Liechtenstein
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry name - conventional long form : Principality of Liechtenstein
Country name - conventional short form : Liechtenstein
Country name - local long form : Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
Country name - local short form : Liechtenstein
Government type : constitutional monarchy
Capital - name : Vaduz
Capital - time difference : UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Assumption Day, 15 August
Population : 34,498 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Liechtensteiner(s)
Nationality - adjective : Liechtenstein
Languages : German (official), Alemannic dialect
Currency (code) : Swiss franc (CHF)
Currency code : CHF
Liechtenstein is located Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland. The climate is continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers. The terrain is mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleanic wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and joined the Germanic Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. In 2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money-laundering legislation and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US went into effect in 2003.
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