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Country name : Switzerland
Official name : Swiss Confederation.
System of government : Federal republic.
National anthem :

Geography

Area : 421 290 km².
Capital : Bern.
Border countries : Austria, France, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany.

People

Population : 7,3 millions (2003).
Language(s) : German, French, Italian, Romansch.
Religions : Roman Catholic (48 %), Protestant (44 %), other (8 %).

Economy

>Switzerland has one of the highest standards of living in the world.
>The economy is based on international trade and banking.
>Switzerland must import much of the food it consumes. The primary agricultural products are cattle and dairy goods.
>Leading areas of manufacturing include precision engineering, heavy engineering and machine building, food products and pharmaceuticals.

History

>The territory now known as Switzerland was inhabited by the Helvetii, a Celt tribe.
>In 1033, the Helvetia became a part of the Holy Roman Empire.
>In 1291, three cantons (Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden) entered a league for mutual defence. This union is considered as the base of the future confederation.
>1499 : Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I was compelled to recognize the virtual independance of the Swiss.
>1798 : Invading French armies established the Helvetic Republic.
>1803 : By the Act of Mediation, Napoleon restored partially the old confederation.
>1815 : The Congress of Vienna guaranteed the neutrality of Switzerland.
>Switzerland was not involved in either of the two World Wars and, at the same time, became the headquarters of many international organizations.
>1992 : Swiss voters rejected joining the European Economic Area.
>2002 : the Swiss voted in a referendum to join the United Nations.