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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 571 ***
+
+
+
+
+To search for information on a specific country from the list below,
+search for @country:  @Afganistan, for example.  You can also search
+directly for one of the categories of that country as follows:
+
+@Afganistan:Geography
+@Afganistan:People
+@Afganistan:Government
+@Afganistan:Economy
+@Afganistan:Transportation
+@Afganistan:Communications
+@Afganistan:Defense Forces
+
+
+
+
+TABLE OF CONTENTS
+
+Publication Information
+Notes, Definitions, and Abbreviations
+
+Afghanistan
+Albania
+Algeria
+American Samoa
+Andorra
+Angola
+Anguilla
+Antarctica
+Antigua and Barbuda
+Arctic Ocean
+Argentina
+Armenia
+Aruba
+Ashmore and Cartier Islands
+Atlantic Ocean
+Australia
+Austria
+Azerbaijan
+
+The Bahamas
+Bahrain
+Baker Island
+Bangladesh
+Barbados
+Bassas da India
+Belarus
+Belgium
+Belize
+Benin
+Bermuda
+Bhutan
+Bolivia
+Bosnia and Herzegovina
+Botswana
+Bouvet Island
+Brazil
+British Indian OceanTerritory
+British Virgin Islands
+Brunei
+Bulgaria
+Burkina
+Burma
+Burundi
+
+Cambodia
+Cameroon
+Canada
+Cape Verde
+Cayman Islands
+Central African Republic
+Chad
+Chile
+China
+Christmas Island
+Clipperton Island
+Cocos (Keeling) Islands
+Colombia
+Comoros
+Congo
+Cook Islands
+Coral Sea Islands
+Costa Rica
+Cote d'Ivoire
+Croatia
+Cuba
+Cyprus
+Czech Republic
+
+Denmark
+Djibouti
+Dominica
+Dominican Republic
+
+Ecuador
+Egypt
+El Salvador
+Equatorial Guinea
+Eritrea
+Estonia
+Ethiopia
+Europa Island
+
+Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
+Faroe Islands
+Fiji
+Finland
+France
+French Guiana
+French Polynesia
+French Southern and Antarctic Lands
+
+Gabon
+The Gambia
+Gaza Strip
+Georgia
+Germany
+Ghana
+Gibraltar
+Glorioso Islands
+Greece
+Greenland
+Grenada
+Guadeloupe
+Guam
+Guatemala
+Guernsey
+Guinea
+Guinea-Bissau
+Guyana
+
+Haiti
+Heard Island and McDonald Islands
+Holy See (Vatican City)
+Honduras
+Hong Kong
+Howland Island
+Hungary
+
+Iceland
+India
+Indian Ocean
+Indonesia
+Iran
+Iraq
+Ireland
+Israel (also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries)
+Italy
+
+Jamaica
+Jan Mayen
+Japan
+Jarvis Island
+Jersey
+Johnston Atoll
+Jordan (also see separate West Bank entry)
+Juan de Nova Island
+
+Kazakhstan
+Kenya
+Kingman Reef
+Kiribati
+Korea, North
+Korea, South
+Kuwait
+Kyrgyzstan
+
+Laos
+Latvia
+Lebanon
+Lesotho
+Liberia
+Libya
+Liechtenstein
+Lithuania
+Luxembourg
+
+Macau
+Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
+Madagascar
+Malawi
+Malaysia
+Maldives
+Mali
+Malta
+Man, Isle of
+Marshall Islands
+Martinique
+Mauritania
+Mauritius
+Mayotte
+Mexico
+Micronesia, Federated States of
+Midway Islands
+Moldova
+Monaco
+Mongolia
+Montserrat
+Morocco
+Mozambique
+
+Namibia
+Nauru
+Navassa Island
+Nepal
+Netherlands
+Netherlands Antilles
+New Caledonia
+New Zealand
+Nicaragua
+Niger
+Nigeria
+Niue
+Norfolk Island
+Northern Mariana Islands
+Norway
+
+Oman
+
+Pacific Ocean
+Pakistan
+Palau
+Palmyra Atoll
+Panama
+Papua New Guinea
+Paracel Islands
+Paraguay
+Peru
+Philippines
+Pitcairn Islands
+Poland
+Portugal
+Puerto Rico
+
+Qatar
+
+Reunion
+Romania
+Russia
+Rwanda
+
+Saint Helena
+Saint Kitts and Nevis
+Saint Lucia
+Saint Pierre and Miquelon
+Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
+San Marino
+Sao Tome and Principe
+Saudi Arabia
+Senegal
+Serbia and Montenegro
+Seychelles
+Sierra Leone
+Singapore
+Slovakia
+Slovenia
+Solomon Islands
+Somalia
+South Africa
+South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
+Spain
+Spratly Islands
+Sri Lanka
+Sudan
+Suriname
+Svalbard
+Swaziland
+Sweden
+Switzerland
+Syria
+
+Taiwan
+Tajikistan
+Tanzania
+Thailand
+Togo
+Tokelau
+Tonga
+Trinidad and Tobago
+Tromelin Island
+Tunisia
+Turkey
+Turkmenistan
+Turks and Caicos Islands
+Tuvalu
+
+Uganda
+Ukraine
+United Arab Emirates
+United Kingdom
+United States
+Uruguay
+Uzbekistan
+
+Vanuatu
+Venezuela
+Vietnam
+Virgin Islands
+
+Wake Island
+Wallis and Futuna
+West Bank
+Western Sahara
+Western Samoa
+World
+
+Yemen
+
+Zaire
+Zambia
+Zimbabwe
+
+Appendices
+
+A. The United Nations System (a graphical file not available in the
+	Project Gutenberg edition)
+B. Abbreviations for International Organizations and Groups
+C. International Organizations and Groups
+D. Abbreviations for Selected International Environmental Agreements
+E. Selected International Environmental Agreements
+F. Weights and Measures
+G. Estimates of Gross Domestic Product on an Exchange Rate Basis
+H. Cross-Reference List of Geographic Items
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+Publication Information for The World Factbook 1995
+
+ The printed version of the Factbook is published annually in July by
+ the Central Intelligence Agency for the use of US Government
+ officials, and the style, format, coverage, and content are designed
+ to meet their specific requirements. Information was provided by the
+ American Geophysical Union, Bureau of the Census, Central Intelligence
+ Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, Defense Mapping Agency, Defense
+ Nuclear Agency, Department of State, Foreign Broadcast Information
+ Service, Maritime Administration, National Science Foundation (Polar
+ Information Program), Naval Maritime Intelligence Center, Office of
+ Territorial and International Affairs, US Board on Geographic Names,
+ US Coast Guard, and others.
+
+ Comments and queries are welcome and may be addressed to:
+
+ Central Intelligence Agency
+ Attn.: Office of Public and Agency Information
+ Washington, DC 20505
+ Telephone: [1] (703) 351-2053
+
+ US Government officials should obtain copies of The World Factbook
+ directly from their own organization or through liaison channels from
+ the Central Intelligence Agency. This publication is also available in
+ microfiche, magnetic tape, or computer diskettes.
+
+ This publication may be purchased by telephone (VISA or MasterCard) or
+        mail from:
+
+ Superintendent of Documents
+ P.O. Box 371954
+ Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954
+ Telephone: [1] (202) 512-1800
+
+ A subscription to this publication may be purchased from:
+
+ Document Expediting (DOCEX) Project
+ Exchange and Gift Division
+ Library of Congress
+ Washington, DC 20540
+ Telephone: [1] (202) 707-9527
+
+
+ This publication may be purchased in printed form, photocopy,
+        microfiche, magnetic tape, or computer diskettes from:
+
+ National Technical Information Service
+ 5285 Port Royal Road
+ Springfield, VA 22161
+ Telephone: [1] (703) 487-4650
+
+ This publication may be purchased in photocopy or microform from:
+
+ Photoduplication Service Library of Congress
+ Washington, DC 20540-5234
+ Telephone: [1] (202) 707-5640
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+                 NOTES, DEFINITIONS, AND ABBREVIATIONS
+
+There have been some significant changes in this edition. The Trust
+Territory of the Pacific Islands became the independent nation of
+Palau. The gross domestic product (GDP) of all countries is now
+presented on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis rather than on the
+old exchange rate basis. There is a new entry on Age structure and the
+Airports entry now includes unpaved runways. The Communications
+category has been restructured and now includes the entries of
+Telephone system, Radio, and Television. The remainder of the entries
+in the former Communications category-Railroads, Highways, Inland
+waterways, Pipelines, Ports, Merchant marine, and Airports-can now be
+found under a new category called Transportation. There is a new
+appendix listing estimates of gross domestic product on an exchange
+rate basis for all nations. A reference map of the Republic of South
+Africa is included. The electronic files used to produce the Factbook
+have been restructured into a database. As a result, the formats of
+some entries in this edition have been changed. Additional changes
+will occur in the 1996 Factbook.
+
+Abbreviations: (see Appendix B for abbreviations for international
+organizations and groups and Appendix D for abbreviations for selected
+international environmental agreements)
+avdp. -- avoirdupois
+    c.i.f. -- cost, insurance, and freight
+    CY -- calendar year
+    DWT -- deadweight ton
+    est. -- estimate
+    Ex-Im -- Export-Import Bank of the United States
+    f.o.b. -- free on board
+    FRG -- Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany); used for
+    information dated before 3 October 1990 or CY91
+    FSU -- former Soviet Union
+    FY -- fiscal year
+    FYROM -- The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
+    GDP -- gross domestic product
+    GDR -- German Democratic Republic (East Germany); used for
+    information dated before 3 October 1990 or CY91
+    GNP -- gross national product
+    GRT -- gross register ton
+    GWP -- gross world product
+    km -- kilometer
+    kW -- kilowatt
+    kWh -- kilowatt hour
+    m -- meter
+    NA -- not available
+    NEGL -- negligible
+    nm -- nautical mile
+    NZ -- New Zealand
+    ODA -- official development assistance
+    OOF -- other official flows
+    PDRY -- People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or
+    South Yemen]; used for information dated before 22 May 1990 or
+    CY91
+    sq km -- square kilometer
+    sq mi -- square mile
+    UAE -- United Arab Emirates
+    UK -- United Kingdom
+    US -- United States
+    USSR -- Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Union); used
+    for information dated before 25 December 1991
+    YAR -- Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen]; used
+    for information dated before 22 May 1990 or CY91
+
+Administrative divisions: The numbers, designatory terms, and
+first-order administrative divisions are generally those approved by
+the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been
+reported but not yet acted on by BGN are noted.
+
+Airports: Only airports with usable runways are included in this
+listing. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest
+runway is included. Not all airports have facilities for refueling,
+maintenance, or air traffic control. Paved runways have concrete or
+asphalt surfaces; unpaved runways have grass, dirt, sand, or gravel
+surfaces.
+
+Area: Total area is the sum of all land and water areas delimited by
+international boundaries and/or coastlines. Land area is the aggregate
+of all surfaces delimited by international boundaries and/or
+coastlines, excluding inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers).
+Comparative areas are based on total area equivalents. Most entities
+are compared with the entire US or one of the 50 states. The smaller
+entities are compared with Washington, DC (178 sq km, 69 sq mi) or The
+Mall in Washington, DC (0.59 sq km, 0.23 sq mi, 146 acres).
+
+Birth rate: The average annual number of births during a year per
+1,000 population at midyear; also known as crude birth rate. Dates of
+information: In general, information available as of 1 January 1995 is
+used in the preparation of this edition. Population figures are
+estimates for 1 July 1995, with population growth rates estimated for
+calendar year 1995. Major political events have been updated through
+April 1995.
+
+Death rate: The average annual number of deaths during a year per
+l,000 population at midyear; also known as crude death rate.
+
+Digraphs: The digraph is a two-letter "country code" that precisely
+identifies every entity without overlap, duplication, or omission. AF,
+for example, is the digraph for Afghanistan. It is a standardized
+geopolitical data element promulgated in the Federal Information
+Processing Standards Publication (FIPS) 10-3 by the National Bureau of
+Standards (now called National Institute of Standards and Technology)
+at the US Department of Commerce and maintained by the Office of the
+Geographer at the US Department of State. The digraph is used to
+eliminate confusion and incompatibility in the collection, processing,
+and dissemination of area-specific data and is particularly useful for
+interchanging data between databases.
+
+Diplomatic representation: The US Government has diplomatic relations
+with 184 nations, including 178 of the 185 UN members (excluded UN
+members are Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, former Yugoslavia,
+and the US itself). In addition, the US has diplomatic relations with
+6 nations that are not in the UN - Holy See, Kiribati, Nauru,
+Switzerland, Tonga, and Tuvalu.
+
+Economic aid: This entry refers to bilateral commitments of official
+development assistance (ODA) and other official flows (OOF). ODA is
+defined as financial assistance which is concessional in character,
+has the main objective to promote economic development and welfare of
+LDCs, and contains a grant element of at least 25%. OOF transactions
+are also official government assistance, but with a main objective
+other than development and with a grant element less than 25%. OOF
+transactions include official export credits (such as Ex-Im Bank
+credits), official equity and portfolio investment, and debt
+reorganization by the official sector that does not meet concessional
+terms. Aid is considered to have been committed when agreements are
+initialed by the parties involved and constitute a formal declaration
+of intent.
+
+Entities: Some of the nations, dependent areas, areas of special
+sovereignty, and governments included in this publication are not
+independent, and others are not officially recognized by the US
+Government. "Nation" refers to a people politically organized into a
+sovereign state with a definite territory. "Dependent area" refers to
+a broad category of political entities that are associated in some way
+with a nation. Names used for page headings are usually the short-form
+names as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names. There are 266
+entities in The World Factbook that may be categorized as follows:
+
+NATIONS
+184 -- UN members (excluding the former Yugoslavia, which is still
+    counted by the UN)
+    7 -- nations that are not members of the UN--Holy See, Kiribati,
+    Nauru, Serbia and Montenegro, Switzerland, Tonga, Tuvalu
+
+OTHER
+1 -- Taiwan
+
+DEPENDENT AREAS
+6 -- Australia--Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos
+    (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald
+    Islands, Norfolk Island
+    2 -- Denmark--Faroe Islands, Greenland
+    16 -- France--Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island,
+    French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic
+    Lands, Glorioso Islands, Guadeloupe, Juan de Nova Island,
+    Martinique, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Reunion, Saint Pierre and
+    Miquelon, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna
+    2 -- Netherlands--Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
+    3 -- New Zealand--Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
+    3 -- Norway--Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
+    1 -- Portugal--Macau
+    16 -- United Kingdom--Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean
+    Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland
+    Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Jersey, Isle of Man,
+    Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and the
+    South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
+    14 -- United States--American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland
+    Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway
+    Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll,
+    Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island
+
+MISCELLANEOUS
+6 -- Antarctica, Gaza Strip, Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, West
+    Bank, Western Sahara
+
+OTHER ENTITIES
+4 -- oceans--Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean
+
+    1 -- World
+    266 -- total
+
+Exchange rate:
+The official value of a nation's monetary unit at a given date or over
+a given period of time, as expressed in units of local currency per US
+dollar and as determined by international market forces or official
+fiat.
+
+GDP methodology: In the "Economy" section, GDP dollar estimates for
+all countries are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP)
+calculations rather than from conversions at official currency
+exchange rates. The PPP method normally involves the use of
+international dollar price weights, which are applied to the
+quantities of goods and services produced in a given economy. In
+addition to the lack of reliable data from the majority of countries,
+the statistician faces a major difficulty in specifying, identifying,
+and allowing for the quality of goods and services. The division of a
+GDP estimate in local currency by the corresponding PPP estimate in
+dollars gives the PPP conversion rate. On average, one thousand
+dollars will buy the same market basket of goods in the US as one
+thousand dollars - converted to the local currency at the PPP
+conversion rate - will buy in the other country. Whereas PPP estimates
+for OECD countries are quite reliable, PPP estimates for developing
+countries are often rough approximations. Most of the GDP estimates
+are based on extrapolation of numbers published by the UN
+International Comparison Program and by Professors Robert Summers and
+Alan Heston of the University of Pennsylvania and their colleagues.
+Currency exchange rates depend on a variety of international and
+domestic financial forces that often have little relation to domestic
+output. In developing countries with weak currencies the exchange rate
+estimate of GDP in dollars is typically one-fourth to one-half the PPP
+estimate. Furthermore, exchange rates may suddenly go up or down by
+10% or more because of market forces or official fiat whereas real
+output has remained unchanged. On 12 January 1994, for example, the 14
+countries of the African Financial Community (whose currencies are
+tied to the French franc) devalued their currencies by 50%. This move,
+of course, did not cut the real output of these countries by half. One
+important caution: the proportion of, say, defense expenditures as a
+percentage of GDP in local currency accounts may differ substantially
+from the proportion when GDP accounts are expressed in PPP terms, as,
+for example, when an observer tries to estimate the dollar level of
+Russian or Japanese military expenditures. Note: The numbers for GDP
+and other economic data can not be chained together from successive
+volumes of the Factbook because of changes in the US dollar measuring
+rod, revisions of data by statistical agencies, use of new or
+different sources of information, and changes in national statistical
+methods and practices.
+
+Gross domestic product (GDP): The value of all final goods and
+services produced within a nation in a given year.
+
+Gross national product (GNP): The value of all final goods and
+services produced within a nation in a given year, plus income earned
+abroad, minus income earned by foreigners from domestic production.
+
+Gross world product (GWP): The aggregate value of all goods and
+services produced worldwide in a given year.
+
+Growth rate (population): The annual percent change in the population,
+resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the
+balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. The rate may be
+positive or negative.
+
+Illicit drugs: There are five categories of illicit drugs - narcotics,
+stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis.
+These categories include many drugs legally produced and prescribed by
+doctors as well as those illegally produced and sold outside medical
+channels.
+Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is the common hemp plant, which provides
+hallucinogens with some sedative properties, and includes marijuana
+(pot, Acapulco gold, grass, reefer), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC,
+Marinol), hashish (hash), and hashish oil (hash oil).
+Coca (Erythroxylum coca) is a bush, and the leaves contain the
+stimulant used to make cocaine. Coca is not to be confused with cocoa,
+which comes from cacao seeds and is used in making chocolate, cocoa,
+and cocoa butter.
+Cocaine is a stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca bush.
+Depressants (sedatives) are drugs that reduce tension and anxiety and
+include chloral hydrate, barbiturates (Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal,
+phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (Librium, Valium), methaqualone
+(Quaalude), glutethimide (Doriden), and others (Equanil, Placidyl,
+Valmid). Drugs are any chemical substances that effect a physical,
+mental, emotional, or behavioral change in an individual. Drug abuse
+is the use of any licit or illicit chemical substance that results in
+physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral impairment in an
+individual. Hallucinogens are drugs that affect sensation, thinking,
+self-awareness, and emotion. Hallucinogens include LSD (acid,
+microdot), mescaline and peyote (mexc, buttons, cactus), amphetamine
+variants (PMA, STP, DOB), phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust, hog),
+phencyclidine analogues (PCE, PCPy, TCP), and others (psilocybin,
+psilocyn).
+Hashish is the resinous exudate of the cannabis or hemp plant
+(Cannabis sativa).
+Heroin is a semisynthetic derivative of morphine.
+Mandrax is the Southwest Asian slang term for methaqualone, a
+pharmaceutical depressant.
+Marijuana is the dried leaves of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis
+sativa).
+Methaqualone is a pharmaceutical depressant, in slang referred to as
+Quaaludes in North America or Mandrax in Southwest Asia Narcotics are
+drugs that relieve pain, often induce sleep, and refer to opium, opium
+derivatives, and synthetic substitutes. Natural narcotics include
+opium (paregoric, parepectolin), morphine (MS-Contin, Roxanol),
+codeine (Tylenol with codeine, Empirin with codeine, Robitussan AC),
+and thebaine. Semisynthetic narcotics include heroin (horse, smack),
+and hydromorphone (Dilaudid). Synthetic narcotics include meperidine
+or Pethidine (Demerol, Mepergan), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose),
+and others (Darvon, Lomotil).
+Opium is the milky exudate of the incised, unripe seedpod of the opium
+poppy. Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is the source for many natural
+and semisynthetic narcotics. Poppy straw concentrate is the alkaloid
+derived from the mature dried opium poppy.
+Qat (kat, khat) is a stimulant from the buds or leaves of catha edulis
+that is chewed or drunk as tea.
+Quaaludes is the North American slang term for methaqualone, a
+pharmaceutical depressant.
+Stimulants are drugs that relieve mild depression, increase energy and
+activity, and include cocaine (coke, snow, crack), amphetamines
+(Desoxyn, Dexedrine), phenmetrazine (Preludin), methylphenidate
+(Ritalin), and others (Cylert, Sanorex, Tenuate).
+
+Infant mortality rate: The number of deaths to infants under one year
+old in a given year per l,000 live births occurring in the same year.
+
+International disputes: This category includes a wide variety of
+situations that range from traditional bilateral boundary disputes to
+unilateral claims of one sort or another. Information regarding
+disputes over international boundaries and maritime boundaries has
+been reviewed by the Department of State. References to other
+situations involving borders or frontiers may also be included, such
+as resource disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist issues.
+However, inclusion does not necessarily constitute official acceptance
+or recognition by the US Government.
+
+Irrigated land: The figure refers to the land area that is
+artificially supplied with water.
+
+Land use: The land surface is categorized as arable land - land
+cultivated for crops that are replanted after each harvest (wheat,
+maize, rice); permanent crops - land cultivated for crops that are not
+replanted after each harvest (citrus, coffee, rubber); meadows and
+pastures - land permanently used for herbaceous forage crops; forest
+and woodland - under dense or open stands of trees; and other - any
+land type not specifically mentioned above (urban areas, roads,
+desert).
+
+Leaders: The chief of state is the titular leader of the country who
+represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but is not
+involved with the day- to-day activities of the government. The head
+of government is the administrative leader who manages the day-to-day
+activities of the government. In the UK, the monarch is the chief of
+state, and the Prime Minister is the head of government. In the US,
+the President is both the chief of state and the head of government.
+
+Life expectancy at birth: The average number of years to be lived by a
+group of people all born in the same year, if mortality at each age
+remains constant in the future.
+
+Literacy: There are no universal definitions and standards of
+literacy. Unless otherwise noted, all rates are based on the most
+common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age.
+Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the
+ability to read and write is beyond the scope of this publication.
+
+Maritime claims: The proximity of neighboring states may prevent some
+national claims from being extended the full distance.
+
+Merchant marine: All ships engaged in the carriage of goods. All
+commercial vessels (as opposed to all nonmilitary ships), which
+excludes tugs, fishing vessels, offshore oil rigs, etc. Also, a
+grouping of merchant ships by nationality or register.
+Captive register - A register of ships maintained by a territory,
+possession, or colony primarily or exclusively for the use of ships
+owned in the parent country; also referred to as an offshore register,
+the offshore equivalent of an internal register. Ships on a captive
+register will fly the same flag as the parent country, or a local
+variant of it, but will be subject to the maritime laws and taxation
+rules of the offshore territory. Although the nature of a captive
+register makes it especially desirable for ships owned in the parent
+country, just as in the internal register, the ships may also be owned
+abroad. The captive register then acts as a flag of convenience
+register, except that it is not the register of an independent state.
+Flag of convenience register - A national register offering
+registration to a merchant ship not owned in the flag state. The major
+flags of convenience (FOC) attract ships to their registers by virtue
+of low fees, low or nonexistent taxation of profits, and liberal
+manning requirements. True FOC registers are characterized by having
+relatively few of the ships registered actually owned in the flag
+state. Thus, while virtually any flag can be used for ships under a
+given set of circumstances, an FOC register is one where the majority
+of the merchant fleet is owned abroad. It is also referred to as an
+open register.
+Flag state - The nation in which a ship is registered and which holds
+legal jurisdiction over operation of the ship, whether at home or
+abroad. Flag state maritime legislation determines how a ship is
+manned and taxed and whether a foreign-owned ship may be placed on the
+register.
+Internal register - A register of ships maintained as a subset of a
+national register. Ships on the internal register fly the national
+flag and have that nationality but are subject to a separate set of
+maritime rules from those on the main national register. These
+differences usually include lower taxation of profits, manning by
+foreign nationals, and, usually, ownership outside the flag state
+(when it functions as an FOC register). The Norwegian International
+Ship Register and Danish International Ship Register are the most
+notable examples of an internal register. Both have been instrumental
+in stemming flight from the national flag to flags of convenience and
+in attracting foreign owned ships to the Norwegian and Danish flags.
+Merchant ship - A vessel that carries goods against payment of
+freight; commonly used to denote any nonmilitary ship but accurately
+restricted to commercial vessels only.
+Register - The record of a ship's ownership and nationality as listed
+with the maritime authorities of a country; also, the compendium of
+such individual ships' registrations. Registration of a ship provides
+it with a nationality and makes it subject to the laws of the country
+in which registered (the flag state) regardless of the nationality of
+the ship's ultimate owner.
+
+Money figures: All money figures are expressed in contemporaneous US
+dollars unless otherwise indicated.
+
+National product: The total output of goods and services in a country
+in a given year. See GDP methodology, Gross domestic product (GDP),
+and Gross national product (GNP).
+
+Net migration rate: The balance between the number of persons entering
+and leaving a country during the year per 1,000 persons (based on
+midyear population). An excess of persons entering the country is
+referred to as net immigration (3.56 migrants/1,000 population); an
+excess of persons leaving the country as net emigration (-9.26
+migrants/1,000 population).
+
+Population: Figures are estimates from the Bureau of the Census based
+on statistics from population censuses, vital statistics registration
+systems, or sample surveys pertaining to the recent past, and on
+assumptions about future trends. Starting with the 1993 Factbook,
+demographic estimates for some countries (mostly African) have taken
+into account the effects of the growing incidence of AIDS infections;
+in 1993 these countries were Burkina, Burundi, Central African
+Republic, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania,
+Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Thailand, Brazil, and Haiti.
+
+Telephone numbers: All telephone numbers presented in the Factbook
+consist of the country code in brackets, the city or area code (where
+required) in parentheses, and the local number. The one component that
+is not presented is the international access code which varies from
+country to country. For example, an international direct dial phone
+call placed from the United States to Madrid, Spain, would be as
+follows:
+
+    011 [34] (1) 577-xxxx where
+    011 is the international access code for station-to-station calls
+    (01 is for calls other than station-to-station calls),
+    [34] is the country code for Spain,
+    (1) is the city code for Madrid,
+    577 is the local exchange,
+    and xxxx is the local telephone number.
+
+An international direct dial phone call placed from another country to
+the United States would be as follows:
+
+international access code + [1] (202) 939-xxxx where
+    [1] is the country code for the United States,
+    (202) is the area code for Washington, DC,
+    939 is the local exchange,
+    and xxxx is the local telephone number.
+
+Total fertility rate: The average number of children that would be
+born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing
+years and bore children according to a given fertility rate at each
+age. Years: All year references are for the calendar year (CY) unless
+indicated as fiscal year (FY). FY93/94 refers to the fiscal year that
+began in calendar year 1993 and ended in calendar year 1994 as defined
+in the Fiscal Year entry of the Economy section for each nation.
+FY90-94 refers to the four fiscal years that began in calendar year
+1990 and ended in calendar year 1994.
+
+Note: Information for the US and US dependencies was compiled from
+material in the public domain and does not represent Intelligence
+Community estimates. The Handbook of International Economic
+Statistics, published annually in September by the Central
+Intelligence Agency, contains detailed economic information for the
+Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
+countries, Eastern Europe, the newly independent republics of the
+former nations of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, and selected other
+countries. The Handbook can be obtained wherever The World Factbook is
+available.
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+AFGHANISTAN
+
+@Afghanistan:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Asia, north of Pakistan
+
+ Map references: Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 647,500 sq km
+ land area: 647,500 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 5,529 km, China 76 km, Iran 936 km,
+ Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km,
+ Uzbekistan 137 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: periodic disputes with Iran over Helmand water
+ rights; Iran supports clientsin country, private Pakistani and Saudi
+ sources also are active; power struggles among various groups for
+ control of Kabul, regional rivalries among emerging warlords,
+ traditional tribal disputes continue; support to Islamic fighters in
+ Tajikistan's civil war; border dispute with Pakistan (Durand Line);
+ support to Islamic militants worldwide by some factions
+
+ Climate: arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
+
+ Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
+
+ Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, talc,
+ barites, sulphur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and
+ semiprecious stones
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 12%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 15%
+ forest and woodland: 3%
+ other: 39%
+
+ Irrigated land: 26,600 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of
+ the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building
+ materials); desertification
+ natural hazards: damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains;
+ flooding
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Environmental
+ Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not
+ ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
+ Sea, Marine Life Conservation
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Afghanistan:People
+
+ Population: 21,251,821 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 42% (female 4,342,218; male 4,507,141)
+ 15-64 years: 56% (female 5,406,675; male 6,443,734)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 256,443; male 295,610) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 14.47% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 42.69 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 18.53 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 120.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 152.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 45.37 years
+ male: 45.98 years
+ female: 44.72 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.21 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Afghan(s)
+ adjective: Afghan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%,
+ minor ethnic groups (Chahar Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others)
+
+ Religions: Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%, other 1%
+
+ Languages: Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages
+ (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi
+ and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 29%
+ male: 44%
+ female: 14%
+
+ Labor force: 4.98 million
+ by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 67.8%, industry 10.2%,
+ construction 6.3%, commerce 5.0%, services and other 10.7% (1980 est.)
+
+@Afghanistan:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Islamic State of Afghanistan
+ conventional short form: Afghanistan
+ local long form: Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan
+ local short form: Afghanestan
+ former: Republic of Afghanistan
+
+ Digraph: AF
+
+ Type: transitional government
+
+ Capital: Kabul
+
+ Administrative divisions: 30 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat);
+ Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni,
+ Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar, Kapisa, Konar,
+ Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Oruzgan, Paktia, Paktika,
+ Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, Zabol
+
+ Note: there may be two new provinces of Nurestan (Nuristan) and Khowst
+
+ Independence: 19 August 1919 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Victory of the Muslim Nation, 28 April; Remembrance
+ Day for Martyrs and Disabled, 4 May; Independence Day, 19 August
+
+ Constitution: none
+
+ Legal system: a new legal system has not been adopted but the
+ transitional government has declared it will follow Islamic law
+ (Shari'a)
+
+ Suffrage: undetermined; previously males 15-50 years of age, universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Burhanuddin RABBANI (Interim President July-
+ December 1992; President since 2 January 1993); Vice President
+ Mohammad NABI MOHAMMADI (since NA); election last held 31 December
+ 1992 (next to be held NA); results - Burhanuddin RABBANI was elected
+ to a two-year term by a national shura, later amended by multi-party
+ agreement to 18 months; note - in June 1994 failure to agree on a
+ transfer mechanism resulted in RABBANI's extending the term to
+ 28 December 1994; following the expiration of the term and while
+ negotiations on the formation of a new government go on, RABBANI
+ continues in office head of government: Prime Minister of the Council
+ of Ministers Aleksander Gabriel MEKSI (since 10 April 1992)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers
+
+ Note: term of present government expired 28 December 1994; factional
+ fighting since 1 January 1994 has kept government officers from
+ actually occupying ministries and discharging government
+ responsibilities; the government's authority to remove cabinet
+ members, including the Prime Minister, following the expiration of
+ their term is questionable
+
+ Legislative branch: a unicameral parliament consisting of 205 members
+ was chosen by the shura in January 1993; non-functioning as of June
+ 1993
+
+ Judicial branch: an interim Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has
+ been appointed, but a new court system has not yet been organized
+
+ Political parties and leaders: current political organizations include
+ Jamiat-i-Islami (Islamic Society), Burhanuddin RABBANI, Ahmad Shah
+ MASOOD; Hizbi Islami-Gulbuddin (Islamic Party), Gulbuddin HIKMATYAR
+ faction; Hizbi Islami-Khalis (Islamic Party), Yunis KHALIS faction;
+ Ittihad-i-Islami Barai Azadi Afghanistan (Islamic Union for the
+ Liberation of Afghanistan), Abdul Rasul SAYYAF;
+ Harakat-Inqilab-i-Islami (Islamic Revolutionary Movement), Mohammad
+ Nabi MOHAMMADI; Jabha-i-Najat-i-Milli Afghanistan (Afghanistan
+ National Liberation Front), Sibghatullah MOJADDEDI;
+ Mahaz-i-Milli-Islami (National Islamic Front), Sayed Ahamad GAILANI;
+ Hizbi Wahdat-Khalili faction (Islamic Unity Party), Abdul Karim
+ KHALILI; Hizbi Wahdat-Akbari faction (Islamic Unity Party), Mohammad
+ Akbar AKBARI; Harakat-i-Islami (Islamic Movement), Mohammed Asif
+ MOHSENI; Jumbesh-i-Milli Islami (National Islamic Movement), Abdul
+ Rashid DOSTAM; Taliban (Religious Students Movement), Mohammad OMAR
+
+ Note: the former ruling Watan Party has been disbanded
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: the former resistance commanders
+ are the major power brokers in the countryside and their shuras
+ (councils) are now administering most cities  outside Kabul; tribal
+ elders and religious students are trying to wrest control from them;
+ ulema (religious scholars); tribal elders; religious students (talib)
+
+ Member of: AsDB, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
+ IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC,
+ UN, NCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Abdul RAHIM
+ chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 234-3770, 3771
+ FAX: [1] (202) 328-3516
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+ consulate(s): Washington, DC
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ none; embassy was closed in January 1989
+
+ Flag: NA; note - the flag has changed at least twice since 1992
+
+@Afghanistan:Economy
+
+ Overview: Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked country, highly
+ dependent on farming (wheat especially) and livestock raising (sheep
+ and goats). Economic considerations have played second fiddle to
+ political and military upheavals during more than 15 years of war,
+ including the nearly 10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended
+ 15 February 1989). Over the past decade, one-third of the population
+ fled the country, with Pakistan sheltering more than 3 million
+ refugees and Iran about 3 million. About 1.4 million Afghan refugees
+ remain in Pakistan and about 2 million in Iran. Another 1 million
+ probably moved into and around urban areas within Afghanistan.
+ Although reliable data are unavailable, gross domestic product is
+ lower than 13 years ago because of the loss of labor and capital and
+ the disruption of trade and transport.
+
+National product: GDP $NA
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $NA
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 56.7% (1991)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1991
+ est.)
+
+ Exports: $188.2 million (f.o.b., 1991)
+ commodities: fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides
+ and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
+ partners: FSU countries, Pakistan, Iran, Germany, India, UK, Belgium,
+ Luxembourg, Czechoslovakia
+
+ Imports: $616.4 million (c.i.f., 1991)
+ commodities: food and petroleum products; most consumer goods
+ partners: FSU countries, Pakistan, Iran, Japan, Singapore, India,
+ South Korea, Germany
+
+ External debt: $2.3 billion (March 1991 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 2.3% (FY90/91 est.); accounts for
+ about 25% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 480,000 kW
+ production: 550 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 39 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture,
+ shoes, fertilizer, and  cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, oil,
+ coal, copper
+
+ Agriculture: largely subsistence farming and nomadic animal husbandry;
+ cash products - wheat, fruits, nuts, karakul pelts, wool, mutton
+
+ Illicit drugs: an illicit cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis for
+ the international drug trade; world's second-largest opium producer
+ after Burma (950 metric tons in 1994) and a major source of hashish
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: $450 million US assistance provided 1985-1993; the UN
+ provides assistance in the form of food aid, immunization, land mine
+ removal, and a wide range of aid to refugees and displaced persons
+
+ Currency: 1 afghani (AF) = 100 puls
+
+ Exchange rates: afghanis (Af) per US$1 - 1,900 (January 1994), 1,019
+ (March 1993), 850 (1991), 700 (1989-90), 220 (1988-89); note - these
+ rates reflect the free market exchange rates rather than the official
+ exchange rates
+
+ Fiscal year: 21 March - 20 March
+
+@Afghanistan:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 24.6 km
+ broad gauge: 9.6 km 1.524-m gauge from Gushgy (Turkmenistan) to
+ Towraghondi; 15 km 1,524-m gauge from Termiz (Uzbekistan) to Kheyrabad
+ transshipment point on south bank of Amu Darya
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 21,000 km
+ paved: 2,800 km
+ unpaved: gravel 1,650 km; earth 16,550 km (1984)
+
+ Inland waterways: total navigability 1,200 km; chiefly Amu Darya,
+ which handles vessels up to about 500 metric tons
+
+ Pipelines: petroleum products - Uzbekistan to Bagram and Turkmenistan
+ to Shindand; natural gas 180 km
+
+ Ports: Keleft, Kheyrabad, Shir Khan
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 48
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 15
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 14
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
+
+@Afghanistan:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 31,200 telephones; limited telephone, telegraph, and
+ radiobroadcast services; 1 public telephone in Kabul
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: one link between western Afghanistan and Iran (via
+ satellite)
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 0, shortwave 2
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: several television stations run by factions and
+ local councils which provide intermittent service
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Afghanistan:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: the military still does not exist on a national scale; some
+ elements of the former Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National
+ Guard, Border Guard  Forces, National Police Force (Sarandoi), and
+ tribal militias still exist but are factionalized among the various
+ mujahedin and former regime leaders
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 5,646,789; males fit for
+ military service 3,011,777; males reach military age (22) annually
+ 200,264 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $450 million, 15% of
+ GDP (1990 est.); the new government has not yet adopted a defense
+ budget
+
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ALBANIA
+
+@Albania:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian
+ Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro
+
+ Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 28,750 sq km
+ land area: 27,400 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
+
+ Land boundaries: total 720 km, Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav
+ Republic of Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km (114 km
+ with Serbia, 173 km with Montenegro)
+
+ Coastline: 362 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: the Albanian Government supports protection of
+ the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders; Albanian
+ majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Serbian Republic; Albanians
+ in Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public
+ sector jobs and representation in government; Albania is involved in a
+ bilaterlal dispute with Greece over border demarcation, the treatment
+ of Albania's ethnic Greek minority, and migrant Albanian workers in
+ Greece
+
+ Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry
+ summers; interior is cooler and wetter
+
+ Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper,
+ timber, nickel
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 21%
+ permanent crops: 4%
+ meadows and pastures: 15%
+ forest and woodland: 38%
+ other: 22%
+
+ Irrigated land: 4,230 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from
+ industrial and domestic effluents
+ natural hazards: destructive earthquakes; tsunami occur along
+ southwestern coast
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change
+
+ Note: strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea
+ to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
+
+@Albania:People
+
+ Population: 3,413,904 (July 1995 est.)
+ note: IMF, working with Albanian government figures, estimates the
+ population at 3,120,000 in 1993 and that the population has fallen
+ since 1990
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 32% (female 520,186; male 563,953)
+ 15-64 years: 62% (female 1,026,321; male 1,104,371)
+ 65 years and over: 6% (female 112,252; male 86,821) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.16% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 21.7 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.22 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -4.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 28.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 73.81 years
+ male: 70.83 years
+ female: 77.02 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.71 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Albanian(s)
+ adjective: Albanian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Albanian 95%, Greeks 3%, other 2% (Vlachs, Gypsies,
+ Serbs, and Bulgarians) (1989 est.)
+
+ Religions: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%
+ note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious
+ observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing
+ private religious practice
+
+ Languages: Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek
+
+ Literacy: age 9 and over can read and write (1955)
+ total population: 72%
+ male: 80%
+ female: 63%
+
+ Labor force: 1.5 million (1987)
+ by occupation: agriculture 60%, industry and commerce 40% (1986)
+
+@Albania:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Albania
+ conventional short form: Albania
+ local long form: Republika e Shqiperise
+ local short form: Shqiperia
+ former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania
+
+ Digraph: AL
+
+ Type: emerging democracy
+
+ Capital: Tirane
+
+ Administrative divisions: 26 districts (rrethe, singular - rreth);
+ Berat, Dibre, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Kolonje,
+ Korce, Kruje, Kukes, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Mat, Mirdite, Permet,
+ Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar, Tepelene, Tirane, Tropoje,
+ Vlore
+
+ Independence: 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1912)
+
+ Constitution: an interim basic law was approved by the People's
+ Assembly on 29 April 1991; a draft constitution was rejected by
+ popular referendum in the fall of 1994 and a new draft is pending
+
+ Legal system: has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President of the Republic Sali BERISHA (since 9 April
+ 1992)
+ head of government: Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers
+ Aleksander Gabriel MEKSI (since 10 April 1992)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ People's Assembly (Kuvendi Popullor): elections last held 22 March
+ 1992; results - DP 62.29%, ASP 25.57%, SDP 4.33%, RP 3.15%, UHP 2.92%,
+ other 1.74%; seats - (140 total) DP 92, ASP 38, SDP 7, RP 1, UHP 2
+ note: 6 members of the Democratic Party defected making the present
+ seating in the Assembly DP 86, ASP 38, SDP 7, DAP 6, RP 1, UHP 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: there are at least 28 political
+ parties; most prominent are the Albanian Socialist Party (ASP;
+ formerly the Albania Workers Party), Fatos NANO, first secretary;
+ Democratic Party (DP); Albanian Republican Party (RP), Sabri GODO;
+ Omonia (Greek minority party), Sotir QIRJAZATI, first secretary;
+ Social Democratic Party (SDP), Skender GJINUSHI; Democratic Alliance
+ Party (DAP), Neritan CEKA, chairman; Unity for Human Rights Party
+ (UHP), Vasil MELO, chairman; Ecology Party (EP), Namik HOTI, chairman
+
+ Member of: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE,
+ UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Lublin Hasan DILJA
+ chancery: Suite 1010, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
+ telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942, 8187
+ FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph E. LAKE
+ embassy: Rruga E. Elbansanit 103, Tirane
+ mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100 (A), APO AE 09624
+ telephone: [355] (42) 328-75, 335-20
+ FAX: [355] (42) 322-22
+
+ Flag: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center
+
+@Albania:Economy
+
+ Overview: An extremely poor country by European standards, Albania is
+ making the difficult transition to a more open-market economy. The
+ economy rebounded in 1993-94 after a severe depression accompanying
+ the collapse of the previous centrally planned system in 1990 and
+ 1991. Stabilization policies - including a strict monetary policy,
+ public sector layoffs, and reduced social services - have improved the
+ government's fiscal situation and reduced inflation. The recovery was
+ spurred by the remittances of some 20% of the population which works
+ abroad, mostly in Greece and Italy. These remittances supplement GDP
+ and help offset the large foreign trade deficit. Foreign assistance
+ and humanitarian aid also supported the recovery. Most agricultural
+ land was privatized in 1992, substantially improving peasant incomes.
