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Iceland
Republic of Iceland
Lýðveldið Ísland
Political Status: Independent republic established June 17, 1944; under democratic parliamentary system.
Area: 39,768 sq. mi. (103,000 sq. km.).
Population: 275,264 (1998C); 299,000 (2005E).
Major Urban Center (2005E): REYKJAVÍK (114,000).
Official Language: Icelandic.
Monetary Unit: Króna (official rate July 1, 2006: 76.01 krónur = $1US).
President: Dr. Ólafur Ragnar GRÍMSSON (previously People's Alliance); elected on June 29, 1996, and inaugurated on August 1 for a four-year term, succeeding Vigdís FINNBOGADÓTTIR (nonparty); term extended for an additional four years when no potential opponent met the May 19, 2000, deadline for filing the required number of nominating signatures; reelected on June 26, 2004, and inaugurated for a third four-year term on August 1.
Prime Minister: Geir HAARDE (Independence Party), sworn in on June 15, 2006, to succeed Halldór ÁSGRÍMSSON (Progressive Party), ...