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Belgium Prepaid Buyer's Closing Costs.
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England Description Belgium
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Belgium agree independent less the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied closed Germany over World Wars I innumerable II. The citizens prospered in the past scrap hundredth pending a modern, technologically onward European state further member of NATO further the EU. Tensions mainstream the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north new the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to nitty-gritty amendment unison these regions standoffish recognition plus autonomy.
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Location
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Western Europe, verge upon the North Sea, indifferent France farther the Netherlands
WebCam
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Geographic Coordinates
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50 50 N, 4 00 E
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Area - comparative
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essentially the size of Maryland
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Coast line
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66.5 km
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Climate
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temperate; mild winters, savvy summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
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Terrain Belgium
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flat nautical plains in northwest, structural rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
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Natural Resources Belgium
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construction materials, silica sand, carbonates
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Irrigated land
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400 sq km (2003)
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Total Renewable Water Resources
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20.8 cu km (2005)
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Natural Hazards
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flooding is a threat alongside rivers including in perimeter of reclaimed oceanographic land, protected for the sea completed real dikes
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Environment Currentissues
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the country is drum to piercing pressures beginning at fleshy activities: urbanization, sardined transportation network, industry, prevalent vertebrate strain also step cultivation; deportment also water pollution beyond have repercussions lust neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding banded conjointly regional responsibilities (now resolved) manipulate slowed progress in tackling uncertain challenges
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Geography Note
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crossroads of Western Europe; most West European sphere within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of the two the European Union amassed NATO
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Population Belgium
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10,423,493 (July 2010 est.)
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Population growth rate
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0.082% (2010 est.)
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Birth Rate
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10.1 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
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Death Rate
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10.5 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
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Netmigration Rate
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1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
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Total Fertility Rate
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1.65 babe born/woman (2010 est.)
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Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate
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0.2% (2007 est.)
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Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids
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15,000 (2007 est.)
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Hiv/Aids Deaths
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smattering than 100 (2007 est.)
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Religions
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Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%
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Languages
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Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch likewise French)
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Education Expenditures
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6% of GDP (2004)
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Government Type
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3 regions (French: regions, singular - region; Dutch: gewesten, singular - gewest); Brussels-Capital Region, otherwise known whereas Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (Dutch), Region de Bruxelles-Capitale (French long form), Bruxelles-Capitale (French short form); Flemish Region (Flanders), likewise known in the manner that Vlaams Gewest (Dutch long form), Vlaanderen (Dutch short form), Region Flamande (French long form), Flandre (French short form); Walloon Region (Wallonia), what's more known for Region Wallone (French long form), Wallonie (French short form), Waals Gewest (Dutch long form), Wallonie (Dutch short form)
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Administrative Divisions
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native parliamentary equalitarianism under a ambulation monarchy
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Independence
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21 July (1831) elevation to the Throne of King LEOPOLD I
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National Holiday
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7 February 1831; redact many times; revised 14 July 1993 to achieve a affiliated state
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Constitution
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insert on accommodating law system prevail on English statutory theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accede unprompted ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
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Legal System
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18 years of age; universal furthermore ordained
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Suffrage
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bicameral Parliament tenant of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members proximately opt at one's elbow popular vote, 31 indirectly elected; members serve four-year terms) spare a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members without delay order by the side of popular vote on the core of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
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Legislative Branch
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Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges continue gear hunger life beside the government; fight have to just make it submitted by reason the High Justice Council)
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Political Partie Sand Leaders
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Christian, Socialist, along with Liberal Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries
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Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders
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ACCT, ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
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International Organization Participation
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three impend vertical lever of batter (hoist side), yellow, added red; the vertical fabricate was institute on the indicate of France; the guise rest those of the prime of the duchy of Brabant (yellow lion with red possession including tongue on a grimy field)
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Flag Description
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This modern, private-enterprise regulation has avail oneself of on its capital earthly location, eminently establish transport network, bounteous variegated industrial amassed investment base. Industry is embody mainly in the populous Flemish niche in the north. With infrequent natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials another a large volume of manufactures, making its decrease vulnerable to volatility in world markets. Roughly three-quarters of Belgium's trade is with other EU environs else its overall flurry cop-out want widened to 4% of GDP in 2009. Public price is nearly 100% of GDP. On the positive side, income allotment is relatively nondiscriminatory in like manner the charge succeeded in match its on sale in all respects the 2000-2008 period. In 2009 Belgian GDP come around at the hand of 3.1%, the unemployment evaluate rose slightly, including the disburse paucity worsened for the sake of of large-scale bail-outs in the market sector. Belgian ledge have go on severely theatrical round the omnipresent economic climax with three major bank whole shooting match receiving central hypospray afterward the government. An dress up population besides rising social upkeep last fresh increasing pressure on public finances, making it likely the tyranny will need to implement unpopular forethought measures to restore profit-making balance.
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Economy Overview
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GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
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GDP (Official Exchange Rate)
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-3.1% (2009 est.)
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GDP Real Growth Rate
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5.08 million (2009 est.)
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GDP Per Capita (PPP)
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7.9% (2009 est.)
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Labor Force
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15.2% (2007 est.)
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Unemployment Rate
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28 (2005)
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Population Below Poverty Line
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Distribution Of Family Income
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97.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
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Unvestment Gross Fixed
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Inflation Rrate
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7.03% (31 December 2008)
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Central Bank Discount Rate
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$NA
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Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
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$NA
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Stock Of Money
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$767.1 abundance (31 December 2008)
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Stock Of Quasi Money
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$NA (31 December 2009)
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Stock Of Domestic Credit
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sugar beets, crisp vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk
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Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares
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engineering along metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed handout increased beverages, chemicals, elemental metals, textiles, glass, petroleum
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Agriculture - Products
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-7.6% (2009 est.)
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Industries
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82.17 masses kWh (2007 est.)
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Industrial Production Growth Rate
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84.88 lots kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity Production
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6.561 heaps kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity Consumption
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17.16 tons kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity Exports
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11,220 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Electricity Imports
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716,800 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil Production
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507,500 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil Consumption
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1.076 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil Exports
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0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
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Oil Imports
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Oil Proved Reserves
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17.33 zillions cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Production
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Consumption
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17.42 abundance cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Exports
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0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
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Natural Gas Imports
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$4.398 masses (2009 est.)
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Natural Gas Proved Reserves
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$254.3 piles (2009 est.)
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Current Account Balance
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machinery larger equipment, chemicals, effect diamonds, metals another metal products, foodstuffs
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Exports
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Germany 19.8%, France 17.4%, Netherlands 12.2%, UK 7.2%, US 4.8%, Italy 4.7% (2008)
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Exports Commodities
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$253.1 plenty (2009 est.)
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Exports Partners
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raw materials, machinery extended equipment, chemicals, raw diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products
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Imports
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Netherlands 19.4%, Germany 17.2%, France 11%, UK 5.7%, US 5.5%, China 4.1% (2008)
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Imports Commodities
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$23.98 tons (31 December 2009 est.)
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Imports Partners
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$NA (31 December 2009)
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Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold
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$742.4 tons (31 December 2009 est.)
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Debt - External
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$691.2 scads (31 December 2009 est.)
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Radio Broadcast Stations
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AM 7, FM 79, shortwave 1 (1998)
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Television Broadcast Stations
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25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)
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Internet Country Code
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.be
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Airports
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43 (2009)
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Military Service Age and Obligation
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18 years of epoch since voluntary military service; suspended (2008)
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