+ Albania's limited industrial sector, now less than one-sixth of GDP,
+ continued to decline in 1994. A sharp fall in chromium prices reduced
+ hard currency receipts from the mining sector. Large segments of the
+ population, especially those living in urban areas, continue to depend
+ on humanitarian aid to meet basic food requirements. Unemployment
+ remains a severe problem accounting for approximately one-fifth of the
+ work force. Growth is expected to continue in 1995, but could falter
+ if Albania becomes involved in the conflict in the former Yugoslavia,
+ workers' remittances from Greece are reduced, or foreign assistance
+ declines.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.8 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 11% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,110 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 18% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.1 billion
+ expenditures: $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $70
+ million (1991 est.)
+
+ Exports: $112 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: asphalt, metals and metallic ores, electricity, crude
+ oil, vegetables, fruits, tobacco
+ partners: Italy, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Germany,
+ Greece, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary
+
+ Imports: $621 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: machinery, consumer goods, grains
+ partners: Italy, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Germany,
+ Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece
+
+ External debt: $920 million (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -10% (1993 est.); accounts for 16%
+ of GDP (1993 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 770,000 kW
+ production: 4 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,200 kWh (1994)
+
+ Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, lumber, oil,
+ cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 55% of GDP; arable land per capita among
+ lowest in Europe; 80% of arable land now in private hands; 60% of the
+ work force engaged in farming; produces wide range of temperate-zone
+ crops and livestock
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
+ transiting the Balkan route and cocaine from South America destined
+ for Western Europe; limited opium production
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: $303 million (1993)
+
+ Currency: 1 lek (L) = 100 qintars
+
+ Exchange rates: leke (L) per US$1 - 100 (January 1995), 99 (January
+ 1994), 97 (January 1993), 50 (January 1992), 25 (September 1991)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Albania:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 543 km line connecting Podgorica (Serbia and Montenegro) and
+ Shkoder completed August 1986
+ standard gauge: 509 km 1.435-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 34 km 0.950-m gauge (1990)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 18,450 km
+ paved: 17,450 km
+ unpaved: earth 1,000 km (1991)
+
+ Inland waterways: 43 km plus Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake
+ Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 145 km; petroleum products 55 km; natural gas 64
+ km (1991)
+
+ Ports: Durres, Sarande, Shergjin, Vlore
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 11 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 52,967 GRT/76,887
+ DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 11
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+
+@Albania:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: about 55,000 telephones; about 15 telephones/1,000
+ persons
+ local: primitive; about 11,000 telephones in Tirane, the capital city
+ intercity: obsolete wire system; no longer provides a telephone for
+ every village; in 1992, following the fall of the communist
+ government, peasants cut the wire to about 1,000 villages and used it
+ to build fences
+ international: inadequate; carried through the Tirane exchange and
+ transmitted through Italy on 240 microwave radio relay circuits and
+ through Greece on 150 microwave radio relay circuits
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: 515,000 (1987 est.)
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 9
+ televisions: 255,000 (1987 est.)
+
+@Albania:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior Ministry
+ Troops, Border Guards
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 919,085; males fit for military
+ service 755,574; males reach military age (19) annually 33,323 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: 330 million leke, NA% of GNP (1993); note -
+ conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current
+ exchange rate could produce misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ALGERIA
+
+@Algeria:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
+ Morocco and Tunisia
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 2,381,740 sq km
+ land area: 2,381,740 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 6,343 km, Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km,
+ Mauritania 463 km, Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km,
+ Western Sahara 42 km
+
+ Coastline: 998 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: Libya claims part of southeastern Algeria;
+ land boundary dispute with Tunisia settled in 1993
+
+ Climate: arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers
+ along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau;
+ sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
+
+ Terrain: mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow,
+ discontinuous coastal plain
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates,
+ uranium, lead, zinc
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 3%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 13%
+ forest and woodland: 2%
+ other: 82%
+
+ Irrigated land: 3,360 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming
+ practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining
+ wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of
+ rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming
+ polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff;
+ inadequate supplies of potable water
+ natural hazards: mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes;
+ mudslides
+ international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered
+ Species, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
+ Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
+ Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
+
+ Note: second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)
+
+@Algeria:People
+
+ Population: 28,539,321 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 41% (female 5,678,879; male 5,885,246)
+ 15-64 years: 56% (female 7,887,885; male 8,033,508)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 557,636; male 496,167) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.25% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 29.02 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.05 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 50.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 68.01 years
+ male: 66.94 years
+ female: 69.13 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Algerian(s)
+ adjective: Algerian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%
+
+ Religions: Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
+
+ Languages: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 57%
+ male: 70%
+ female: 46%
+
+ Labor force: 6.2 million (1992 est.)
+ by occupation: government 29.5%, agriculture 22%, construction and
+ public works 16.2%, industry 13.6%, commerce and services 13.5%,
+ transportation and communication 5.2% (1989)
+
+@Algeria:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria
+ conventional short form: Algeria
+ local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash
+ Shabiyah
+ local short form: Al Jaza'ir
+
+ Digraph: AG
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Algiers
+
+ Administrative divisions: 48 provinces (wilayas, singular - wilaya);
+ Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar,
+ Bejaia, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef,
+ Constantine, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma,
+ Illizi, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem,
+ M'Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif,
+ Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanghasset, Tebessa, Tiaret,
+ Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen
+
+ Independence: 5 July 1962 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 1 November (1954)
+
+ Constitution: 19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised 3
+ November 1988 and 23 February 1989
+
+ Legal system: socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial
+ review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed
+ of various public officials, including several Supreme Court justices;
+ has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Lamine ZEROUAL (since 31 January 1994); next
+ election to be held by the end of 1995
+ head of government: Prime Minister Mokdad SIFI (since 11 April 1994)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral; note - suspended since 1992
+ National People's Assembly (Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani): elections
+ first round held on 26 December 1991 (second round canceled by the
+ military after President BENDJEDID resigned 11 January 1992,
+ effectively suspending the Assembly); results - percent of vote by
+ party NA; seats - (281 total); the fundamentalist FIS won 188 of the
+ 231 seats contested in the first round; note - elections (provincial
+ and municipal) were held in June 1990, the first in Algerian history;
+ results - FIS 55%, FLN 27.5%, other 17.5%, with 65% of the voters
+ participating
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Islamic Salvation Front (FIS, outlawed
+ April 1992), Ali BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Abdelkader HACHANI (all
+ under arrest), Rabeh KEBIR (self-exile in Germany); National
+ Liberation Front (FLN), Abdelhamid MEHRI, Secretary General; Socialist
+ Forces Front (FFS), Hocine Ait AHMED, Secretary General
+ note: the government established a multiparty system in September 1989
+ and, as of 31 December 1990, over 50 legal parties existed
+
+ Member of: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15,
+ G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
+ ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM,
+ OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
+ UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Osmane BENCHERIF
+ chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald E. NEUMANN
+ embassy: 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers
+ mailing address: B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers
+ telephone: [213] (2) 69-11-86, 69-18-54, 69-38-75
+ FAX: [213] (2) 69-39-79
+ consulate(s): none (Oran closed June 1993)
+
+ Flag: two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white with a
+ red five-pointed star within a red crescent; the crescent, star, and
+ color green are traditional symbols of Islam (the state religion)
+
+@Algeria:Economy
+
+ Overview: The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy,
+ accounting for roughly 57% of government revenues, 25% of GDP, and
+ almost all export earnings; Algeria has the fifth largest reserves of
+ natural gas in the world and ranks fourteenth for oil. Algiers'
+ efforts to reform one of the most centrally planned economies in the
+ Arab world began after the 1986 collapse of world oil prices plunged
+ the country into a severe recession. In 1989, the government launched
+ a comprehensive, IMF-supported program to achieve macroeconomic
+ stabilization and to introduce market mechanisms into the economy.
+ Despite substantial progress toward macroeconomic adjustment, in 1992
+ the reform drive stalled as Algiers became embroiled in political
+ turmoil. In September 1993, a new government was formed, and one
+ priority was the resumption and acceleration of the structural
+ adjustment process. Buffeted by the slump in world oil prices and
+ burdened with a heavy foreign debt, Algiers concluded a one-year
+ standby arrangement with the IMF in April 1994.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $97.1 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 0.2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $3,480 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 30% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $14.3 billion
+ expenditures: $17.9 billion (1995 est.)
+
+ Exports: $9.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: petroleum and natural gas 97%
+ partners: Italy 21%, France 16%, US 14%, Germany 13%, Spain 9%
+
+ Imports: $9.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: capital goods 39.7%, food and beverages 21.7%, consumer
+ goods 11.8% (1990)
+ partners: France 29%, Italy 14%, Spain 9%, US 9%, Germany 7%
+
+ External debt: $26 billion (1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 35% of GDP
+ (including hydrocarbons)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 5,370,000 kW
+ production: 18.3 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 587 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: petroleum, light industries, natural gas, mining,
+ electrical, petrochemical, food processing
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 12% of GDP (1993) and employs 22% of labor
+ force; products- wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits,
+ sheep, cattle; net importer of food - grain, vegetable oil, sugar
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-85), $1.4 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $925 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.8 billion;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $2.7 billion; net official
+ disbursements (1985-89), $375 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Algerian dinar (DA) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Algerian dinars (DA) per US$1 - 42.710 (January 1995),
+ 35.059 (1994), 23.345 (1993), 21.836 (1992), 18.473 (1991), 8.958
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Algeria:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 4,733 km
+ standard gauge: 3,576 km 1.435-m gauge (299 km electrified; 215 km
+ double track)
+ narrow gauge: 1,157 km 1.055-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 95,576 km
+ paved: concrete, bituminous 57,346 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 38,230 km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 6,612 km; petroleum products 298 km; natural gas
+ 2,948 km
+
+ Ports: Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Beni Saf, Dellys, Djendjene,
+ Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda, Tenes
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 75 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 903,179 GRT/1,064,211 DWT
+
+ ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 27, chemical tanker 7, liquefied gas
+ tanker 9, oil tanker 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger
+ 5, specialized tanker 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 139
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 9
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 23
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 20
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 24
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 41
+
+@Algeria:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 822,000 telephones; excellent domestic and
+ international service in the north, sparse in the south
+ local: NA
+ intercity: 12 domestic satellite links; 20 additional satellite links
+ are planned
+ international: 5 submarine cables; microwave radio relay to Italy,
+ France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and
+ Tunisia; 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1
+ Intersputnik, 1 ARABSAT earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 26, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: 5.2 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 18
+ televisions: 1.6 million
+
+@Algeria:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: National Popular Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Air
+ Defense, National Gendarmerie
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 7,124,894; males fit for
+ military service 4,373,272; males reach military age (19) annually
+ 313,707 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.3 billion, 2.7% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+AMERICAN SAMOA
+
+ (territory of the US)
+
+@American Samoa:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
+ one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 199 sq km
+ land area: 199 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
+ note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 116 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual
+ rainfall averages 124 inches; rainy season from November to April, dry
+ season from May to October; little seasonal temperature variation
+
+ Terrain: five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal
+ plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
+
+ Natural resources: pumice, pumicite
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 10%
+ permanent crops: 5%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 75%
+ other: 10%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; in many areas
+ of the island water supplies come from roof catchments
+ natural hazards: typhoons common from December to March
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the
+ South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and protected
+ by peripheral mountains from high winds; strategic location in the
+ South Pacific Ocean
+
+@American Samoa:People
+
+ Population: 57,366 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.82% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 36.21 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 4.01 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 72.91 years
+ male: 71.03 years
+ female: 74.85 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.3 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: American Samoan(s)
+ adjective: American Samoan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%,
+ other 5%
+
+ Religions: Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%,
+ Protestant denominations and other 30%
+
+ Languages: Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian
+ languages), English; most people are bilingual
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
+ total population: 97%
+ male: 98%
+ female: 97%
+
+ Labor force: 14,400 (1990)
+ by occupation: government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)
+
+@American Samoa:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
+ conventional short form: American Samoa
+
+ Abbreviation: AS
+
+ Digraph: AQ
+
+ Type: unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered
+ by the US Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and
+ International Affairs
+
+ Capital: Pago Pago
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
+
+ Independence: none (territory of the US)
+
+ National holiday: Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
+
+ Constitution: ratified 1966, in effect 1967
+
+ Legal system: NA
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January
+ 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
+ head of government: Governor A. P. LUTALI (since 3 January 1993);
+ Lieutenant Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1993); election
+ last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results
+ - A. P. LUTALI (Democrat) 53%, Peter Tali COLEMAN (Republican) 36%
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono)
+ House of Representatives: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to
+ be held NA November 1994); results - representatives popularly elected
+ from 17 house districts; seats - (21 total, 20 elected, and 1
+ nonvoting delegate from Swains Island)
+ Senate: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA
+ November 1996); results - senators elected by village chiefs from 12
+ senate districts; seats - (18 total) number of seats by party NA
+ US House of Representatives: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next
+ to be held NA November 1994); results - Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA
+ reelected as delegate
+
+ Judicial branch: High Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: NA
+
+ Member of: ESCAP (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, SPC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of the US)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)
+
+ Flag: blue with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the fly
+ side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald
+ eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan
+ symbols of authority, a staff and a war club
+
+@American Samoa:Economy
+
+ Overview: Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which
+ American Samoa conducts 80%-90% of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and
+ tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with
+ canned tuna the primary export. The tuna canneries and the government
+ are by far the two largest employers. Other economic activities
+ include a slowly developing tourist industry. Transfers from the US
+ Government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well-being.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $128 million (1991
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $2,600 (1991)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1990)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 12% (1991)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $97 million (includes $43,000,000 in local revenue and
+ $54,000,000 in grant revenue);
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90/91)
+
+ Exports: $306 million (f.o.b., 1989)
+ commodities: canned tuna 93%
+ partners: US 99.6%
+
+ Imports: $360.3 million (c.i.f., 1989)
+ commodities: materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products
+ 7%, machinery and parts 6%
+ partners: US 62%, Japan 9%, NZ 7%, Australia 11%, Fiji 4%, other 7%
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 30,000 kW
+ production: 90 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,505 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing
+ vessels), meat canning, handicrafts
+
+ Agriculture: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams,
+ copra, pineapples, papayas, dairy farming
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: $21,042,650 in operational funds and $1,227,000 in
+ construction funds for capital improvement projects from the US
+ Department of Interior (1991)
+
+ Currency: 1 United States dollar = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: US currency is used
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
+
+@American Samoa:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 350 km
+ paved: 150 km
+ unpaved: 200 km
+
+ Ports: Aanu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago,
+ Ta'u
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 4
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 3
+ note: small airstrips on Fituita and Ofu
+
+@American Samoa:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 8,399 telephones; good telex, telegraph, and
+ facsimile services
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) and 1 COMSAT earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@American Samoa:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ANDORRA
+
+@Andorra:Geography
+
+ Location: Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 450 sq km
+ land area: 450 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: total 125 km, France 60 km, Spain 65 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
+
+ Terrain: rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
+
+ Natural resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 2%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 56%
+ forest and woodland: 22%
+ other: 20%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows
+ contributes to soil erosion
+ natural hazards: snowslides, avalanches
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Andorra:People
+
+ Population: 65,780 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 18% (female 5,503; male 5,985)
+ 15-64 years: 70% (female 21,873; male 24,334)
+ 65 years and over: 12% (female 4,020; male 4,065) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.72% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 12.92 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.25 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 21.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 78.52 years
+ male: 75.65 years
+ female: 81.66 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.72 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Andorran(s)
+ adjective: Andorran
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Spanish 61%, Andorran 30%, French 6%, other 3%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic (predominant)
+
+ Languages: Catalan (official), French, Castilian
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+
+@Andorra:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
+ conventional short form: Andorra
+ local long form: Principat d'Andorra
+ local short form: Andorra
+
+ Digraph: AN
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its
+ heads of state a co-principality; the two princes are the president of
+ France and Spanish bishop of Seo de Urgel, who are represented locally
+ by officials called veguers
+
+ Capital: Andorra la Vella
+
+ Administrative divisions: 7 parishes (parroquies, singular -
+ parroquia); Andorra, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Les Escaldes,
+ Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
+
+ Independence: 1278
+
+ National holiday: Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September
+
+ Constitution: Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in
+ 1991; adopted 14 March 1993
+
+ Legal system: based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial
+ review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chiefs of state: French Co-Prince Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May
+ 1981), represented by Veguer de Franca Jean Pierre COURTOIS (since
+ NA); note - COURTOIS is to become French ambassador to Libreville and
+ his replacement has not been announced; Spanish Episcopal Co-Prince
+ Mgr. Juan MARTI Alanis (since 31 January 1971), represented by Veguer
+ Episcopal Francesc BADIA Bata (since NA); two permanent delegates
+ (French Prefect Pierre STEINMETZ for the department of
+ Pyrenees-Orientales, since NA, and Spanish Vicar General Nemesi
+ MARQUES Oste for the Seo de Urgel diocese, since NA)
+ head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE (since 21
+ December 1994) elected by Parliament, following resignation of Oscar
+ RIBAS Reig
+ cabinet: Executive Council; designated by the executive council
+ president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ General Council of the Valleys: (Consell General de las Valls);
+ elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA); yielded no
+ clear winner; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28
+ total) number of seats by party NA
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan (France) for
+ civil cases, the Ecclesiastical Court of the bishop of Seo de Urgel
+ (Spain) for civil cases, Tribunal of the Courts (Tribunal des Cortes)
+ for criminal cases
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Group (AND), Oscar
+ RIBAS Reig and Jordi FARRAS; Liberal Union (UL), Francesc CERQUEDA;
+ New Democracy (ND), Jaume BARTOMEU; Andorran National Coalition (CNA),
+ Antoni CERQUEDA; National Democratic Initiative (IDN), Vincenc MATEU;
+ Liberal Union (UL), Marc FORNE
+ note: there are two other small parties
+
+ Member of: ECE, IFRCS (associate), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, UN, UNESCO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: Andorra has no mission in the US
+
+ US diplomatic representation: Andorra is included within the Barcelona
+ (Spain) Consular District, and the US Consul General visits Andorra
+ periodically
+
+ Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red
+ with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat
+ of arms features a quartered shield; similar to the flags of Chad and
+ Romania that do not have a national coat of arms in the center
+
+@Andorra:Economy
+
+ Overview: Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's economy, accounts for
+ roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 13 million tourists visit annually,
+ attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter
+ resorts. The banking sector, with its "tax haven" status, also
+ contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is
+ limited by a scarcity of arable land, and most food has to be
+ imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising.
+ Manufacturing consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture.
+ Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union; it is unclear what effect
+ the European Single Market will have on the advantages Andorra obtains
+ from its duty-free status.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $760 million (1992
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $14,000 (1992 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: 0%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $138 million
+ expenditures: $177 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1993)
+
+ Exports: $30 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: electricity, tobacco products, furniture
+ partners: France, Spain
+
+ Imports: $NA
+ commodities: consumer goods, food
+ partners: France, Spain
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 35,000 kW
+ production: 140 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,570 kWh (1992)
+
+ Industries: tourism (particularly skiing), sheep, timber, tobacco,
+ banking
+
+ Agriculture: sheep raising; small quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat,
+ barley, oats, and some vegetables
+
+ Economic aid: none
+
+ Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes; 1 peseta (Pta) = 100
+ centimos; the French and Spanish currencies are used
+
+ Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.2943 (January 1995),
+ 5,5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453
+ (1990); Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 132.61 (January 1995),
+ 133.96 (1994), 127.26 (1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91 (1991), 101.93
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Andorra:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 96 km
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports: none
+
+@Andorra:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 17,700 telephones; digital microwave network
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: landline circuits to France and Spain
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Andorra:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of France and Spain
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ANGOLA
+
+@Angola:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
+ Namibia and Zaire
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1,246,700 sq km
+ land area: 1,246,700 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 5,198 km, Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zaire
+ 2,511 km, Zambia 1,110 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,600 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 20 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool,
+ dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
+
+ Terrain: narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper,
+ feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 2%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 23%
+ forest and woodland: 43%
+ other: 32%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA km2
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: population pressures contributing to overuse of
+ pastures and subsequent soil erosion; desertification; deforestation
+ of tropical rain forest attributable to the international demand for
+ tropical timber and domestic use as a fuel; deforestation contributing
+ to loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution
+ and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water
+
+ natural hazards: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on
+ the plateau
+ international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea; signed, but not
+ ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification
+
+ Note: Cabinda is separated from rest of country by Zaire
+
+@Angola:People
+
+ Population: 10,069,501 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 45% (female 2,208,307; male 2,274,533)
+ 15-64 years: 53% (female 2,641,259; male 2,685,543)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 136,573; male 123,286) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.68% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 45.05 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 18.1 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 142.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 46.28 years
+ male: 44.18 years
+ female: 48.49 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.42 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Angolan(s)
+ adjective: Angolan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico
+ (mixed European and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%
+
+ Religions: indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15%
+ (est.)
+
+ Languages: Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 42%
+ male: 56%
+ female: 28%
+
+ Labor force: 2.783 million economically active
+ by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry 15% (1985 est.)
+
+@Angola:Government
+
+ Note: Civil war has been the norm since independence from Portugal on
+ 11 November 1975; a cease-fire lasted from 31 May 1991 until October
+ 1992 when the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of
+ Angola (UNITA) refused to accept its defeat in internationally
+ monitored elections and fighting resumed throughout much of the
+ countryside. The two sides signed another peace accord on 20 November
+ 1994; the cease-fire is generally holding but most provisions of the
+ accord remain to be implemented.
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Angola
+ conventional short form: Angola
+ local long form: Republica de Angola
+ local short form: Angola
+ former: People's Republic of Angola
+
+ Digraph: AO
+
+ Type: transitional government nominally a multiparty democracy with a
+ strong presidential system
+
+ Capital: Luanda
+
+ Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (provincias, singular -
+ provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza
+ Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda
+ Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire
+
+ Independence: 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
+
+ Constitution: 11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August
+ 1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992
+
+ Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law;
+ recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use
+ of free markets
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September
+ 1979)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Marcolino Jose Carlos MOCO (since 2
+ December 1992)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional): first nationwide, multiparty
+ elections were held 29-30 September 1992 with disputed results
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal da Relacao)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Popular Movement for the Liberation of
+ Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, is the ruling party and
+ has been in power since 1975; National Union for the Total
+ Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, is a legal party
+ despite its history of armed resistance to the government; five minor
+ parties have small numbers of seats in the National Assembly
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Cabindan State Liberation Front
+ (FLEC), N'ZITA Tiago, leader of largest faction (FLEC-FAC)
+ note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed
+ struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC (observer), ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77,
+ GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, SADC, UN,
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Goncalves Martins PATRICIO
+ embassy: 1819 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, Suite 400
+ telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
+ FAX: [1] (202) 785-1258
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Edmund T. DE JARNETTE
+ embassy: 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda
+ mailing address: C.P. 6484, Luanda; American Embassy, Luanda,
+ Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20521-2550 (pouch)
+ telephone: [244] (2) 345-481, 346-418
+ FAX: [244] (2) 347-884
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a
+ centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a
+ cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle)
+
+@Angola:Economy
+
+ Overview: Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for
+ 80%-90% of the population but accounts for less than 15% of GDP. Oil
+ production is vital to the economy, contributing about 60% to GDP.
+ Despite the signing of a peace accord in November 1994 between the
+ Angola government and the UNITA insurgents, sporadic fighting
+ continues and many farmers remain reluctant to return to their fields.
+ As a result, much of the country's food requirements must still be
+ imported. Angola has rich natural resources - notably gold, diamonds,
+ and arable land, in addition to large oil deposits - but will need to
+ observe the cease-fire, implement the peace agreement, and reform
+ government policies if it is to achieve its potential.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $6.1 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -1% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $620 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% average per month (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 15% with considerable underemployment (1993 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $928 million
+ expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963
+ million (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee,
+ sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
+ partners: US, France, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil
+
+ Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
+ commodities: capital equipment (machinery and electrical equipment),
+ food, vehicles and spare parts, textiles and clothing, medicines,
+ substantial military deliveries
+ partners: Portugal, Brazil, US, France, Spain
+
+ External debt: $11.7 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for about 60% of GDP,
+ including petroleum output
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 620,000 kW
+ production: 1.9 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 189 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: petroleum; mining - diamonds, iron ore, phosphates,
+ feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; fish processing; food
+ processing; brewing; tobacco; sugar; textiles; cement; basic metal
+ products
+
+ Agriculture: cash crops - bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn,
+ cotton, cane, manioc, tobacco; food crops - cassava, corn, vegetables,
+ plantains; livestock production accounts for 20%, fishing 4%, forestry
+ 2% of total agricultural output
+
+ Illicit drugs: increasingly used as a transshipment point for cocaine
+ destined for Western Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $265 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $1.105 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $1.3
+ billion; net official disbursements (1985-89), $750 million
+
+ Currency: 1 new kwanza (NKz) = 100 lwei
+
+ Exchange rates: new kwanza (NKz) per US$1 - 900,000 (official rate 25
+ April 1995), 1,900,000 (black market rate 6 April 1995), 600,000
+ (official rate 10 January 1995), 90,000 (official rate 1 June 1994),
+ 180,000 (black market rate 1 June 1994); 7,000 (official rate 16
+ December 1993), 50,000 (black market rate 16 December 1993); 3,884
+ (July 1993); 550 (April 1992); 90 (November 1991); 60 (October 1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Angola:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 3,189 km; note - limited trackage in use because of landmines
+ still in place from the civil war; majority of the Benguela Railroad
+ also closed because of civil war
+ narrow gauge: 2,879 km 1.067-m gauge; 310 km 0.600-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 73,828 km
+ paved: bituminous-surface 8,577 km
+ unpaved: crushed stone, gravel, improved earth 29,350 km; unimproved
+ earth 35,901 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 1,295 km navigable
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 179 km
+
+ Ports: Ambriz, Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Malogo, Namibe, Porto Amboim,
+ Soyo
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 63,776 GRT/99,863 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 11, oil tanker 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 289
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 4
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 93
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 33
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 126
+
+@Angola:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 40,300 telephones; 4.1 telephones/1,000 persons;
+ high frequency radio used extensively for military links; telephone
+ service limited mostly to government and business use
+ local: NA
+ intercity: limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and
+ troposcatter routes
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 13, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 6
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Angola:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Police
+ Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,315,717; males fit for
+ military service 1,166,082; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 100,273 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion, 31% of
+ GDP (1993)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ANGUILLA
+
+ (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+@Anguilla:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, east of Puerto Rico
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 91 sq km
+ land area: 91 sq km
+ comparative area: about half the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 61 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
+
+ Terrain: flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
+
+ Natural resources: negligible; salt, fish, lobster
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: NA%
+ permanent crops: NA%
+ meadows and pastures: NA%
+ forest and woodland: NA%
+ other: NA% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some
+ commercial salt ponds)
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet
+ increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system
+ natural hazards: frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July
+ to October)
+ international agreements: NA
+
+@Anguilla:People
+
+ Population: 7,099 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 32% (female 1,129; male 1,115)
+ 15-64 years: 60% (female 2,101; male 2,126)
+ 65 years and over: 8% (female 362; male 266) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.66% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 24.09 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.03 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -9.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 17.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 74.1 years
+ male: 71.32 years
+ female: 76.91 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.05 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Anguillan(s)
+ adjective: Anguillan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: black African
+
+ Religions: Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%,
+ Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%
+
+ Languages: English (official)
+
+ Literacy: age 12 and over can read and write (1984)
+ total population: 95%
+ male: 95%
+ female: 95%
+
+ Labor force: 4,400 (1992)
+ by occupation: commerce 36%, services 29%, construction 18%,
+ transportation and utilities 10%, manufacturing 3%,
+ agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%
+
+@Anguilla:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Anguilla
+
+ Digraph: AV
+
+ Type: dependent territory of the UK
+
+ Capital: The Valley
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ National holiday: Anguilla Day, 30 May
+
+ Constitution: Anguilla Constitutional Orders 1 April 1982; amended
+ 1990
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor Alan W. SHAVE (since 14 August 1992)
+ head of government: Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 March 1994)
+
+ cabinet: Executive Council; appointed by the governor from the elected
+ members of the House of Assembly
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ House of Assembly: elections last held 16 March 1994 (next to be held
+ March 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (11 total,
+ 7 elected) ANA 2, AUP 2, ADP 2, independent 1
+
+ Judicial branch: High Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Anguilla National Alliance (ANA);
+ Anguilla United Party (AUP), Hubert HUGHES; Anguilla Democratic Party
+ (ADP), Victor BANKS
+
+ Member of: CARICOM (observer), CDB, INTERPOL (subbureau)
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Flag: two horizontal bands of white (top, almost triple width) and
+ light blue with three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular
+ design centered in the white band; a new flag may have been in use
+ since 30 May 1990
+
+@Anguilla:Economy
+
+ Overview: Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends
+ heavily on lobster fishing, offshore banking, tourism, and remittances
+ from emigrants. In recent years the economy has benefited from a boom
+ in tourism and construction. Development plans center around the
+ improvement of the infrastructure, particularly transport and tourist
+ facilities, and also light industry.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $49 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 7.5% (1992)
+
+ National product per capita: $7,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1992 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 7% (1992 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $13.8 million
+ expenditures: $15.2 million, including capital expenditures of $2.4
+ million (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $556,000 (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: lobster and salt
+ partners: NA
+
+ Imports: $33.5 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: NA
+ partners: NA
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 2,000 kW
+ production: 6 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 862 kWh (1992)
+
+ Industries: tourism, boat building, salt
+
+ Agriculture: pigeon peas, corn, sweet potatoes, sheep, goats, pigs,
+ cattle, poultry, fishing (including lobster)
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $38 million
+
+ Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed
+ rate since 1976)
+
+ Fiscal year: NA
+
+@Anguilla:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 105 km (1992 est.)
+ paved: 65 km
+ unpaved: gravel and earth 40 km
+
+ Ports: Blowing Point, Road Bay
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 3
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+
+@Anguilla:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 890 telephones; modern internal telephone system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: radio relay microwave link to island of Saint Martin
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Anguilla:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ANTARCTICA
+
+@Antarctica:Geography
+
+ Location: continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle
+
+ Map references: Antarctic Region
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 14 million sq km (est.)
+ land area: 14 million sq km (est.)
+ comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
+ note: second-smallest continent (after Australia)
+
+ Land boundaries: none, but see entry on International disputes
+
+ Coastline: 17,968 km
+
+ Maritime claims: none, but see entry on International Disputes
+
+ International disputes: Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctic
+ Treaty Summary below); sections (some overlapping) claimed by
+ Argentina, Australia, Chile, France (Adelie Land), New Zealand (Ross
+ Dependency), Norway (Queen Maud Land), and UK; the US and most other
+ nations do not recognize the territorial claims of other nations and
+ have made no claims themselves (the US reserves the right to do so);
+ no formal claims have been made in the sector between 90 degrees west
+ and 150 degrees west
+
+ Climate: severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and
+ distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West
+ Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has
+ the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along
+ the coast and average slightly below freezing
+
+ Terrain: about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock,
+ with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain
+ ranges up to 4,897 meters high; ice-free coastal areas include parts
+ of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area,
+ and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves
+ along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute
+ 11% of the area of the continent
+
+ Natural resources: none presently exploited; iron ore, chromium,
+ copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and
+ hydrocarbons have been found in small, uncommercial quantities
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%)
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: in October 1991 it was reported that the ozone shield,
+ which protects the Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation,
+ had dwindled to the lowest level recorded over Antarctica since 1975
+ when measurements were first taken
+ natural hazards: katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from
+ the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the
+ plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise along
+ the coast; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West
+ Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: the coldest, windiest, highest, and driest continent; during
+ summer more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than
+ is received at the Equator in an equivalent period; mostly
+ uninhabitable
+
+@Antarctica:People
+
+ Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are seasonally
+ staffed research stations
+ Summer (January) population: over 4,115 total; Argentina 207,
+ Australia 268, Belgium 13, Brazil 80, Chile 256, China NA, Ecuador NA,
+ Finland 11, France 78, Germany 32, Greenpeace 12, India 60, Italy 210,
+ Japan 59, South Korea 14, Netherlands 10, NZ 264, Norway 23, Peru 39,
+ Poland NA, South Africa 79, Spain 43, Sweden 10, UK 116, Uruguay NA,
+ US 1,666, former USSR 565 (1989-90)
+ Winter (July) population: over 1,046 total; Argentina 150, Australia
+ 71, Brazil 12, Chile 73, China NA, France 33, Germany 19, Greenpeace
+ 5, India 1, Japan 38, South Korea 14, NZ 11, Poland NA, South Africa
+ 12, UK 69, Uruguay NA, US 225, former USSR 313 (1989-90)
+ Year-round stations: 42 total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1,
+ Chile 3, China 2, Finland 1, France 1, Germany 1, India 1, Japan 2,
+ South Korea 1, NZ 1, Poland 1, South Africa 3, UK 5, Uruguay 1, US 3,
+ former USSR 6 (1990-91)
+ Summer only stations: over 38 total; Argentina 7, Australia 3, Chile
+ 5, Germany 3, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 4, NZ 2, Norway 1, Peru 1, South
+ Africa 1, Spain 1, Sweden 2, UK 1, US numerous, former USSR 5
+ (1989-90); note - the disintegration of the former USSR has placed the
+ status and future of its Antarctic facilities in doubt; stations may
+ be subject to closings at any time because of ongoing economic
+ difficulties
+
+@Antarctica:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Antarctica
+
+ Digraph: AY
+
+ Type:
+ Antarctic Treaty Summary: The Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December
+ 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, establishes the legal
+ framework for the management of Antarctica. Administration is carried
+ out through consultative member meetings - the 18th Antarctic Treaty
+ Consultative Meeting was in Japan in April 1993. Currently, there are
+ 42 treaty member nations: 26 consultative and 16 acceding.
+ Consultative (voting) members include the seven nations that claim
+ portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and
+ 19 nonclaimant nations. The US and some other nations that have made
+ no claims have reserved the right to do so. The US does not recognize
+ the claims of others. The year in parentheses indicates when an
+ acceding nation was voted to full consultative (voting) status, while
+ no date indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory.
+ Claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New
+ Zealand, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are -
+ Belgium, Brazil (1983), China (1985), Ecuador (1990), Finland (1989),
+ Germany (1981), India (1983), Italy (1987), Japan, South Korea (1989),
+ Netherlands (1990), Peru (1989), Poland (1977), South Africa, Spain
+ (1988), Sweden (1988), Uruguay (1985), the US, and Russia. Acceding
+ (nonvoting) members, with year of accession in parentheses, are -
+ Austria (1987), Bulgaria (1978), Canada (1988), Colombia (1988), Cuba
+ (1984), Czech Republic (1993), Denmark (1965), Greece (1987),
+ Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea
+ (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1993), Switzerland (1990), and
+ Ukraine (1992).
+ Article 1: area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military
+ activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military
+ personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any
+ other peaceful purpose
+ Article 2: freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall
+ continue
+ Article 3: free exchange of information and personnel in cooperation
+ with the UN and other international agencies
+ Article 4: does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial
+ claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in
+ force
+ Article 5: prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive
+ wastes
+ Article 6: includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of
+ 60 degrees 00 minutes south
+ Article 7: treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial
+ observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations,
+ and equipment; advance notice of all activities and of the
+ introduction of military personnel must be given
+ Article 8: allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by
+ their own states
+ Article 9: frequent consultative meetings take place among member
+ nations
+ Article 10: treaty states will discourage activities by any country in
+ Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty
+ Article 11: disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned
+ or, ultimately, by the ICJ
+ Articles 12, 13, 14: deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending
+ the treaty among involved nations
+ Other agreements: more than 170 recommendations adopted at treaty
+ consultative meetings and ratified by governments include - Agreed
+ Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora (1964);
+ Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972); Convention
+ on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980); a
+ mineral resources agreement was signed in 1988 but was subsequently
+ rejected; in 1991 the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the
+ Antarctic Treaty was signed and awaits ratification; this agreement
+ provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment through five
+ specific annexes on marine pollution, fauna, and flora, environmental
+ impact assessments, waste management, and protected areas; it also
+ prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except
+ scientific research; 14 parties have ratified Protocol as of April
+ 1995
+
+ Legal system: US law, including certain criminal offenses by or
+ against US nationals, such as murder, may apply to areas not under
+ jurisdiction of other countries. Some US laws directly apply to
+ Antarctica. For example, the Antarctic Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C.
+ section 2401 et seq., provides civil and criminal penalties for the
+ following activities, unless authorized by regulation of statute: The
+ taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction of nonindigenous
+ plants and animals; entry into specially protected or scientific
+ areas; the discharge or disposal of pollutants; and the importation
+ into the US of certain items from Antarctica. Violation of the
+ Antarctic Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000 in fines
+ and 1 year in prison. The Departments of Treasury, Commerce,
+ Transportation, and Interior share enforcement responsibilities.
+ Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, requires
+ expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, in advance, the
+ Office of Oceans and Polar Affairs, Room 5801, Department of State,
+ Washington, DC 20520, which reports such plans to other nations as
+ required by the Antarctic Treaty. For more information contact Permit
+ Office, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation,
+ Arlington, Virginia 22230 (703-306-1031).
+
+@Antarctica:Economy
+
+ Overview: No economic activity at present except for fishing off the
+ coast and small-scale tourism, both based abroad.
+
+@Antarctica:Transportation
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage
+
+ Airports: 42 landing facilities at different locations operated by 15
+ national governments party to the Treaty; one additional air facility
+ operated by commercial (nongovernmental) tourist organization;
+ helicopter pads at 36 of these locations; runways at 14 locations are
+ gravel, sea ice, glacier ice, or compacted snow surface suitable for
+ wheeled fixed-wing aircraft; no paved runways; 15 locations have
+ snow-surface skiways limited to use by ski-equipped planes - 11
+ runways/skiways 1,000 to 3,000 m, 5 runways/skiways less than 1,000 m,
+ 8 runways/skiways greater than 3,000 m, and 5 of unspecified or
+ variable length; airports generally subject to severe restrictions and
+ limitations resulting from extreme seasonal and geographic conditions;
+ airports do not meet ICAO standards; advance approval from the
+ respective governmental or non-governmental operating organization
+ required for landing
+
+@Antarctica:Communications
+
+ Telephone system:
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Antarctica:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military
+ nature, such as the establishment of military bases and
+ fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing
+ of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military personnel or
+ equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
+
+@Antigua And Barbuda:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North
+ Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 440 sq km
+ land area: 440 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+ note: includes Redonda
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 153 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
+
+ Terrain: mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands with some higher
+ volcanic areas
+
+ Natural resources: negligible; pleasant climate fosters tourism
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 18%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 7%
+ forest and woodland: 16%
+ other: 59%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: water management - a major concern because of limited
+ natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of
+ trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly
+
+ natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October);
+ periodic droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
+ Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
+ Whaling
+
+@Antigua And Barbuda:People
+
+ Population: 65,176 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 25% (female 8,062; male 8,390)
+ 15-64 years: 69% (female 22,342; male 22,334)
+ 65 years and over: 6% (female 2,231; male 1,817) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.68% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 17.08 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.35 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -4.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 17.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 73.4 years
+ male: 71.32 years
+ female: 75.57 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
+ adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: black African, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian
+
+ Religions: Anglican (predominant), other Protestant sects, some Roman
+ Catholic
+
+ Languages: English (official), local dialects
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of
+ schooling (1960)
+ total population: 89%
+ male: 90%
+ female: 88%
+
+ Labor force: 30,000
+ by occupation: commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%, industry 7%
+ (1983)
+
+@Antigua And Barbuda:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda
+
+ Digraph: AC
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Saint John's
+
+ Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*,
+ Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint
+ Peter, Saint Philip
+
+ Independence: 1 November 1981 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 1 November (1981)
+
+ Constitution: 1 November 1981
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor General James B. CARLISLE (since NA 1993)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since 8 March
+ 1994)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the governor general on
+ the advice of the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
+ Senate: 17 member body appointed by the governor general
+ House of Representatives: elections last held 8 March 1994 (next to be
+ held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17
+ total) ALP 11, UPP 5, independent 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Antigua Labor Party (ALP), Lester
+ Bryant BIRD; United Progressive Party (UPP), Baldwin SPENCER
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: United Progressive Party (UPP),
+ headed by Baldwin SPENCER, a coalition of three opposition political
+ parties - the United National Democratic Party (UNDP); the Antigua
+ Caribbean Liberation Movement (ACLM); and the Progressive Labor
+ Movement (PLM); Antigua Trades and Labor Union (ATLU), headed by
+ William ROBINSON
+
+ Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM
+ (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
+ WHO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick Albert LEWIS
+ chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
+ telephone: [1] (202) 362-5211, 5166, 5122
+ FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225
+ consulate(s) general: Miami
+
+ US diplomatic representation: the post was closed 30 June 1994; the US
+ Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda
+
+ Flag: red with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of
+ the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top),
+ light blue, and white with a yellow rising sun in the black band
+
+@Antigua And Barbuda:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is primarily service oriented, with tourism the
+ most important determinant of economic performance. In 1993, tourism
+ made a direct contribution to GDP of about 17%, and also spurred
+ growth in other sectors such as construction and transport. While only
+ accounting for roughly 5% of GDP in 1993, agricultural production
+ increased by 4%. Tourist arrivals remained strong in 1994.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $400 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3.4% (1993)
+
+ National product per capita: $6,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1993)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 6% (1992 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $105 million
+ expenditures: $161 million, including capital expenditures of $56
+ million (1992)
+
+ Exports: $54.7 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, food and live
+ animals 4%, machinery and transport equipment 17%
+ partners: OECS 26%, Barbados 15%, Guyana 4%, Trinidad and Tobago 2%,
+ US 0.3%
+
+ Imports: $260.9 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment,
+ manufactures, chemicals, oil
+ partners: US 27%, UK 16%, Canada 4%, OECS 3%, other 50%
+
+ External debt: $250 million (1990 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -4.9% (1993 est.); accounts for
+ 6.5% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 52,100 kW
+ production: 95 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,242 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing,
+ alcohol, household appliances)
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GDP; expanding output of cotton,
+ fruits, vegetables, and livestock; other crops - bananas, coconuts,
+ cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; not self-sufficient in food
+
+ Illicit drugs: a long-time but relatively minor transshipment point
+ for narcotics bound for the US and Europe and recent transshipment
+ point for heroin from Europe to the US; more significant as a drug
+ money laundering center
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments (1985-88), $10 million; Western (non-US)
+ countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $50 million
+
+ Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed
+ rate since 1976)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Antigua And Barbuda:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 77 km
+ narrow gauge: 64 km 0.760-m gauge; 13 km 0.610-m gauge (used almost
+ exclusively for handling sugar cane)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 240 km
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: Saint John's
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 304 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,188,113 GRT/1,651,190
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 216, chemical tanker 8, container 48,
+ liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 10,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 11
+ note: a flag of convenience registry
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 3
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+
+@Antigua And Barbuda:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 6,700 telephones; good automatic telephone system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean)
+ earth station; tropospheric scatter links with Saba and Guadeloupe
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 2
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 2
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Antigua And Barbuda:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antigua and
+ Barbuda Police Force (includes the Coast Guard)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.4 million, 1% of
+ GDP (FY90/91)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ARCTIC OCEAN
+
+@Arctic Ocean:Geography
+
+ Location: body of water mostly north of the Arctic Circle
+
+ Map references: Arctic Region
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 14.056 million sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of the US;
+ smallest of the world's four oceans (after Pacific Ocean, Atlantic
+ Ocean, and Indian Ocean)
+ note: includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea,
+ East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Kara Sea,
+ Laptev Sea, Northwest Passage, and other tributary water bodies
+
+ Coastline: 45,389 km
+
+ International disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoral states);
+ Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute between Norway
+ and Russia
+
+ Climate: polar climate characterized by persistent cold and relatively
+ narrow annual temperature ranges; winters characterized by continuous
+ darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and clear skies; summers
+ characterized by continuous daylight, damp and foggy weather, and weak
+ cyclones with rain or snow
+
+ Terrain: central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack
+ that averages about 3 meters in thickness, although pressure ridges
+ may be three times that size; clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort
+ Gyral Stream, but nearly straight line movement from the New Siberian
+ Islands (Russia) to Denmark Strait (between Greenland and Iceland);
+ the ice pack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but more
+ than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling
+ land masses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental shelf (highest
+ percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central basin
+ interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen
+ Cordillera, and Lomonsov Ridge); maximum depth is 4,665 meters in the
+ Fram Basin
+
+ Natural resources: sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits,
+ polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals
+ and whales)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: endangered marine species include walruses and whales;
+ fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions
+ or damage
+ natural hazards: ice islands occasionally break away from northern
+ Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenland
+ and extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtually
+ icelocked from October to June; ships subject to superstructure icing
+ from October to May
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to
+ the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic location between
+ North America and Russia; shortest marine link between the extremes of
+ eastern and western Russia, floating research stations operated by the
+ US and Russia; maximum snow cover in March or April about 20 to 50
+ centimeters over the frozen ocean and lasts about 10 months
+
+@Arctic Ocean:Government
+
+ Digraph: XQ
+
+@Arctic Ocean:Economy
+
+ Overview: Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural
+ resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals.
