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| Nauru |
State on the island of the same name in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. Territory - about 22 sq. km. Population - 6.8 thousand (1978), of which 4.4 thousand are indigenous people. The capital is Meneng. The official languages are Nauruan and English. About 65% of believers are Protestants. Nauru Island was discovered in 1798, in 1888 it was captured by Germany. During the First World War, it was occupied by Australian troops. After the First World War, Nauru is a mandate territory of England, New Zealand and Australia, and after the Second World War it is a trust territory of the United Nations under the control of these 3 states. In January 1966, the island received self-government, and then, as a result of persistent and prolonged struggle, the Nauruans achieved independence. January 31, 1968 Nauru is proclaimed a sovereign state. Nauru is a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations (without the right to participate in meetings of the Commonwealth at the level of heads of government). The head of state is the president. Legislative power is vested in the Legislative Assembly (Parliament). Executive power is exercised by the government - the State Council, headed by the president. Nauru Party - founded in 1976 The only union is the Nauru Workers' Organization. The main natural wealth of Nauru is phosphorite (reserves - about 42 million tons, annual production - 2-2.5 million tons). For more than 60 years, phosphate rock has been mined by the British Phosphate Company. In 1970, all of the company's assets were transferred to the state, for which the latter paid $ 20 million. As a result of the predatory activities of the British Phosphate Company, a third of the island's territory has now been turned into a lifeless space. Tropical crops are cultivated on the island (mainly coconut), fishing and handicrafts are developed. Since 1968, the Nauru Pacific Steamship Company has been operating, providing maritime communications with the Australian ports of Sydney and Melbourne. Nauru trades with Australia, England, New Zealand, Japan and the United States. The monetary unit is the Australian dollar.
