• Andorra has a wide network of roadways in the Pyrenees.
• Telephone and cellular services are well established.
• One channel is broadcast on the radio.
• Internet facilities are readily available.

EDUCATION of ANDORRA:

• Education is compulsory for children until the age of 16.
• Education is provided by both French and Spanish language schools.
• The French government partially subsidizes education in Andorra's French-language schools.
• Schools in the southern section are supported by the church.
• The Roman Catholic Church has introduced the local language Catalan in the schools.
• About 50% of Andorran children attend French primary schools.
• The rest attend Spanish or Andorran school.
• The rest attend Spanish or Andorran school.
• The University of Andorra was established in July 1997.
• It mostly offers long-distance courses through universities in Spain and France.
• The majority of secondary graduates continue their education in France or Spain.
• Virtually the entire adult population is literate.
• Andorra also has a nursing school and a school of computer science.

NEIGHBOR COUNTRIES of ANDORRA:

Andorra is surrounded by:

• France
• Spain

GEOGRAPHICAL SETTINGS of ANDORRA:

• Andorra is located in Southwestern Europe between France and Spain
• Its Geographic coordinates are 42 30 N, 1 30 E
• The country spans over a total area of 468 sq km.
• It is a landlocked country.
• The climate is temperate with cold, snowy winters and warm, dry summers.
• The terrain is mostly mountainous.
• Coma Pedrosa is the highest peak standing at 2,946 meters.
• Only 2.13% of the total land is arable.
• Natural resources include hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore and lead.
• Avalanches are a common occurrence.
• Deforestation and pollution are major environmental concerns.

FREEDOM for ANDORRA:

• Andorra was made a free country in 1278 under the joint suzerainty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgel.

EMINENT PERSONALITIES of ANDORRA:

• Michele Gazier (Writer)
• Ramon Villero Castella (Writer)
• Antoni Fiter i Rossell (Author of the Manual Digest)
• Jacques Tremoulet (Creator of Radio Andorra)
• Alex Antor (Alpine skier, Olympics)
• Marc Bernaus (Footballer)
• Juli Fernandez ( Footballer)
• Melissandre Fuentes ( Figure skater)
• Hocine Haciane (Swimmer at the 2004 Summer Olympics)
• Ildefons Lima (Footballer)
• Antoni Morell (writer and lawyer)
• Oscar Sonejee (Footballer)
• Anonymous (Andorran band)

CAPITAL CITY of ANDORRA:

• Andorra la Vella is the capital of Andorra.
• It is also the largest city in the country.

CURRENCY of ANDORRA:

• Euro is the official currency of Andorra.

ANDORRA FAMOUS FOR:

• Andorra is a booming tourist destination owing to its summer and winter resorts.
• Shopping is duty-free.

TOTAL POPULATION of ANDORRA:

• According to a 2008 census, the population of Andorra was estimated to be 72,413.
• The annual population growth rate was calculated to be 0.797%.
• Birth rate: 8.23 births/1,000 population (2008 EST.)
• Death rate: 6.63 deaths/1,000 population (2008 EST.)
• Density: 154/km²

PREVIOUS RECORDS AND MEDALS WON by ANDORRA:

In 2000 Sydney Olympics, Andorra participated in Athletics, Shooting and Swimming events.

• Antoni Bernado secured 49th place in the Men's marathon
• Silvia Felipo participated in the Women's 1500 m
• Joan Tomas finished 39th in the Men's trap
• Santiago Deu secured 51st place in the Men’s 200 m freestyle
• Meritxell Sabate secured 35th place in the Women’s 200 m individual medley

In 2004 Athens Olympics, Andorra participated in Athletics, Judo, Shooting and Swimming events.

• Silvia Felipo came 42nd in the Women's 1500 meters
• Antoni Bernado secured 57th place in the Men's marathon
• Toni Besoli participated in Judo- Men's 90 kg but was defeated in the round of 32.
• Francesc Repiso Romero finished 35th in the Men's Trap.
• Carolina Cerqueda finished 48th in the Women's 100 m freestyle.
• Hocine Haciane secured 36th place in the Men's 200 m Individual Medley.

The country has not won any medals till date.