+
+@Arctic Ocean:Transportation
+
+ Ports: Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US)
+
+ Note: sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the
+ Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are
+ important seasonal waterways
+
+@Arctic Ocean:Communications
+
+ Telephone system:
+ international: no submarine cables
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ARGENTINA
+
+@Argentina:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
+ between Chile and Uruguay
+
+ Map references: South America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 2,766,890 sq km
+ land area: 2,736,690 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US
+
+ Land boundaries: total 9,665 km, Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km,
+ Chile 5,150 km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km
+
+ Coastline: 4,989 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: short section of the boundary with Uruguay is
+ in dispute; short section of the boundary with Chile is indefinite;
+ claims British-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); claims
+ British-administered South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands;
+ territorial claim in Antarctica
+
+ Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in
+ southwest
+
+ Terrain: rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling
+ plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border
+
+ Natural resources: fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin,
+ copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 9%
+ permanent crops: 4%
+ meadows and pastures: 52%
+ forest and woodland: 22%
+ other: 13%
+
+ Irrigated land: 17,600 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: erosion results from inadequate flood controls and
+ improper land use practices; irrigated soil degradation;
+ desertification; air pollution in Buenos Aires and other major cites;
+ water pollution in urban areas; rivers becoming polluted due to
+ increased pesticide and fertilizer use
+ natural hazards: Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to
+ earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the
+ Pampas and northeast; heavy flooding
+ international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
+ Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
+ Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
+ Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling;
+ signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine
+ Life Conservation
+
+ Note: second-largest country in South America (after Brazil);
+ strategic location relative to sea lanes between South Atlantic and
+ South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake
+ Passage)
+
+@Argentina:People
+
+ Population: 34,292,742 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 28% (female 4,706,793; male 4,903,589)
+ 15-64 years: 62% (female 10,680,074; male 10,689,728)
+ 65 years and over: 10% (female 1,922,552; male 1,390,006) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.11% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 19.51 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.62 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 28.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 71.51 years
+ male: 68.22 years
+ female: 74.97 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.65 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Argentine(s)
+ adjective: Argentine
+
+ Ethnic divisions: white 85%, mestizo, Indian, or other nonwhite groups
+ 15%
+
+ Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 90% (less than 20% practicing),
+ Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 6%
+
+ Languages: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 95%
+ male: 96%
+ female: 95%
+
+ Labor force: 10.9 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 12%, industry 31%, services 57% (1985 est.)
+
+@Argentina:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Argentine Republic
+ conventional short form: Argentina
+ local long form: Republica Argentina
+ local short form: Argentina
+
+ Digraph: AR
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Buenos Aires
+
+ Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (provincias, singular -
+ provincia), and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Buenos Aires;
+ Catamarca; Chaco; Chubut; Cordoba; Corrientes; Distrito Federal*;
+ Entre Rios; Formosa; Jujuy; La Pampa; La Rioja; Mendoza; Misiones;
+ Neuquen; Rio Negro; Salta; San Juan; San Luis; Santa Cruz; Santa Fe;
+ Santiago del Estero; Tierra del Fuego, Antartida e Islas del Atlantico
+ Sur; Tucuman
+ note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica or
+ Argentina's claims to the Falkland Islands
+
+ Independence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain)
+
+ National holiday: Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)
+
+ Constitution: 1 May 1853; revised August 1994
+
+ Legal system: mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not
+ accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Carlos Saul MENEM
+ (since 8 July 1989); Vice President (position vacant); election last
+ held 14 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999); results - Carlos Saul
+ MENEM was reelected
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
+ Senate: elections last held May 1989, but provincial elections in late
+ 1991 set the stage for indirect elections by provincial senators for
+ one-third of 48 seats in the national senate in May 1992; seats (48
+ total) - PJ 29, UCR 11, others 7, vacant 1
+ Chamber of Deputies: elections last held 3 October 1993 ( next to be
+ held October 1995); elections are held every two years and half of the
+ total membership is elected each time for four year terms; seats -
+ (257 total) PJ 122, UCR 83, MODIN 7, UCD 5, other 40
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Justicialist Party (PJ), Carlos Saul
+ MENEM, Peronist umbrella political organization; Radical Civic Union
+ (UCR),Raul ALFONSIN, moderately left-of-center party; Union of the
+ Democratic Center (UCD), Jorge AGUADO, conservative party; Dignity and
+ Independence Political Party (MODIN), Aldo RICO, right-wing party;
+ Grand Front (Frente Grande), Carlos ALVAREZ, center-left coalition;
+ several provincial parties
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Peronist-dominated labor movement;
+ General Confederation of Labor (CGT; Peronist-leaning umbrella labor
+ organization); Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers'
+ association); Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association);
+ business organizations; students; the Roman Catholic Church; the Armed
+ Forces
+
+ Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, CCC, ECLAC,
+ FAO, G- 6, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MERCOSUR, MINURSO,
+ MTCR, NSG (observer), OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNAVEM II,
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMOZ,
+ UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Raul Enrique GRANILLO OCAMPO
+ chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
+ telephone: [1] (202) 939-6400 through 6403
+ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
+ New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador James R. CHEEK
+ embassy: 4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires
+ mailing address: Unit 4334; APO AA 34034
+ telephone: [54] (1) 777-4533, 4534
+ FAX: [54] (1) 777-0197
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and
+ light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a
+ human face known as the Sun of May
+
+@Argentina:Economy
+
+ Overview: Argentina, rich in natural resources, benefits also from a
+ highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector,
+ and a diversified industrial base. Nevertheless, following decades of
+ mismanagement and statist policies, the economy in the late 1980s was
+ plagued with huge external debts and recurring bouts of
+ hyperinflation. Elected in 1989, in the depths of recession, President
+ MENEM has implemented a comprehensive economic restructuring program
+ that shows signs of putting Argentina on a path of stable, sustainable
+ growth. Argentina's currency has traded at par with the US dollar
+ since April 1991, and inflation has fallen to its lowest level in 20
+ years. Argentines have responded to the relative price stability by
+ repatriating flight capital and investing in domestic industry. The
+ economy registered an impressive 6% advance in 1994, fueled largely by
+ inflows of foreign capital and strong domestic consumption spending.
+ The government's major short term objective is encouraging exports,
+ e.g., by reducing domestic costs of production. At the start of 1995,
+ the government had to deal with the spillover from international
+ financial movements associated with the devaluation of the Mexican
+ peso. In addition, unemployment had become a serious issue for the
+ government. Despite average annual 7% growth in 1991-94, unemployment
+ surprisingly has doubled - due mostly to layoffs in government bureaus
+ and in privatized industrial firms and utilities and, to a lesser
+ degree, to illegal immigration. Much remains to be done in the 1990s
+ in dismantling the old statist barriers to growth, extending the
+ recent economic gains, and bringing down the rate of unemployment.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $270.8 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 6% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $7,990 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 12% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $48.46 billion
+ expenditures: $46.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.5
+ billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $15.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: meat, wheat, corn, oilseed, manufactures
+ partners: US 12%, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Netherlands
+
+ Imports: $21.4 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, fuels and
+ lubricants, agricultural products
+ partners: US 22%, Brazil, Germany, Bolivia, Japan, Italy, Netherlands
+
+ External debt: $73 billion (April 1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 12.5% accounts for 31% of GDP (1994
+ est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 17,330,000 kW
+ production: 54.8 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,610 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables,
+ textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 8% of GDP (including fishing); produces
+ abundant food for both domestic consumption and exports; among world's
+ top five exporters of grain and beef; principal crops - wheat, corn,
+ sorghum, soybeans, sugar beets
+
+ Illicit drugs: increasing use as a transshipment country for cocaine
+ headed for the US and Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $4.4 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $718 million
+
+ Currency: 1 nuevo peso argentino = 100 centavos
+
+ Exchange rates: pesos per US$1 - 0.99870 (December 1994), 0.99901
+ (1994), 0.99895 (1993), 0.99064 (1992), 0.95355 (1991), 0.48759 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Argentina:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 34,572 km
+ broad gauge: NA km 1.676-m gauge
+ standard gauge: NA km 1.435-m
+ narrow gauge: 400 km 0.750-m gauge; NA km 1.000-m gauge (209 km
+ electrified)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 208,350 km
+ paved: 57,000 km
+ unpaved: gravel 39,500 km; improved/unimproved earth 111,850 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 11,000 km navigable
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km; natural
+ gas 9,918 km
+
+ Ports: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, Concepcion del
+ Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Rosario,
+ Santa Fe, Ushuaia
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 434,525 GRT/667,501 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 21, chemical tanker 1, container 4, oil
+ tanker 8, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off
+ cargo 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1,602
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 5
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 55
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 48
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 703
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 70
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 693
+
+@Argentina:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 2,650,000 telephones; 12,000 public telephones; 78
+ telephones/1,000 persons; extensive modern system but many families do
+ not have telephones; microwave widely used; however, during
+ rainstorms, the telephone system frequently grounds out, even in
+ Buenos Aires
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay and domestic satellite network with
+ 40 earth stations
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 171, FM 0, shortwave 13
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 231
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Argentina:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic, Argentine
+ Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Argentine Naval Prefecture (Coast
+ Guard only), National Aeronautical Police Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 8,573,780; males fit for
+ military service 6,954,584; males reach military age (20) annually
+ 301,166 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ARMENIA
+
+@Armenia:Geography
+
+ Location: Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
+
+ Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - European States
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 29,800 sq km
+ land area: 28,400 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,254 km, Azerbaijan (east) 566 km, Azerbaijan
+ (south) 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: supports ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh
+ in their separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani government;
+ traditional demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided
+
+ Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
+
+ Terrain: high Armenian Plateau with mountains; little forest land;
+ fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
+
+ Natural resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc,
+ alumina
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 17%
+ permanent crops: 3%
+ meadows and pastures: 20%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 60%
+
+ Irrigated land: 3,050 sq km (1990)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT;
+ energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led to
+ deforestation as citizens scavenge for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan
+ (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich, a result of its
+ use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies
+ natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Armenia:People
+
+ Population: 3,557,284 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 31% (female 542,664; male 570,998)
+ 15-64 years: 61% (female 1,103,171; male 1,076,226)
+ 65 years and over: 8% (female 154,784; male 109,441) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.94% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 22.79 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.66 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -6.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 26 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 72.36 years
+ male: 68.94 years
+ female: 75.95 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.06 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Armenian(s)
+ adjective: Armenian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other (mostly
+ Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989)
+ note: as of the end of 1994, most Azeris had emigrated from Armenia
+
+ Religions: Armenian Orthodox 94%
+
+ Languages: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
+ total population: 99%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 98%
+
+ Labor force: 1.578 million
+ by occupation: industry and construction 34%, agriculture and forestry
+ 31%, other 35% (1992)
+
+@Armenia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Armenia
+ conventional short form: Armenia
+ local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun
+ local short form: Hayastan
+ former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic
+
+ Digraph: AM
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Yerevan
+
+ Administrative divisions: 37 regions (shrjanner, singular - shrjan)
+ and 23 cities* (kaghakner, singular - kaghak); Abovyan*, Akhuryani
+ Shrjan, Alaverdi*, Amasiayi Shrjan, Anii Shrjan, Aparani Shrjan,
+ Aragatsi Shrjan, Ararat*, Ararati Shrjan, Armaviri Shrjan, Artashat*,
+ Artashati Shrjan, Art'ik*, Art'iki Shrjan, Ashots'k'i Shrjan,
+ Ashtarak*, Ashtaraki Shrjan, Baghramyani Shrjan, Ch'arents'avan*,
+ Dilijan*, Ejmiatsin*, Ejmiatsni Shrjan, Goris*, Gorisi Shrjan,
+ Gugark'i Shrjan, Gyumri*, Hoktemberyan*, Hrazdan*, Hrazdani Shrjan,
+ Ijevan*, Ijevani Shrjan, Jermuk*, Kamo*, Kamoyi Shrjan, Kapan*, Kapani
+ Shrjan, Kotayk'i Shrjan, Krasnoselski Shrjan, Martunu Shrjan, Masisi
+ Shrjan, Meghru Shrjan, Metsamor*, Nairii Shrjan, Noyemberyani Shrjan,
+ Sevan*, Sevani Shrjan, Sisiani Shrjan, Spitak*, Spitaki Shrjan,
+ Step'anavan*, Step'anavani Shrjan, T'alini Shrjan, Tashiri Shrjan,
+ Taushi Shrjan, T'umanyani Shrjan, Vanadzor*, Vardenisi Shrjan, Vayk'i
+ Shrjan, Yeghegnadzori Shrjan, Yerevan*
+
+ Independence: 28 May 1918 (First Armenian Republic); 23 September 1991
+ (from Soviet Union)
+
+ National holiday: Referendum Day, 21 September
+
+ Constitution: adopted NA April 1978; referendum on new constitution to
+ be held 5 July 1995
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN (since October
+ 1991) election last held 16 October 1991 (next to be held NA 1996);
+ results - Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN 86%; radical nationalists
+ about 7%; note - Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN was elected Chairman of
+ the Armenian Supreme Soviet 4 August 1990 before becoming president
+ head of government: Prime Minister Hrant BAGRATYAN (since 16 February
+ 1993); First Deputy Prime Minister Vigen CHITECHYAN (since 16 February
+ 1993)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Supreme Soviet: elections last held 20 May 1990 (next to be held 5
+ July 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (260 total)
+ non-aligned 136, ANM 52, DPA 17, Democratic Liberal Party 17, ARF 12,
+ NDU 9, Christian Democratic Party 1, Constitutional Rights Union 1,
+ ONS 1, Republican Party 1, Nagorno-Karabakh representatives 13
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Armenian National Movement (ANM),
+ Ter-Husik LAZARYAN, chairman; National Democratic Union (NDU), David
+ VARTANYAN, chairman; Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF,
+ Dashnaktsutyun); note - banned until reorganized; Democratic Party of
+ Armenia (DPA; Communist Party), Aram SARKISYAN, chairman; Christian
+ Democratic Party, Azat ARSHAKYAN, chairman; Greens Party, Hakob
+ SANASARIAN, chairman; Democratic Liberal Party, Rouben MIRZAKHANYAN,
+ chairman; Republican Party, Ashot NAVARSARDYAN, chairman; Union for
+ Self-Determination (ONS), Paruir AIRIKYAN, chairman
+
+ Member of: BSEC, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
+ IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, NACC, NAM
+ (observer), OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Ruben SHUGARIAN
+ chancery: Suite 210, 1660 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
+ telephone: [1] (202) 628-5766
+ FAX: [1] (202) 628-5769
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Harry J. GILMORE
+ embassy: 18 Gen Bagramian, Yerevan
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [7] (8852) 151-144, 524-661
+ FAX: [7] (8852) 151-138
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and gold
+
+@Armenia:Economy
+
+ Overview: Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had
+ developed a more modern industrial sector, supplying machine building
+ equipment, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics
+ in exchange for raw materials and energy resources. Armenia is a large
+ food importer and its mineral deposits (gold, bauxite) are small. The
+ economic decline in recent years (1991-94) has been particularly
+ severe due to the ongoing conflict over the ethnic Armenian-dominated
+ region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan and Turkey have
+ blockaded pipeline and railroad traffic to Armenia for its support of
+ the Karabakh Armenians. This has left Armenia with chronic energy
+ shortages because of a lack of capacity and frequent disruptions of
+ natural gas deliveries through unstable Georgia, as well as
+ difficulties in obtaining other types of fuel. In addition, bread is
+ strictly rationed and there are shortages of other goods. In 1994, the
+ economy seemed to bottom out. The government has managed to increase
+ its financial and budgetary discipline, bringing inflation down from
+ around 40% per month in first half 1994 to single digits in second
+ half 1994 and the first quarter of 1995. A full economic recovery
+ cannot be expected until the conflict is settled and the blockade
+ lifted.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $8.1 billion (1994
+ estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,290 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 27% per month average (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 6.5% of officially registered unemployed but large
+ numbers of underemployed (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $43 million to countries outside the FSU (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: gold and jewelry, aluminum, transport equipment,
+ electrical equipment
+ partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia
+
+ Imports: $120 million from countries outside the FSU (c.i.f., 1994)
+ commodities: grain, other foods, fuel, other energy
+ partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia, US, EU
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 7% (1994 est.); accounts for 41% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 4,620,000 kW
+ production: 5.7 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,620 kWh (1994)
+
+ Industries: traditionally diverse, including (as a percent of output
+ of former USSR) metalcutting machine tools (5.5%), forging-pressing
+ machines (1.9%), electric motors (9%), tires (1.5%), knitted wear
+ (4.4%), hosiery (3.0%), shoes (2.2%), silk fabric (0.8%), washing
+ machines (2.0%), chemicals, trucks, watches, instruments, and
+ microelectronics (1990); currently, much of industry is shut down
+
+ Agriculture: only 17% of land area is arable; employs 31% of labor
+ force as residents increasingly turn to subsistence agriculture;
+ fruits (especially grapes) and vegetable farming, minor livestock
+ sector; vineyards near Yerevan are famous for brandy and other
+ liqueurs
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic
+ consumption; used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs to
+ Western Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: considerable humanitarian aid, mostly food and energy
+ products, from US and EU; Russia granted 60 billion rubles in
+ technical credits in late 1994 and approved a 110 billion ruble credit
+ almost half of which was to go toward the restart of the Metsamor
+ nuclear power plant
+
+ Currency: 1 dram = 100 luma (introduced new currency in November 1993)
+
+ Exchange rates: dram per US$1 - 406 (end December 1994)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Armenia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 840 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
+ lines
+ broad gauge: 840 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 11,300 km
+ paved: 10,500 km
+ unpaved: earth 800 km (1990)
+
+ Inland waterways: NA km
+
+ Pipelines: natural gas 900 km (1991)
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 11
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 1
+
+@Armenia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: about 650,000 telephones; 177 telephones/1,000
+ persons; progress on installation of fiber optic cable and
+ construction of facilities for mobile cellular phone service remains
+ in the negotiation phase for joint venture agreement
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: international connections to other former republics of
+ the USSR are by landline or microwave and to other countries by
+ satellite and by leased connection through the Moscow international
+ gateway switch; 1 INTELSAT satellite link
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA; note - 100% of population receives Armenian
+ and Russian TV programs
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Armenia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Security
+ Forces (internal and border troops)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 877,414; males fit for military
+ service 699,167; males reach military age (18) annually 28,634 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: 250 million rubles, NA% of GDP (1992 est.); note
+ - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current
+ exchange rate could produce misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ARUBA
+
+ (part of the Dutch realm)
+
+@Aruba:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 193 sq km
+ land area: 193 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 68.5 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
+
+ Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
+
+ Natural resources: negligible; white sandy beaches
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
+ international agreements: NA
+
+@Aruba:People
+
+ Population: 65,974 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 23% (female 7,377; male 7,726)
+ 15-64 years: 69% (female 24,269; male 21,141)
+ 65 years and over: 8% (female 3,223; male 2,238) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.65% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 14.6 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.17 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -1.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 76.56 years
+ male: 72.89 years
+ female: 80.42 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Aruban(s)
+ adjective: Aruban
+
+ Ethnic divisions: mixed European/Caribbean Indian 80%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim,
+ Confucian, Jewish
+
+ Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch,
+ English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: most employment is in the tourist industry (1995)
+
+@Aruba:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Aruba
+
+ Digraph: AA
+
+ Type: part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs
+ obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles
+
+ Capital: Oranjestad
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (self-governing part of the
+ Netherlands)
+
+ Independence: none (part of the Dutch realm; in 1990, Aruba requested
+ and received from the Netherlands cancellation of the agreement to
+ automatically give independence to the island in 1996)
+
+ National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March
+
+ Constitution: 1 January 1986
+
+ Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English
+ common law influence
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April
+ 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January
+ 1992)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29 July
+ 1994)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed with the advice and approval
+ of the legislature
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Legislature (Staten): elections last held 29 July 1994 (next to be
+ held by NA July 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
+ (21 total) AVP 10, MEP 9, OLA 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Electoral Movement Party (MEP), Nelson
+ ODUBER; Aruban People's Party (AVP), Jan (Henny) H. EMAN; National
+ Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro KELLY; New Patriotic Party
+ (PPN), Eddy WERLEMEN; Aruban Patriotic Party (PPA), Benny NISBET;
+ Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), Leo BERLINSKI; Democratic Action '86
+ (AD '86), Arturo ODUBER; Organization for Aruban Liberty (OLA),
+ Glenbert CROES
+ note: governing coalition includes the MEP, PPA, and ADN
+
+ Member of: ECLAC (associate), INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL,
+ WTO (associate)
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing part of the
+ Netherlands)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing part of the
+ Netherlands)
+
+ Flag: blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across the lower
+ portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper
+ hoist-side corner
+
+@Aruba:Economy
+
+ Overview: Tourism is the mainstay of the Aruban economy, although
+ offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important. The
+ rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted
+ in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has
+ boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. Additionally,
+ the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of
+ employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth.
+ Aruba's small labor force and less than 1% unemployment rate have led
+ to a large number of unfilled job vacancies despite sharp rises in
+ wage rates in recent years.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.1 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $17,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 0.6% (1992)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $145 million
+ expenditures: $185 million, including capital expenditures of $42
+ million (1988)
+
+ Exports: $1.3 billion (including oil re-exports) (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: mostly refined petroleum products
+ partners: US 64%, EC
+
+ Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: food, consumer goods, manufactures, petroleum products,
+ crude oil for refining and re-export
+ partners: US 8%, EC
+
+ External debt: $81 million (1987)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 90,000 kW
+ production: 330 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 4,761 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
+
+ Agriculture: poor quality soils and low rainfall limit agricultural
+ activity to the cultivation of aloes, some livestock, and fishing
+
+ Illicit drugs: drug money laundering center and transit point for
+ narcotics bound for the US and Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1980-89), $220 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1 - 1.7900 (fixed rate
+ since 1986)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Aruba:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: NA
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ note: government-owned airport east of Oranjestad accepts
+ transatlantic flights
+
+@Aruba:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 72,168 telephones; 1,100 telephones/1,000 persons;
+ more than adequate
+ local: NA
+ intercity: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
+ international: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 4, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Aruba:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ASHMORE AND CARTIER ISLANDS
+
+ (territory of Australia)
+
+@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of
+ Australia
+
+ Map references: Southeast Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 5 sq km
+ land area: 5 sq km
+ comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
+ DC
+ note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and
+ Cartier Island
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 74.1 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 12 nm
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical
+
+ Terrain: low with sand and coral
+
+ Natural resources: fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100% (all grass and sand)
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs which can pose
+ maritime hazards
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983
+
+@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:People
+
+ Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are only seasonal
+ caretakers
+
+@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
+ conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
+
+ Digraph: AT
+
+ Type: territory of Australia administered by the Australian Ministry
+ for the Environment, Sport, and Territories
+
+ Capital: none; administered from Canberra, Australia
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
+
+ Independence: none (territory of Australia)
+
+ Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
+
+@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: no economic activity
+
+@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Transportation
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
+
+@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by
+ the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ATLANTIC OCEAN
+
+@Atlantic Ocean:Geography
+
+ Location: body of water between Africa, Antarctica, and the Western
+ Hemisphere
+
+ Map references: World
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 82.217 million sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than nine times the size of the US;
+ second-largest of the world's four oceans (after the Pacific Ocean,
+ but larger than Indian Ocean or Arctic Ocean)
+ note: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait,
+ Denmark Strait, Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea,
+ North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other tributary
+ water bodies
+
+ Coastline: 111,866 km
+
+ International disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
+
+ Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of
+ Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea;
+ hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent from
+ August to November
+
+ Terrain: surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark
+ Strait, and Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm water gyre
+ (broad, circular system of currents) in the northern Atlantic,
+ counterclockwise warm water gyre in the southern Atlantic; the ocean
+ floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south
+ centerline for the entire Atlantic basin; maximum depth is 8,605
+ meters in the Puerto Rico Trench
+
+ Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and
+ whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic
+ nodules, precious stones
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: endangered marine species include the manatee, seals,
+ sea lions, turtles, and whales; driftnet fishing is exacerbating
+ declining fish stocks and contributing to international disputes;
+ municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and
+ eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico,
+ Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and
+ municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean
+ Sea
+ natural hazards: icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and
+ the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have been
+ spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; icebergs from
+ Antarctica occur in the extreme southern Atlantic Ocean; ships subject
+ to superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic from October to
+ May and extreme southern Atlantic from May to October; persistent fog
+ can be a maritime hazard from May to September
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: major choke points include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar,
+ access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include the
+ Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound
+ (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator divides the Atlantic
+ Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean
+
+@Atlantic Ocean:Government
+
+ Digraph: ZH
+
+@Atlantic Ocean:Economy
+
+ Overview: The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's most heavily
+ trafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern and Western
+ Hemispheres. Other economic activity includes the exploitation of
+ natural resources, e.g., fishing, the dredging of aragonite sands (The
+ Bahamas), and production of crude oil and natural gas (Caribbean Sea,
+ Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).
+
+@Atlantic Ocean:Transportation
+
+ Ports: Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium),
+ Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco),
+ Colon (Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk
+ (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary
+ Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK),
+ Marseille (France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal (Canada), Naples
+ (Italy), New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran (Algeria), Oslo
+ (Norway), Piraeus (Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam
+ (Netherlands), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Stockholm (Sweden)
+
+ Note: Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways
+
+@Atlantic Ocean:Communications
+
+ Telephone system:
+ international: numerous submarine cables with most between continental
+ Europe and the UK, North America and the UK, and in the Mediterranean;
+ numerous direct links across Atlantic via INTELSAT satellite network
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+AUSTRALIA
+
+@Australia:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South
+ Pacific Ocean
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 7,686,850 sq km
+ land area: 7,617,930 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than the US
+ note: includes Macquarie Island
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 25,760 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Australian
+ Antarctic Territory)
+
+ Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east;
+ tropical in north
+
+ Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast
+
+ Natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver,
+ uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds,
+ natural gas, petroleum
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 6%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 58%
+ forest and woodland: 14%
+ other: 22%
+
+ Irrigated land: 18,800 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development,
+ urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to
+ the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for
+ agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique
+ animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast
+ coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased
+ shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh
+ water resources
+ natural hazards: cyclones along the coast; severe droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
+ Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
+ Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
+ Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling;
+ signed, but not ratified - Desertification
+
+ Note: world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population
+ concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular,
+ tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along
+ the west coast in the summer
+
+@Australia:People
+
+ Population: 18,322,231 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 22% (female 1,929,366; male 2,032,238)
+ 15-64 years: 67% (female 6,017,362; male 6,181,887)
+ 65 years and over: 11% (female 1,227,004; male 934,374) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.31% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 14.13 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.37 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 6.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 77.78 years
+ male: 74.67 years
+ female: 81.04 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Australian(s)
+ adjective: Australian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Caucasian 95%, Asian 4%, aboriginal and other 1%
+
+ Religions: Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%
+
+ Languages: English, native languages
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
+ total population: 100%
+ male: 100%
+ female: 100%
+
+ Labor force: 8.63 million (September 1991)
+ by occupation: finance and services 33.8%, public and community
+ services 22.3%, wholesale and retail trade 20.1%, manufacturing and
+ industry 16.2%, agriculture 6.1% (1987)
+
+@Australia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
+ conventional short form: Australia
+
+ Digraph: AS
+
+ Type: federal parliamentary state
+
+ Capital: Canberra
+
+ Administrative divisions: 6 states and 2 territories*; Australian
+ Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland,
+ South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
+
+ Dependent areas: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos
+ (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald
+ Islands, Norfolk Island
+
+ Independence: 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
+
+ National holiday: Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
+
+ Constitution: 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor General William George HAYDEN (since 16
+ February 1989)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Paul John KEATING (since 20
+ December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Brian HOWE (since 4 June 1991)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; prime minister selects his cabinet from members of
+ the House and Senate
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Parliament
+ Senate: elections last held 13 March 1993 (next to be held by NA
+ 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (76 total)
+ Liberal-National 36, Labor 30, Australian Democrats 7, Greens 2,
+ independents 1
+ House of Representatives: elections last held 13 March 1993 (next to
+ be held by NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
+ (147 total) Labor 80, Liberal-National 65, independent 2
+
+ Judicial branch: High Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ government: Australian Labor Party, Paul John KEATING
+ opposition: Liberal Party, John HOWARD; National Party, Timothy
+ FISCHER; Australian Democratic Party, Cheryl KERNOT; Green Party,
+ leader NA
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Australian Democratic Labor Party
+ (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and Nuclear
+ Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group)
+
+ Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group,
+ BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G- 8, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
+ ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest),
+ NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
+ UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Donald Eric RUSSELL
+ chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
+ telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000
+ FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168
+ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New
+ York, Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San Francisco
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Edward J. PERKINS
+ embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital
+ Territory 2600
+ mailing address: APO AP 96549
+ telephone: [61] (6) 270-5000
+ FAX: [61] (6) 270-5970
+ consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney
+ consulate(s): Brisbane
+
+ Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
+ and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant; the
+ remaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation
+ in white with one small five-pointed star and four, larger,
+ seven-pointed stars
+
+@Australia:Economy
+
+ Overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy,
+ with a per capita GDP comparable to levels in industrialized West
+ European countries. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major
+ exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels.
+ Primary products account for more than 60% of the value of total
+ exports, so that, as in 1983-84, a downturn in world commodity prices
+ can have a big impact on the economy. The government is pushing for
+ increased exports of manufactured goods, but competition in
+ international markets continues to be severe. Australia has suffered
+ from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD
+ countries in the early 1990s. In 1992-93 the economy recovered slowly
+ from the prolonged recession of 1990-91, a major restraining factor
+ being weak world demand for Australia's exports. Growth picked up so
+ strongly in 1994 that the government felt the need for fiscal and
+ monetary tightening by yearend. Australia's GDP grew 6.4% in 1994,
+ largely due to increases in industrial output and business investment.
+ A severe drought in 1994 is expected to reduce the value of
+ Australia's net farm production by $825 million in the twelve months
+ through June 1995, but rising world commodity prices are likely to
+ boost rural exports by 7.7% to $14.5 billion in 1995/96, according to
+ government statistics.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $374.6 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 6.4% (1994)
+
+ National product per capita: $20,720 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 8.9% (December 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $83.8 billion
+ expenditures: $92.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (FY93/94)
+
+ Exports: $50.4 billion (1994)
+ commodities: coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and
+ transport equipment
+ partners: Japan 25%, US 11%, South Korea 6%, NZ 5.7%, UK, Taiwan,
+ Singapore, Hong Kong (1992)
+
+ Imports: $51.1 billion (1994)
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment, computers and office
+ machines, crude oil and petroleum products
+ partners: US 23%, Japan 18%, UK 6%, Germany 5.7%, NZ 4% (1992)
+
+ External debt: $147.2 billion (1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 3.9% (FY93/94); accounts for 32% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 34,540,000 kW
+ production: 155 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 8,021 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food
+ processing, chemicals, steel
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GDP and over 30% of export revenues;
+ world's largest exporter of beef and wool, second-largest for mutton,
+ and among top wheat exporters; major crops - wheat, barley, sugarcane,
+ fruit; livestock - cattle, sheep, poultry
+
+ Illicit drugs: Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit
+ opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of
+ opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.4 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3058 (January
+ 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991),
+ 1.2799 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Australia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 40,478 km (1,130 km electrified; 183 km dual gauge)
+ broad gauge: 7,970 km 1.600-m gauge
+ standard gauge: 16,201 km 1.435-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 16,307 km 1.067-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 837,872 km
+ paved: 243,750 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 228,396 km;
+ unimproved earth 365,726 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; natural gas
+ 5,600 km
+
+ Ports: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport, Fremantle,
+ Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceton (Tasmania), Mackay, Melbourne,
+ Sydney, Townsville
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 81 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,620,536 GRT/3,801,970
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 30, cargo 7, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk
+ 2, container 7, liquefied gas tanker 6, oil tanker 18,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 480
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 9
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 128
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 125
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 31
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 23
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 149
+
+@Australia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 8,700,000 telephones; good international and
+ domestic service
+ local: NA
+ intercity: domestic satellite service
+ international: submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and
+ Indonesia; 10 INTELSAT (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean) earth
+ stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 258, FM 67, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 134
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Australia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air
+ Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,934,175; males fit for
+ military service 4,274,900; males reach military age (17) annually
+ 131,852 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $7.2 billion, 2.2% of
+ GDP (FY94/95)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+AUSTRIA
+
+@Austria:Geography
+
+ Location: Central Europe, north of Italy
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 83,850 sq km
+ land area: 82,730 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Maine
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,496 km, Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784
+ km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km, Slovakia 91 km,
+ Slovenia 262 km, Switzerland 164 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent
+ rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional
+ showers
+
+ Terrain: in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the
+ eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping
+
+ Natural resources: iron ore, petroleum, timber, magnesite, aluminum,
+ lead, coal, lignite, copper, hydropower
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 17%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 24%
+ forest and woodland: 39%
+ other: 19%
+
+ Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: some forest degradation caused by air and soil
+ pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural
+ chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired
+ power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting
+ Austria between northern and southern Europe
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
+ Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
+ Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
+ Air Pollution-Sulpher 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the
+ Sea, Whaling
+
+ Note: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central
+ Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major
+ river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands
+ because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
+
+@Austria:People
+
+ Population: 7,986,664 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 17% (female 681,087; male 711,127)
+ 15-64 years: 67% (female 2,672,554; male 2,677,100)
+ 65 years and over: 16% (female 791,762; male 453,034) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.35% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 11.21 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 10.27 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 76.9 years
+ male: 73.7 years
+ female: 80.27 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.48 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Austrian(s)
+ adjective: Austrian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other
+ 0.1%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 6%, other 9%
+
+ Languages: German
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1974 est.)
+ total population: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 3.47 million (1989)
+ by occupation: services 56.4%, industry and crafts 35.4%, agriculture
+ and forestry 8.1%
+ note: an estimated 200,000 Austrians are employed in other European
+ countries; foreign laborers in Austria number 177,840, about 5% of
+ labor force (1988)
+
+@Austria:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Austria
+ conventional short form: Austria
+ local long form: Republik Oesterreich
+ local short form: Oesterreich
+
+ Digraph: AU
+
+ Type: federal republic
+
+ Capital: Vienna
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 states (bundeslaender, singular -
+ bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich,
+ Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien
+
+ Independence: 12 November 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 26 October (1955)
+
+ Constitution: 1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)
+
+ Legal system: civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review
+ of legislative acts by a Constitutional Court; separate administrative
+ and civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential
+ elections
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992); election
+ last held 24 May 1992 (next to be held 1996); results of second ballot
+ - Thomas KLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43%
+ head of government: Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June 1986);
+ Vice Chancellor Erhard BUSEK (since 2 July 1991)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; chosen by the president on the advice
+ of the chancellor
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung)
+ Federal Council (Bundesrat): consists of 63 members representing each
+ of the provinces on the basis of population, but with each province
+ having at least 3 representatives
+ National Council (Nationalrat): elections last held 9 October 1994
+ (next to be held October 1998); results - SPOE 34.9%, OEVP 27.7%, FPOE
+ 22.5%, Greens 7.3%, LF 6.0% other 1.6%; seats - (183 total) SPOE 65,
+ OEVP 52, FPOE 42, Greens 13, LF 11
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for
+ civil and criminal cases, Administrative Court
+ (Verwaltungsgerichtshof) for bureaucratic cases, Constitutional Court
+ (Verfassungsgerichtshof) for constitutional cases
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party of Austria
+ (SPOE), Franz VRANITZKY, chairman; Austrian People's Party (OEVP),
+ Erhard BUSEK, chairman; Freedom Movement (F) (was the Freedom Party of
+ Austria, FPOE), Joerg HAIDER, chairman; Communist Party (KPOE), Walter
+ SILBERMAYER, chairman; The Greens, Madeleine PETROVIC; Liberal Forum
+ (LF), Heide SCHMIDT
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Federal Chamber of Commerce and
+ Industry; Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist); three
+ composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party (OEVP) representing
+ business, labor, and farmers; OEVP-oriented League of Austrian
+ Industrialists; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay
+ organization, Catholic Action
+
+ Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE,
+ CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, GATT, IADB, IAEA,
+ IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
+ IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM
+ (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUSAL, OSCE, PCA, UN,
+ UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIH,
+ UNOMIL, UNOMOZ, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Helmut TUERK
+ chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
+ telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700
+ FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750
+ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Swanee G. HUNT
+ chancery: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [43] (1) 313-39
+ FAX: [43] (1) 310-0682
+ consulate(s) general: none (Salzburg closed September 1993)
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
+
+@Austria:Economy
+
+ Overview: Austria boasts a prosperous and stable market economy with a
+ sizable but falling proportion of nationalized industry and with
+ extensive welfare benefits. Thanks to its raw material endowment, a
+ technically skilled labor force, and strong links to German industrial
+ firms, Austria occupies specialized niches in European industry and
+ services (tourism, banking) and produces almost enough food to feed
+ itself with only 8% of the labor force in agriculture. After 11
+ consecutive years of growth, the Austrian economy experienced a mild
+ recession in 1993, but growth resumed in 1994. Unemployment is 4.3%
+ and will likely stay at that level as companies adjust to the
+ competition of EU membership beginning 1 January 1995. To prepare for
+ EU membership, Austria's government has taken measures to open the
+ economy by introducing a major tax reform, privatizing state-owned
+ firms, and liberalizing cross-border capital movements. Problems for
+ the 1990s include an aging population, the high level of industrial
+ subsidies, and the struggle to keep welfare benefits within budgetary
+ capabilities - the deficit climbed to over 4% of GDP in 1994.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $139.3 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $17,500 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 4.3% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $52.2 billion
+ expenditures: $60.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $44.1 billion (1994 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber,
+ textiles, paper products, chemicals
+ partners: EC 63.5% (Germany 38.9%), EFTA 9.0%, Eastern Europe/FSU
+ 12.3%, Japan 1.5%, US 3.4% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $53.8 billion (1994 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, vehicles,
+ chemicals, textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals
+ partners: EC 66.8% (Germany 41.3%), EFTA 6.7%, Eastern Europe/FSU
+ 7.5%, Japan 4.4%, US 4.4% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $21.5 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 2.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 17,230,000 kW
+ production: 50.2 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 5,824 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: foods, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals,
+ electrical, paper and pulp, tourism, mining, motor vehicles
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 3.2% of GDP (including forestry); principal
+ crops and animals - grains, fruit, potatoes, sugar beets, sawn wood,
+ cattle, pigs, poultry; 80%-90% self-sufficient in food
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
+ transiting the Balkan route and Eastern Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.4 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Austrian schilling (S) = 100 groschen
+
+ Exchange rates: Austrian schillings (S) per US$1 - 10.774 (January
+ 1995), 11.422 (1994), 11.632 (1993), 10.989 (1992), 11.676 (1991),
+ 11.370 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Austria:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 5,624 km
+ standard gauge: 5,269 km 1.435-m gauge (3,162 km electrified)
+ narrow gauge: 355 km 1.000-m and 0.760-m gauge (84 km electrified)
+ (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 110,000 km
+ paved: 35,000 km (including 1,554 km of autobahn)
+ unpaved: mostly gravel and earth 75,000 km (1992)
+
+ Inland waterways: 446 km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 554 km; petroleum products 171 km; natural gas
+ 2,611 km
+
+ Ports: Linz, Vienna
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 152,885 GRT/235,719 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 25, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 55
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 41
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
+
+@Austria:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 4,014,000 telephones; highly developed and efficient
+
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), and
+ EUTELSAT earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 21 (repeaters 545), shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 47 (repeaters 870)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Austria:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army (includes Flying Division)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,026,567; males fit for
+ military service 1,695,879; males reach military age (19) annually
+ 46,821 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - about $1.8 billion,
+ 0.9% of GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+AZERBAIJAN
+
+ Note--Azerbaijan continues to be plagued by an unresolved
+ seven-year-old conflict with Armenian separatists over its
+ Nagorno-Karabakh region. The Karabakh Armenians have declared
+ independence and seized almost 20% of the country's territory,
+ creating almost 1 million Azeri displaced persons in the process. Both
+ sides have generally observed a Russian-mediated cease-fire in place
+ since May 1994, and support the OSCE-mediated peace process, now
+ entering its fourth year. Nevertheless, Baku and Xankandi
+ (Stepanakert) remain far apart on most substantive issues from the
+ placement and composition of a peacekeeping force to the enclave's
+ ultimate political status, and prospects for a negotiated settlement
+ remain dim.
