2009 Belgium

Kingdom of Belgium
center|Flag
center|Location
Capital: Brussels
Official Language: Dutch, French, German
Government: Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy
Head of Government: Bertrand Belge
Formation: Declared 4 October 1830, Recognized 19 April 1839
Population: 10,584,534 (2007 estimate)
Currency: Euro (EU)
Human Rights Record Human Rights in Belgium
Territorial Disputes Flemish Zones within Dutch borders.
Ongoing Conflicts None
Welcome to the International embassy of Belgium.
=Diplomatic Relations=
Nation currently enjoys diplomatic relations with
Most nations
Nation is a member of
European Union
Benelux Union
NATO
La Francophonie
Nation is a signatory to the following treaties (list)
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=Summary=
The Kingdom of Belgium is a country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other major international organizations, including NATO.Belgium covers an area of 30,528 km² (11,787 square miles) and has a population of about 10.5 million.
Straddling the cultural boundary between Germanic and Latin Europe, Belgium is home for two main ethnic groups, the Flemings and the French-speakers, mostly Walloons, plus a tiny group of German speakers.
Geographically, Belgium's two largest regions are the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders in the north, with 59% of the population, and the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia, inhabited by 31%. The Brussels-Capital Region, although officially bilingual, is a mostly French-speaking enclave within the Flemish Region and near the Walloon Region, and has 10% of the population. A small German-speaking Community exists in eastern Wallonia. Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political and cultural conflicts are reflected in the political history and a complex system of government.
=Brief History=
The name 'Belgium' is derived from Gallia Belgica, a Roman province in the northernmost part of Gaul that was inhabited by the Belgae, a mix of Celtic and Germanic peoples. Historically, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg were known as the Low Countries, which used to cover a somewhat larger area than the current Benelux group of states. From the end of the Middle Ages until the 17th century, it was a prosperous centre of commerce and culture. From the 16th century until the Belgian revolution in 1830, many battles between European powers were fought in the area of Belgium, causing it to be dubbed "the battlefield of Europe" and "the cockpit of Europe" — a reputation strengthened by both World Wars. Upon its independence, Belgium eagerly participated in the Industrial Revolution, and, at the end of the nineteenth century, possessed several colonies in Africa. The second half of the 20th century was marked by the raise of ethnic conflicts between the Flemings and the Francophones fuelled by cultural differences on the one hand and an asymmetrical economical evolution of Flanders and Wallonia on the other hand. These currently still active conflicts have caused drastic reforms of the unitary Belgian state into a federal state. According to several observers, this process of devolution might lead to the partition of the country.
=Diplomatic Messages=
Reviewing possibility of Luxembourg Reunification.
Reviewing Afghan Mandate.
Reviewing Pulling out of KFOR.
Reviewing Benelux Union.
=Resources=
*Belgium on Wikipedia
*Belgium on the BBC
*Belgium on the CIA world factbook
*Homepage of the Belgian government (Available in English, French, Dutch and German)