Honestly I think you should pick race first and foremost for looks - for example, if you want INT and MP but the notion of being a cute bouncy childlike creature gives you nightmares, then for all that you may want that INT and MP, you probably shouldn't be a taru for all that the stats may interest you.
If you don't care about appearance, *then* decide based on stats. But go by appearance first. You're permanently stuck with what you look like (and usually its backside too), but you may one day change your mind about the job(s) that interest you, which makes the whole point of picking a race for its stats invalid. It may even make it harmful, if you do a total 180 in your job choice.
If you do decide by stats, I'd say to decide first by HP/MP, then by STR/INT, then by DEX/AGI/VIT/MND, and ignore CHR entirely. Racial DEX differences frankly make more of an issue with critical hit rates than they ever do with accuracy.
Country? Go for the free ring depending on what race you start as. If you're more interested in another country's mission storyline you can switch allegiance later on. And if you want another country's shops or town layout or lowbie area or something ... just *walk* there. Otherwise, outside of a few, uh, "thematic" linkshells, nobody really cares much about your allegiance because it doesn't really matter.