+
+@Azerbaijan:Geography
+
+ Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran
+ and Russia
+
+ Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - European States
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 86,600 sq km
+ land area: 86,100 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Maine
+ note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the
+ Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by
+ Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,013 km, Armenia (west) 566 km, Armenia
+ (southwest) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (south) 432 km, Iran
+ (southwest) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+ note: Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: violent and longstanding dispute with ethnic
+ Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh over its status; Caspian Sea boundaries
+ are not yet determined
+
+ Climate: dry, semiarid steppe
+
+ Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Lowland (much of it below sea level)
+ with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag (Karabakh) Upland
+ in west; Baku lies on Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula that juts into
+ Caspian Sea
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous
+ metals, alumina
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 18%
+ permanent crops: 4%
+ meadows and pastures: 25%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 53%
+
+ Irrigated land: 14,010 sq km (1990)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: local scientists consider the Abseron (Apsheron)
+ Peninsula (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the
+ ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air,
+ water, and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of DDT
+ as a pesticide and also from toxic defoliants used in the production
+ of cotton
+ natural hazards: droughts; some lowland areas threatened by rising
+ levels of the Caspian Sea
+ international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Azerbaijan:People
+
+ Population: 7,789,886 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 33% (female 1,241,952; male 1,315,313)
+ 15-64 years: 61% (female 2,437,810; male 2,307,496)
+ 65 years and over: 6% (female 303,926; male 183,389) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.32% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 22.05 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 33.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 71.09 years
+ male: 67.4 years
+ female: 74.97 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.64 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Azerbaijani(s)
+ adjective: Azerbaijani
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Azeri 90%, Dagestani Peoples 3.2%, Russian 2.5%,
+ Armenian 2.3%, other 2% (1995 est.)
+ note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh
+ region
+
+ Religions: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox
+ 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)
+ note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; actual
+ practicing adherents are much lower
+
+ Languages: Azeri 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
+ total population: 97%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 96%
+
+ Labor force: 2.789 million
+ by occupation: agriculture and forestry 32%, industry and construction
+ 26%, other 42% (1990)
+
+@Azerbaijan:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Azerbaijani Republic
+ conventional short form: Azerbaijan
+ local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi
+ local short form: none
+ former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
+
+ Digraph: AJ
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Baku (Baki)
+
+ Administrative divisions: 59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11
+ cities* (saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic** (muxtar
+ respublika); Abscron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas
+ Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, AliBayramli Sahari*, Astara
+ Rayonu, Baki Sahari*, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu,
+ Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu,
+ Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Ganca Sahari*, Goranboy
+ Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli
+ Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran
+ Rayonu, Lankaran Sahari*, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, Mingacevir
+ Sahari*, Naftalan Sahari*, Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi**, Neftcala
+ Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan
+ Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu,
+ Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Saki Sahari*, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi
+ Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Sumqayit Sahari*,
+ Susa Rayonu, Susa Sahari*, Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu,
+ Xacmaz Rayonu, Xankandi Sahari*, Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali
+ Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimb Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Yevlax
+ Sahari*, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu
+
+ Independence: 30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 28 May
+
+ Constitution: adopted NA April 1978; writing a new constitution
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993); election
+ last held 3 October 1993 (next to be held NA); results - Heydar ALIYEV
+ won 97% of vote
+ head of government: Acting Prime Minister Fuad QULIYEV (since 9
+ October 1994); First Deputy Prime Ministers Abbas ABBASOV, Samed
+ SADYKOV, Vahid AKHMEDOV (since NA)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president and
+ confirmed by the Mejlis
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Milli Mejlis): elections last held 30 September and
+ 14 October 1990 for the Supreme Soviet (next expected to be held
+ September 1995 for the National Assembly); seats for Supreme Soviet -
+ (360 total) Communists 280, Democratic Bloc 45 (grouping of opposition
+ parties), other 15, vacant 20; note - on 19 May 1992 the Supreme
+ Soviet was prorogued in favor of a Popular Front-dominated National
+ Council; seats - (50 total) Popular Front 25, opposition elements 25
+ note: since June 1993 ALIYEV has rotated in several supporters to
+ replace Popular Front adherents
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Azerbaijan Popular Front (APF), Ebulfez
+ ELCIBEY, chairman; Musavat Party, Isa GAMBAR, chairman; National
+ Independence Party, Etibar MAMEDOV, chairman; Social Democratic Party
+ (SDP), Araz ALIZADE, chairman; Communist Party, Ramiz AKHMEDOV,
+ chairman; People's Freedom Party, Yunus OGUZ, chairman; Independent
+ Social Democratic Party, Arif YUNUSOV and Leila YUNOSOVA, cochairmen;
+ New Azerbaijan Party, Heydar ALIYEV, chairman; Boz Gurd Party,
+ Iskander HAMIDOV, chairman; Azerbaijan Democratic Independence Party,
+ Qabil HUSEYNLI, chairman; Islamic Party of Azerbaijan, Ali Akram,
+ chairman; Ana Veten Party, Fazail AGAMALIYEV; Azerbaijan Democratic
+ Party, Sardar Jalaloglu MAMEDOV; Azerbaijan Democratic Party of
+ Proprietors (DPOP), Makhmud MAMEDOV; Azerbaijan Patriotic Solidarity
+ Party, Sabir RUSTAMHANLI; Azerbaijan Republic Reform Party, Fuad
+ ASADOV; Communist Party of Azerbaijan (unregistered), Sayad SAYADOV;
+ Equality of the Peoples Party, Faukhraddin AYDAYEV; Independent
+ Azerbaijan Party, Nizami SULEYMANOV; Labor Party of Azerbaijan,
+ Sabutai HAJIYEV; Liberal-Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, Lyudmila
+ NIKOLAYEVNA; National Enlightenment Party, Hajy Osman EFENDIYEV;
+ National Liberation Party, Panak SHAKHSEVEV; Peasant Party, Firuz
+ MUSTAFAYEV; Radical Party of Azerbaijan, Malik SHARIFOV; United
+ Azerbaijan Party, Kerrar ABILOV; Vetan Adzhagy Party, Zakir TAGIYEV
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: self-proclaimed Armenian
+ Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movement
+
+ Member of: BSEC, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDB,
+ IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE, PFP,
+ UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal PASHAYEV
+ chancery: (temporary) Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC
+ 20005
+ telephone: [1] (202) 842-0001
+ FAX: [1] (202) 842-0004
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Richard D. KAUZLARICH
+ embassy: Azadliq Prospect 83, Baku
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [9] (9412) 96-00-19, 98-03-37
+ FAX: [9] (9412) 98-37-55
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a
+ crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band
+
+@Azerbaijan:Economy
+
+ Overview: Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than either
+ Armenia or Georgia, the other Transcaucasian states. It resembles the
+ Central Asian states in its majority nominally Muslim population, high
+ structural unemployment, and low standard of living. The economy's
+ most prominent products are oil, cotton, and gas. Production from the
+ Caspian oil and gas field has been in decline for several years, but
+ the November 1994 ratification of the $7.5 billion oil deal with a
+ consortium of Western companies should generate the funds needed to
+ spur future industrial development. Azerbaijan accounted for 1.5% to
+ 2% of the capital stock and output of the former Soviet Union.
+ Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the ex-Soviet
+ republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy,
+ but its considerable energy resources brighten its long-term
+ prospects. Baku has only recently begun making progress on economic
+ reform, and old economic ties and structures have yet to be replaced.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $13.8 billion (1994
+ estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -22% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,790 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 28% monthly average (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 0.9% includes officially registered unemployed;
+ also large numbers of other unemployed and underemployed workers
+ (December 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $167.5 million
+ expenditures: $234.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1994)
+
+ Exports: $366 million to non-FSU countries (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: oil and gas, chemicals, oilfield equipment, textiles,
+ cotton (1991)
+ partners: mostly CIS and European countries
+
+ Imports: $296 million from non-FSU countries (c.i.f., 1994)
+ commodities: machinery and parts, consumer durables, foodstuffs,
+ textiles (1991)
+ partners: European countries
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -25% (1994)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 4,900,000 kW
+ production: 17.5 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,270 kWh (1994)
+
+ Industries: petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield
+ equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals;
+ textiles
+
+ Agriculture: cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea,
+ tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep and goats
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly
+ for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program;
+ transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: wheat from Turkey
+
+ Currency: 1 manat = 100 gopik
+
+ Exchange rates: manats per US$1 - 4500 (April 1995), 4168 (end of
+ December 1994)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Azerbaijan:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 2,090 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
+ lines
+ broad gauge: 2,090 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 36,700 km
+ paved or graveled: 31,800 km
+ unpaved: earth 4,900 km (1990)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 1,130 km; petroleum products 630 km; natural gas
+ 1,240 km
+
+ Ports: Baku (Baki)
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 69
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 33
+
+@Azerbaijan:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 710,000 telephones; 90 telephones/1,000 persons
+ (1991); 202,000 persons waiting for telephone installations (January
+ 1991); domestic telephone service is of poor quality and inadequate
+ local: a joint venture to establish a cellular telephone system
+ (Bakcel) in the Baku area is supposed to become operational in 1994
+ intercity: NA
+ international: connections to other former USSR republics by cable and
+ microwave and to other countries via the Moscow international gateway
+ switch; INTELSAT link installed in late 1992 in Baku with Turkish
+ financial assistance with access to 200 countries through Turkey;
+ since August 1993 an earth station near Baku has provided direct
+ communications with New York through Russia's Stationar-11 satellite
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA; domestic and Russian TV programs are received
+ locally and Turkish and Iranian TV is received from an INTELSAT
+ satellite through a receive-only earth station
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Azerbaijan:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Air Force, Navy, Maritime Border Guard, National
+ Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,927,955; males fit for
+ military service 1,553,736; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 68,407 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: 70.5 billion rubles, 10% of GDP (1993 budget
+ allocation); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars
+ using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+THE BAHAMAS
+
+@The Bahamas:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean,
+ southeast of Florida
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 13,940 sq km
+ land area: 10,070 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Connecticut
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 3,542 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
+
+ Terrain: long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
+
+ Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 1%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 32%
+ other: 67%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: coral reef decay
+ natural hazards: hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause
+ extensive flood and wind damage
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
+ Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
+
+ Note: strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island
+ chain
+
+@The Bahamas:People
+
+ Population: 256,616 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 28% (female 35,924; male 36,504)
+ 15-64 years: 66% (female 87,868; male 82,780)
+ 65 years and over: 6% (female 8,247; male 5,293) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.09% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 19.23 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.79 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -2.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 24.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 72.12 years
+ male: 67.37 years
+ female: 76.97 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.01 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Bahamian(s)
+ adjective: Bahamian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: black 85%, white 15%
+
+ Religions: Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist
+ 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other
+ 2%
+
+ Languages: English, Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write but definition of
+ literary not available (1963 est.)
+ total population: 90%
+ male: 90%
+ female: 89%
+
+ Labor force: 136,900 (1993)
+ by occupation: government 30%, hotels and restaurants 25%, business
+ services 10%, agriculture 5% (1989)
+
+@The Bahamas:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas
+ conventional short form: The Bahamas
+
+ Digraph: BF
+
+ Type: commonwealth
+
+ Capital: Nassau
+
+ Administrative divisions: 21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands,
+ Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour,
+ Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long
+ Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nicholls Town and
+ Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador
+ and Rum Cay
+
+ Independence: 10 July 1973 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 10 July (1973)
+
+ Constitution: 10 July 1973
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor General Sir Clifford DARLING (since 2 January
+ 1992)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Hubert A. INGRAHAM (since 19 August
+ 1992)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor on the prime minister's
+ recommendation
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
+ Senate: a 16-member body appointed by the governor general
+ House of Assembly: elections last held 19 August 1992 (next to be held
+ by August 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (49
+ total) FNM 32, PLP 17
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Sir
+ Lynden O. PINDLING; Free National Movement (FNM), Hubert Alexander
+ INGRAHAM;
+
+ Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
+ INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
+ WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Timothy Baswell DONALDSON
+ chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660
+ FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668
+ consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Sidney WILLIAMS
+ embassy: Mosmar Building, Queen Street, Nassau
+ mailing address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau
+ telephone: [1] (809) 322-1181, 328-2206
+ FAX: [1] (809) 328-7838
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and
+ aquamarine with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side
+
+@The Bahamas:Economy
+
+ Overview: The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation whose economy is
+ based primarily on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone
+ provides about 50% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs about
+ 50,000 people or 40% of the local work force. The economy has
+ slackened in recent years, as the annual increase in the number of
+ tourists slowed. Nonetheless, per capita GDP is one of the highest in
+ the region.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $4.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $15,900 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 13.1% (1993)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $696 million
+ expenditures: $756 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (FY94/95)
+
+ Exports: $257 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish, refined petroleum
+ products
+ partners: US 51%, UK 7%, Norway 7%, France 6%, Italy 5%
+
+ Imports: $1.15 billion (f.o.b,,1993 est.)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, crude oil, vehicles,
+ electronics
+ partners: US 55%, Japan 17%, Nigeria 12%, Denmark 7%, Norway 6%
+
+ External debt: $455 million (December 1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 3% (1990); accounts for 15% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 424,000 kW
+ production: 929 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,200 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transshipment,
+ salt production, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral welded steel
+ pipe
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GDP; dominated by small-scale
+ producers; principal products - citrus fruit, vegetables, poultry;
+ large net importer of food
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for
+ US and Europe; also a money-laundering center
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-89), $1 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $345 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Bahamian dollar (B$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Bahamian dollar (B$) per US$1 - 1.00 (fixed rate)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@The Bahamas:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 2,400 km
+ paved: 1,350 km
+ unpaved: gravel 1,050 km
+
+ Ports: Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 936 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,815,474
+ GRT/35,253,416 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 162, cargo 181, chemical tanker 39, combination
+ bulk 9, combination ore/oil 19, container 52, liquefied gas tanker 20,
+ oil tanker 182, passenger 55, refrigerated cargo 146, roll-on/roll-off
+ cargo 43, short-sea passenger 16, vehicle carrier 12
+ note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 46 countries among
+ which are UK 158 ships, Norway 125, Greece 100, US 94, Denmark 80,
+ Netherlands 53, France 36, Finland 35, Japan 35, Sweden 25
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 60
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 11
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 22
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 8
+
+@The Bahamas:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 99,000 telephones; totally automatic system; highly
+ developed
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: tropospheric scatter and submarine cable links to
+ Florida; 3 coaxial submarine cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth
+ station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@The Bahamas:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal
+ Bahamas Police Force
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $65 million, 2.7% of
+ GDP (1990)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BAHRAIN
+
+@Bahrain:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi
+ Arabia
+
+ Map references: Middle East
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 620 sq km
+ land area: 620 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 161 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar
+ Islands; maritime boundary with Qatar
+
+ Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
+
+ Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central
+ escarpment
+
+ Natural resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 2%
+ permanent crops: 2%
+ meadows and pastures: 6%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 90%
+
+ Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: desertification resulting from the degradation of
+ limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal
+ degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation)
+ resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil
+ refineries, and distribution stations; no natural fresh water
+ resources so that groundwater and sea water are the only sources for
+ all water needs
+ natural hazards: periodic droughts; dust storms
+ international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes,
+ Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified -
+ Biodiversity
+
+ Note: close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic
+ location in Persian Gulf through which much of Western world's
+ petroleum must transit to reach open ocean
+
+@Bahrain:People
+
+ Population: 575,925 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 31% (female 87,398; male 89,976)
+ 15-64 years: 67% (female 152,363; male 231,586)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 7,051; male 7,551) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.58% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 24.12 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 3.31 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 4.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 18 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 73.94 years
+ male: 71.46 years
+ female: 76.49 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.12 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Bahraini(s)
+ adjective: Bahraini
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Bahraini 63%, Asian 13%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%,
+ other 6%
+
+ Religions: Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%
+
+ Languages: Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991)
+ total population: 84%
+ male: 89%
+ female: 77%
+
+ Labor force: 140,000
+ by occupation: industry and commerce 85%, agriculture 5%, services 5%,
+ government 3% (1982)
+ note: 42% of labor force is Bahraini
+
+@Bahrain:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: State of Bahrain
+ conventional short form: Bahrain
+ local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn
+ local short form: Al Bahrayn
+
+ Digraph: BA
+
+ Type: traditional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Manama
+
+ Administrative divisions: 12 districts (manatiq, singular - mintaqah);
+ Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta,
+ Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa'wa al Mintaqah al
+ Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Mintaqat Juzur
+ Hawar, Sitrah
+
+ Independence: 15 August 1971 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 16 December (1961)
+
+ Constitution: 26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973
+
+ Legal system: based on Islamic law and English common law
+
+ Suffrage: none
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Amir ISA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 2 November
+ 1961); Heir Apparent HAMAD bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (son of the
+ Amir, born 28 January 1950)
+ head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa
+ (since 19 January 1970)
+ cabinet: Cabinet
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26
+ August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet;
+ appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992
+
+ Judicial branch: High Civil Appeals Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: political parties prohibited; several
+ small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are
+ active
+
+ Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GATT, GCC, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
+ IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
+ UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad ABD AL-GHAFFAR al-Abdallah
+ chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 342-0741, 342-0742
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador David M. RANSOM
+ embassy: Building No. 979, Road 3119 (next to Ahli Sports Club), Zinj
+ District, Manama
+ mailing address: FPO AE 09834-5100; P.O. Box 26431, Manama
+ (International Mail)
+ telephone: [973] 273300; afterhours [973] 275-126
+ FAX: [973] 272594
+
+ Flag: red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist
+ side
+
+@Bahrain:Economy
+
+ Overview: Tiny in area, Bahrain is well-to-do in economic resources
+ and per capita income. Petroleum production and processing account for
+ about 80% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of
+ GDP. Economic conditions have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of
+ oil since 1985, for example, during and following the Gulf crisis of
+ 1990-91. With its highly developed communication and transport
+ facilities Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with
+ business in the Gulf. A large share of exports consists of petroleum
+ products made from imported crude. Prospects for 1995 are good, with
+ private enterprise the main driving force, e.g., in banking and
+ construction. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the
+ depletion of both oil and underground water resources are major
+ long-term economic problems.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $7.1 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $12,100 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 15% (1991 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.2 billion (1989)
+ expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1992)
+
+ Exports: $3.69 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 80%, aluminum 7%
+ partners: Japan 11%, UAE 5%, South Korea 4%, India 4%, Saudi Arabia 3%
+ (1992)
+
+ Imports: $3.83 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%
+ partners: Saudi Arabia 47%, UK 7%, Japan 7%, US 6%, Germany 5% (1992)
+
+ External debt: $2.6 billion (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 13% (1992); accounts for 38% of
+ GDP, including petroleum
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,050,000 kW
+ production: 3.3 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 5,453 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting,
+ offshore banking, ship repairing
+
+ Agriculture: including fishing, accounts for less than 2% of GDP; not
+ self-sufficient in food production; heavily subsidized sector produces
+ fruit, vegetables, poultry, dairy products, shrimp, fish
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $24 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $45 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $9.8 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Bahraini dinar (BD) = 1,000 fils
+
+ Exchange rates: Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1 - 0.3760 (fixed rate)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Bahrain:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 2,670 km
+ paved: 2,010 km
+ unpaved: 660 km (1991 est.)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32
+ km
+
+ Ports: Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 79,949 GRT/120,900 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 4, chemical tanker 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 4
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+
+@Bahrain:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 98,000 telephones; 170 telephones/1,000 persons;
+ modern system; good domestic services; excellent international
+ connections
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1
+ ARABSAT earth station; tropospheric scatter to Qatar, UAE; microwave
+ radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi
+ Arabia
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
+ radios: 60 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 2
+ televisions: 21 million
+
+@Bahrain:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense, Coast Guard, Police
+ Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 210,725; males fit for military
+ service 117,414; males reach military age (15) annually 4,346 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $247 million, 5.5% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BAKER ISLAND
+
+ (territory of the US)
+
+@Baker Island:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of
+ the way from Hawaii to Australia
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1.4 sq km
+ land area: 1.4 sq km
+ comparative area: about 2.3 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 4.8 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
+
+ Terrain: low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow
+ fringing reef
+
+ Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until 1891)
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: no natural fresh water resources
+ natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
+ be a maritime hazard
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of
+ grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting,
+ roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine
+ wildlife
+
+@Baker Island:People
+
+ Population: uninhabited; note - American civilians evacuated in 1942
+ after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by
+ US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public
+ entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to
+ scientists and educators; a cemetery and cemetery ruins are located
+ near the middle of the west coast
+
+@Baker Island:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Baker Island
+
+ Digraph: FQ
+
+ Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and
+ Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the
+ National Wildlife Refuge system
+
+ Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
+
+@Baker Island:Economy
+
+ Overview: no economic activity
+
+@Baker Island:Transportation
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat landing
+ area along the middle of the west coast
+
+ Airports: 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m
+
+ Note: there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
+
+@Baker Island:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the
+ US Coast Guard
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BANGLADESH
+
+@Bangladesh:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma
+ and India
+
+ Map references: Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 144,000 sq km
+ land area: 133,910 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Wisconsin
+
+ Land boundaries: total 4,246 km, Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
+
+ Coastline: 580 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 18 nm
+ continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: a portion of the boundary with India is in
+ dispute; water-sharing problems with upstream riparian India over the
+ Ganges
+
+ Climate: tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid
+ summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)
+
+ Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
+
+ Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 67%
+ permanent crops: 2%
+ meadows and pastures: 4%
+ forest and woodland: 16%
+ other: 11%
+
+ Irrigated land: 27,380 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: many people are landless and forced to live on and
+ cultivate flood-prone land; limited access to potable water;
+ water-borne diseases prevalent; water pollution especially of fishing
+ areas results from the use of commercial pesticides; intermittent
+ water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and
+ central parts of the country; soil degradation; deforestation; severe
+ overpopulation
+ natural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely
+ flooded during the summer monsoon season
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
+ Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not
+ ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea
+
+@Bangladesh:People
+
+ Population: 128,094,948 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 40% (female 25,195,262; male 26,352,299)
+ 15-64 years: 57% (female 34,862,105; male 37,867,705)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 1,761,336; male 2,056,241) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.32% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 34.62 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 11.43 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 104.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 55.46 years
+ male: 55.69 years
+ female: 55.22 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.39 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Bangladeshi(s)
+ adjective: Bangladesh
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Bengali 98%, Biharis 250,000, tribals less than 1
+ million
+
+ Religions: Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, Buddhist, Christian, other
+
+ Languages: Bangla (official), English
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 35%
+ male: 47%
+ female: 22%
+
+ Labor force: 50.1 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 21%, industry and mining 14%
+ (1989)
+ note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman (1991)
+
+@Bangladesh:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
+ conventional short form: Bangladesh
+ former: East Pakistan
+
+ Digraph: BG
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Dhaka
+
+ Administrative divisions: 4 divisions; Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna,
+ Rajshahi
+
+ Independence: 16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 26 March (1971)
+
+ Constitution: 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended
+ following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended
+ many times
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Abdur Rahman BISWAS (since 8 October 1991);
+ election last held 8 October 1991 (next to be held by NA October
+ 1996); results - Abdur Rahman BISWAS received 52.1% of parliamentary
+ vote
+ head of government: Prime Minister Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN (since 20
+ March 1991)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad): elections last held 27 February
+ 1991 (next to be held by February 1996); results - percent of vote by
+ party NA; seats - (330 total, 300 elected and 30 seats reserved for
+ women) BNP 168, AL 93, JP 35, JI 20, BCP 5, National Awami Party
+ (Muzaffar) 1, Workers Party 1, JSD 1, Ganotantri Party 1, Islami Oikya
+ Jote 1, NDP 1, independents 3
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP),
+ Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN; Awami League (AL), Sheikh Hasina WAJED; Jatiyo
+ Party (JP), Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD (in jail); Jamaat-E-Islami (JI),
+ Ali KHAN; Bangladesh Communist Party (BCP), Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK;
+ National Awami Party (Muzaffar); Workers Party, leader NA; Jatiyo
+ Samajtantik Dal (JSD), Serajul ALAM KHAN; Ganotantri Party, leader NA;
+ Islami Oikya Jote, leader NA; National Democratic Party (NDP), leader
+ NA; Muslim League, Khan A. SABUR; Democratic League, Khondakar
+ MUSHTAQUE Ahmed; Democratic League, Khondakar MUSHTAQUE Ahmed; United
+ People's Party, Kazi ZAFAR Ahmed
+
+ Member of: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN,
+ UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNOMOZ, UNOMUR,
+ UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Humayun KABIR
+ chancery: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
+ telephone: [1] (202) 342-8372 through 8376
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador David N. MERRILL
+ embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka
+ mailing address: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1212
+ telephone: [880] (2) 884700 through 884722
+ FAX: [880] (2) 883-744
+
+ Flag: green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of
+ center; green is the traditional color of Islam
+
+@Bangladesh:Economy
+
+ Overview: Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to
+ improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains one of
+ the world's poorest, most densely populated, and least developed
+ nations. Its economy is overwhelmingly agricultural, with the
+ cultivation of rice the single most important activity in the economy.
+ Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, the
+ inefficiency of state-owned enterprises, a rapidly growing labor force
+ that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploiting energy
+ resources (natural gas), and inadequate power supplies. Excellent rice
+ crops and expansion of the export garment industry led to real growth
+ of 4% in 1992 and again in 1993. Policy measures intended to reduce
+ government regulation of private industry, to curb population growth,
+ and to expand employment opportunities have had only partial success
+ given the serious nature of Bangladesh's basic problems.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $130.1 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,040 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.3% (1992 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $2.8 billion
+ expenditures: $4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8
+ billion (FY92/93)
+
+ Exports: $2.38 billion (1993)
+ commodities: garments, jute and jute goods, leather, shrimp
+ partners: US 33%, Western Europe 39% (Germany 8.4%, Italy 6%) (FY91/92
+ est.)
+
+ Imports: $3.99 billion (1993)
+ commodities: capital goods, petroleum, food, textiles
+ partners: Hong Kong 7.5%, Singapore 7.4%, China 7.4%, Japan 7.1%
+ (FY91/92 est.)
+
+ External debt: $13.5 billion (June 1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 6.9% (FY92/93 est.); accounts for
+ 9.4% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 2,740,000 kW
+ production: 9.2 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 70 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: jute manufacturing, cotton textiles, food processing,
+ steel, fertilizer
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 33% of GDP, 65% of employment, and one-fifth
+ of exports; world's largest exporter of jute; commercial products -
+ jute, rice, wheat, tea, sugarcane, potatoes, beef, milk, poultry;
+ shortages include wheat, vegetable oils, cotton
+
+ Illicit drugs: transit country for illegal drugs produced in
+ neighboring countries
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.4 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1980-89), $11.65 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $6.52
+ million; Communist countries (1970-89), $1.5 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 taka (Tk) = 100 poiska
+
+ Exchange rates: taka (Tk) per US$1 - 40.250 (January 1995), 40.212
+ (1994), 39.567 (1993), 38.951 (1992), 36.596 (1991), 34.569 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Bangladesh:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 2,892 km
+ broad gauge: 978 km 1.676-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 1,914 km 1.000-m gauge (1992)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 7,240 km
+ paved: 3,840 km
+ unpaved: 3,400 km (1985)
+
+ Inland waterways: 5,150-8,046 km navigable waterways (includes
+ 2,575-3,058 km main cargo routes)
+
+ Pipelines: natural gas 1,220 km
+
+ Ports: Barisal, Chandpur, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Dacca, Khulna,
+ Mongla (includes Chalna), Narayanganj
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 38 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 293,304 GRT/428,013 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 31, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 3
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 16
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 7
+
+@Bangladesh:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 241,250 telephones; 1 telephone/522 persons; poor
+ domestic telephone service
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth stations; adequate
+ international radio communications and landline service
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 11
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Bangladesh:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
+ paramilitary forces: Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Armed
+ Police Reserve, Village Defense Parties, National Cadet Corps
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 33,039,035; males fit for
+ military service 19,607,817 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $448 million, 1.7% of
+ GDP (FY93/94)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BARBADOS
+
+@Barbados:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North
+ Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 430 sq km
+ land area: 430 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 97 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October)
+
+ Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, fishing, natural gas
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 77%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 9%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 14%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by
+ ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens
+ contamination of aquifers
+ natural hazards: hurricanes (especially June to October); periodic
+ landslides
+ international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered
+ Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
+ Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity
+
+ Note: easternmost Caribbean island
+
+@Barbados:People
+
+ Population: 256,395 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 24% (female 30,175; male 31,507)
+ 15-64 years: 66% (female 86,103; male 82,727)
+ 65 years and over: 10% (female 15,849; male 10,034) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.24% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 15.45 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.27 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -4.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 19.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 74.16 years
+ male: 71.47 years
+ female: 77.06 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.78 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Barbadian(s)
+ adjective: Barbadian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: African 80%, European 4%, other 16%
+
+ Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%,
+ other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, unknown 3%, other 9% (1980)
+
+ Languages: English
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970)
+ total population: 99%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 124,800 (1992)
+ by occupation: services and government 41%, commerce 15%,
+ manufacturing and construction 18%, transportation, storage,
+ communications, and financial institutions 8%, agriculture 6%,
+ utilities 2% (1992 est.)
+
+@Barbados:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Barbados
+
+ Digraph: BB
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Bridgetown
+
+ Administrative divisions: 11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew,
+ Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint
+ Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas
+ note: the new city of Bridgetown may be given parish status
+
+ Independence: 30 November 1966 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
+
+ Constitution: 30 November 1966
+
+ Legal system: English common law; no judicial review of legislative
+ acts
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor General Dame Nita BARROW (since 6 June 1990)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6
+ September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Billie MILLER (since 6
+ September 1994)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice of the
+ prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
+ Senate: consists of a 21-member body appointed by the governor general
+
+ House of Assembly: election last held 6 September 1994 (next to be
+ held by January 1999); results - percentage vote by party NA; seats -
+ (28 total) DLP 8, BLP 19, NDP 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Democratic Labor Party (DLP),David
+ THOMPSON; Barbados Labor Party (BLP), Owen ARTHUR; National Democratic
+ Party (NDP), Richard HAYNES
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Barbados Workers Union, Leroy
+ TROTMAN; People's Progressive Movement, Eric SEALY; Workers' Party of
+ Barbados, Dr. George BELLE; Clement Payne Labor Union, David
+ COMMISSIONG
+
+ Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
+ INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN,
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Courtney BLACKMAN
+ chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 939-9218, 9219
+ FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467
+ consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
+ consulate(s): Los Angeles
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Jeanette W. HYDE
+ embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street,
+ Bridgetown
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055
+ telephone: [1] (809) 436-4950
+ FAX: [1] (809) 429-5246
+
+ Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and
+ blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the
+ trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the
+ colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)
+
+@Barbados:Economy
+
+ Overview: A per capita income of $9,200 gives Barbados one of the
+ highest standards of living of all the small island states of the
+ eastern Caribbean. Historically, the economy was based on the
+ cultivation of sugarcane and related activities. In recent years,
+ however, the economy has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. A
+ moderate recovery that began in late 1993 after 3 years of contraction
+ is mainly due to increased tourism and expansion in the construction
+ sector. Economic prospects for 1995 depend mostly on continued growth
+ in the industrialized countries, especially in Europe, which would
+ spur further expansion in tourism.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $9,200 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 20.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $509 million
+ expenditures: $636 million, including capital expenditures of $86
+ million (FY94/95 est.)
+
+ Exports: $161 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages,
+ chemicals, electrical components, clothing
+ partners: US 13%, UK 10%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, Windward Islands 8%
+
+ Imports: $703 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction
+ materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components
+ partners: US 36%, UK 11%, Trinidad and Tobago 11%, Japan 3%
+
+ External debt: $652 million (1991 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 2% (FY93/94 est.); accounts for
+ about 10% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 152,100 kW
+ production: 510 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,841 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly
+ for export
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 6% of GDP; major cash crop is sugarcane;
+ other crops - vegetables, cotton; not self-sufficient in food
+
+ Illicit drugs: one of many Caribbean transshipment points for
+ narcotics bound for the US and Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $15 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $171 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Barbadian dollar (Bds$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1 - 2.0113 (fixed
+ rate)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Barbados:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1,570 km
+ paved: 1,475 km
+ unpaved: gravel, earth 95 km
+
+ Ports: Bridgetown
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 61,563 GRT/103,632 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 6, oil tanker 2
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+
+@Barbados:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 89,000 telephones
+ local: island wide automatic telephone system;
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station; tropospheric
+ scatter link to Trinidad and Saint Lucia
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 2 (1 pay)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Barbados:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Royal Barbados Defense Force (includes the Ground Forces and
+ Coast Guard), Royal Barbados Police Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 71,153; males fit for military
+ service 49,488 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BASSAS DA INDIA
+
+ (possession of France)
+
+@Bassas Da India:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel,
+ about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 0.2 km2
+ land area: 0.2 km2
+ comparative area: NA
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 35.2 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claimed by Madagascar
+
+ Climate: tropical
+
+ Terrain: a volcanic rock 2.4 meters high
+
+ Natural resources: none
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100% (all rock)
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: maritime hazard since it is usually under water
+ during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones
+
+ international agreements: NA
+
+@Bassas Da India:People
+
+ Population: uninhabited
+
+@Bassas Da India:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Bassas da India
+
+ Digraph: BS
+
+ Type: French possession administered by a Commissioner of the
+ Republic, resident in Reunion
+
+ Capital: none; administered by France from Reunion
+
+ Independence: none (possession of France)
+
+@Bassas Da India:Economy
+
+ Overview: no economic activity
+
+@Bassas Da India:Transportation
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
+
+@Bassas Da India:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of France
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BELARUS
+
+@Belarus:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Europe, east of Poland
+
+ Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - European States
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 207,600 sq km
+ land area: 207,600 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Kansas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 3,098 km, Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km,
+ Poland 605 km, Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between
+ continental and maritime
+
+ Terrain: generally flat and contains much marshland
+
+ Natural resources: forest land, peat deposits, small quantities of oil
+ and natural gas
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 29%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 15%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 55%
+
+ Irrigated land: 1,490 sq km (1990)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of
+ the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor
+ accident at Chornobyl'
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Biodiversity,
+ Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
+ Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Law of
+ the Sea
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Belarus:People
+
+ Population: 10,437,418 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 22% (female 1,126,062; male 1,166,439)
+ 15-64 years: 65% (female 3,494,891; male 3,293,196)
+ 65 years and over: 13% (female 913,508; male 443,322) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.3% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 12.98 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 11.23 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 18.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 71.03 years
+ male: 66.36 years
+ female: 75.93 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.87 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Belarusian(s)
+ adjective: Belarusian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Byelorussian 77.9%, Russian 13.2%, Polish 4.1%,
+ Ukrainian 2.9%, other 1.9%
+
+ Religions: Eastern Orthodox, other
+
+ Languages: Byelorussian, Russian, other
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
+ total population: 97%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 96%
+
+ Labor force: 4.887 million
+ by occupation: industry and construction 40%, agriculture and forestry
+ 21%, other 39% (1992)
+
+@Belarus:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Belarus
+ conventional short form: Belarus
+ local long form: Respublika Byelarus'
+ local short form: none
+ former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic
+
+ Digraph: BO
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Minsk
+
+ Administrative divisions: 6 voblastsi (singular - voblasts') and one
+ municipality* (harady, singular - horad); Brestskaya (Brest),
+ Homyel'skaya (Homyel'), Horad Minsk*, Hrodzyenskaya (Hrodna),
+ Mahilyowskaya (Mahilyow), Minskaya, Vitsyebskaya (Vitsyebsk)
+ note: the administrative centers of the voblastsi are included in
+ parentheses
+
+ Independence: 25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 27 July (1990)
+
+ Constitution: adopted 15 March 1994; replaces constitution of April
+ 1978
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994);
+ election held June 24 and 10 July 1994 (next to be held NA 1999);
+ Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 80%, Vyacheslav KEBICH 14%
+ head of government: Prime Minister Mikhail CHIGIR (since July 1994);
+ Deputy Prime Ministers Vladimir GARKUN, Viktor GONCHAR, Sergey LING,
+ Mikhail MYASNIKOVICH, Valeriy KOKAREV (since NA)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers
+ note: first presidential elections took place in June-July 1994
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Supreme Soviet: elections last held 4 April 1990 (next to be held 14
+ May 1995); results - Communists 87%; seats - (360 total) number of
+ seats by party NA; note - 50 seats are for public bodies; the
+ Communist Party obtained an overwhelming majority
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Belarusian Popular Front (BPF), Zenon
+ POZNYAK, chairman; Party of Popular Accord, Gennadiy KARPENKO; Union
+ of Belarusian Entreprenuers, V. N. KARYAGIN; Belarusian Party of
+ Communists, Vasiliy NOVIKOV, Viktor CHIKIN, chairmen; Belarus Peasant
+ Party, Yevgeniy LUGIN, chairman; Belarusian Socialist Party,
+ Vyacheslav KUZNETSOV, chairman; Belarusian Social Democrat Party
+ (SDBP), Oleg TRUSOV, Stanislav SHUSHKEVICH, chairmen; Agrarian Party
+ of Belarus, Aleksandr DUBKO; United Democratic Party of Belarus
+ (UDPB), Aleksandr DOBROVOLSKIY, chairman; Independent Trade Unions,
+ Sergey ANTONCHIK, chairman
+
+ Member of: CCC, CE (guest), CEI (associate members), CIS, EBRD, ECE,
+ IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IFC, ILO, IMF, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory
+ user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NACC, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Sergey Nikolayevich MARTYNOV
+ chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
+ telephone: [1] (202) 986-1604
+ FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth Spencer YALOWITZ
+ embassy: Starovilenskaya #46, Minsk
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [7] (0172) 34-65-37
+
+ Flag: three horizontal bands of white (top), red, and white
+
+@Belarus:Economy
+
+ Overview: Belarus ranks among the most developed of the former Soviet
+ states, with a relatively modern - by Soviet standards - and diverse
+ machine building sector and a robust agriculture sector. It also
+ serves as a transport link for Russian oil exports to the Baltic
+ states and Eastern and Western Europe. The breakup of the Soviet Union
+ and its command economy has resulted in a sharp economic contraction
+ as traditional trade ties have collapsed. The Belarusian government
+ has lagged behind the governments of most other former Soviet states
+ in economic reform, with privatization almost nonexistent. The system
+ of state orders and distribution persists. In mid-1994, the Belarusian
+ government embarked on an austerity program with IMF support to slash
+ state credits and consumer subsidies in order to bring down the budget
+ deficit and reduce inflation. However, despite its promising start,
+ the regime's drive to reinvigorate the economy has fallen short, and
+ the IMF has criticized its failure to implement the reforms that the
+ Fund had negotiated. As a result, the IMF has suspended talks on
+ introducing a stand-by arrangement. Economic relations with Russia,
+ which will have an important bearing on the future course of the
+ economy, will be strengthened if Minsk adopts the necessary
+ legislation to implement a customs union agreed to in January 1995.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $53.4 billion (1994
+ estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -20% (1994)
+
+ National product per capita: $5,130 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 29% per month (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 1.4% officially registered unemployed (December
+ 1993); large numbers of underemployed workers
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $968 million to outside of the FSU countries (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
+ partners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria
+
+ Imports: $534 million from outside the FSU countries (c.i.f., 1994)
+ commodities: fuel, natural gas, industrial raw materials, textiles,
+ sugar
+ partners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland
+
+ External debt: $1.5 billion (July 1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -19% (1994); accounts for about 40%
+ of GDP (1992)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 7,010,000 kW
+ production: 31.4 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,010 kWh (1994)
+
+ Industries: employ about 40% of labor force and produced a wide
+ variety of products including (in percent share of total output of
+ former Soviet Union): tractors (12%); metal-cutting machine tools
+ (11%); off-highway dump trucks up to 110-metric-ton load capacity
+ (100%); wheel-type earthmovers for construction and mining (100%);
+ eight-wheel-drive, high-flotation trucks with cargo capacity of 25
+ metric tons for use in tundra and roadless areas (100%); equipment for
+ animal husbandry and livestock feeding (25%); motorcycles (21.3%);
+ television sets (11%); chemical fibers (28%); fertilizer (18%); linen
+ fabric (11%); wool fabric (7%); radios; refrigerators; and other
+ consumer goods
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for almost 25% of GDP and 5.7% of total
+ agricultural output of former Soviet Union; employs 21% of the labor
+ force; in 1988 produced the following (in percent of total Soviet
+ production): grain (3.6%), potatoes (12.2%), vegetables (3.0%), meat
+ (6.0%), milk (7.0%); net exporter of meat, milk, eggs, flour, potatoes
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis; mostly
+ for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to
+ Western Europe
+
+ Economic aid: $NA
+
+ Currency: Belarusian rubel (BR)
+
+ Exchange rates: Belarusian rubels per US$1 - 10,600 (end December
+ 1994)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Belarus:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 5,570 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
+ lines
+ broad gauge: 5,570 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 98,200 km
+ paved: 66,100 km
+ unpaved: earth 32,100 km (1990)
+
+ Inland waterways: NA km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 1,470 km; refined products 1,100 km; natural gas
+ 1,980 km (1992)
+
+ Ports: Mazyr
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ note: claims 5% of former Soviet fleet
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 118
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 18
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 11
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 4
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 9
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 62
+
+@Belarus:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 1,849,000 telephones (December 1991); 18
+ telephones/100 persons; telephone service inadequate for the purposes
+ of either business or the population; about 70% of the telephones are
+ in homes; over 750,000 applications from households for telephones
+ remain unsatisfied (1992); new investment centers on international
+ connections and business needs; the new BelCel NMT 450 cellular system
+ (a joint venture) is now operating in Minsk
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: international traffic is carried by the Moscow
+ international gateway switch and also by 2 satellite earth stations
+ near Minsk - INTELSAT (through Canada) and EUTELSAT (through the UK)
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave 0
+ radios: 3.14 million (5,615,000 with multiple speaker systems for
+ program diffusion)
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: 3.538 million
+
+@Belarus:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Republic Security Forces
+ (internal and border troops)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,550,500; males fit for
+ military service 1,999,138; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 71,808 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: 56.5 billion rubles, NA% of GDP (1993 est.);
+ note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the
+ current exchange rate could produce misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BELGIUM
+
+@Belgium:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and
+ the Netherlands
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 30,510 sq km
+ land area: 30,230 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,385 km, France 620 km, Germany 167 km,
+ Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km
+
+ Coastline: 64 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: median line with neighbors
+ exclusive fishing zone: median line with neighbors (extends about 68
+ km from coast)
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
+
+ Terrain: flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills,
+ rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
+
+ Natural resources: coal, natural gas
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 24%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 20%
+ forest and woodland: 21%
+ other: 34%
+
+ Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: Meuse River, a major source of drinking water,
+ polluted from steel production wastes; other rivers polluted by animal
+ wastes and fertilizers; industrial air pollution contributes to acid
+ rain in neighboring countries
+ natural hazards: flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal
+ land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species,
+ Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine
+ Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
+ Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
+ Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
+ Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
+ Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals
+ within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of the EU
+
+@Belgium:People
+
+ Population: 10,081,880 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 18% (female 875,079; male 919,939)
+ 15-64 years: 66% (female 3,303,219; male 3,363,250)
+ 65 years and over: 16% (female 969,966; male 650,427) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.17% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 11.46 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 10.22 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 77.21 years
+ male: 73.94 years
+ female: 80.67 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.62 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Belgian(s)
+ adjective: Belgian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Fleming 55%, Walloon 33%, mixed or other 12%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%
+
+ Languages: Dutch 56%, French 32%, German 1%, legally bilingual 11%
+ divided along ethnic lines
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
+ total population: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 4.126 million
+ by occupation: services 63.6%, industry 28%, construction 6.1%,
+ agriculture 2.3% (1988)
+
+@Belgium:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
+ conventional short form: Belgium
+ local long form: Royaume de Belgique
+ local short form: Belgique
+
+ Digraph: BE
+
+ Type: constitutional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Brussels
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (French: provinces, singular -
+ province; Flemish: provincien, singular - provincie); Antwerpen,
+ Brabant, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen,
+ West-Vlaanderen
+
+ Independence: 4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 21 July (ascension of King Leopold to
+ the throne in 1831)
+
+ Constitution: 7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament
+ approved a constitutional package creating a federal state
+
+ Legal system: civil law system influenced by English constitutional
+ theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March
+ 1992)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; the king appoints the ministers who are approved by
+ the legislature
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
+ Senate: (Flemish - Senaat, French - Senat); elections last held 24
+ November 1991 (next to be held by the end of 1995); results - percent
+ of vote by party NA; seats - (184 total; of which 106 are directly
+ elected; in the 1995 elections, seats will decrease to 71) CVP 20, SP
+ 14, VLD 13, VU 5, AGALEV 5, VB 5, ROSSEN 1, PS 18, PRL 9, PSC 9, ECOLO
+ 6, FDF 1
+ Chamber of Deputies: (Flemish - Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers,
+ French - Chambre des Representants); elections last held 24 November
+ 1991 (next to be held by 21 May 1995); results - CVP 16.7%, PS 13.6%,
+ SP 12.0%, VLD 11.9%, PRL 8.2%, PSC 7.8%, VB 6.6%, VU 5.9%, ECOLO 5.1%,
+ AGALEV 4.9%, FDF 2.6%, ROSSEM 3.2%, FN 1.5%; seats - (212 total; in
+ 1995 elections, seats will decrease to 150) CVP 39, PS 35, SP 28, VLD
+ 26, PRL 20, PSC 18, VB 12, VU 10, ECOLO 10, AGALEV 7, FDF 3, ROSSEM 3,
+ FN 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van Cassatie,
+ French - Cour de Cassation)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Flemish Christian Democrats (CVP -
+ Christian People's Party), Johan van HECKE, president; Francophone
+ Christian Democrats (PSC - Social Christian Party), Gerard DEPREZ,
+ president; Flemish Socialist Party (SP), Louis TOBBACK, president;
+ Francophone Socialist Party (PS), Philippe BUSQUIN, president; Flemish
+ Liberal Democrats (VLD), Guy VERHOFSTADT, president; Francophone
+ Liberal Reform Party (PRL), Jean GOL, president; Francophone
+ Democratic Front (FDF), Georges CLERFAYT, president; Volksunie (VU),
+ Bert ANCIAUX, president; Vlaams Blok (VB), Karel DILLEN, chairman;
+ ROSSEM, Jean Pierre VAN ROSSEM; National Front (FN), Daniel FERET,
+ president; AGALEV (Flemish Greens), no president; ECOLO (Francophone
+ Ecologists), no president; other minor parties
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Christian and Socialist Trade
+ Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; numerous other associations
+ representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the
+ legal and medical professions; various organizations represent the
+ cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such
+ as the Flemish Action Committee Against Nuclear Weapons and Pax
+ Christi
+
+ Member of: ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux,
+ BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G- 9, G-10, GATT,
+ IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
+ ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
+ MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA,
+ UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA,
+ UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Andre ADAM (appointed 3 October 1994)
+ chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900
+ FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079
+ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Alan J. BLINKEN
+ embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
+ mailing address: APO AE 09724; PSC 82, Box 002, Brussels
+ telephone: [32] (2) 513 38 30
+ FAX: [32] (2) 511 27 25
+
+ Flag: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and
+ red; the design was based on the flag of France
+
+@Belgium:Economy
+
+ Overview: This small private enterprise economy has capitalized on its
+ central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and
+ diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated
+ mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north, although the
+ government is encouraging reinvestment in the southern region of
+ Walloon. With few natural resources Belgium must import substantial
+ quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures,
+ making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets.
+ Three-fourths of its trade is with other EU countries. The economy
+ grew at a strong 4% pace during the period 1988-90, slowed to 1% in
+ 1991-92, dropped by 1.5% in 1993, and recovered with 2.3% growth in
+ 1994. Belgium's public debt has risen to 140% of GDP, and the
+ government is trying to control its expenditures to bring the figure
+ more into line with other industrialized countries.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $181.5 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.3% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $18,040 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 14.1% (December 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $97.8 billion
+ expenditures: $109.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1989)
+
+ Exports: $117 billion (f.o.b., 1992) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union
+
+ commodities: iron and steel, transportation equipment, tractors,
+ diamonds, petroleum products
+ partners: EC 75.5%, US 3.7%, former Communist countries 1.4% (1991)
+
+ Imports: $120 billion (c.i.f., 1992) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union
+
+ commodities: fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs
+ partners: EC 73%, US 4.8%, oil-exporting less developed countries 4%,
+ former Communist countries 1.8% (1991)
+
+ External debt: $31.3 billion (1992 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -0.1% (1993 est.); accounts for 25%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 14,040,000 kW
+ production: 66 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 6,334 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly,
+ processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles,
+ glass, petroleum, coal
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 2.0% of GDP; emphasis on livestock
+ production - beef, veal, pork, milk; major crops are sugar beets,
+ fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; net importer of farm
+ products
+
+ Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American
+ cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine entering the
+ European market
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $5.8 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Belgian francs (BF) per US$1 - 31.549 (January 1995),
+ 33.456 (1994), 34.597 (1993), 32.150 (1992), 34.148 (1991), 33.418
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Belgium:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 3,410 km (2,362 km electrified; 2,563 km double track)
+ standard gauge: 3,410 km 1.435-m gauge (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 137,912 km
+ paved: 129,639 km (including 1,667 km of limited access divided
+ highway)
+ unpaved: 8,273 km (1992)
+
+ Inland waterways: 2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 161 km; petroleum products 1,167 km; natural gas
+ 3,300 km
+
+ Ports: Antwerp, Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende,
+ Zeebrugge
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,055 GRT/56,842 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 9, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas 2,
+ oil tanker 5
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 43
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 6
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 22
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+
+@Belgium:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 4,720,000 telephones; highly developed,
+ technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and
+ international telephone and telegraph facilities
+ local: NA
+ intercity: extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay
+ network; nationwide mobile phone system
+ international: 5 submarine cables; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
+ stations and 1 EUTELSAT earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 39, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 32
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Belgium:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,559,077; males fit for
+ military service 2,126,875; males reach military age (19) annually
+ 61,488 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.9 billion, 1.8% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BELIZE
+
+@Belize:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
+ Guatemala and Mexico
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 22,960 sq km
+ land area: 22,800 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts
+
+ Land boundaries: total 516 km, Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
+
+ Coastline: 386 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from
+ the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial
+ sea is 3 miles; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the
+ purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for the
+ negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with
+ Guatemala
+
+ International disputes: border with Guatemala in dispute; talks to
+ resolve the dispute are stalled
+
+ Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to February)
+
+ Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
+
+ Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 2%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 2%
+ forest and woodland: 44%
+ other: 52%
+
+ Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial
+ effluents, agricultural runoff
+ natural hazards: frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to
+ December) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
+
+ Note: national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize City to Belmopan
+ because of hurricanes; only country in Central America without a
+ coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
+
+@Belize:People
+
+ Population: 214,061 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 44% (female 45,812; male 47,618)
+ 15-64 years: 53% (female 55,630; male 57,230)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 3,970; male 3,801) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.42% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 33.71 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.86 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -3.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 34.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 68.32 years
+ male: 66.37 years
+ female: 70.36 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.25 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Belizean(s)
+ adjective: Belizean
+
+ Ethnic divisions: mestizo 44%, Creole 30%, Maya 11%, Garifuna 7%,
+ other 8%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% (Anglican 12%, Methodist
+ 6%, Mennonite 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal 2%, Jehovah's
+ Witnesses 1%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6% (1980)
+
+ Languages: English (official), Spanish, Maya, Garifuna (Carib)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970)
+ total population: 91%
+ male: 91%
+ female: 91%
+
+ Labor force: 51,500
+ by occupation: agriculture 30%, services 16%, government 15.4%,
+ commerce 11.2%, manufacturing 10.3%
+ note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
+ (1985)
+
+@Belize:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Belize
+ former: British Honduras
+
+ Digraph: BH
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Belmopan
+
+ Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange
+ Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
+
+ Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
+
+ Constitution: 21 September 1981
+
+ Legal system: English law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17 November
+ 1993)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Manuel ESQUIVEL (since July 1993);
+ Deputy Prime Minister Dean BARROW (since NA 1993)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice from the
+ prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly
+ Senate: consists of an 8-member appointed body; 5 members are
+ appointed on the advice of the prime minister, 2 on the advice of the
+ leader of the opposition, and 1 after consultation with the Belize
+ Advisory Council (this council serves as an independent body to advise
+ the governor-general with respect to difficult decisions such as
+ granting pardons, commutations, stays of execution, the removal of
+ justices of appeal who appear to be incompetent, etc.)
+ National Assembly: elections last held 30 June 1993 (next to be held
+ June 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total)
+ PUP 13 UDP 15
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: People's United Party (PUP), George
+ PRICE, Florencio MARIN, Said MUSA; United Democratic Party (UDP),
+ Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean LINDO, Dean BARROW; National Alliance for
+ Belizean Rights, Philip GOLDSON
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Society for the Promotion of
+ Education and Research (SPEAR), Assad SHOMAN; United Workers Front,
+ leader NA
+
+ Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LAES, NAM,
+ OAS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Dean R. LINDO
+ chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636
+ FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888
+ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
+ consulate(s): New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador George Charles BRUNO
+ embassy: Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Belize City; APO: Unit 7401, APO AA
+ 34025
+ telephone: [501] (2) 77161 through 77163
+ FAX: [501] (2) 30802
+
+ Flag: blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom
+ edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the
+ coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a
+ mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in
+ the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland
+
+@Belize:Economy
+
+ Overview: The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based
+ primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with
+ tourism and construction assuming increasing importance. Agriculture
+ accounts for about 30% of GDP and provides 75% of export earnings,
+ while sugar, the chief crop, accounts for almost 40% of hard currency
+ earnings. The US, Belize's main trading partner, is assisting in
+ efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with an agricultural
+ diversification program.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $575 million (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,750 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.5% (1991)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 10% (1993 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $126.8 million
+ expenditures: $123.1 million, including capital expenditures of $44.8
+ million (FY90/91 est.)
+
+ Exports: $115 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: sugar, citrus fruits, bananas, clothing, fish products,
+ molasses, wood
+ partners: US 51%, UK, other EC (1992)
+
+ Imports: $281 million (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, food,
+ manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
+ partners: US 57%, UK 8%, other EC 7%, Mexico (1992)
+
+ External debt: $158 million (1992)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 3.7% (1990); accounts for 12% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 34,532 kW
+ production: 110 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 490 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: garment production, food processing, tourism, construction
+
+ Agriculture: commercial crops: bananas, coca, citrus fruits, fish,
+ cultured shrimp, lumber
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; an illicit producer of
+ cannabis for the international drug trade; minor money-laundering
+ center
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $104 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $215 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.00 (fixed rate)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Belize:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 2,710 km
+ paved: 500 km
+ unpaved: gravel 1,600 km; improved earth 300 km; unimproved earth 310
+ km
+
+ Inland waterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft;
+ seasonally navigable
+
+ Ports: Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 170,002 GRT/270,893 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 25, container 4, oil tanker 2,
+ refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, vehicle carrier 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 46
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 35
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 9
+
+@Belize:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 8,650 telephones; above-average system based on
+ microwave radio relay
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Belize:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and
+ Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 50,499; males fit for military
+ service 30,040; males reach military age (18) annually 2,285 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $11 million, 2.2% of
+ GDP (FY93/94)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BENIN
+
+@Benin:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
+ Nigeria and Togo
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 112,620 sq km
+ land area: 110,620 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,989 km, Burkina 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria
+ 773 km, Togo 644 km
+
+ Coastline: 121 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 200 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
+
+ Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
+
+ Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble,
+ timber
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 12%
+ permanent crops: 4%
+ meadows and pastures: 4%
+ forest and woodland: 35%
+ other: 45%
+
+ Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: recent droughts have severely affected marginal
+ agriculture in north; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching
+ threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
+ natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in
+ winter
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban,
+ Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification,
+ Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: no natural harbors
+
+@Benin:People
+
+ Population: 5,522,677 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 48% (female 1,324,553; male 1,333,673)
+ 15-64 years: 49% (female 1,431,630; male 1,299,180)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 74,119; male 59,522) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.33% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 47.25 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 13.93 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 107.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 52.24 years
+ male: 50.34 years
+ female: 54.2 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.72 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Beninese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being
+ Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
+
+ Religions: indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%
+
+ Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars
+ in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 23%
+ male: 32%
+ female: 16%
+
+ Labor force: 1.9 million (1987)
+ by occupation: agriculture 60%, transport, commerce, and public
+ services 38%, industry less than 2%
+
+@Benin:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Benin
+ conventional short form: Benin
+ local long form: Republique du Benin
+ local short form: Benin
+ former: Dahomey
+
+ Digraph: BN
+
+ Type: republic under multiparty democratic rule dropped
+ Marxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February
+ 1990; transition to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991
+
+ Capital: Porto-Novo
+
+ Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou,
+ Mono, Oueme, Zou
+
+ Independence: 1 August 1960 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 1 August (1990)
+
+ Constitution: 2 December 1990
+
+ Legal system: based on French civil law and customary law; has not
+ accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Nicephore SOGLO
+ (since 4 April 1991); election last held 10 and 24 March 1991 (next
+ election 1996); results - Nicephore SOGLO 68%, Mathieu KEREKOU 32%
+ cabinet: Executive Council; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 28 March
+ 1995; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (83 total)
+ Renaissance Party and allies 20, PRD 19, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 7, NCC 3,
+ RDL-VIVOTEN 3, Communist Party 2, Alliance Chameleon 1, RDP 1, ADP 1,
+ other 16
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: as of August 1994, 72 political parties
+ were officially recognized; the following are among the most
+ important: Alliance of the Democratic Union for the Forces of Progress
+ (UDFP), Timothee ADANLIN; Movement for Democracy and Social Progress
+ (MDPS), Jean-Roger AHOYO; Union for Liberty and Development (ULD),
+ Marcellin DEGBE; Alliance of the National Party for Democracy and
+ Development (PNDD) and the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Pascal
+ Chabi KAO; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the
+ National Union for Solidarity and Progress (UNSP), Bruno AMOUSSOU; Our
+ Common Cause (NCC), Albert TEVOEDJRE; National Rally for Democracy
+ (RND), Joseph KEKE; Alliance of the National Movement for Democracy
+ and Development (MNDD), leader NA; Movement for Solidarity, Union, and
+ Progress (MSUP), Adebo ADENIYI; Union for Democracy and National
+ Reconstruction (UDRN), Azaria FAKOREDE; Union for Democracy and
+ National Solidarity (UDS), Mama Amadou N'DIAYE; Assembly of Liberal
+ Democrats for National Reconstruction (RDL), Severin ADJOVI; Alliance
+ for Social Democracy (ASD), Robert DOSSOU; Bloc for Social Democracy
+ (BSD), Michel MAGNIDE; Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP),
+ Akindes ADEKPEDJOU, and the Democratic Union for Social Renewal
+ (UDRS), Bio Gado Seko N'GOYE; National Union for Democracy and
+ Progress (UNDP), Robert TAGNON; Party for Progress and Democracy,
+ Thiophile NATA; FARD-ALAFIA, Mathieu KEREKOU; The Renaissance Party,
+ Nicephore SOGLO; The Patriotic Union for the Republic (UPR),
+ Jean-Marie ZAHOUN; Union for the Conservation of Democracy, Bernard
+ HOUEGNON
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77,
+ GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
+ IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
+ UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN
+ chancery: 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656, 6657, 6658
+ FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Ruth A. DAVIS
+ embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
+ mailing address: B. P. 2012, Cotonou
+ telephone: [229] 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92
+ FAX: [229] 41-15-22
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a
+ vertical green band on the hoist side
+
+@Benin:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on
+ subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth
+ in real output has averaged a sound 4% in 1991-94 but this rate barely
+ exceeds the rapid population growth of 3.3%. Inflation jumped to 35%
+ in 1994 (compared to 3% in 1993) following the 50% currency
+ devaluation in January. Commercial and transport activities, which
+ make up almost 36% of GDP, are extremely vulnerable to developments in
+ Nigeria as evidenced by decreased reexport trade in 1994 due to a
+ severe contraction in Nigerian demand. The industrial sector accounts
+ for less than 10% of GDP and mainly produces foods, beverages, cement,
+ and textiles. Support by the Paris Club and official bilateral
+ creditors has eased the external debt situation in recent years. The
+ government, still burdened with money-losing state enterprises and a
+ bloated civil service, is gradually implementing a World Bank
+ supported structural adjustment program.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $6.7 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,260 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $272 million (1993 est.)
+ expenditures: $375 million, including capital expenditures of $84
+ million (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $332 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
+ partners: FRG 36%, France 16%, Spain 14%, Italy 8%, UK 4%
+
+ Imports: $571 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products,
+ intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods
+ partners: France 20%, Thailand 8%, Netherlands 7%, US 5%
+
+ External debt: $1 billion (December 1990 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -0.7% (1988); accounts for 10% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 30,000 kW
+ production: 10 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 25 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: textiles, cigarettes, construction materials, beverages,
+ food, petroleum
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 35% of GDP; small farms produce 90% of
+ agricultural output; production is dominated by food crops - corn,
+ sorghum, cassava, yams, beans, rice; cash crops include cotton, palm
+ oil, peanuts; poultry and livestock output has not kept up with
+ consumption
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics associated with
+ Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for
+ Western Europe and the US
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $46 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $1.3 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $101 million
+
+ Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1
+ - 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
+ 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)
+ note: beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100
+ per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Benin:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 578 km (single track)
+ narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 8,435 km
+ paved: 1,038 km
+ unpaved: crushed stone 2,600 km; improved earth 1,530 km; unimproved
+ earth 3,267 km
+
+ Inland waterways: navigable along small sections, important only
+ locally
+
+ Ports: Cotonou, Porto-Novo
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 7
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
+
+@Benin:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; fair system of open wire and
+ microwave radio relay
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay and open wire
+ international: 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station, submarine
+ cable
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 2
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Benin:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), National
+ Gendarmerie
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,165,463; females age 15-49
+ 1,249,234; males fit for military service 596,956; females fit for
+ military service 631,780; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 60,282 (1995 est.); females reach military age (18) annually 58,770
+ (1995 est.)
+ note: both sexes are liable for miltary service
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $33 million, 3.2% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BERMUDA
+
+ (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+@Bermuda:Geography
+
+ Location: North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean,
+ east of North Carolina (US)
+
+ Map references: North America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 50 sq km
+ land area: 50 sq km
+ comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 103 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in
+ winter
+
+ Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions
+
+ Natural resources: limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 20%
+ other: 80%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: consists of about 360 small coral islands with ample rainfall,
+ but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some reclaimed land leased by US
+ Government
+
+@Bermuda:People
+
+ Population: 61,629 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.76% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 15.07 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.3 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 13.16 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 75.03 years
+ male: 73.36 years
+ female: 76.97 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Bermudian(s)
+ adjective: Bermudian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: black 61%, white and other 39%
+
+ Religions: Anglican 37%, Roman Catholic 14%, African Methodist
+ Episcopal (Zion) 10%, Methodist 6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, other
+ 28%
+
+ Languages: English
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
+ total population: 98%
+ male: 98%
+ female: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 32,000
+ by occupation: clerical 25%, services 22%, laborers 21%, professional
+ and technical 13%, administrative and managerial 10%, sales 7%,
+ agriculture and fishing 2% (1984)
+
+@Bermuda:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Bermuda
+
+ Digraph: BD
+
+ Type: dependent territory of the UK
+
+ Capital: Hamilton
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*;
+ Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint
+ Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick
+
+ Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ National holiday: Bermuda Day, 24 May
+
+ Constitution: 8 June 1968
+
+ Legal system: English law
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor Lord David WADDINGTON (since 25 August 1992)
+ head of government: Premier John William David SWAN (since NA January
+ 1982); Deputy Premier J. Irving PEARMAN (since 5 October 1993)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
+ Senate: consists of an 11-member body appointed by the governor
+ House of Assembly: elections last held 5 October 1993 (next to be held
+ by NA October 1998); results - percent of vote by party UBP 50%, PLP
+ 46%, independents 4%; seats - (40 total) UBP 22, PLP 18
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: United Bermuda Party (UBP), John W. D.
+ SWAN; Progressive Labor Party (PLP), Frederick WADE; National Liberal
+ Party (NLP), Gilbert DARRELL
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU),
+ Ottiwell SIMMONS
+
+ Member of: CARICOM (observer), CCC, ICFTU, INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Robert A. FARMER
+ consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton
+
+ mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; PSC 1002, FPO AE
+ 09727-1002
+ telephone: [1] (809) 295-1342
+ FAX: [1] (809) 295-1592
+
+ Flag: red with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
+ the Bermudian coat of arms (white and blue shield with a red lion
+ holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture
+ off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag
+
+@Bermuda:Economy
+
+ Overview: Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the
+ world, having successfully exploited its location by providing luxury
+ tourist facilities and financial services. The tourist industry
+ attracts more than 90% of its business from North America. The
+ industrial sector is small, and agriculture is severely limited by a
+ lack of suitable land. About 80% of food needs are imported.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.7 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.5% (1994)
+
+ National product per capita: $28,000 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1993)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 6% (1991)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $327.5 million
+ expenditures: $308.9 million, including capital expenditures of $35.4
+ million (FY90/91 est.)
+
+ Exports: $60 million (f.o.b., 1991)
+ commodities: semitropical produce, light manufactures, re-exports of
+ pharmaceuticals
+ partners: US 62.4%, UK 20%
+
+ Imports: $519 million (f.o.b.,1993)
+ commodities: fuel, foodstuffs, machinery
+ partners: US 38%, UK 5%, Canada 5%
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 140,000 kW
+ production: 504 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 7,745 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tourism, finance, structural concrete products, paints,
+ pharmaceuticals, ship repairing
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for less than 1% of GDP; most basic foods must
+ be imported; produces bananas, vegetables, citrus fruits, flowers,
+ dairy products
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $34 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $277 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (fixed rate)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Bermuda:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 210 km
+ paved: 210 km
+ note: in addition, there are 400 km of paved and unpaved roads that
+ are privately owned
+
+ Ports: Hamilton, Saint George
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 65 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,144,245 GRT/5,152,030
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 4, container 7, liquefied gas tanker 15,
+ oil tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5,
+ short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 1
+ note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 12 countries among
+ which are UK 6 ships, Canada 4, US 4, Sweden 3, Hong Kong 2, Mexico 2,
+ Norway 2, Australia 1, Germany 1, NZ 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+
+@Bermuda:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 52,670 telephones; modern, fully automatic telephone
+ system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 3 submarine cables; 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth
+ stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 2
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Bermuda:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda Reserve
+ Constabulary
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BHUTAN
+
+@Bhutan:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
+
+ Map references: Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 47,000 sq km
+ land area: 47,000 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Indiana
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,075 km, China 470 km, India 605 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot
+ summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in
+ Himalayas
+
+ Terrain: mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
+
+ Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 2%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 5%
+ forest and woodland: 70%
+ other: 23%
+
+ Irrigated land: 340 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: soil erosion; limited access to potable water
+ natural hazards: violent storms coming down from the Himalayas are the
+ source of the country's name which translates as Land of the Thunder
+ Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season
+ international agreements: party to - Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not
+ ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls
+ several key Himalayan mountain passes
+
+@Bhutan:People
+
+ Population: 1,780,638 (July 1995 est.)
+ note: other estimates range as low as 600,000
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 40% (female 342,276; male 368,916)
+ 15-64 years: 56% (female 486,258; male 513,560)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 34,215; male 35,413) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.34% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 39.02 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 15.61 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 118.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 51.03 years
+ male: 51.56 years
+ female: 50.48 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 5.39 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Bhutanese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or
+ migrant tribes 15%
+
+ Religions: Lamaistic Buddhism 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced
+ Hinduism 25%
+
+ Languages: Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects;
+ Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%
+ note: massive lack of skilled labor
+
+@Bhutan:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
+ conventional short form: Bhutan
+
+ Digraph: BT
+
+ Type: monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
+
+ Capital: Thimphu
+
+ Administrative divisions: 18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and
+ plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi,
+ Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang,
+ Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
+
+ Independence: 8 August 1949 (from India)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 17 December (1907) (Ugyen Wangchuck
+ became first hereditary king)
+
+ Constitution: no written constitution or bill of rights
+
+ Legal system: based on Indian law and English common law; has not
+ accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: each family has one vote in village-level elections
+
+ Executive branch:
+ Chief of State and Head of Government: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK
+ (since 24 July 1972)
+ Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde): nominated by the king
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog); appointed by the
+ king
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Tshogdu); no
+ national elections
+
+ Judicial branch: High Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: no legal parties
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Buddhist clergy; Indian merchant
+ community; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant
+ antigovernment campaign
+
+ Member of: AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF,
+ INTELSAT, IOC, ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
+ WIPO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: Bhutan has no embassy in the US, but
+ does have a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by Ugyen TSERING,
+ located at 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017,
+ telephone [1] (212) 826-1919; note - the Bhutanese mission to the UN
+ has consular jurisdiction in the US
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+ honorary consulate(s): San Francisco; Washington, DC
+
+ US diplomatic representation: no formal diplomatic relations, although
+ informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in
+ New Delhi (India)
+
+ Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper
+ triangle is orange and the lower triangle is red; centered along the
+ dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the
+ hoist side
+
+@Bhutan:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy, one of the world's least developed, is based on
+ agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for 90% of
+ the population and account for about half of GDP. Agriculture consists
+ largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains
+ dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other
+ infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned
+ with India's through strong trade and monetary links. The industrial
+ sector is small and technologically backward, with most production of
+ the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road
+ construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower
+ potential and its attraction for tourists are key resources; however,
+ the government limits the number of tourists to 4,000 per year to
+ minimize foreign influence. Much of the impetus for growth has come
+ from large public-sector companies. Nevertheless, in recent years,
+ Bhutan has shifted toward decentralized development planning and
+ greater private initiative. The government privatized several large
+ public-sector firms, is revamping its trade regime and liberalizing
+ administerial procedures over industrial licensing. The government's
+ industrial contribution to GDP decreased from 13% in 1988 to about 11%
+ in 1993.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $700 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (October 1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $52 million
+ expenditures: $150 million, including capital expenditures of $95
+ million (FY93/94 est.)
+ note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's
+ budget expenditures
+
+ Exports: $66.8 million (f.o.b., FY93/94)
+ commodities: cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit,
+ electricity (to India), precious stones, spices
+ partners: India 87%, Bangladesh
+
+ Imports: $97.6 million (c.i.f., FY93/94 est.)
+ commodities: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts,
+ vehicles, fabrics, rice
+ partners: India 79%, Japan, UK, Germany, US
+
+ External debt: $141 million (October 1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 7.6% (1992 est.); accounts for 18%
+ of GDP; primarily cottage industry and home based handicrafts
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 360,000 kW
+ production: 1.7 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 143 kWh (1993)
+ note: Bhutan exports electricity to India
+
+ Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic
+ beverages, calcium carbide
+
+ Agriculture: rice, corn, root crops, citrus fruit, dairy products,
+ foodgrains, eggs
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $115 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $11
+ million
+
+ Currency: 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note - Indian currency is
+ also legal tender
+
+ Exchange rates: ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 31.374 (January 1995), 31.374
+ (1994), 30.493 (1993), 25.918 (1992), 22.742 (1991), 17.504 (1990);
+ note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Bhutan:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 2,165 km
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: gravel 1,703 km
+ undifferentiated: 462 km
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Bhutan:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; domestic telephone service is very
+ poor with very few telephones in use
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: international telephone and telegraph service is by
+ land line through India; an earth station was planned (1990)
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1990)
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0 (1990)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Bhutan:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia, Royal Bhutan
+ Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 434,586; males fit for military
+ service 232,121; males reach military age (18) annually 17,365 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BOLIVIA
+
+@Bolivia:Geography
+
+ Location: Central South America, southwest of Brazil
+
+ Map references: South America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1,098,580 sq km
+ land area: 1,084,390 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Montana
+
+ Land boundaries: total 6,743 km, Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km,
+ Chile 861 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South
+ Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884;
+ dispute with Chile over Rio Lauca water rights
+
+ Climate: varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid
+
+ Terrain: rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano),
+ hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin
+
+ Natural resources: tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten,
+ antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 3%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 25%
+ forest and woodland: 52%
+ other: 20%
+
+ Irrigated land: 1,650 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the
+ international demand for tropical timber are contributing to
+ deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation
+ methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss
+ of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for
+ drinking and irrigation
+ natural hazards: cold, thin air of high plateau is obstacle to
+ efficient fuel combustion, as well as to physical activity by those
+ unaccustomed to it from birth; flooding in the northeast (March to
+ April)
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands;
+ signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Environmental
+ Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
+ Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
+
+ Note: landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest
+ navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru
+
+@Bolivia:People
+
+ Population: 7,896,254 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 39% (female 1,542,931; male 1,565,624)
+ 15-64 years: 57% (female 2,276,308; male 2,188,100)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 174,419; male 148,872) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.25% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 31.61 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.12 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -1.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 70.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 63.85 years
+ male: 61.39 years
+ female: 66.43 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.1 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Bolivian(s)
+ adjective: Bolivian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Quechua 30%, Aymara 25%, mestizo (mixed European and
+ Indian ancestry) 25%-30%, European 5%-15%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist)
+
+ Languages: Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1992)
+ total population: 80%
+ male: 88%
+ female: 72%
+
+ Labor force: 3.54 million
+ by occupation: agriculture NA, services and utilities 20%,
+ manufacturing, mining and construction 7% (1993)
+
+@Bolivia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Bolivia
+ conventional short form: Bolivia
+ local long form: Republica de Bolivia
+ local short form: Bolivia
+
+ Digraph: BL
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of
+ judiciary)
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 departments (departamentos, singular -
+ departamento); Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando,
+ Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija
+
+ Independence: 6 August 1825 (from Spain)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
+
+ Constitution: 2 February 1967
+
+ Legal system: based on Spanish law and Code Napoleon; has not accepted
+ compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21
+ years of age, universal and compulsory (single)
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE
+ LOZADA Bustamente (since 6 August 1993); Vice President Victor Hugo
+ CARDENAS Conde (since 6 August 1993); election last held 6 June 1993
+ (next to be held May 1997); results - Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA (MNR)
+ 34%, Hugo BANZER Suarez (ADN/MIR alliance) 20%, Carlos PALENQUE Aviles
+ (CONDEPA) 14%, Max FERNANDEZ Rojas (UCS) 13%, Antonio ARANIBAR Quiroga
+ (MBL) 5%; no candidate received a majority of the popular vote;
+ Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA won a congressional runoff election on 4
+ August 1993 after forming a coalition with Max FERNANDEZ and Antonio
+ ARANIBAR; FERNANDEZ left the coalition in 1994
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from panel proposed by
+ the Senate
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
+ Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): elections last held 6 June
+ 1993 (next to be held May 1997); results - percent of vote by party
+ NA; seats - (130 total) MNR 52, UCS 20, ADN 17, MIR 17, CONDEPA 13,
+ MBL 7, ARBOL 1, ASD 1, EJE 1, PCD 1
+ Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores): elections last held 6 June
+ 1993 (next to be held May 1997); results - percent of vote by party
+ NA; seats - (27 total) MNR 17, ADN 4, MIR 4, CONDEPA 1, UCS 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ Left parties: Free Bolivia Movement (MBL), Antonio ARANIBAR; April 9
+ Revolutionary Vanguard (VR-9), Carlos SERRATE; Alternative of
+ Democratic Socialism (ASD), Jerjes JUSTIANO; Revolutionary Front of
+ the Left (FRI), Oscar ZAMORA; Bolivian Socialist Falange (FSB);
+ Socialist Unzaguista Movement (MAS); Socialist Party One (PS-1);
+ Bolivian Communist Party (PCB)
+ Center-Left parties: Nationalist Revolutionary Movement (MNR), Gonzalo
+ SANCHEZ DE LOZADA; Movement of the Revolutionary Left (MIR), Jaime PAZ
+ Zamora, Oscar EID; Christian Democrat (PCD), Jorge AGREDA
+ Center-Right party: Nationalist Democratic Action (ADN), Jorge
+ LANDIVAR, Hugo BANZER
+ populist parties: Civic Solidarity Union (UCS), Max FERNANDEZ Rojas;
+ Conscience of the Fatherland (CONDEPA), Carlos PALENQUE Aviles;
+ Popular Patriotic Movement (MPP), Julio MANTILLA; Unity and Progress
+ Movement (MUP), Ivo KULJIS
+ Evangelical: Bolivian Renovating Alliance (ARBOL), Hugo VILLEGAS
+ indigenous: Tupac Katari Revolutionary Liberation Movement (MRTK-L),
+ Victor Hugo CARDENAS Conde; Patriotic Axis of Convergence (EJE-P),
+ Ramiro BARRANCHEA; National Katarista Movement (MKN), Fernando UNTOJA
+
+ Member of: AG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
+ IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
+ UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Andres PETRICEVIC Raznatovic
+ chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410 through 4412
+ FAX: [1] (202) 328-3712
+ consulate(s) general: Miami, New York, and San Francisco
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Curt Warren KAMMAN
+ embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Paz
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032
+ telephone: [591] (2) 430251
+ FAX: [591] (2) 4339000
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green
+ with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band; similar to the flag
+ of Ghana, which has a large black five-pointed star centered in the
+ yellow band
+
+@Bolivia:Economy
+
+ Overview: With its long history of semifeudal social controls,
+ dependence on volatile prices for its mineral exports, and bouts of
+ hyperinflation, Bolivia has remained one of the poorest and least
+ developed Latin American countries. However, Bolivia has experienced
+ generally improving economic conditions since the PAZ Estenssoro
+ administration (1985-89) introduced market-oriented policies which
+ reduced inflation from 11,700% in 1985 to about 20% in 1988. PAZ
+ Estenssoro was followed as President by Jaime PAZ Zamora (1989-93) who
+ continued the free-market policies of his predecessor, despite
+ opposition from his own party and from Bolivia's once powerful labor
+ movement. By maintaining fiscal discipline, PAZ Zamora helped reduce
+ inflation to 9.3% in 1993, while GDP grew by an annual average of
+ 3.25% during his tenure. Inaugurated in August 1993, President SANCHEZ
+ DE LOZADA has vowed to advance the market-oriented economic reforms he
+ helped launch as PAZ Estenssoro's planning minister. His successes so
+ far have included an inflation rate that continues to decrease - the
+ 1994 rate of 8.5% was the lowest in ten years - the signing of a free
+ trade agreement with Mexico, and progress on his unique privatization
+ plan. The main privatization bill was passed by the Bolivian
+ legislature in late March 1994. Related laws - one that establishes
+ SIRESE, the regulatory agency that will oversee the privatizations,
+ and another that outlines the rules for privatization in the
+ electricity sector - were approved later in the year.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $18.3 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4.2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,370 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 6.2% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $3.75 billion
+ expenditures: $3.75 billion, including capital expenditures of $556.2
+ million (1995 est.)
+
+ Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: metals 39%, natural gas 9%, soybeans 11%, jewelry 11%,
+ wood 8%
+ partners: US 26%, Argentina 15% (1993 est.)
+
+ Imports: $1.21 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: capital goods 48%, chemicals 11%, petroleum 5%, food 5%
+ (1993 est.)
+ partners: US 24%, Argentina 13%, Brazil 11%, Japan 11% (1993 est.)
+
+ External debt: $4.2 billion (January 1995)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1994 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 756,200 kW
+ production: 2.116 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 367 kWh (1994)
+
+ Industries: mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverage, tobacco,
+ handicrafts, clothing; illicit drug industry reportedly produces 15%
+ of its revenues
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 21% of GDP (including forestry and
+ fisheries); principal commodities - coffee, coca, cotton, corn,
+ sugarcane, rice, potatoes, timber; self-sufficient in food
+
+ Illicit drugs: world's second-largest producer of coca (after Peru)
+ with an estimated 48,100 hectares under cultivation in 1994; voluntary
+ and forced eradication programs unable to prevent production from
+ rising to 89,800 metric tons in 1994 from 84,400 tons in 1993;
+ government considers all but 12,000 hectares illicit; intermediate
+ coca products and cocaine exported to or through Colombia and Brazil
+ to the US and other international drug markets; alternative crop
+ program aims to reduce illicit coca cultivation
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $990 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $2.025 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $340 million
+
+ Currency: 1 boliviano ($B) = 100 centavos
+
+ Exchange rates: bolivianos ($B) per US$1 - 4.72 (January 1995), 4.6205
+ (1994), 4.2651 (1993), 3.9005 (1992), 3.5806 (1991), 3.1727 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Bolivia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 3,684 km (single track)
+ narrow gauge: 3,652 km 1.000-m gauge; 32 km 0.760-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 42,815 km
+ paved: 1,865 km
+ unpaved: gravel 12,000 km; improved/unimproved earth 28,950 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 10,000 km of commercially navigable waterways
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 1,800 km; petroleum products 580 km; natural gas
+ 1,495 km
+
+ Ports: none; however, Bolivia has free port privileges in the maritime
+ ports of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,214 GRT/6,390 DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1,382
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1,016
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 77
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 275
+
+@Bolivia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: about 150,000 telephones; about 2.0 telephones/100
+ persons; new subscribers face bureaucratic difficulties; most
+ telephones in La Paz and other cities; microwave radio relay system
+ being expanded; improved international services
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay system
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 129, FM 0, shortwave 68
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 43
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Bolivia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Navy (Fuerza Naval Boliviana,
+ includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana), National Police
+ Force (Policia Nacional de Bolivia)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,885,485; males fit for
+ military service 1,226,218; males reach military age (19) annually
+ 81,065 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $134 million; 1.9% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
+
+ Note--Bosnia and Herzegovina is set to enter its third year of
+ interethnic civil strife which began in the spring of 1992 after the
+ Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina held a referendum on
+ independence. Bosnia's Serbs - supported by neighboring Serbia -
+ responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioning the republic
+ along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held areas to 'greater Serbia'. In
+ March 1994, Bosnia's Muslims and Croats reduced the number of warring
+ factions from three to two by signing an agreement in Washington, DC,
+ creating the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A group of rebel
+ Muslims, however, continues to battle government forces in the
+ northwest enclave of Bihac. A Contact Group of countries, the US, UK,
+ France, Germany, and Russia, continues to seek a resolution between
+ the Federation and the Bosnian Serbs. In July of 1994 the Contact
+ Group presented a plan to the warring parties that roughly equally
+ divides the country between the two, while maintaining Bosnia in its
+ current internationally recognized borders. The Federation agreed to
+ the plan almost immediately, while the Bosnian Serbs rejected it.
+
+@Bosnia And Herzegovina:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia
+
+ Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 51,233 sq km
+ land area: 51,233 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,459 km, Croatia 932 km, Serbia and Montenegro
+ 527 km (312 km with Serbia; 215 km with Montenegro)
+
+ Coastline: 20 km
+
+ Maritime claims: NA
+
+ International disputes: as of January 1995, Bosnian Government and
+ Bosnian Serb leaders remain far apart on territorial and
+ constitutional solutions for Bosnia; the two sides did, however, sign
+ a four-month cessation of hostilities agreement effective January 1;
+ the Bosnian Serbs continue to reject the Contact Group Plan submitted
+ by the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Russia, and
+ accepted by the Bosnian Government, which stands firm in its desire to
+ regain lost territory and preserve Bosnia as a multiethnic state
+ within its current borders; Bosnian Serb forces control approximately
+ 70% of Bosnian territory
+
+ Climate: hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have
+ short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters
+ along coast
+
+ Terrain: mountains and valleys
+
+ Natural resources: coal, iron, bauxite, manganese, timber, wood
+ products, copper, chromium, lead, zinc
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 20%
+ permanent crops: 2%
+ meadows and pastures: 25%
+ forest and woodland: 36%
+ other: 17%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for
+ disposing of urban waste are limited; widespread casualties, water
+ shortages, and destruction of infrastructure because of civil strife
+ natural hazards: frequent and destructive earthquakes
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Law of the Sea,
+ Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
+ Layer Protection
+
+@Bosnia And Herzegovina:People
+
+ Population: 3,201,823 (July 1995 est.)
+ note: all data dealing with population is subject to considerable
+ error because of the dislocations caused by military action and ethnic
+ cleansing
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 22% (female 337,787; male 370,966)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 1,082,357; male 1,085,610)
+ 65 years and over: 10% (female 190,992; male 134,111) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.65% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 11.29 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.51 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 2.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 75.47 years
+ male: 72.75 years
+ female: 78.37 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s)
+ adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Muslim 38%, Serb 40%, Croat 22% (est.)
+
+ Religions: Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Catholic 15%, Protestant 4%,
+ other 10%
+
+ Languages: Serbo-Croatian 99%
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: 1,026,254
+ by occupation: NA%
+
+@Bosnia And Herzegovina:Government
+
+ Note: The US recognizes the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The
+ Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, formed by the Muslims and Croats
+ in March 1994, remains in the implementation stages.
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
+ conventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovina
+ local long form: Republika Bosna i Hercegovina
+ local short form: Bosna i Hercegovina
+
+ Digraph: BK
+
+ Type: emerging democracy
+
+ Capital: Sarajevo
+
+ Administrative divisions: 109 districts (opstinas, singular - opstina)
+ Banovici, Banja Luka, Bihac, Bijeljina, Bileca, Bosanska Dubica,
+ Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanska Krupa, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Novi,
+ Bosanski Petrovac, Bosanski Samac, Bosansko Grahovo, Bratunac, Brcko,
+ Breza, Bugojno, Busovaca, Cazin, Cajnice, Capljina, Celinac, Citluk,
+ Derventa, Doboj, Donji Vakuf, Foca, Fojnica, Gacko, Glamoc, Gorazde,
+ Gornji Vakuf, Gracanica, Gradacac, Grude, Han Pijesak, Jablanica,
+ Jajce, Kakanj, Kalesija, Kalinovik, Kiseljak, Kladanj, Kljuc, Konjic,
+ Kotor Varos, Kresevo, Kupres, Laktasi, Listica, Livno, Lopare,
+ Lukavac, Ljubinje, Ljubuski, Maglaj, Modrica, Mostar, Mrkonjic-Grad,
+ Neum, Nevesinje, Odzak, Olovo, Orasje, Posusje, Prijedor, Prnjavor,
+ Prozor, (Pucarevo) Novi Travnik, Rogatica, Rudo, Sanski Most,
+ Sarajevo-Centar, Sarajevo-Hadzici, Sarajevo-Ilidza, Sarajevo-Ilijas,
+ Sarajevo-Novi Grad, Sarajevo-Novo, Sarajevo-Pale, Sarajevo-Stari Grad,
+ Sarajevo-Trnovo, Sarajevo-Vogosca, Skender Vakuf, Sokolac, Srbac,
+ Srebrenica, Srebrenik, Stolac, Sekovici, Sipovo, Teslic, Tesanj,
+ Drvar, Duvno, Travnik, Trebinje, Tuzla, Ugljevik, Vares, Velika
+ Kladusa, Visoko, Visegrad, Vitez, Vlasenica, Zavidovici, Zenica,
+ Zvornik, Zepce, Zivinice
+ note: currently under negotiation with the assistance of international
+ mediators
+
+ Independence: NA April 1992 (from Yugoslavia)
+
+ National holiday: NA
+
+ Constitution: promulgated in 1974 (under the Communists), amended
+ 1989, 1990, and 1991; the Assembly planned to draft a new constitution
+ in 1991, before conditions deteriorated; constitution of Federation of
+ Bosnia and Herzegovina (including Muslim and Croatian controlled parts
+ of Republic) ratified April 1994
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system
+
+ Suffrage: 16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Alija IZETBEGOVIC (since 20 December 1990),
+ other members of the collective presidency: Ejup GANIC (since NA
+ November 1990), Nijaz DURAKOVIC (since NA October 1993), Stjepan
+ KLJUJIC (since NA October 1993), Ivo KOMSIC (since NA October 1993),
+ Mirko PEJANOVIC (since NA June 1992), Tatjana LJUJIC-MIJATOVIC (since
+ NA December 1992)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Haris SILAJDZIC (since NA October
+ 1993)
+ cabinet: executive body of ministers; members of, and responsible to,
+ the National Assembly
+ note: the president of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is
+ Kresimir ZUBAK (since 31 May 1994); Vice President Ejup GANIC (since
+ 31 May 1994)
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly
+ Chamber of Municipalities (Vijece Opeina): elections last held
+ November-December 1990 (next to be held NA); percent of vote by party
+ NA; seats - (110 total) SDA 43, SDS BiH 38, HDZ BiH 23, Party of
+ Democratic Changes 4, DSS 1, SPO 1
+ Chamber of Citizens (Vijece Gradanstvo): elections last held
+ November-December 1990 (next to be held NA); percent of vote by party
+ NA; seats - (130 total) SDA 43, SDS BiH 34, HDZ BiH 21, Party of
+ Democratic Changes 15, SRSJ BiH 12, LBO 2, DSS 1, DSZ 1, LS 1
+ note: legislative elections for Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
+ are slated for late 1994
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Constitutional Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Party of Democratic Action (SDA), Alija
+ IZETBEGOVIC; Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HDZ
+ BiH), Dario KORDIC; Serbian Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina
+ (SDS BiH), Radovan KARADZIC, president; Liberal Bosnian Organization
+ (LBO), Adil ZULFIKARPASIC, president; Democratic Party of Socialists
+ (DSS), Nijaz DURAKOVIC, president; Party of Democratic Changes, leader
+ NA; Serbian Movement for Renewal (SPO), Milan TRIVUNCIC; Alliance of
+ Reform Forces of Yugoslavia for Bosnia and Herzegovina (SRSJ BiH), Dr.
+ Nenad KECMANOVIC, president; Democratic League of Greens (DSZ), Drazen
+ PETROVIC; Liberal Party (LS), Rasim KADIC, president
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: NA
+
+ Member of: CE (guest), CEI, ECE, FAO, ICAO, IFAD, ILO, IMO, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest),
+ OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Sven ALKALAJ
+ chancery: Suite 760, 1707 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
+ telephone: [1] (202) 833-3612, 3613, 3615
+ FAX: [1] (202) 833-2061
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Victor JACKOVICH
+ embassy: address NA
+ mailing address: American Embassy Bosnia, c/o AmEmbassy Vienna
+ Boltzmangasse 16, A-1091, Vienna, Austria; APO: (Bosnia) Vienna,
+ Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-9900
+ telephone: [43] (1) 313-39
+ FAX: [43] (1) 310-0682
+
+ Flag: white with a large blue shield; the shield contains white Roman
+ crosses with a white diagonal band running from the upper hoist corner
+ to the lower fly side
+
+@Bosnia And Herzegovina:Economy
+
+ Overview: Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to The Former Yugoslav
+ Republic of Macedonia as the poorest republic in the old Yugoslav
+ federation. Although agriculture has been almost all in private hands,
+ farms have been small and inefficient, and the republic traditionally
+ has been a net importer of food. Industry has been greatly
+ overstaffed, one reflection of the rigidities of Communist central
+ planning and management. TITO had pushed the development of military
+ industries in the republic with the result that Bosnia hosted a large
+ share of Yugoslavia's defense plants. As of February 1995, Bosnia and
+ Herzegovina was being torn apart by the continued bitter interethnic
+ warfare that has caused production to plummet, unemployment and
+ inflation to soar, and human misery to multiply. No economic
+ statistics for 1992-94 are available, although output clearly has
+ fallen substantially below the levels of earlier years and almost
+ certainly is well below $1,000 per head. The country receives
+ substantial amounts of humanitarian aid from the international
+ community.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $NA
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $NA
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $NA
+ commodities: NA
+ partners: NA
+
+ Imports: $NA
+ commodities: NA
+ partners: NA
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%; production is sharply down
+ because of interethnic and interrepublic warfare (1991-94)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 3,800,000 kW
+ production: NA kWh
+ consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: steel production, mining (coal, iron ore, lead, zinc,
+ manganese, and bauxite), manufacturing (vehicle assembly, textiles,
+ tobacco products, wooden furniture, 40% of former Yugoslavia's
+ armaments including tank and aircraft assembly, domestic appliances),
+ oil refining (1991)
+
+ Agriculture: accounted for 9.0% of GDP in 1989; regularly produces
+ less than 50% of food needs; the foothills of northern Bosnia support
+ orchards, vineyards, livestock, and some wheat and corn; long winters
+ and heavy precipitation leach soil fertility reducing agricultural
+ output in the mountains; farms are mostly privately held, small, and
+ not very productive (1991)
+
+ Illicit drugs: NA
+
+ Economic aid: $NA
+
+ Currency: 1 dinar = 100 para; Croatian dinar used in Croat-held area,
+ presumably to be replaced by new Croatian kuna; old and new Serbian
+ dinars used in Serb-held area; hard currencies probably supplanting
+ local currencies in areas held by Bosnian government
+
+ Exchange rates: NA
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Bosnia And Herzegovina:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,021 km (electrified 795 km)
+ standard gauge: 1,021 km 1.435-m gauge (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 21,168 km
+ paved: 11,436 km
+ unpaved: gravel 8,146 km; earth 1,586 km (1991)
+
+ Inland waterways: NA km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 174 km; natural gas 90 km (1992); note -
+ pipelines now disrupted
+
+ Ports: Bosanski Brod
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 27
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 11
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 8
+
+@Bosnia And Herzegovina:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 727,000 telephones; telephone and telegraph network
+ is in need of modernization and expansion; many urban areas are below
+ average when compared with services in other former Yugoslav republics
+
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: no earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 2, shortwave 0
+ radios: 840,000
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 6
+ televisions: 1,012,094
+
+@Bosnia And Herzegovina:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 815,055; males fit for military
+ service 657,454; males reach military age (19) annually 38,201 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BOTSWANA
+
+@Botswana:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, north of South Africa
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 600,370 sq km
+ land area: 585,370 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 4,013 km, Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840
+ km, Zimbabwe 813 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: short section of boundary with Namibia is
+ indefinite; quadripoint with Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in
+ disagreement; dispute with Namibia over uninhabited Kasikili (Sidudu)
+ Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River remained unresolved in mid-February
+ 1995 and the parties agreed to refer the matter to the International
+ Court of Justice
+
+ Climate: semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
+
+ Terrain: predominately flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari
+ Desert in southwest
+
+ Natural resources: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash,
+ coal, iron ore, silver
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 2%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 75%
+ forest and woodland: 2%
+ other: 21%
+
+ Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: overgrazing, primarily as a result of the expansion of
+ the cattle population; desertification; limited natural fresh water
+ resources
+ natural hazards: periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from
+ the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure
+ visibility
+ international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered
+ Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection;
+ signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity
+
+ Note: landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the
+ country
+
+@Botswana:People
+
+ Population: 1,392,414 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 43% (female 300,598; male 303,333)
+ 15-64 years: 53% (female 398,347; male 344,838)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 25,773; male 19,525) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.36% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 31.01 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.41 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 38 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 63.56 years
+ male: 60.54 years
+ female: 66.67 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.86 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
+ adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Batswana 95%, Kalanga, Basarwa, and Kgalagadi 4%,
+ white 1%
+
+ Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 50%
+
+ Languages: English (official), Setswana
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 23%
+ male: 32%
+ female: 16%
+
+ Labor force: 428,000 (1992)
+ by occupation: 220,000 formal sector employees, most others are
+ engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1992 est.);
+ 14,300 are employed in various mines in South Africa (March 1992)
+
+@Botswana:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Botswana
+ conventional short form: Botswana
+ former: Bechuanaland
+
+ Digraph: BC
+
+ Type: parliamentary republic
+
+ Capital: Gaborone
+
+ Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Central, Chobe, Ghanzi,
+ Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Ngamiland, North-East, South-East,
+ Southern; in addition, there are 4 town councils - Francistown,
+ Gaborone, Lobatse, Selebi-Phikwe
+
+ Independence: 30 September 1966 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 30 September (1966)
+
+ Constitution: March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
+
+ Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law;
+ judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted
+ compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Sir Ketumile MASIRE
+ (since 13 July 1980); Vice President Festus MOGAE (since 9 March
+ 1992); election last held 15 October 1994 (next to be held October
+ 1999); results - President Sir Ketumile MASIRE was reelected by the
+ National Assembly
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
+ House of Chiefs: is a largely advisory 15-member body consisting of
+ chiefs of the 8 principal tribes, 4 elected subchiefs, and 3 members
+ selected by the other 12
+ National Assembly: elections last held 15 October 1994 (next to be
+ held October 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (44
+ total of which 40 are elected and 4 are appointed) BDP 27, BNF 13
+
+ Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Sir
+ Ketumile MASIRE; Botswana National Front (BNF), Kenneth KOMA; Botswana
+ People's Party (BPP), Knight MARIPE; Botswana Independence Party
+ (BIP), Motsamai MPHO
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory
+ user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
+ UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UNOMUR, UNOSOM, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Botsweletse Kingsley SEBELE
+ chancery: Suite 7M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990, 4991
+ FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Howard F. JETER
+ embassy: address NA, Gaborone
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
+ telephone: [267] 353982
+ FAX: [267] 356947
+
+ Flag: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the
+ center
+
+@Botswana:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy has historically been based on cattle raising
+ and crops. Agriculture today provides a livelihood for more than 80%
+ of the population but supplies only about 50% of food needs and
+ accounts for only 5% of GDP. Subsistence farming and cattle raising
+ predominate. The driving force behind the rapid economic growth of the
+ 1970s and 1980s has been the mining industry. This sector, mostly on
+ the strength of diamonds, has gone from generating 25% of GDP in 1980
+ to 39% in 1994. No other sector has experienced such growth,
+ especially not agriculture, which is plagued by erratic rainfall and
+ poor soils. The unemployment rate remains a problem at 25%. Hampered
+ by a still sluggish diamond market in 1994, GDP grew by only 1%.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $4.3 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 1% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $3,130 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 25% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.7 billion
+ expenditures: $1.99 billion, including capital expenditures of $652
+ million (FY93/94)
+
+ Exports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b. 1994)
+ commodities: diamonds 78%, copper and nickel 6%, meat 5%
+ partners: Switzerland, UK, SACU (Southern African Customs Union)
+
+ Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, vehicles and transport equipment, textiles,
+ petroleum products
+ partners: Switzerland, SACU (Southern African Customs Union), UK, US
+
+ External debt: $344 million (December 1991)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 4.6% (FY92/93); accounts for about
+ 43% of GDP, including mining
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 220,000 kW
+ production: 900 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 694 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: mining of diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash,
+ potash; livestock processing
+
+ Agriculture: sorghum, maize, millet, pulses, groundnuts, beans,
+ cowpeas, sunflower seeds; livestock
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US aid (1992), $13 million; Norway (1992), $16 million;
+ Sweden (1992), $15.5 million; Germany (1992), $3.6 million; EC/Lome-IV
+ (1992), $3 million-$6 million in grants; $28.7 million in long-term
+ projects (1992)
+
+ Currency: 1 pula (P) = 100 thebe
+
+ Exchange rates: pula (P) per US$1 - 1.7086 (January 1995), 2.6976
+ (November 1994), 2.4190 (1993), 2.1327 (1992), 2.0173 (1991), 1.8601
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Botswana:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 888 km
+ narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (1992)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 11,514 km
+ paved: 1,600 km
+ unpaved: crushed stone, gravel 1,700 km; improved earth 5,177 km;
+ unimproved earth 3,037 km
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 100
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 23
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 62
+
+@Botswana:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 26,000 telephones; sparse system; telephone density
+ - 18.67 telephones/1,000 persons
+ local: NA
+ intercity: small system of open wire lines, microwave radio relay
+ links, and a few radio communication stations
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 13, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Botswana:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Botswana Defense Force (includes Army and Air Wing),
+ Botswana National Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 306,878; males fit for military
+ service 161,376; males reach military age (18) annually 15,403 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $198 million, 5.2% of
+ GDP (FY93/94)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BOUVET ISLAND
+
+ (territory of Norway)
+
+@Bouvet Island:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean,
+ south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)
+
+ Map references: Antarctic Region
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 58 sq km
+ land area: 58 sq km
+ comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 29.6 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 4 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: antarctic
+
+ Terrain: volcanic; maximum elevation about 800 meters; coast is mostly
+ inaccessible
+
+ Natural resources: none
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100% (all ice)
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: covered by glacial ice
+
+@Bouvet Island:People
+
+ Population: uninhabited
+
+@Bouvet Island:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Bouvet Island
+
+ Digraph: BV
+
+ Type: territory of Norway
+
+ Capital: none; administered from Oslo, Norway
+
+ Independence: none (territory of Norway)
+
+@Bouvet Island:Economy
+
+ Overview: no economic activity
+
+@Bouvet Island:Transportation
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
+
+@Bouvet Island:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: *** No data for this item ***
+
+ Note: automatic meteorological station
+
+@Bouvet Island:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BRAZIL
+
+@Brazil:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Map references: South America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 8,511,965 sq km
+ land area: 8,456,510 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than the US
+ note: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas,
+ Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao
+ Paulo
+
+ Land boundaries: total 14,691 km, Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400
+ km, Colombia 1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay
+ 1,290 km, Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela
+ 2,200 km
+
+ Coastline: 7,491 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: short section of the boundary with Paraguay,
+ just west of Salto das Sete Quedas (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana,
+ is in dispute; two short sections of boundary with Uruguay are in
+ dispute - Arroio Invernada (Arroyo de la Invernada) area of the Rio
+ Quarai (Rio Cuareim) and the islands at the confluence of the Rio
+ Quarai and the Uruguay River
+
+ Climate: mostly tropical, but temperate in south
+
+ Terrain: mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills,
+ mountains, and narrow coastal belt
+
+ Natural resources: bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel,
+ phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 7%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 19%
+ forest and woodland: 67%
+ other: 6%
+
+ Irrigated land: 27,000 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and
+ endangers the existence of a multitude of plant and animal species
+ indigenous to the area; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao
+ Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water
+ pollution caused by improper mining activities
+ natural hazards: recurring droughts in northeast; floods and
+ occasional frost in south
+ international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
+ Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands,
+ Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
+ Desertification
+
+ Note: largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with
+ every South American country except Chile and Ecuador
+
+@Brazil:People
+
+ Population: 160,737,489 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 31% (female 24,641,868; male 25,515,775)
+ 15-64 years: 64% (female 51,966,272; male 51,254,165)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 4,393,530; male 2,965,879) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.22% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 21.16 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.98 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 57.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 61.82 years
+ male: 56.57 years
+ female: 67.32 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.39 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Brazilian(s)
+ adjective: Brazilian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Caucasion (includes Portuguese, German, Italian,
+ Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed Caucasion and African 38%, African 6%,
+ other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic (nominal) 70%
+
+ Languages: Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991)
+ total population: 80%
+ male: 80%
+ female: 80%
+
+ Labor force: 57 million (1989 est.)
+ by occupation: services 42%, agriculture 31%, industry 27%
+
+@Brazil:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
+ conventional short form: Brazil
+ local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil
+ local short form: Brasil
+
+ Digraph: BR
+
+ Type: federal republic
+
+ Capital: Brasilia
+
+ Administrative divisions: 26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1
+ federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas,
+ Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato
+ Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana,
+ Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do
+ Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins
+
+ Independence: 7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
+
+ Constitution: 5 October 1988
+
+ Legal system: based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70;
+ compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Fernando Henrique
+ CARDOSO (since 1 January 1995) election last held 3 October 1994; next
+ to be held October 1998); results - Fernando Henrique CARDOSO 53%,
+ Luis Inacio LULA da Silva 26%, Eneas CARNEIRO 7%, Orestes QUERCIA 4%,
+ Leonel BRIZOLA 3%, Espiridiao AMIN 3%; note - second free, direct
+ presidential election since 1960
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congresso Nacional)
+ Federal Senate (Senado Federal): election last held 3 October 1994 for
+ two-thirds of Senate (next to be held October 1996 for one-third of
+ the Senate); results - PMBD 28%, PFL 22%, PSDB 12%, PPR 7%, PDT 7%, PT
+ 6%, PTB 6%, other 12%
+ Chamber of Deputies (Camara dos Deputados): election last held 3
+ October 1994 (next to be held October 1998); results - PMDB 21%, PFL
+ 18%, PDT 7%, PSDB 12%, PPR 10%, PTB 6%, PT 10%, other 16%
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Federal Tribunal
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National Reconstruction Party (PRN),
+ Daniel TOURINHO, president; Brazilian Democratic Movement Party
+ (PMDB), Luiz HENRIQUE da Silveira, president; Liberal Front Party
+ (PFL), Jorge BORNHAUSEN, president; Workers' Party (PT), Rui Goethe da
+ Costa FALCAO, president; Brazilian Workers' Party (PTB), Jose Eduardo
+ ANDRADE VIEIRA, president; Democratic Workers' Party (PDT), Anthony
+ GAROTINHO, president; Progressive Renewal Party (PPR), Espiridiao
+ AMIN, president; Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), Artur DA
+ TAVOLA, president; Popular Socialist Party (PPS), Roberto FREIRE,
+ president; Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), Joao AMAZONAS, secretary
+ general; Liberal Party (PL), Alvero VALLE, president
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: left wing of the Catholic Church
+ and labor unions allied to leftist Workers' Party are critical of
+ government's social and economic policies
+
+ Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19,
+ G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
+ IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM
+ (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MERCOSUR, NAM (observer), OAS,
+ ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
+ UNOMOZ, UNOMUR, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Paulo Tarso FLECHA de LIMA
+ chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 745-2700
+ FAX: [1] (202) 745-2827
+ consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,
+ San Juan (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco
+ consulate(s): Houston
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Melvyn LEVITSKY
+ embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Lote 3, Brasilia, Distrito Federal
+ mailing address: Unit 3500; APO AA 34030
+ telephone: [55] (61) 321-7272
+ FAX: [55] (61) 225-9136
+ consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
+ consulate(s): Porto Alegre, Recife
+
+ Flag: green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue
+ celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state
+ and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night
+ sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto
+ ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)
+
+@Brazil:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy, with large agrarian, mining, and manufacturing
+ sectors, entered the 1990s with declining real growth, runaway
+ inflation, an unserviceable foreign debt of $122 billion, and a lack
+ of policy direction. In addition, the economy remained highly
+ regulated, inward-looking, and protected by substantial trade and
+ investment barriers. Ownership of major industrial and mining
+ facilities is divided among private interests - including several
+ multinationals - and the government. Most large agricultural holdings
+ are private, with the government channeling financing to this sector.
+ Conflicts between large landholders and landless peasants have
+ produced intermittent violence. The COLLOR government, which assumed
+ office in March 1990, launched an ambitious reform program that sought
+ to modernize and reinvigorate the economy by stabilizing prices,
+ deregulating the economy, and opening it to increased foreign
+ competition. Itamar FRANCO, who assumed the presidency following
+ President COLLOR's resignation in December 1992, was out of step with
+ COLLOR's reform agenda; initiatives to redress fiscal problems,
+ privatize state enterprises, and liberalize trade and investment
+ policies lost momentum. Galloping inflation - by June 1994 the monthly
+ rate had risen to nearly 50% - had undermined economic stability. In
+ response, the then finance minister, Fernando Henrique CARDOSO,
+ launched the third phase of his stabilization plan, known as Plano
+ Real, that called for a new currency, the real, which was introduced
+ on 1 July 1994. Inflation subsequently dropped to under 3% per month
+ through the end of 1994. The newly elected President CARDOSO has
+ called for the implementation of sweeping market-oriented reform,
+ including public sector and fiscal reform, privatization,
+ deregulation, and elimination of barriers to increased foreign
+ investment. Brazil's natural resources remain a major, long-term
+ economic strength.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $886.3 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5.3% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $5,580 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1,094% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 4.9% (1993)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $113 billion
+ expenditures: $109 billion, including capital expenditures of $23
+ billion (1992)
+
+ Exports: $43.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: iron ore, soybean bran, orange juice, footwear, coffee,
+ motor vehicle parts
+ partners: EC 27.6%, Latin America 21.8%, US 17.4%, Japan 6.3% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $33.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: crude oil, capital goods, chemical products, foodstuffs,
+ coal
+ partners: US 23.3%, EC 22.5%, Middle East 13.0%, Latin America 11.8%,
+ Japan 6.5% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $134 billion (1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 9.5% (1993); accounts for 39% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 55,130,000 kW
+ production: 241.4 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,589 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, mining (iron
+ ore, tin), steel making, machine building - including aircraft, motor
+ vehicles, motor vehicle parts and assemblies, and other machinery and
+ equipment
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 11% of GDP; world's largest producer and
+ exporter of coffee and orange juice concentrate and second-largest
+ exporter of soybeans; other products - rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa,
+ beef; self-sufficient in food, except for wheat
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and coca, mostly for
+ domestic consumption; government has a small-scale eradication program
+ to control cannabis and coca cultivation; important transshipment
+ country for Bolivian and Colombian cocaine headed for the US and
+ Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2.5 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $10.2 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $284 million;
+ former Communist countries (1970-89), $1.3 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 real (R$) = 100 centavos
+
+ Exchange rates: R$ per US$1 - 0.85 (January 1995); CR$ per US$1 -
+ 390.845 (January 1994), 88.449 (1993), 4.513 (1992), 0.407 (1991),
+ 0.068 (1990)
+ note: on 1 August 1993 the cruzeiro real (CR$), equal to 1,000
+ cruzeiros, was introduced; another new currency, the real, was
+ introduced on 1 July 1994, equal to 2,750 cruzeiro reals
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Brazil:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 30,612 km (1992)
+ broad gauge: 5,369 km 1.600-m gauge (1,108 km electrified)
+ standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 24,739 km 1.000-m gauge (112 km electrified); 13 km
+ 0.760-m gauge
+ dual gauge: 310 km 1.600-m/1.000-m gauge (78 km electrified)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1,670,148 km
+ paved: 161,503 km
+ unpaved: gravel/earth 1,508,645 km (1990)
+
+ Inland waterways: 50,000 km navigable
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 2,000 km; petroleum products 3,804 km; natural
+ gas 1,095 km
+
+ Ports: Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Imbituba, Manaus, Paranagua, Porto
+ Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Salvador, Santos, Vitoria
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 215 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,128,654 GRT/8,664,776
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 52, cargo 34, chemical tanker 13, combination
+ ore/oil 12, container 12, liquefied gas tanker 11, oil tanker 64,
+ passenger-cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 3,467
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 5
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 19
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 126
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 286
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1,652
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 76
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1,303
+
+@Brazil:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 9.86 million telephones; telephone density -
+ 61/1,000 persons; good working system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: extensive microwave radio relay systems and 64 domestic
+ satellite earth stations
+ international: 3 coaxial submarine cables; 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
+ earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1,223, FM 0, shortwave 151
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 112 (Brazil has the world's fourth largest
+ television broadcasting system)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Brazil:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (includes Marines), Brazilian
+ Air Force, Federal Police (paramilitary)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 44,301,765; males fit for
+ military service 29,815,576; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 1,703,438 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $5.0 billion, 0.9% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY
+
+ (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+@British Indian Ocean Territory:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about
+ one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia
+
+ Map references: World
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 60 sq km
+ land area: 60 sq km
+ comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
+ note: includes the island of Diego Garcia
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 698 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: the entire Chagos Archipelago is claimed by
+ Mauritius
+
+ Climate: tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
+
+ Terrain: flat and low (up to 4 meters in elevation)
+
+ Natural resources: coconuts, fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and
+ southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian
+ Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility
+
+@British Indian Ocean Territory:People
+
+ Population: no indigenous inhabitants
+ note: there are UK-US military personnel; civilian inhabitants, known
+ as the Ilois, evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK-US
+ military facilities
+
+@British Indian Ocean Territory:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory
+ conventional short form: none
+
+ Abbreviation: BIOT
+
+ Digraph: IO
+
+ Type: dependent territory of the UK
+
+ Capital: none
+
+ Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
+ head of government: Commissioner Mr. D. R. MACLENNAN); Administrator
+ Mr. David Smith; note - both reside in the UK
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Flag: white with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
+ and six blue wavy horizontal stripes bearing a palm tree and yellow
+ crown centered on the outer half of the flag
+
+@British Indian Ocean Territory:Economy
+
+ Overview: All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island
+ of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located.
+ Construction projects and various services needed to support the
+ military installations are done by military and contract employees
+ from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no
+ industrial or agricultural activities on the islands.
+
+ Electricity: provided by the US military
+
+@British Indian Ocean Territory:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: NA
+ paved: short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on Diego
+ Garcia
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: Diego Garcia
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+
+@British Indian Ocean Territory:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; minimal facilities
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@British Indian Ocean Territory:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
+
+ (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+@British Virgin Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
+ Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 150 sq km
+ land area: 150 sq km
+ comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC
+ note: includes the island of Anegada
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 80 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
+
+ Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
+
+ Natural resources: negligible
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 20%
+ permanent crops: 7%
+ meadows and pastures: 33%
+ forest and woodland: 7%
+ other: 33%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: limited natural fresh water resources (except for a
+ few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the island's
+ water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment)
+ natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
+
+@British Virgin Islands:People
+
+ Population: 13,027 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.27% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 20.25 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.07 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 19.33 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 72.73 years
+ male: 70.88 years
+ female: 74.7 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.27 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: British Virgin Islander(s)
+ adjective: British Virgin Islander
+
+ Ethnic divisions: black 90%, white, Asian
+
+ Religions: Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of God
+ 7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%,
+ other 2%), Roman Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)
+
+ Languages: English (official)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
+ total population: 98%
+ male: 98%
+ female: 98%
+
+ Labor force: 4,911 (1980)
+ by occupation: NA
+
+@British Virgin Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
+
+ Abbreviation: BVI
+
+ Digraph: VI
+
+ Type: dependent territory of the UK
+
+ Capital: Road Town
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July
+
+ Constitution: 1 June 1977
+
+ Legal system: English law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor Peter Alfred PENFOLD (since 14 October 1991)
+ head of government: Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT (since NA
+ September 1986)
+ cabinet: Executive Council; appointed by the governor
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Legislative Council: election last held 20 February 1995 (next to be
+ held on NA February 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA;
+ seats - (13 total) VIP 6, CCM 2, UP 2, independents 3
+ note: legislature was expanded to 13 seats as of election on 20
+ February 1995
+
+ Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: United Party (UP), Conrad MADURO;
+ Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H. Lavity STOUTT; Concerned Citizens
+ Movement (CCM), E. Walwyln BREWLEY
+
+ Member of: CARICOM (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), INTERPOL
+ (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
+ and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the
+ flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a
+ vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word
+ VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
+
+@British Virgin Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean
+ area, is highly dependent on the tourist industry, which generates
+ about 21% of the national income. In 1985 the government offered
+ offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the
+ islands, and, in consequence, incorporation fees generated about $2
+ million in 1987. The economy slowed in 1991 because of the poor
+ performances of the tourist sector and tight commercial bank credit.
+ Livestock raising is the most significant agricultural activity. The
+ islands' crops, limited by poor soils, are unable to meet food
+ requirements.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $133 million (1991)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2% (1991)
+
+ National product per capita: $10,600 (1991)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1990 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1992)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $51 million
+ expenditures: $88 million, including capital expenditures of $38
+ million (1991)
+
+ Exports: $2.7 million (f.o.b., 1988)
+ commodities: rum, fresh fish, gravel, sand, fruits, animals
+ partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
+
+ Imports: $11.5 million (c.i.f., 1988)
+ commodities: building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
+ partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
+
+ External debt: $4.5 million (1985)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 4% (1985)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 10,500 kW
+ production: 50 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,148 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete
+ block, offshore financial center
+
+ Agriculture: livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, vegetables
+
+ Economic aid: $NA
+
+ Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: US currency is used
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@British Virgin Islands:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 106 km (1983)
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: Road Town
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 3
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@British Virgin Islands:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 3,000 telephones; worldwide external telephone
+ service
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: submarine cable communication links to Bermuda
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@British Virgin Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BRUNEI
+
+@Brunei:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and
+ Malaysia
+
+ Map references: Southeast Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 5,770 sq km
+ land area: 5,270 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Delaware
+
+ Land boundaries: total 381 km, Malysia 381 km
+
+ Coastline: 161 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient
+ that divides the country; all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by
+ China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and
+ the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone
+ that encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly claimed the island
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy
+
+ Terrain: flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland
+ in west
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 1%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 1%
+ forest and woodland: 79%
+ other: 18%
+
+ Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are very
+ rare
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian
+ and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost
+ an enclave of Malaysia
+
+@Brunei:People
+
+ Population: 292,266 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 34% (female 48,458; male 50,624)
+ 15-64 years: 62% (female 85,581; male 95,955)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 5,172; male 6,476) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.63% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 25.83 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.07 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 5.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 71.24 years
+ male: 69.65 years
+ female: 72.91 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.41 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Bruneian(s)
+ adjective: Bruneian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Malay 64%, Chinese 20%, other 16%
+
+ Religions: Muslim (official) 63%, Buddhism 14%, Christian 8%,
+ indigenous beliefs and other 15% (1981)
+
+ Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991)
+ total population: 88%
+ male: 92%
+ female: 82%
+
+ Labor force: 119,000 (1993 est.); note - includes members of the Army
+ by occupation: government 47.5%, production of oil, natural gas,
+ services, and construction 41.9%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing
+ 3.8% (1986)
+ note: 33% of labor force is foreign (1988)
+
+@Brunei:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
+ conventional short form: Brunei
+
+ Digraph: BX
+
+ Type: constitutional sultanate
+
+ Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
+
+ Administrative divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular -
+ daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong
+
+ Independence: 1 January 1984 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: National Day 23 February (1984)
+
+ Constitution: 29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a
+ State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1
+ January 1984)
+
+ Legal system: based on Islamic law
+
+ Suffrage: none
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister His
+ Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin
+ Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967)
+ cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers; composed chiefly of members of
+ the royal family
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Legislative Council (Majlis Masyuarat Megeri): elections last held in
+ March 1962; in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by
+ decree of the sultan; an elected legislative Council is being
+ considered as part of constitution reform, but elections are unlikely
+ for several years
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Brunei United National Party
+ (inactive), Anak HASANUDDIN, chairman; Brunei National Solidarity
+ Party (the first legal political party and now banned), leader NA;
+ Brunei Peoples Party (banned), leader NA
+
+ Member of: APEC, ASEAN, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, ICAO, IDB, IMO,
+ INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO
+ (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Haji JAYA bin Abdul Latif
+ chancery: Watergate, Suite 300, 3rd floor, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW,
+ Washington, DC 20037
+ telephone: [1] (202) 342-0159
+ FAX: [1] (202) 342-0158
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Theresa A. TULL
+ embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri
+ Begawan
+ mailing address: American Embassy Box B, APO AP 96440
+ telephone: [673] (2) 229670
+ FAX: [673] (2) 225293
+
+ Flag: yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double
+ width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national
+ emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a
+ swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned
+ crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands
+
+@Brunei:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic
+ entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and
+ village tradition. It is almost totally supported by exports of crude
+ oil and natural gas, with revenues from the petroleum sector
+ accounting for more than 40% of GDP. Per capita GDP is among the
+ highest in the Third World, and substantial income from overseas
+ investment supplements domestic production. The government provides
+ for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $4.43 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -4% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $16,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 5% (1993 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.5 billion
+ expenditures: $1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $255
+ million (1990 est.)
+
+ Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products
+ partners: Japan 52%, South Korea 10%, UK 9%, Thailand 7%, Singapore 6%
+ (1991)
+
+ Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
+ food, chemicals
+ partners: Singapore 34%, UK 23%, US 10%, Japan 8%, Malaysia 7%,
+ Switzerland 4% (1991)
+
+ External debt: $0
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 12.9% (1987); accounts for 41.6% of
+ GDP (1990), includes mining, quarrying, and manufacturing
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 380,000 kW
+ production: 1.2 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,971 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas,
+ construction
+
+ Agriculture: imports about 80% of its food needs; principal crops and
+ livestock include rice, cassava, bananas, buffaloes, and pigs
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $20.6 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $153 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1 - 1.4524 (January
+ 1995), 1.5274 (1994), 1.6158 (1993), 1.6290 (1992), 1.7276 (1991),
+ 1.8125 (1990); note - the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore
+ dollar
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Brunei:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 13 km private line
+ narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1,090 km
+ paved: bituminous 370 km (with another 52 km under construction)
+ unpaved: gravel or earth 720 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2
+ meters
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; natural gas
+ 920 km
+
+ Ports: Bandar Seri Begawar, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria, Tutong
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 7 liquefied gas carriers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476
+ GRT/340,635 DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 5
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Brunei:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 33,000 telephones (1987); service throughout country
+ is adequate for present needs; international service good to adjacent
+ Malaysia
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: INTELSAT (NA Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) earth
+ stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 4, shortwave 0
+ radios: 74,000 (1987)
+ note: radiobroadcast coverage good
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Brunei:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 81,560; males fit for military
+ service 47,403; males reach military age (18) annually 2,835 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $312 million, 6.2% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BULGARIA
+
+@Bulgaria:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between
+ Romania and Turkey
+
+ Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 110,910 sq km
+ land area: 110,550 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,808 km, Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav
+ Republic of Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro
+ 318 km (all with Serbia), Turkey 240 km
+
+ Coastline: 354 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
+
+ Terrain: mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast
+
+ Natural resources: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable
+ land
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 34%
+ permanent crops: 3%
+ meadows and pastures: 18%
+ forest and woodland: 35%
+ other: 10%
+
+ Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers
+ polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation;
+ forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil
+ contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and
+ industrial wastes
+ natural hazards: earthquakes, landslides
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty,
+ Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban,
+ Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not
+ ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
+ Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate
+ Change, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land
+ routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia
+
+@Bulgaria:People
+
+ Population: 8,775,198 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 19% (female 800,413; male 841,697)
+ 15-64 years: 66% (female 2,927,880; male 2,910,133)
+ 65 years and over: 15% (female 735,706; male 559,369) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: -0.25% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 11.75 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 11.31 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -2.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 11.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 73.68 years
+ male: 70.43 years
+ female: 77.1 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Bulgarian(s)
+ adjective: Bulgarian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Bulgarian 85.3%, Turk 8.5%, Gypsy 2.6%, Macedonian
+ 2.5%, Armenian 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, other 0.6%
+
+ Religions: Bulgarian Orthodox 85%, Muslim 13%, Jewish 0.8%, Roman
+ Catholic 0.5%, Uniate Catholic 0.2%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian,
+ and other 0.5%
+
+ Languages: Bulgarian; secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic
+ breakdown
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1992)
+ total population: 98%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 97%
+
+ Labor force: 4.3 million
+ by occupation: industry 33%, agriculture 20%, other 47% (1987)
+
+@Bulgaria:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria
+ conventional short form: Bulgaria
+
+ Digraph: BU
+
+ Type: emerging democracy
+
+ Capital: Sofia
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast);
+ Burgas, Grad Sofiya, Khaskovo, Lovech, Montana, Plovdiv, Ruse, Sofiya,
+ Varna
+
+ Independence: 22 September 1908 (from Ottoman Empire)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day 3 March (1878)
+
+ Constitution: adopted 12 July 1991
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system, with Soviet law influence;
+ has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Zhelyu Mitev ZHELEV (since 1 August 1990);
+ Vice President (vacant); election last held January 1992; results -
+ Zhelyu ZHELEV was elected by popular vote
+ head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime
+ Minister) Zhan VIDENOV (since 25 January 1995); Deputy Prime Ministers
+ Doncho KONAKCHIEV, Kiril TSOCHEV, Rumen GECHEV, Svetoslav SHIVAROV
+ (since 25 January 1995)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; elected by the National Assembly
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Narodno Sobranie): last held 18 December 1994 (next
+ to be held NA 1997); results - BSP 43.5%, UDF 24.2%, PU 6.5%, MRF
+ 5.4%, BBB 4.7%; seats - (240 total) BSP 125, UDF 69, PU 18, MRF 15,
+ BBB 13
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Constitutional Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Zhan
+ VIDENOV, chairman; Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), Ivan KOSTOV an
+ alliance of pro-Democratic parties; People's Union (PU), Stefan SAVOV;
+ Movement for Rights and Freedoms (mainly ethnic Turkish party) (MRF),
+ Ahmed DOGAN; Bulgarian Business Bloc (BBB), George GANCHEV
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Democratic Alliance for the
+ Republic (DAR); New Union for Democracy (NUD); Ecoglasnost; Podkrepa
+ Labor Confederation; Fatherland Union; Bulgarian Communist Party
+ (BCP); Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (KNSB);
+ Bulgarian Agrarian National Union - United (BZNS); Bulgarian
+ Democratic Center; "Nikola Petkov" Bulgarian Agrarian National Union;
+ Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Union of Macedonian
+ Societies (IMRO-UMS); numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest
+ groups with various agendas
+
+ Member of: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI (associate members), EBRD,
+ ECE, FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
+ IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM
+ (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
+ WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Snezhana Damianova BOTUSHAROVA
+ chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 387-7969
+ FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador William D. MONTGOMERY
+ embassy: 1 Saborna Street, Sofia
+ mailing address: Unit 1335, Sofia; APO AE 09213-1335
+ telephone: [359] (2) 88-48-01 through 05
+ FAX: [359] (2) 80-19-77
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; the
+ national emblem formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe has
+ been removed - it contained a rampant lion within a wreath of wheat
+ ears below a red five-pointed star and above a ribbon bearing the
+ dates 681 (first Bulgarian state established) and 1944 (liberation
+ from Nazi control)
+
+@Bulgaria:Economy
+
+ Overview: The Bulgarian economy continued its painful adjustment in
+ 1994 from the misdirected development undertaken during four decades
+ of Communist rule. Many aspects of a market economy have been put in
+ place and have begun to function, but much of the economy, especially
+ the industrial sector, has yet to re-establish market links lost with
+ the collapse of the other centrally planned Soviet Bloc economies. The
+ prices of many imported industrial inputs, especially energy products,
+ have risen markedly, and falling real wages have not sufficed to
+ restore competitiveness. The government plans more extensive
+ privatization in 1995 to improve the management of enterprises and to
+ encourage foreign investment. Bulgaria resumed payments on its $10
+ billion in commercial debt in 1993 following the negotiation of a 50%
+ write-off.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $33.7 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 0.2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $3,830 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 122% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 16% (1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $14 billion
+ expenditures: $17.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $610
+ million (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $3.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: machinery and equipment 30.6%; agricultural products 24%;
+ manufactured consumer goods 22.2%; fuels, minerals, raw materials, and
+ metals 10.5%; other 12.7% (1991)
+ partners: former CEMA countries 57.7% (FSU 48.6%, Poland 2.1%,
+ Czechoslovakia 0.9%); developed countries 26.3% (Germany 4.8%, Greece
+ 2.2%); less developed countries 15.9% (Libya 2.1%, Iran 0.7%) (1991)
+
+ Imports: $4.3 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: fuels, minerals, and raw materials 58.7%; machinery and
+ equipment 15.8%; manufactured consumer goods 4.4%; agricultural
+ products 15.2%; other 5.9%
+ partners: former CEMA countries 51.0% (FSU 43.2%, Poland 3.7%);
+ developed countries 32.8% (Germany 7.0%, Austria 4.7%); less developed
+ countries 16.2% (Iran 2.8%, Libya 2.5%)
+
+ External debt: $12 billion (1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 4% (1994); accounts for about 37%
+ of GDP (1990)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 11,500,000 kW
+ production: 35.9 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,827 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: machine building and metal working, food processing,
+ chemicals, textiles, building materials, ferrous and nonferrous metals
+
+ Agriculture: climate and soil conditions support livestock raising and
+ the growing of various grain crops, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits, and
+ tobacco; more than one-third of the arable land devoted to grain;
+ world's fourth-largest tobacco exporter; surplus food producer
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for southwest Asian heroin and
+ South American cocaine transiting the Balkan route; limited producer
+ of precursor chemicals
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: $700 million in balance of payments support (1994)
+
+ Currency: 1 lev (Lv) = 100 stotinki
+
+ Exchange rates: leva (Lv) per US$1 - 67.04 (January 1995), 32.00
+ (January 1994), 24.56 (January 1993), 17.18 (January 1992), 16.13
+ (March 1991), 0.7446 (November 1990); note - floating exchange rate
+ since February 1991
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Bulgaria:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 4,294 km
+ standard gauge: 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,650 km electrified; 917
+ double track)
+ other: 245 km NA-m gauge (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 36,932 km
+ paved: 33,904 km (including 276 km expressways)
+ unpaved: earth 3,028 km (1992)
+
+ Inland waterways: 470 km (1987)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 193 km; petroleum products 525 km; natural gas
+ 1,400 km (1992)
+
+ Ports: Burgas, Lom, Nesebur, Ruse, Varna, Vidin
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 109 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,191,231 GRT/1,762,461
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 47, cargo 29, chemical carrier 4, container 2, oil
+ tanker 15, passenger-cargo 2, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off
+ cargo 6, short-sea passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 1
+ note: Bulgaria owns 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,960 DWT
+ operating under Liberian registry
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 355
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 17
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 88
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 10
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 226
+
+@Bulgaria:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 2,600,000 telephones; 29 telephones/100 persons
+ (1992); extensive but antiquated transmission system of coaxial cable
+ and microwave radio relay; direct dialing to 36 countries; telephone
+ service is available in most villages; almost two-thirds of the lines
+ are residential; 67% of Sofia households have phones (November 1988)
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 earth station using Intersputnik; INTELSAT link used
+ through a Greek earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 20, FM 15, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 29 (Russian repeater in Sofia 1)
+ televisions: 2.1 million (May 1990)
+
+@Bulgaria:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Troops,
+ Internal Troops
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,171,414; males fit for
+ military service 1,810,989; males reach military age (19) annually
+ 69,200 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: 13 billion leva, NA% of GDP (1994 est.); note -
+ conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current
+ exchange rate could produce misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BURKINA
+
+@Burkina:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, north of Ghana
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 274,200 sq km
+ land area: 273,800 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Colorado
+
+ Land boundaries: total 3,192 km, Benin 306 km, Ghana 548 km, Cote
+ d'Ivoire 584 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: following mutual acceptance of an
+ International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling in December 1986 on their
+ international boundary dispute, Burkina and Mali are proceeding with
+ boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger
+
+ Climate: tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers
+
+ Terrain: mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west
+ and southeast
+
+ Natural resources: manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of
+ gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc,
+ silver
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 10%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 37%
+ forest and woodland: 26%
+ other: 27%
+
+ Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: recent droughts and desertification severely affecting
+ agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy;
+ overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation
+ natural hazards: recurring droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
+ Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea,
+ Nuclear Test Ban
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Burkina:People
+
+ Population: 10,422,828 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 48% (female 2,488,662; male 2,517,245)
+ 15-64 years: 49% (female 2,707,601; male 2,378,957)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 184,578; male 145,785) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.79% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 48.05 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 18.22 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 116.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 46.6 years
+ male: 45.71 years
+ female: 47.51 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.88 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Burkinabe
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Mossi (about 2.5 million), Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi,
+ Bobo, Mande, Fulani
+
+ Religions: indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly Roman
+ Catholic) 10%
+
+ Languages: French (official), tribal languages belonging to Sudanic
+ family, spoken by 90% of the population
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 18%
+ male: 28%
+ female: 9%
+
+ Labor force: NA (most adults are employed in subsistance agriculture)
+ by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry 15%, commerce, services, and
+ government 5%
+ note: 20% of male labor force migrates annually to neighboring
+ countries for seasonal employment (1984)
+
+@Burkina:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Burkina Faso
+ conventional short form: Burkina
+ former: Upper Volta
+
+ Digraph: UV
+
+ Type: parliamentary
+
+ Capital: Ouagadougou
+
+ Administrative divisions: 30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba,
+ Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Kadiogo,
+ Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri,
+ Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno,
+ Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogo
+
+ Independence: 5 August 1960 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983)
+
+ Constitution: 2 June 1991
+
+ Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law
+
+ Suffrage: none
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October
+ 1987); election last held December 1991
+ head of government: Prime Minister Roch KABORE (since March 1994)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Assembly of People's Deputies: elections last held 24 May 1992 (next
+ to be held 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (107
+ total), ODP-MT 78, CNPP-PSD 12, RDA 6, ADF 4, other 7
+ note: the current law also provides for a second consultative chamber,
+ which has not been formally constituted
+
+ Judicial branch: Appeals Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Organization for People's Democracy -
+ Labor Movement (ODP-MT), ruling party, Simon COMPAORE, Secretary
+ General; National Convention of Progressive Patriots-Social Democratic
+ Party (CNPP-PSD), Moussa BOLY; African Democratic Rally (RDA), Gerard
+ Kango OUEDRAOGO; Alliance for Democracy and Federation (ADF), Amadou
+ Michel NANA
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: committees for the defense of the
+ revolution; watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in
+ both organizations and communities
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ,
+ G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
+ ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN,
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Gaetan R. OUEDRAOGO
+ chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577, 6895
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Donald J. McCONNELL
+ embassy: Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou
+ mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou
+ telephone: [226] 306723 through 306725
+ FAX: [226] 312368
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow
+ five-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colors
+ of Ethiopia
+
+@Burkina:Economy
+
+ Overview: One of the poorest countries in the world, Burkina has a
+ high population density and a high population growth rate, few natural
+ resources, and a fragile soil. Economic development is hindered by a
+ poor communications network within a landlocked country. Agriculture
+ provides about 40% of GDP and is mainly of a subsistence nature.
+ Industry, dominated by unprofitable government-controlled
+ corporations, accounts for about 15% of GDP. Following the 50%
+ currency devaluation in January 1994, the government updated its
+ development program in conjunction with international agencies. Even
+ with the best of plans, however, the government faces formidable
+ problems on all sides.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $6.5 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 0.4% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $660 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.6% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $483 million
+ expenditures: $548 million, including capital expenditures of $189
+ million (1992)
+
+ Exports: $273 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: cotton, gold, animal products
+ partners: EC 42%, Cote d'Ivoire 11%, Taiwan 15% (1992)
+
+ Imports: $636 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: machinery, food products, petroleum
+ partners: EC 49%, Africa 24%, Japan 6% (1992)
+
+ External debt: $865 million (December 1991 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 6.7% (1992); accounts for about 15%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 60,000 kW
+ production: 190 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 17 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap,
+ cigarettes, textiles, gold mining and extraction
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 40% of GDP; cash crops - peanuts, shea
+ nuts, sesame, cotton; food crops - sorghum, millet, corn, rice;
+ livestock; not self-sufficient in food grains
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $294 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $2.9 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $113 million
+
+ Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 529.43 (January 1995),
+ 555.20 (1995), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26
+ (1990)
+ note: beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100
+ per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Burkina:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 620 km (520 km Ouagadougou to Cote d'Ivoire border and 100 km
+ Ouagadougou to Kaya; single track)
+ narrow gauge: 620 km 1.000-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 16,500 km
+ paved: 1,300 km
+ unpaved: improved earth 7,400 km; unimproved earth 7,800 km (1985)
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 48
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 26
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 4
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 16
+
+@Burkina:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; all services only fair
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay, wire, and radio communication
+ stations
+ international: 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 2
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Burkina:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police,
+ People's Militia
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,081,999; males fit for
+ military service 1,065,605 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $104 million, 6.4% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BURMA
+
+@Burma:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of
+ Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand
+
+ Map references: Southeast Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 678,500 sq km
+ land area: 657,740 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 5,876 km, Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km,
+ India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,930 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers
+ (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall,
+ mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon,
+ December to April)
+
+ Terrain: central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper,
+ tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural
+ gas
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 15%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 1%
+ forest and woodland: 49%
+ other: 34%
+
+ Irrigated land: 10,180 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and
+ water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease
+
+ natural hazards: destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and
+ landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic
+ droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
+ Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes
+
+@Burma:People
+
+ Population: 45,103,809 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 36% (female 7,963,544; male 8,285,459)
+ 15-64 years: 60% (female 13,478,211; male 13,404,987)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 1,080,922; male 890,686) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.84% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 28.02 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.63 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 61.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 60.47 years
+ male: 58.38 years
+ female: 62.69 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.58 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Burmese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Burmese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese
+ 3%, Mon 2%, Indian 2%, other 5%
+
+ Religions: Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%),
+ Muslim 4%, animist beliefs 1%, other 2%
+
+ Languages: Burmese; minority ethnic groups have their own languages
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 81%
+ male: 89%
+ female: 72%
+
+ Labor force: 16.007 million (1992)
+ by occupation: agriculture 65.2%, industry 14.3%, trade 10.1%,
+ government 6.3%, other 4.1% (FY88/89 est.)
+
+@Burma:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Union of Burma
+ conventional short form: Burma
+ local long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the US
+ Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar)
+ local short form: Myanma Naingngandaw
+ former: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma
+
+ Digraph: BM
+
+ Type: military regime
+
+ Capital: Rangoon (regime refers to the capital as Yangon)
+
+ Administrative divisions: 7 divisions* (yin-mya, singular - yin) and 7
+ states (pyine-mya, singular - pyine); Chin State, Ayeyarwady*, Bago*,
+ Kachin State, Kayin State, Kayah State, Magway*, Mandalay*, Mon State,
+ Rakhine State, Sagaing*, Shan State, Tanintharyi*, Yangon*
+
+ Independence: 4 January 1948 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 4 January (1948)
+
+ Constitution: 3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988);
+ National Convention started on 9 January 1993 to draft a new
+ constitution; chapter headings and three of 15 sections have been
+ approved
+
+ Legal system: has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: Chairman of the State Law and
+ Order Restoration Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992)
+ State Law and Order Restoration Council: military junta which assumed
+ power 18 September 1988
+
+ Legislative branch:
+ People's Assembly (Pyithu Hluttaw): election last held 27 May 1990,
+ but Assembly never convened; results - NLD 80%; seats - (485 total)
+ NLD 396, the regime-favored NUP 10, other 79; was dissolved after the
+ coup of 18 September 1988
+
+ Judicial branch: limited; remnants of the British-era legal system in
+ place, but there is no guarantee of a fair public trial; the judiciary
+ is not independent of the executive
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Union Solidarity and Development
+ Association (USDA), THAN AUNG, Secretary; National Unity Party (NUP;
+ proregime), THA KYAW; National League for Democracy (NLD), U AUNG
+ SHWE; and eight other minor legal parties
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: National Coalition Government of
+ the Union of Burma (NCGUB), headed by the elected prime minister SEIN
+ WIN (consists of individuals legitimately elected to Parliament but
+ not recognized by the military regime; the group fled to a border area
+ and joined with insurgents in December 1990 to form a parallel
+ government; Kachin Independence Army (KIA); United Wa State Army
+ (UWSA); Karen National Union (KNU); several Shan factions, including
+ the Mong Tai Army (MTA); All Burma Student Democratic Front (ABSDF)
+
+ Member of: AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory
+ user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
+ WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador U THAUNG
+ chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 332-9044, 9045
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marilyn A. MEYERS
+ embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)
+ mailing address: American Embassy, Box B, APO AP 96546
+ telephone: [95] (1) 82055, 82182 (operator assistance required)
+ FAX: [95] (1) 80409
+
+ Flag: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
+ bearing, all in white, 14 five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel
+ containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the 14
+ administrative divisions
+
+@Burma:Economy
+
+ Overview: Burma has a mixed economy with about 75% private activity,
+ mainly in agriculture, light industry, and transport, and with about
+ 25% state-controlled activity, mainly in energy, heavy industry, and
+ foreign trade. Government policy in the last six years, 1989-94, has
+ aimed at revitalizing the economy after four decades of tight central
+ planning. Thus, private activity has markedly increased; foreign
+ investment has been encouraged, so far with moderate success; and
+ efforts continue to increase the efficiency of state enterprises.
+ Published estimates of Burma's foreign trade are greatly understated
+ because of the volume of black market trade. A major ongoing problem
+ is the failure to achieve monetary and fiscal stability. Although
+ Burma remains a poor Asian country, its rich resources furnish the
+ potential for substantial long-term increases in income, exports, and
+ living standards.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $41.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 6.4% (1994)
+
+ National product per capita: $930 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 38% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $4.4 billion
+ expenditures: $6.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (FY93/94 est.)
+
+ Exports: $674 million (FY93/94 est.)
+ commodities: pulses and beans, teak, rice, hardwood
+ partners: Singapore, China, Thailand, India, Hong Kong
+
+ Imports: $1.2 billion (FY93/94 est.)
+ commodities: machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, food products
+ partners: Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia
+
+ External debt: $5.4 billion (FY93/94 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 4.9% (FY92/93 est.); accounts for
+ 10% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,100,000 kW
+ production: 2.6 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 55 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: agricultural processing; textiles and footwear; wood and
+ wood products; petroleum refining; mining of copper, tin, tungsten,
+ iron; construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 65% of GDP and 65% of employment (including
+ fishing, animal husbandry, and forestry); self-sufficient in food;
+ principal crops - paddy rice, corn, oilseed, sugarcane, pulses;
+ world's largest stand of hardwood trees; rice and timber account for
+ 55% of export revenues
+
+ Illicit drugs: world's largest illicit producer of opium (2,030 metric
+ tons in 1994 - dropped 21% due to regional drought in 1994) and minor
+ producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; opium
+ production continues to be almost double since the collapse of
+ Rangoon's antinarcotic programs; growing role in amphetamine
+ production for regional consumption
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $158 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $3.9 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $424 million
+
+ Currency: 1 kyat (K) = 100 pyas
+
+ Exchange rates: kyats (K) per US$1 - 5.8640 (January 1995), 5.9749
+ (1994), 6.1570 (1993), 6.1045 (1992), 6.2837 (1991), 6.3386 (1990);
+ unofficial - 120
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Burma:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 3,991 km (3,878 km common carrier lines, 113 km industrial
+ lines)
+ standard gauge: 3,878 km 1.435-m gauge
+ other: 113 km NA-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 27,000 km
+ paved: bituminous 3,200 km
+ unpaved: gravel, improved earth 17,700 km; unimproved earth 6,100 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 12,800 km; 3,200 km navigable by large commercial
+ vessels
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 1,343 km; natural gas 330 km
+
+ Ports: Bassein, Bhamo, Chauk, Mandalay, Moulmein, Myitkyina, Rangoon,
+ Sittwe, Tavoy
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 49 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 638,297 GRT/884,492 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 19, cargo 15, chemical tanker 1, container 2, oil
+ tanker 3, passenger-cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 4, vehicle carrier 2
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 80
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 11
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 33
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 17
+
+@Burma:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 53,000 telephones (1986); meets minimum requirements
+ for local and intercity service for business and government;
+ international service is good
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1985)
+ radios: NA
+ note: radiobroadcast coverage is limited to the most populous areas
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1 (1985)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Burma:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 11,553,094; females age 15-49
+ 11,463,189; males fit for military service 6,180,091; females fit for
+ military service 6,116,421; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 457,445 (1995 est.); females reach military age (18) annually 441,628
+ (1995 est.)
+ note: both sexes liable for military service
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+BURUNDI
+
+@Burundi:Geography
+
+ Location: Central Africa, east of Zaire
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 27,830 sq km
+ land area: 25,650 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
+
+ Land boundaries: total 974 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km, Zaire
+ 233 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: temperate; warm; occasional frost in uplands; dry season from
+ June to September
+
+ Terrain: hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some
+ plains
+
+ Natural resources: nickel, uranium, rare earth oxide, peat, cobalt,
+ copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 43%
+ permanent crops: 8%
+ meadows and pastures: 35%
+ forest and woodland: 2%
+ other: 12%
+
+ Irrigated land: 720 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the
+ expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little
+ forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for
+ fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
+ natural hazards: flooding, landslides
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species; signed, but
+ not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of
+ the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
+
+ Note: landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed
+
+@Burundi:People
+
+ Population: 6,262,429 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 48% (female 1,489,721; male 1,494,730)
+ 15-64 years: 50% (female 1,606,307; male 1,498,021)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 105,446; male 68,204) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.18% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 43.35 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 21.51 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ note: in a number of waves since April 1994, hundreds of thousands of
+ refugees have fled the civil strife between the Hutu and Tutsi
+ factions in Burundi and crossed into Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zaire; the
+ refugee flows are continuing in 1995 as the ethnic violence has
+ persisted
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 111.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 39.86 years
+ male: 37.84 years
+ female: 41.95 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.63 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Burundian(s)
+ adjective: Burundi
+
+ Ethnic divisions:
+ Africans: Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%
+ non-Africans: Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000
+
+ Religions: Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%),
+ indigenous beliefs 32%, Muslim 1%
+
+ Languages: Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake
+ Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 50%
+ male: 61%
+ female: 40%
+
+ Labor force: 1.9 million (1983 est.)
+ by occupation: agriculture 93.0%, government 4.0%, industry and
+ commerce 1.5%, services 1.5%
+
+@Burundi:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Burundi
+ conventional short form: Burundi
+ local long form: Republika y'u Burundi
+ local short form: Burundi
+
+ Digraph: BY
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Bujumbura
+
+ Administrative divisions: 15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi,
+ Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba,
+ Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
+
+ Independence: 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian
+ administration)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
+
+ Constitution: 13 March 1992; provides for establishment of a plural
+ political system
+
+ Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary
+ law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: universal adult at age NA
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Sylvestre NTIBANTUNGANYA (since September
+ 1994)
+ note: President Melchior NDADAYE, Burundi's first democratically
+ elected president, died in the military coup of 21 October 1993 and
+ was succeeded on 5 February 1994 by President Cyprien NTARYAMIRA, who
+ was killed in a mysterious airplane explosion on 6 April 1994
+ head of government: Prime Minister Antoine NDUWAYO (since February
+ 1995); selected by President NTIBANTUNGANYA following the resignation
+ of Anatole KANYENKIKO on 15 February 1995
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 29 June
+ 1993 (next to be held NA); results - FRODEBU 71%, UPRONA 21.4%; seats
+ - (81 total) FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16; other parties won too small shares
+ of the vote to win seats in the assembly
+ note: The National Unity Charter outlining the principles for
+ constitutional government was adopted by a national referendum on 5
+ February 1991
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Unity for National Progress (UPRONA);
+ Burundi Democratic Front (FRODEBU); Organization of the People of
+ Burundi (RBP); Socialist Party of Burundi (PSB); People's
+ Reconciliation Party (PRP); opposition parties, legalized in March
+ 1992, include Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation (ABASA);
+ Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development (RADDES); and
+ Party for National Redress (PARENA)
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: NA;
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT,
+ IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU,
+ UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: post vacant since recall of Ambassador Jacques
+ BACAMURWANKO in November 1994
+ chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
+ telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. KRUEGER
+ embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
+ mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
+ telephone: [257] (2) 23454
+ FAX: [257] (2) 22926
+
+ Flag: divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and
+ bottom) and green panels (hoist side and outer side) with a white disk
+ superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars
+ outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above, two
+ stars below)
+
+@Burundi:Economy
+
+ Overview: A landlocked, resource-poor country in an early stage of
+ economic development, Burundi since October 1993 has suffered from
+ massive ethnic-based violence that has displaced an estimated million
+ people, disrupted production, and set back needed reform programs.
+ Burundi is predominately agricultural with roughly 90% of the
+ population dependent on subsistence agriculture. Its economic health
+ depends on the coffee crop, which accounts for 80% of foreign exchange
+ earnings. The ability to pay for imports therefore continues to rest
+ largely on the vagaries of the climate and the international coffee
+ market. As part of its economic reform agenda, launched in February
+ 1991 with IMF and World Bank support, Burundi is trying to diversify
+ its agricultural exports, attract foreign investment in industry, and
+ modernize government budgetary practices. Although the government
+ remains committed to reforms, it fears new austerity measures would
+ add to ethnic tensions.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -13.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $600 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $318 million
+ expenditures: $326 million, including capital expenditures of $150
+ million (1991 est.)
+
+ Exports: $68 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: coffee 81%, tea, cotton, hides, and skins
+ partners: EC 57%, US 19%, Asia 1%
+
+ Imports: $203 million (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: capital goods 31%, petroleum products 15%, foodstuffs,
+ consumer goods
+ partners: EC 45%, Asia 29%, US 2%
+
+ External debt: $1.05 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 11% (1991 est.); accounts for about
+ 15% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 55,000 kW
+ production: 100 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 20 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap;
+ assembly of imported components; public works construction; food
+ processing
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 50% of GDP; cash crops - coffee, cotton,
+ tea; food crops - corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc;
+ livestock - meat, milk, hides and skins
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $71 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $10.2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $32 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $175 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Burundi franc (FBu) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Burundi francs (FBu) per US$1 - 248.51 (December
+ 1994), 252.66 (1994), 242.78 (1993), 208.30 (1992), 181.51 (1991),
+ 171.26 (1990), 158.67 (1989), 140.40 (1988)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Burundi:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 5,900 km
+ paved: 640 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 2,260 km; improved, unimproved earth
+ 3,000 km (1990)
+
+ Inland waterways: Lake Tanganyika
+
+ Ports: Bujumbura
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 4
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+
+@Burundi:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 8,000 telephones; primative system; telephone
+ density - 1.3 telephones/1,000 persons
+ local: NA
+ intercity: sparse system of wire, radiocommunications, and
+ low-capacity microwave radio relay links
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Burundi:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army (includes naval and air units), paramilitary
+ Gendarmerie
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,350,042; males fit for
+ military service 705,864; males reach military age (16) annually
+ 73,308 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $25 million, 2.6% of
+ GDP (1993)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+CAMBODIA
+
+@Cambodia:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between
+ Thailand and Vietnam
+
+ Map references: Southeast Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 181,040 sq km
+ land area: 176,520 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Oklahoma
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,572 km, Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam
+ 1,228 km
+
+ Coastline: 443 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: offshore islands and sections of the boundary
+ with Vietnam are in dispute; maritime boundary with Vietnam not
+ defined; parts of border with Thailand in dispute; maritime boundary
+ with Thailand not clearly defined
+
+ Climate: tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season
+ (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation
+
+ Terrain: mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
+
+ Natural resources: timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese,
+ phosphates, hydropower potential
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 16%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 3%
+ forest and woodland: 76%
+ other: 4%
+
+ Irrigated land: 920 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: logging activities throughout the country and strip
+ mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand
+ are resulting in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in
+ particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural
+ fisheries); deforestation; soil erosion; in rural areas, a majority of
+ the population does not have access to potable water
+ natural hazards: monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding;
+ occasional droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Marine Life Conservation, Ship
+ Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Endangered
+ Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
+
+ Note: a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and
+ Tonle Sap
+
+@Cambodia:People
+
+ Population: 10,561,373 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 46% (female 2,367,414; male 2,438,104)
+ 15-64 years: 51% (female 2,932,788; male 2,494,203)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 185,337; male 143,527) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.83% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 44.42 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 16.16 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 109.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 49.46 years
+ male: 48 years
+ female: 51 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 5.81 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Cambodian(s)
+ adjective: Cambodian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
+
+ Religions: Theravada Buddhism 95%, other 5%
+
+ Languages: Khmer (official), French
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 35%
+ male: 48%
+ female: 22%
+
+ Labor force: 2.5 million to 3 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 80% (1988 est.)
+
+@Cambodia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
+ conventional short form: Cambodia
+ local long form: Reacheanachak Kampuchea
+ local short form: Kampuchea
+
+ Digraph: CB
+
+ Type: multiparty liberal democracy under a constitutional monarchy
+ established in September 1993
+
+ Capital: Phnom Penh
+
+ Administrative divisions: 21 provinces (khet, singular and plural);
+ Banteay Meanchey, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong
+ Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Kracheh, Mondol Kiri,
+ Phnum Penh, Pouthisat, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanokiri,
+ Siemreab-Otdar Meanchey, Sihanoukville, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng,
+ Takev
+ note: Siemreab-Otdar Meanchey may have been divided into two provinces
+ named Siemreab and Otdar Meanchey
+
+ Independence: 9 November 1949 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 9 November 1949
+
+ Constitution: promulgated September 1993
+
+ Legal system: currently being defined
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993)
+ head of government: power shared between First Prime Minister Prince
+ Norodom RANARIDDH and Second Prime Minister HUN SEN
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; elected by the National Assembly
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral; a 120-member constituent assembly
+ based on proportional representation within each province was
+ established following the UN-supervised election in May 1993; the
+ constituent assembly was transformed into a legislature in September
+ 1993 after delegates promulgated the constitution
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court provided for by the constitution has
+ not yet been established and the future judicial system is yet to be
+ defined by law
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National United Front for an
+ Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC),
+ Prince NORODOM RANARIDDH; Cambodian Pracheachon Party or Cambodian
+ People's Party (CPP), CHEA SIM; Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party, SON
+ SANN; Democratic Kampuchea (DK, also known as the Khmer Rouge), KHIEU
+ SAMPHAN; Molinaka, PROM NEAKAREACH
+
+ Member of: ACCT, AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
+ IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user),
+ INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: Ambassador SISOWATH SIRIRATH
+ represents Cambodia at the United Nations
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Charles H. TWINING
+ embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh
+ mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546
+ telephone: [855] (23) 26436, 26438
+ FAX: [855] (23) 26437
+
+ Flag: horizontal band of red separates two equal horizontal bands of
+ blue with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat in the
+ center
+
+@Cambodia:Economy
+
+ Overview: The Cambodian economy - virtually destroyed by decades of
+ war - is slowly recovering. Government leaders are moving toward
+ restoring fiscal and monetary discipline and have established good
+ working relations with international financial institutions. Growth,
+ starting from a low base, has been strong in 1991-94. Despite such
+ positive developments, the reconstruction effort faces many tough
+ challenges because of the persistence of internal political divisions
+ and the related lack of confidence of foreign investors. Rural
+ Cambodia, where 90% of about 9.5 million Khmer live, remains mired in
+ poverty. The almost total lack of basic infrastructure in the
+ countryside will hinder development and will contribute to a growing
+ imbalance in growth between urban and rural areas over the near term.
+ Moreover, the government's lack of experience in administering
+ economic and technical assistance programs and rampant corruption
+ among officials will slow the growth of critical public sector
+ investment. Inflation for 1994 as a whole was less than a quarter of
+ the 1992 rate and was declining during the year.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $6.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $630 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 26%-30% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $190 million
+ expenditures: $365 million, including capital expenditures of $120
+ million (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $283.6 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: timber, rubber, soybeans, sesame
+ partners: Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia
+
+ Imports: $479.3 million (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: cigarettes, construction materials, petroleum products,
+ machinery
+ partners: Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia
+
+ External debt: $383 million to OECD members (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 7.9% (1993 est.); accounts for 8%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 40,000 kW
+ production: 160 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 14 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber,
+ cement, gem mining
+
+ Agriculture: mainly subsistence farming except for rubber plantations;
+ main crops - rice, rubber, corn; food shortages - rice, meat,
+ vegetables, dairy products, sugar, flour
+
+ Illicit drugs: increasingly used as a transshipment country for heroin
+ produced in the Golden Triangle; growing money-laundering center;
+ high-level narcotics-related corruption in government; possible
+ small-scale heroin production; large producer of cannibis
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $725 million;
+ Western (non-US countries) (1970-89), $300 million; Communist
+ countries (1970-89), $1.8 billion; donor countries and multilateral
+ institutions pledged $880 million in assistance in 1992; IMF pledged
+ $120 million in aid for 1995-98
+
+ Currency: 1 new riel (CR) = 100 sen
+
+ Exchange rates: riels (CR) per US$1 - 2,470 (December 1993), 2,800
+ (September 1992), 500 (December 1991), 560 (1990), 159.00 (1988),
+ 100.00 (1987)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Cambodia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 655 km
+ narrow gauge: 655 km 1.000-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 34,100 km (some roads in serious disrepair)
+ paved: bituminous 3,000 km
+ unpaved: crushed stone, gravel, or improved earth 3,100 km; unimproved
+ earth 28,000 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 3,700 km navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6
+ meters; 282 km navigable to craft drawing 1.8 meters
+
+ Ports: Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville), Kampot, Krong Kaoh Kong, Phnom
+ Penh
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 22
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 10
+
+@Cambodia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; service barely adequate for
+ government requirements and virtually nonexistent for general public
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: international service limited to Vietnam and other
+ adjacent countries
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Cambodia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches:
+ Khmer Royal Armed Forces (KRAF): created in 1993 by the merger of the
+ Cambodian People's Armed Forces and the two non-Communist resistance
+ armies; note - the KRAF is also known as the Royal Cambodian Armed
+ Forces (RCAF)
+ Resistance forces: National Army of Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,255,050; males fit for
+ military service 1,256,632; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 70,707 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $85 million, 1.4% of
+ GDP (1995 est.)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+CAMEROON
+
+@Cameroon:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
+ Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 475,440 sq km
+ land area: 469,440 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than California
+
+ Land boundaries: total 4,591 km, Central African Republic 797 km, Chad
+ 1,094 km, Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km,
+ Nigeria 1,690 km
+
+ Coastline: 402 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 50 nm
+
+ International disputes: demarcation of international boundaries in
+ Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is
+ completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and
+ Nigeria; dispute with Nigeria over land and maritime boundaries in the
+ vicinity of the Bakasi Peninsula has been referred to the
+ International Court of Justice
+
+ Climate: varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid
+ and hot in north
+
+ Terrain: diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau
+ in center, mountains in west, plains in north
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
+ potential
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 13%
+ permanent crops: 2%
+ meadows and pastures: 18%
+ forest and woodland: 54%
+ other: 13%
+
+ Irrigated land: 280 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation;
+ overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing
+ natural hazards: recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous
+ gases
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical
+ Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Nuclear Test
+ Ban, Tropical Timber 94
+
+ Note: sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa
+
+@Cameroon:People
+
+ Population: 13.521 million (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 44% (female 2,978,216; male 3,001,487)
+ 15-64 years: 52% (female 3,562,247; male 3,523,100)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 248,314; male 207,636) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.92% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 40.42 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 11.19 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 75.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 57.48 years
+ male: 55.41 years
+ female: 59.6 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 5.8 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Cameroonian(s)
+ adjective: Cameroonian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%,
+ Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%,
+ other African 13%, non-African less than 1%
+
+ Religions: indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 33%, Muslim 16%
+
+ Languages: 24 major African language groups, English (official),
+ French (official)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1987)
+ total population: 55%
+ male: 66%
+ female: 45%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: agriculture 74.4%, industry and transport 11.4%, other
+ services 14.2% (1983)
+
+@Cameroon:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
+ conventional short form: Cameroon
+ former: French Cameroon
+
+ Digraph: CM
+
+ Type: unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition
+ parties legalized 1990)
+
+ Capital: Yaounde
+
+ Administrative divisions: 10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est,
+ Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
+
+ Independence: 1 January 1960 (from UN trusteeship under French
+ administration)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 20 May (1972)
+
+ Constitution: 20 May 1972
+
+ Legal system: based on French civil law system, with common law
+ influence; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982); election
+ last held 11 October 1992; results - President Paul BIYA reelected
+ with about 40% of the vote amid widespread allegations of fraud; SDF
+ candidate John FRU NDI got 36% of the vote; UNDP candidate Bello Bouba
+ MAIGARI got 19% of the vote
+ head of government: Prime Minister Simon ACHIDI ACHU (since 9 April
+ 1992)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 1 March
+ 1992 (next scheduled for March 1997); results - (180 seats) CPDM 88,
+ UNDP 68, UPC 18, MDR 6
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Cameroon People's Democratic Movement
+ (CPDM), Paul BIYA, president, is government-controlled and was
+ formerly the only party, but opposition parties were legalized in 1990
+
+ major opposition parties: National Union for Democracy and Progress
+ (UNDP); Social Democratic Front (SDF); Cameroonian Democratic Union
+ (UDC); Union of Cameroonian Populations (UPC); Movement for the
+ Defense of the Republic (MDR)
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Alliance for Change (FAC),
+ Cameroon Anglophone Movement (CAM)
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19,
+ G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
+ IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM,
+ OAU, OIC, PCA, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
+ WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA
+ chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790 through 8794
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Harriet W. ISOM
+ embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
+ mailing address: B. P. 817, Yaounde
+ telephone: [237] 23-40-14
+ FAX: [237] 23-07-53
+ consulate(s): none (Douala closed September 1993)
+
+ Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and
+ yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses
+ the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
+
+@Cameroon:Economy
+
+ Overview: Because of its offshore oil resources and favorable
+ agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed, most
+ diversified primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still,
+ it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped
+ countries, such as political instability, a top-heavy civil service,
+ and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. The
+ development of the oil sector led rapid economic growth between 1970
+ and 1985. Growth came to an abrupt halt in 1986, precipitated by steep
+ declines in the prices of major exports: coffee, cocoa, and petroleum.
+ Export earnings were cut by almost one-third, and inefficiencies in
+ fiscal management were exposed. In 1990-93, with support from the IMF
+ and World Bank, the government began to introduce reforms designed to
+ spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, and
+ recapitalize the nation's banks. Political instability, following
+ suspect elections in 1992, brought IMF/WB structural adjustment to a
+ halt. Although the 50% devaluation of the currency in January 1994
+ improved the potential for export growth, mismanagement remains and is
+ the main barrier to economic improvement.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $15.7 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -2.9% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,200 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.8% (FY91/92)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 25% (1990 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.6 billion
+ expenditures: $2.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $226
+ million (FY92/93 est.)
+
+ Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum,
+ coffee, cotton
+ partners: EC (particularly France) about 40%, African countries, US
+
+ Imports: $1.96 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: machines and electrical equipment, food, consumer goods,
+ transport equipment
+ partners: EC about 60% (France 38%, Germany 9%), African countries,
+ Japan, US 5%
+
+ External debt: $6 billion (1991)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -2.1% (FY90/91); accounts for about
+ 20% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 630,000 kW
+ production: 2.7 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 196 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: petroleum production and refining, food processing, light
+ consumer goods, textiles, lumber
+
+ Agriculture: the agriculture and forestry sectors provide employment
+ for the majority of the population, contributing about 25% to GDP and
+ providing a high degree of self-sufficiency in staple foods;
+ commercial and food crops include coffee, cocoa, timber, cotton,
+ rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, livestock, root starches
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $479 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-90), $4.75 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $29 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $125 million
+
+ Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1
+ - 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
+ 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)
+ note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
+ 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
+ 1948
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Cameroon:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,111 km
+ narrow gauge: 1,111 km 1.000-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 65,000 km
+ paved: 2,682 km
+ unpaved: gravel, improved earth 32,318 km; unimproved earth 30,000 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 2,090 km; of decreasing importance
+
+ Ports: Bonaberi, Douala, Garoua, Kribi, Tiko
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,122 GRT/33,509
+ DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 60
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 20
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 9
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 21
+
+@Cameroon:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 26,000 telephones; telephone density - 2
+ telephones/1,000 persons; available only to business and government
+ local: NA
+ intercity: cable, microwave radio relay, and troposcatter
+ international: 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 11, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Cameroon:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air Force, National
+ Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 3,038,007; males fit for
+ military service 1,532,303; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 147,293 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $102 million, NA% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+CANADA
+
+@Canada:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean
+ and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US
+
+ Map references: North America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 9,976,140 sq km
+ land area: 9,220,970 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than US
+
+ Land boundaries: total 8,893 km, US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with
+ Alaska)
+
+ Coastline: 243,791 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: maritime boundary disputes with the US; Saint
+ Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime boundary dispute between
+ Canada and France
+
+ Climate: varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in
+ north
+
+ Terrain: mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in
+ southeast
+
+ Natural resources: nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum,
+ potash, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 5%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 3%
+ forest and woodland: 35%
+ other: 57%
+
+ Irrigated land: 8,400 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain severely
+ affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning
+ utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest
+ productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural,
+ industrial, mining, and forestry activities
+ natural hazards: continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle
+ to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a
+ result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and
+ American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty,
+ Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
+ Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
+ Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands;
+ signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
+ Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
+ Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic
+ location between Russia and US via north polar route; nearly 90% of
+ the population is concentrated in the region near the US/Canada border
+
+@Canada:People
+
+ Population: 28,434,545 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 21% (female 2,874,705; male 3,016,050)
+ 15-64 years: 67% (female 9,529,272; male 9,531,107)
+ 65 years and over: 12% (female 2,022,324; male 1,461,087) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.09% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 13.74 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.43 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 4.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 78.29 years
+ male: 74.93 years
+ female: 81.81 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.83 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Canadian(s)
+ adjective: Canadian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: British Isles origin 40%, French origin 27%, other
+ European 20%, indigenous Indian and Eskimo 1.5%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 46%, United Church 16%, Anglican 10%, other
+ 28%
+
+ Languages: English (official), French (official)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1986)
+ total population: 97%
+
+ Labor force: 13.38 million
+ by occupation: services 75%, manufacturing 14%, agriculture 4%,
+ construction 3%, other 4% (1988)
+
+@Canada:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Canada
+
+ Digraph: CA
+
+ Type: confederation with parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Ottawa
+
+ Administrative divisions: 10 provinces and 2 territories*; Alberta,
+ British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest
+ Territories*, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec,
+ Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*
+
+ Independence: 1 July 1867 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
+
+ Constitution: amended British North America Act 1867 patriated to
+ Canada 17 April 1982; charter of rights and unwritten customs
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law, except in Quebec, where
+ civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor General Romeo LeBLANC (since 8 February 1995)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November
+ 1993) was elected on 25 October 1993, replacing Kim CAMBELL; Deputy
+ Prime Minister Sheila COPPS
+ cabinet: Federal Ministry; chosen by the prime minister from members
+ of his own party sitting in Parliament
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlement)
+ Senate (Senat): consisting of a body whose members are appointed to
+ serve until 75 years of age by the governor general and selected on
+ the advice of the prime minister; its normal limit 104 senators
+ House of Commons (Chambre des Communes): elections last held 25
+ October 1993 (next to be held by NA October 1998); results - percent
+ of votes by party NA; seats - (295 total) Liberal Party 178, Bloc
+ Quebecois 54, Reform Party 52, New Democratic Party 8, Progressive
+ Conservative Party 2, independents 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party, Jean CHRETIEN; Bloc
+ Quebecois, Lucien BOUCHARD; Reform Party, Preston MANNING; New
+ Democratic Party, Audrey McLAUGHLIN; Progressive Conservative Party,
+ Jean CHAREST
+
+ Member of: ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), APEC, AsDB, Australia Group,
+ BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating
+ state), FAO, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
+ ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM
+ (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, ONUSAL, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMIR,
+ UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNOMOZ,
+ UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond A.J. CHRETIEN
+ chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
+ telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740
+ FAX: [1] (202) 682-7726
+ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas,
+ Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattle
+ consulate(s): Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh,
+ Princeton, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and San Juan (Puerto
+ Rico)
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador James Johnston BLANCHARD
+ embassy: 100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430
+ telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470
+ FAX: [1] (613) 238-5720
+ consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and
+ Vancouver
+
+ Flag: three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double width,
+ square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in the white band
+
+@Canada:Economy
+
+ Overview: As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today
+ closely resembles the US in per capita output, market-oriented
+ economic system, and pattern of production. Since World War II the
+ impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors
+ has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one
+ primarily industrial and urban. In the 1980s, Canada registered one of
+ the highest rates of real growth among the OECD nations, averaging
+ about 3.2%. With its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and
+ modern capital plant, Canada has excellent economic prospects,
+ although the country still faces high unemployment and a growing debt.
+ Moreover, the continuing constitutional impasse between English- and
+ French-speaking areas has observers discussing a possible split in the
+ confederation; foreign investors have become edgy.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $639.8 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4.5% (1994)
+
+ National product per capita: $22,760 (1994)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.2% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 9.6% (December 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $85 billion (Federal)
+ expenditures: $115.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (FY93/94 est.)
+
+ Exports: $164.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, machinery,
+ natural gas, aluminum, motor vehicles and parts; telecommunications
+ equipment
+ partners: US, Japan, UK, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China
+
+ Imports: $151.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: crude oil, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable
+ consumer goods, electronic computers; telecommunications equipment and
+ parts
+ partners: US, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea
+
+ External debt: $243 billion (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 4.8% (1993)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 108,090,000 kW
+ production: 511 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 16,133 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood
+ and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish
+ products, petroleum and natural gas
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 3% of GDP; one of the world's major
+ producers and exporters of grain (wheat and barley); key source of US
+ agricultural imports; large forest resources cover 35% of total land
+ area; commercial fisheries provide annual catch of 1.5 million metric
+ tons, of which 75% is exported
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug
+ market; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large
+ quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; growing role as a
+ transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US market
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $7.2 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Canadian dollar (Can$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1 - 1.4129 (January
+ 1995), 1.3656 (1994), 1.2901 (1993), 1.2087 (1992), 1.1457 (1991),
+ 1.1668 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Canada:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 78,148 km; note - there are two major transcontinental freight
+ railway systems: Canadian National (government owned) and Canadian
+ Pacific Railway; passenger service provided by VIA (government
+ operated)
+ standard gauge: 78,148 km 1.435-m gauge (185 km electrified) (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 849,404 km
+ paved: 253,692 km (15,983 km of expressways)
+ unpaved: gravel 595,712 km (1991)
+
+ Inland waterways: 3,000 km, including Saint Lawrence Seaway
+
+ Pipelines: crude and refined oil 23,564 km; natural gas 74,980 km
+
+ Ports: Becancour, Churchill, Halifax, Montreal, New Westminister,
+ Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick), Saint John's
+ (Newfoundland), Seven Islands, Sydney, Three Rivers, Toronto,
+ Vancouver, Windsor
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 71 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 617,010 GRT/878,819 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 17, cargo 10, chemical tanker 5, oil tanker 23,
+ passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off
+ cargo 7, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 2
+ note: does not include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1,386
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 17
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 147
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 234
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 550
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 69
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 353
+
+@Canada:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 18,000,000 telephones; excellent service provided by
+ modern media
+ local: NA
+ intercity: about 300 earth stations for domestic satellite
+ communications
+ international: 5 coaxial submarine cables; 5 INTELSAT earth stations
+ (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 900, FM 29, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 53 (repeaters 1,400)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Canada:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Canadian Armed Forces (includes Land Forces Command or LC,
+ Maritime Command or MC, Air Command or AC, Communications Command or
+ CC, Training Command or TC), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 7,570,877; males fit for
+ military service 6,522,092; males reach military age (17) annually
+ 151,590 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $9.0 billion, 1.6% of
+ GDP (FY95/96)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+CAPE VERDE
+
+@Cape Verde:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, group of Islands in the North Atlantic
+ Ocean, west of Senegal
+
+ Map references: World
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 4,030 sq km
+ land area: 4,030 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 965 km
+
+ Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: temperate; warm, dry, summer; precipitation very erratic
+
+ Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
+
+ Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, pozzolana, limestone, kaolin,
+ fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 9%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 6%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 85%
+
+ Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: overgrazing of livestock and improper land use such as
+ the cultivation of crops on steep slopes has led to soil erosion;
+ demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation;
+ desertification; environmental damage has threatened several
+ indigenous species of birds and reptiles; overfishing
+ natural hazards: prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure
+ visibility; volcanically and seismically active
+ international agreements: party to - Environmental Modification, Law
+ of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified
+ - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification
+
+ Note: strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major
+ north-south sea routes; important communications station; important
+ sea and air refueling site
+
+@Cape Verde:People
+
+ Population: 435,983 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 50% (female 106,539; male 110,301)
+ 15-64 years: 47% (female 114,931; male 88,029)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 9,781; male 6,402) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.98% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 45.32 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.65 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -6.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 55.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 63.01 years
+ male: 61.1 years
+ female: 65.01 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.23 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Cape Verdean(s)
+ adjective: Cape Verdean
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholicism fused with indigenous beliefs
+
+ Languages: Portuguese, Crioulo, a blend of Portuguese and West African
+ words
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 63%
+ male: 75%
+ female: 53%
+
+ Labor force: 102,000 (1985 est.)
+ by occupation: agriculture (mostly subsistence) 57%, services 29%,
+ industry 14% (1981)
+
+@Cape Verde:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde
+ conventional short form: Cape Verde
+ local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
+ local short form: Cabo Verde
+
+ Digraph: CV
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Praia
+
+ Administrative divisions: 14 districts (concelhos, singular -
+ concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo, Maio, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo,
+ Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Nicolau, Sao
+ Vicente, Tarrafal
+
+ Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
+
+ Constitution: new constitution came into force 25 September 1992
+
+ Legal system: NA
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22 March
+ 1991; election last held 17 February 1991 (next to be held February
+ 1996); results - Antonio Monteiro MASCARENHAS (independent) received
+ 72.6% of vote
+ head of government: Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho
+ VEIGA (since 13 January 1991)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by prime minister from
+ members of the Assembly
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ People's National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular): elections
+ last held 13 January 1991 (next to be held January 1996); results -
+ percent of vote by party NA; seats - (79 total) MPD 56, PAICV 23; note
+ - the 1991 multiparty Assembly election ended 15 years of single-party
+ rule
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de
+ Justia)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Movement for Democracy (MPD), Prime
+ Minister Carlos VEIGA, founder and chairman; African Party for
+ Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), Pedro Verona Rodrigues PIRES,
+ chairman
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
+ ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
+ IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN (Cape Verde assumed a nonpermanent
+ seat on the Security Council on 1 January 1992), UNCTAD, UNESCO,
+ UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jose Eduardo BARBOSA
+ (since 12 February 1994)
+ chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
+ telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
+ FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
+ consulate(s) general: Boston
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph M. SEGARS
+ embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia
+ mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
+ telephone: [238] 61 56 16
+ FAX: [238] 61 13 55
+
+ Flag: three horozontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white
+ (with a horozontal red stripe in the middle third), and light blue; a
+ circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the hoist end of
+ the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower blue bands
+
+@Cape Verde:Economy
+
+ Overview: Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural
+ resource base, serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of
+ long-term drought, and a high birthrate. The economy is service
+ oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services accounting for
+ 60% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural
+ areas, agriculture's share of GDP is only 20%; the fishing sector
+ accounts for 4%. About 90% of food must be imported. The fishing
+ potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde
+ annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by remittances from
+ emigrants and foreign aid, which form important supplements to GDP.
+ Economic reforms, launched by the new democratic government in 1991,
+ are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign
+ investment to diversify the economy. Prospects for 1995 depend heavily
+ on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the momentum of the
+ government's development program.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $410 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3.5% (1992 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1992)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 26% (1990 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $174 million
+ expenditures: $235 million, including capital expenditures of $165
+ million (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $4.4 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
+ commodities: fish, bananas, hides and skins
+ partners: Netherlands, Portugal, Angola
+
+ Imports: $173 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products,
+ transport equipment
+ partners: Portugal, Netherlands, Germany, Spain
+
+ External debt: $156 million (1991)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 3.6% (1990 est.); accounts for 8%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 15,000 kW
+ production: 40 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 73 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: fish processing, salt mining, garment industry, ship
+ repair, construction materials, food and beverage production
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 20% of GDP (including fishing); largely
+ subsistence farming; bananas are the only export crop; other crops -
+ corn, beans, sweet potatoes, coffee; growth potential of agricultural
+ sector limited by poor soils and scanty rainfall; annual food imports
+ required; fish catch provides for both domestic consumption and small
+ exports
+
+ Illicit drugs: increasingly used as a transshipment point for illicit
+ drugs moving from Latin America and Africa destined for Western Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY75-90), $93 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-90), $586 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $12 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $36 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos
+
+ Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 85.537 (1st
+ Quarter 1994), 80.427 (1993), 68.018 (1992), 71.408 (1991), 70.031
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Cape Verde:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1,100 km (1992)
+ paved: 680 km
+ unpaved: 420 km
+
+ Ports: Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 7 (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,609 GRT/19,052 DWT cargo 6,
+ chemical tanker 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 6
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
+
+@Cape Verde:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: over 1,700 telephones; telephine density - about 4
+ telephones/1,000 persons
+ local: NA
+ intercity: interisland microwave radio relay system, high frequency
+ radio links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau
+ international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
+ earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Cape Verde:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP; includes Army and
+ Navy), Security Service
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 80,867; males fit for military
+ service 47,225 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.4 million, NA% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+CAYMAN ISLANDS
+
+ (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+@Cayman Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of
+ the way from Cuba to Honduras
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 260 sq km
+ land area: 260 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 160 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and
+ cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
+
+ Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
+
+ Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 8%
+ forest and woodland: 23%
+ other: 69%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: no natural fresh water resources, drinking water
+ supplies must be met by rainwater catchment
+ natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November)
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: important location between Cuba and Central America
+
+@Cayman Islands:People
+
+ Population: 33,192 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 4.3% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 14.79 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 77.1 years
+ male: 75.37 years
+ female: 78.81 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.43 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Caymanian(s)
+ adjective: Caymanian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of
+ various ethnic groups 20%
+
+ Religions: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican,
+ Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations
+
+ Languages: English
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970)
+ total population: 98%
+ male: 98%
+ female: 98%
+
+ Labor force: 8,061
+ by occupation: service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction
+ 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business managers
+ 5.9% (1979)
+
+@Cayman Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Cayman Islands
+
+ Digraph: CJ
+
+ Type: dependent territory of the UK
+
+ Capital: George Town
+
+ Administrative divisions: 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South
+ Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
+
+ Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July)
+
+ Constitution: 1959, revised 1972 and 1992
+
+ Legal system: British common law and local statutes
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
+ head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council
+ Michael GORE (since 15 September 1992)
+ cabinet: Executive Council; 3 members are appointed by the governor, 4
+ members elected by the Legislative Assembly
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Legislative Assembly: election last held November 1992 (next to be
+ held November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
+ (15 total, 12 elected)
+
+ Judicial branch: Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
+
+ Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties
+
+ Member of: CARICOM (observer), CDB, INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Flag: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
+ and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer
+ half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle
+ above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a
+ scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE
+ SEAS
+
+@Cayman Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy depends heavily on tourism (70% of GDP and 75%
+ of foreign currency earnings) and offshore financial services, with
+ the tourist industry aimed at the luxury market and catering mainly to
+ visitors from North America. About 90% of the islands' food and
+ consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the
+ highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living
+ in the world.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $700 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 1.4% (1991)
+
+ National product per capita: $23,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 7% (1992)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $141.5 million
+ expenditures: $160.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1991)
+
+ Exports: $10 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
+ partners: mostly US
+
+ Imports: $312 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods
+ partners: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
+
+ External debt: $15 million (1986)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 80,000 kW
+ production: 230 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 6,899 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction,
+ building materials, furniture making
+
+ Agriculture: minor production of vegetables, fruit, livestock; turtle
+ farming
+
+ Illicit drugs: a major money-laundering center for illicit drug
+ profits; transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $26.7 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $35 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.83 (18 November
+ 1993), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Cayman Islands:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 160 km (main roads)
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: Cayman Brac, George Town
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 321,434 GRT/583,348 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil
+ tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7
+ note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 6 ships, India 5, Norway
+ 3, US 3, Greece 1, Sweden 1, UAE 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 3
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Cayman Islands:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 35,000 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean)
+ earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Cayman Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
+
+@Central African Republic:Geography
+
+ Location: Central Africa, north of Zaire
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 622,980 sq km
+ land area: 622,980 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 5,203 km, Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Congo
+ 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km, Zaire 1,577 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
+
+ Terrain: vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in
+ northeast and southwest
+
+ Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 3%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 5%
+ forest and woodland: 64%
+ other: 28%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished
+ reputation as one of last great wildlife refuges; desertification
+ natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern
+ areas; floods are common
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear Test
+ Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
+
+@Central African Republic:People
+
+ Population: 3,209,759 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 43% (female 690,290; male 694,153)
+ 15-64 years: 53% (female 886,421; male 825,268)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 64,846; male 48,781) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.1% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 41.84 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 20.89 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 135.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 42.15 years
+ male: 40.68 years
+ female: 43.67 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 5.37 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Central African(s)
+ adjective: Central African
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum
+ 4%, M'Baka 4%, Europeans 6,500 (including 3,600 French)
+
+ Religions: indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%,
+ Muslim 15%, other 11%
+ note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian
+ majority
+
+ Languages: French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national
+ language), Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 38%
+ male: 52%
+ female: 25%
+
+ Labor force: 775,413 (1986 est.)
+ by occupation: agriculture 85%, commerce and services 9%, industry 3%,
+ government 3%
+ note: about 64,000 salaried workers (1985)
+
+@Central African Republic:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Central African Republic
+ conventional short form: none
+ local long form: Republique Centrafricaine
+ local short form: none
+ former: Central African Empire
+
+ Abbreviation: CAR
+
+ Digraph: CT
+
+ Type: republic;
+
+ Capital: Bangui
+
+ Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular -
+ prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques,
+ singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran,
+ Bangui** Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha,
+ Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere,
+ Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga
+
+ Independence: 13 August 1960 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 1 December (1958) (proclamation of the
+ republic)
+
+ Constitution: 21 November 1986
+
+ Legal system: based on French law
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Ange PATASSE (since 22 October 1993);
+ election last held 19 September 1993 (next scheduled for 1998);
+ PATASSE received 52.45% of the votes and Abel GOUMBA received 45.62%
+ head of government: Prime Minister (vacant) (Dr. Jean-Luc MANDABA
+ resigned on 11 April 1995)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 19
+ September 1993; results - percentage vote by party NA; seats - (85
+ total) MLPC 33, RDC 14, PLD 7, ADP 6, PSD 3, others 22
+ note: the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional
+ Council (Conseil Economique et Regional); when they sit together they
+ are called the Congress (Congres)
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Movement for the Liberation of the
+ Central African People (MLPC), the party of the new president, Ange
+ Felix PATASSE; Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD), David
+ DACKO; Marginal Movement for Democracy, Renaissance and Evolution
+ (MDREC), Joseph BENDOUNGA; Central African Democratic Assembly (RDC),
+ Andre KOLINGBA; Patriotic Front for Progress (FFP), Abel GOUMBA; Civic
+ Forum (FC), Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77,
+ GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT,
+ INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
+ WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Henri KOBA (appointed 19 September 1994)
+ chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800, 7801
+ FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Robert E. GRIBBIN III
+ embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
+ mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui
+ telephone: [236] 61 02 00, 61 25 78, 61 02 10
+ FAX: [236] 61 44 94
+
+ Flag: four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and
+ yellow with a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow
+ five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band
+
+@Central African Republic:Economy
+
+ Overview: Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the
+ backbone of the CAR economy, with more than 70% of the population
+ living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates about half
+ of GDP. Timber has accounted for about 26% of export earnings and the
+ diamond industry for 54%. Important constraints to economic
+ development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor
+ transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy of
+ misdirected macroeconomic policies. A major plus is the large forest
+ reserves, which the government is moving to protect from
+ overexploitation. The 50% devaluation of the currencies of 14
+ Francophone African nations on 12 January 1994 had mixed effects on
+ CAR's economy. While diamond, timber, coffee, and cotton exports
+ increased - leading GDP to increase by 5.5% - inflation rose to 40%,
+ fueled by the rising prices of imports on which the economy depends.
+ CAR's poor resource base and primitive infrastructure will keep it
+ dependent on multilateral donors and France for the foreseeable
+ future.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.2 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $700 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 40% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 30% (1988 est.) in Bangui
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $175 million
+ expenditures: $312 million, including capital expenditures of $122
+ million (1991 est.)
+
+ Exports: $123.5 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
+ partners: France, Belgium, Italy, Japan, US
+
+ Imports: $165.1 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical
+ equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods,
+ industrial products
+ partners: France, other EC countries, Japan, Algeria
+
+ External debt: $859 million (1991)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 4% (1990 est.); accounts for 14% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 40,000 kW
+ production: 100 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 29 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles, footwear,
+ assembly of bicycles and motorcycles
+
+ Agriculture: self-sufficient in food production except for grain;
+ commercial crops - cotton, coffee, tobacco, timber; food crops -
+ manioc, yams, millet, corn, bananas
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $52 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-90), $1.6 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $6 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $38 million
+
+ Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1
+ - 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
+ 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)
+ note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
+ 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
+ 1948
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Central African Republic:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 22,000 km
+ paved: bituminous 458 km
+ unpaved: improved earth 10,542 km; unimproved earth 11,000 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of
+ shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river
+
+ Ports: Bangui, Nola
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 61
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 19
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 9
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 29
+
+@Central African Republic:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; system is only fair
+ local: NA
+ intercity: network consists principally of micowave radio relay and
+ low capacity, low powered radio communication
+ international: 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Central African Republic:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Central African Army (includes Republican Guard), Air Force,
+ National Gendarmerie, Police Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 718,487; males fit for military
+ service 375,950 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $30 million, 2.3% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+CHAD
+
+@Chad:Geography
+
+ Location: Central Africa, south of Libya
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1.284 million sq km
+ land area: 1,259,200 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of
+ California
+
+ Land boundaries: total 5,968 km, Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African
+ Republic 1,197 km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km,
+ Sudan 1,360 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled
+ in February 1994 that the 100,000 sq km Aozou Strip between Chad and
+ Libya belongs to Chad; Libya has withdrawn some of its forces in
+ response to the ICJ ruling, but still maintains an airfield in the
+ disputed area; demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad,
+ the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is
+ completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and
+ Nigeria
+
+ Climate: tropical in south, desert in north
+
+ Terrain: broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in
+ northwest, lowlands in south
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum (unexploited but exploration under way),
+ uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 2%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 36%
+ forest and woodland: 11%
+ other: 51%
+
+ Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste
+ disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution;
+ desertification
+ natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north;
+ periodic droughts; locust plagues
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
+ Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
+
+ Note: landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the
+ Sahel
+
+@Chad:People
+
+ Population: 5,586,505 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 44% (female 1,198,619; male 1,267,470)
+ 15-64 years: 54% (female 1,563,678; male 1,456,481)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 71,971; male 28,286) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.18% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 42.05 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 20.26 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 129.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 41.19 years
+ male: 40.04 years
+ female: 42.38 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 5.33 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Chadian(s)
+ adjective: Chadian
+
+ Ethnic divisions:
+ north and center: Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko,
+ Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba)
+ south: non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei,
+ Massa) nonindigenous 150,000, of whom 1,000 are French
+
+ Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs, animism 25%
+
+ Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south),
+ Sango (in south), more than 100 different languages and dialects are
+ spoken
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over has the ability to read and write in French
+ and Arabic (1990 est.)
+ total population: 30%
+ male: 42%
+ female: 18%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: agriculture 85% (engaged in unpaid subsistence farming,
+ herding, and fishing)
+
+@Chad:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Chad
+ conventional short form: Chad
+ local long form: Republique du Tchad
+ local short form: Tchad
+
+ Digraph: CD
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: N'Djamena
+
+ Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular -
+ prefecture); Batha, Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi,
+ Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi,
+ Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile
+
+ Independence: 11 August 1960 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day 11 August (1960)
+
+ Constitution: 22 December 1989 (suspended 3 December 1990);
+ Provisional National Charter 1 March 1991 is in effect (note - the
+ constitutional commission, which was drafting a new constitution to
+ submit to transitional parliament for ratification in April 1994,
+ failed to do so but expects to submit a new draft to the parliament
+ before the end of April 1995)
+
+ Legal system: based on French civil law system and Chadian customary
+ law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: universal at age NA
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY, since 4 December 1990
+ (after seizing power on 3 December 1990 - transitional government's
+ mandate expires April 1996)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Djimasta KOIBLA (since 9 April
+ 1995)
+ cabinet: Council of State; appointed by the president on
+ recommendation of the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Consultative Council (Conceil National Consultatif):
+ elections, formerly scheduled for April 1995, were postponed by mutual
+ agreement of the parties concerned until some time prior to April
+ 1996; elections last held 8 July 1990; the National Consultative
+ Council was disbanded 3 December 1990 and replaced by the Provisional
+ Council of the Republic having 30 members appointed by President DEBY
+ on 8 March 1991; this, in turn, was replaced by a 57-member Higher
+ Transitional Council (Conseil Superieur de Transition) elected by a
+ specially convened Sovereign National Conference on 6 April 1993
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS),
+ former dissident group, Idriss DEBY, chairman
+ note: President DEBY, who promised political pluralism, a new
+ constitution, and free elections by April 1994, subsequently twice
+ postponed these initiatives, first until April 1995 and again until
+ sometime before April 1996; there are numerous dissident groups and at
+ least 45 opposition political parties
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: NA
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT,
+ IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT,
+ INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
+ UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Saleh AHMAT
+ chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
+ telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009
+ FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Laurence E. POPE II
+ embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
+ mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
+ telephone: [235] (51) 62 18, (51) 40 09, (51) 47 59
+ FAX: [235] (51) 33 72
+
+ Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and
+ red; similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flag of
+ Andorra, which has a national coat of arms featuring a quartered
+ shield centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of
+ France
+
+@Chad:Economy
+
+ Overview: Climate, geographic remoteness, poor resource endowment, and
+ lack of infrastructure make Chad one of the most underdeveloped
+ countries in the world. Its economy is hobbled by political turmoil,
+ conflict with Libya, drought, and food shortages. Consequently the
+ economy has shown little progress in recent years in overcoming a
+ severe setback brought on by civil war in the late 1980s. More than
+ 80% of the work force is involved in subsistence farming and fishing.
+ Cotton is the major cash crop, accounting for at least half of
+ exports. Chad is highly dependent on foreign aid, especially food
+ credits, given chronic shortages in several regions. Of all the
+ Francophone countries in Africa, Chad has benefited the least from the
+ 50% devaluation of their currencies on 12 January 1994. Despite an
+ increase in external financial aid and favorable price increases for
+ cotton - the primary source of foreign exchange - the corrupt and
+ enfeebled government bureaucracy continues to dampen economic
+ enterprise by neglecting payments to domestic suppliers and public
+ sector salaries. Oil production in the Lake Chad area remains a
+ distant prospect and the subsistence-driven economy probably will
+ continue to limp along in the near term.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.8 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3.5% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $530 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): -4.1% (1992)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $120 million
+ expenditures: $363 million, including capital expenditures of $104
+ million (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $190 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: cotton 48%, cattle 35%, textiles 5%, fish
+ partners: France, Nigeria, Cameroon
+
+ Imports: $261 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 39%, industrial
+ goods 20%, petroleum products 13%, foodstuffs 9%; note - excludes
+ military equipment
+ partners: US, France, Nigeria, Cameroon
+
+ External debt: $492 million (December 1990 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 2.7% (1992 est.); accounts for
+ nearly 15% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 40,000 kW
+ production: 80 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 13 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: cotton textile mills, slaughterhouses, brewery, natron
+ (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 45% of GDP; largely subsistence
+ farming; cotton most important cash crop; food crops include sorghum,
+ millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc; livestock - cattle, sheep,
+ goats, camels; self-sufficient in food in years of adequate rainfall
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $198 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $1.5 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $28 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $80 million
+
+ Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine Francs (CFAF) per US$1
+ - 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
+ 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)
+ note: beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100
+ per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Chad:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 31,322 km
+ paved: bituminous 263 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 7,069 km; earth 23,990 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 2,000 km navigable
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 66
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 23
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 17
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 21
+
+@Chad:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; primitive system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: fair system of radio communication stations for intercity
+ links
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA; note - limited TV service; many facilties are
+ inoperative
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Chad:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Armed Forces (includes Ground Force, Air Force, and
+ Gendarmerie), Republican Guard, Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,307,210; males fit for
+ military service 679,640; males reach military age (20) annually
+ 54,945 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $74 million, 11.1% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+CHILE
+
+@Chile:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean
+ and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
+
+ Map references: South America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 756,950 sq km
+ land area: 748,800 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
+ note: includes Isla de Pascua (Easter Island) and Isla Sala y Gomez
+
+ Land boundaries: total 6,171 km, Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km,
+ Peru 160 km
+
+ Coastline: 6,435 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: short section of the southern boundary with
+ Argentina is indefinite; Bolivia has wanted a sovereign corridor to
+ the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in
+ 1884; dispute with Bolivia over Rio Lauca water rights; territorial
+ claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps
+ Argentine and British claims
+
+ Climate: temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south
+
+ Terrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes
+ in east
+
+ Natural resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious
+ metals, molybdenum
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 7%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 16%
+ forest and woodland: 21%
+ other: 56%
+
+ Irrigated land: 12,650 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions;
+ water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation contributing to loss of
+ biodiversity; soil erosion; desertification
+ natural hazards: severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
+ international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
+ Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
+ Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
+ Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling;
+ signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and
+ Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage);
+ Atacama Desert one of world's driest regions
+
+@Chile:People
+
+ Population: 14,161,216 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 29% (female 2,014,877; male 2,099,450)
+ 15-64 years: 64% (female 4,574,947; male 4,529,251)
+ 65 years and over: 7% (female 549,385; male 393,306) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.49% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 20.29 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.42 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 14.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 74.88 years
+ male: 71.89 years
+ female: 78.01 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.49 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Chilean(s)
+ adjective: Chilean
+
+ Ethnic divisions: European and European-Indian 95%, Indian 3%, other
+ 2%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish
+
+ Languages: Spanish
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1992)
+ total population: 94%
+ male: 95%
+ female: 94%
+
+ Labor force: 4.728 million
+ by occupation: services 38.3% (includes government 12%), industry and
+ commerce 33.8%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 19.2%, mining 2.3%,
+ construction 6.4% (1990)
+
+@Chile:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Chile
+ conventional short form: Chile
+ local long form: Republica de Chile
+ local short form: Chile
+
+ Digraph: CI
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Santiago
+
+ Administrative divisions: 13 regions (regiones, singular - region);
+ Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania,
+ Atacama, Bio-Bio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los
+ Lagos, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region
+ Metropolitana, Tarapaca, Valparaiso
+ note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
+
+ Independence: 18 September 1810 (from Spain)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
+
+ Constitution: 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 30
+ July 1989
+
+ Legal system: based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and
+ subsequent codes influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial
+ review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted
+ compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Eduardo FREI
+ Ruiz-Tagle (since 11 March 1994) election last held 11 December 1993
+ (next to be held December 1999); results - Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle
+ (PDC) 58%, Arturo ALESSANDRI 24.4%, other 17.6%
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
+ Senate (Senado): election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held
+ December 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (46
+ total, 38 elected) Concertation of Parties for Democracy 21 (PDC 13,
+ PS 4, PPD 3, PR 1), Union for the Progress of Chile 15 (RN 11, UDI 3,
+ UCC 1), right-wing independents 10
+ Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): election last held 11
+ December 1993 (next to be held December 1997); results - Concertation
+ of Parties for Democracy 53.95% (PDC 27.16%, PS 12.01%, PPD 11.82%, PR
+ 2.96%,); Union for the Progress of Chile 30.57% (RN 15.25%, UDI
+ 12.13%, UCC 3.19%); seats - (120 total) Concertation of Parties for
+ Democracy 70 (PDC 37, PPD 15, PR 2, PS 15, left-wing independent 1),
+ Union for the Progress of Chile 47 (RN 30, UDI 15, UCC 2), right-wing
+ independents 3
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Concertation of Parties for Democracy
+ consists mainly of three parties: Christian Democratic Party (PDC),
+ Alejandro FOXLEY; Socialist Party (PS), Camilo ESCALONA; Party for
+ Democracy (PPD), Jorge SCHAULSOHN; Radical Party (PR); Union for the
+ Progress of Chile consists mainly of three parties: National Renewal
+ (RN), Andres ALLAMAND; Independent Democratic Union (UDI), Jovino
+ NOVOA; Center Center Union (UCC), Francisco Javier ERRAZURIZ
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: revitalized university student
+ federations at all major universities; labor - United Labor Central
+ (CUT) includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor
+ confederations; Roman Catholic Church
+
+ Member of: APEC, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, ONUSAL,
+ OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU,
+ WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Gabriel GUERRA-MONDRAGON
+ chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
+ telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746
+ FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579
+ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,
+ Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Gabriel GUERRA-MONDRAGON
+ embassy: Codina Building, 1343 Agustinas, Santiago
+ mailing address: Unit 4127, Santiago; APO AA 34033
+ telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600
+ FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is a
+ blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of
+ the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the
+ center; design was based on the US flag
+
+@Chile:Economy
+
+ Overview: Chile has a prosperous, essentially free market economy,
+ with the degree of government intervention varying according to the
+ philosophy of the different regimes. Under the center-left government
+ of President AYLWIN, which took power in March 1990, spending on
+ social welfare rose steadily. At the same time business investment,
+ exports, and consumer spending also grew substantially. The new
+ president, FREI, who took office in March 1994, has emphasized social
+ spending even more. Growth in 1991-94 has averaged 6.5% annually, with
+ an estimated one million Chileans having moved out of poverty in the
+ last four years. Copper remains vital to the health of the economy;
+ Chile is the world's largest producer and exporter of copper. Success
+ in meeting the government's goal of sustained annual growth of 5%
+ depends on world copper prices, the level of confidence of foreign
+ investors and creditors, and the government's own ability to maintain
+ a conservative fiscal stance.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $97.7 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4.3% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $7,010 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.7% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 6% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $10.9 billion
+ expenditures: $10.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.2
+ billion (1993)
+
+ Exports: $11.5 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: copper 41%, other metals and minerals 8.7%, wood products
+ 7.1%, fish and fishmeal 9.8%, fruits 8.4% (1991)
+ partners: EC 29%, Japan 17%, US 16%, Argentina 5%, Brazil 5% (1992)
+
+ Imports: $10.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: capital goods 25.2%, spare parts 24.8%, raw materials
+ 15.4%, petroleum 10%, foodstuffs 5.7%
+ partners: EC 24%, US 21%, Brazil 10%, Japan 10% (1992)
+
+ External debt: $20 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 4.3% (1993 est.); accounts for 34%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 4,810,000 kW
+ production: 22 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,499 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron
+ and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement,
+ textiles
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 7% of GDP (including fishing and
+ forestry); major exporter of fruit, fish, and timber products; major
+ crops - wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, deciduous
+ fruit; livestock products - beef, poultry, wool; self-sufficient in
+ most foods; 1991 fish catch of 6.6 million metric tons; net
+ agricultural importer
+
+ Illicit drugs: a minor transshipment country for cocaine destined for
+ the US and Europe; booming economy has made it more attractive to
+ traffickers seeking to launder drug profits
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $521 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $1.6 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $386 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Chilean peso (Ch$) = 100 centavos
+
+ Exchange rates: Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1 - 408 (January 1995),
+ 420.08 (1994), 404.35 (1993), 362.59 (1992), 349.37 (1991), 305.06
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Chile:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 7,766 km
+ broad gauge: 3,974 km 1.676-m gauge (1,865 km electrified)
+ standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 3,642 km 1.000-m gauge (80 km electrified)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 79,599 km
+ paved: 10,984 km
+ unpaved: gravel or earth 68,615 km (1990)
+
+ Inland waterways: 725 km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 755 km; petroleum products 785 km; natural gas
+ 320 km
+
+ Ports: Antofagasta, Arica, Chanarol, Coquimbo, Iquique, Puerto Montt,
+ Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Talcahuano, Valparaiso
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 36 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 510,006 GRT/879,891 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 7, chemical tanker 3, combination
+ ore/oil 2, liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off
+ cargo 3, vehicle carrier 2
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 390
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 5
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 17
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 252
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 13
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 76
+
+@Chile:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 768,000 telephones; modern telephone system based on
+ extensive microwave radio relay facilities
+ local: NA
+ intercity: extensive microwave radio relay links and 3 domestic
+ satellite stations
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 159, FM 0, shortwave 11
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 131
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Chile:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army of the Nation, National Navy (includes Naval Air, Coast
+ Guard, and Marines), Air Force of the Nation, Carabineros of Chile
+ (National Police), Investigations Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 3,758,770; males fit for
+ military service 2,796,740; males reach military age (19) annually
+ 121,831 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1 billion, 3.4% of
+ GDP (1991 est.)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+CHINA
+
+ (also see separate Taiwan entry)
+
+@China:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay,
+ Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam
+
+ Map references: Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 9,596,960 sq km
+ land area: 9,326,410 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than the US
+
+ Land boundaries: total 22,143.34 km, Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km,
+ Burma 2,185 km, Hong Kong 30 km, India 3,380 km, Kazakhstan 1,533 km,
+ North Korea 1,416 km, Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Macau 0.34 km,
+ Mongolia 4,673 km, Nepal 1,236 km, Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast)
+ 3,605 km, Russia (northwest) 40 km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281
+ km
+
+ Coastline: 14,500 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: claim to shallow areas of East China Sea and Yellow
+ Sea
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: boundary with India in dispute; disputed
+ sections of the boundary with Russia remain to be settled; boundary
+ with Tajikistan in dispute; a short section of the boundary with North
+ Korea is indefinite; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly
+ Islands with Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly
+ Brunei; maritime boundary dispute with Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin;
+ Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan;
+ claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu
+ Tai), as does Taiwan
+
+ Climate: extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
+
+ Terrain: mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains,
+ deltas, and hills in east
+
+ Natural resources: coal, iron ore, petroleum, mercury, tin, tungsten,
+ antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead,
+ zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest)
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 10%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 31%
+ forest and woodland: 14%
+ other: 45%
+
+ Irrigated land: 478,220 sq km (1991 - Chinese data)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution from the overwhelming use of high-sulfur
+ coal as a fuel, produces acid rain which is damaging forests; water
+ shortages experienced throughout the country, particularly in urban
+ areas; future growth in water usage threatens to outpace supplies;
+ water pollution from industrial effluents; much of the population does
+ not have access to potable water; less than 10% of sewage receives
+ treatment; deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural
+ land since 1957 to soil erosion and economic development;
+ desertification; trade in endangered species
+ natural hazards: frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern
+ and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
+ Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling;
+ signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: world's third-largest country (after Russia and Canada)
+
+@China:People
+
+ Population: 1,203,097,268 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 26% (female 151,266,866; male 167,234,782)
+ 15-64 years: 67% (female 391,917,572; male 419,103,994)
+ 65 years and over: 7% (female 39,591,692; male 33,982,362) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.04% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 17.78 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.36 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 52.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 68.08 years
+ male: 67.09 years
+ female: 69.18 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.84 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Chinese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Chinese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan,
+ Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities 8.1%
+
+ Religions: Daoism (Taoism), Buddhism, Muslim 2%-3%, Christian 1%
+ (est.)
+ note: officially atheist, but traditionally pragmatic and eclectic
+
+ Languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the
+ Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou),
+ Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority
+ languages (see Ethnic divisions entry)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 78%
+ male: 87%
+ female: 68%
+
+ Labor force: 583.6 million (1991)
+ by occupation: agriculture and forestry 60%, industry and commerce
+ 25%, construction and mining 5%, social services 5%, other 5% (1990
+ est.)
+
+@China:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: People's Republic of China
+ conventional short form: China
+ local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo
+ local short form: Zhong Guo
+
+ Abbreviation: PRC
+
+ Digraph: CH
+
+ Type: Communist state
+
+ Capital: Beijing
+
+ Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5
+ autonomous regions* (zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 3
+ municipalities** (shi, singular and plural); Anhui, Beijing**, Fujian,
+ Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi*, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang,
+ Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol*,
+ Ningxia*, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanghai**, Shanxi, Sichuan,
+ Tianjin**, Xinjiang*, Xizang* (Tibet), Yunnan, Zhejiang
+ note: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province
+
+ Independence: 221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty 221
+ BC; Qing or Ch'ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12 February
+ 1912; People's Republic established 1 October 1949)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 1 October (1949)
+
+ Constitution: most recent promulgated 4 December 1982
+
+ Legal system: a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely
+ criminal law; rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987;
+ new legal codes in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts are
+ being made to improve civil, administrative, criminal, and commercial
+ law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993); Vice
+ President RONG Yiren (since 27 March 1993); election last held 27
+ March 1993 (next to be held 1998); results - JIANG Zemin was nominally
+ elected by the Eighth National People's Congress
+ head of government: Premier LI Peng (Acting Premier since 24 November
+ 1987, Premier since 9 April 1988) Vice Premier ZHU Rongji (since 8
+ April 1991); Vice Premier ZOU Jiahua (since 8 April 1991); Vice
+ Premier QIAN Qichen (since 29 March 1993); Vice Premier LI Lanqing (29
+ March 1993); Vice Premier WU Bangguo (since 17 March 1995); Vice
+ Premier JIANG Chunyun (since 17 March 1995)
+ cabinet: State Council; appointed by the National People's Congress
+ (NPC)
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National People's Congress: (Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui) elections
+ last held March 1993 (next to be held March 1998); results - CCP is
+ the only party but there are also independents; seats - (2,977 total)
+ (elected at county or xian level)
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Chinese Communist Party (CCP), JIANG
+ Zemin, general secretary of the Central Committee (since 24 June
+ 1989); eight registered small parties controlled by CCP
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: such meaningful opposition as
+ exists consists of loose coalitions, usually within the party and
+ government organization, that vary by issue
+
+ Member of: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
+ ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
+ INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (observer), PCA, UN, UN Security
+ Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNOMIL, UNOMOZ,
+ UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador LI Daoyu
+ chancery: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 328-2500 through 2502
+ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San
+ Francisco
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador J. Stapleton ROY
+ embassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing
+ mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, Beijing; FPO AP 96521-0002
+ telephone: [86] (1) 5323831
+ FAX: [86] (1) 5323178
+ consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang
+
+ Flag: red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller
+ yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the
+ middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner
+
+@China:Economy
+
+ Overview: Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership has been
+ trying to move the economy from the sluggish Soviet-style centrally
+ planned economy to a more productive and flexible economy with market
+ elements, but still within the framework of monolithic Communist
+ control. To this end the authorities switched to a system of household
+ responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization,
+ increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in
+ industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprise in
+ services and light manufacturing, and opened the economy to increased
+ foreign trade and investment. The result has been a strong surge in
+ production, particularly in agriculture in the early 1980s. Industry
+ also has posted major gains, especially in coastal areas near Hong
+ Kong and opposite Taiwan, where foreign investment and modern
+ production methods have helped spur production of both domestic and
+ export goods. Aggregate output has more than doubled since 1978. On
+ the darker side, the leadership has often experienced in its hybrid
+ system the worst results of socialism (bureaucracy, lassitude,
+ corruption) and of capitalism (windfall gains and stepped-up
+ inflation). Beijing thus has periodically backtracked, retightening
+ central controls at intervals. In 1992-94 annual growth of GDP
+ accelerated, particularly in the coastal areas - to more than 10%
+ annually according to official claims. In late 1993 China's leadership
+ approved additional long-term reforms aimed at giving more play to
+ market-oriented institutions and at strengthening the center's control
+ over the financial system. In 1994 strong growth continued in the
+ widening market-oriented areas of the economy. At the same time, the
+ government struggled to (a) collect revenues due from provinces,
+ businesses, and individuals; (b) keep inflation within bounds; (c)
+ reduce extortion and other economic crimes; and (d) keep afloat the
+ large state-owned enterprises, most of which had not participated in
+ the vigorous expansion of the economy. From 60 to 100 million surplus
+ rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many
+ barely subsisting through part-time low-pay jobs. Popular resistance,
+ changes in central policy, and loss of authority by rural cadres have
+ weakened China's population control program, which is essential to the
+ nation's long-term economic viability. One of the most dangerous
+ long-term threats to continued rapid economic growth is the
+ deterioration in the environment, notably air pollution, soil erosion,
+ and the steady fall of the water table especially in the north.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.9788 trillion
+ (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992 by
+ use of official Chinese growth statistics for 1993-94; because of the
+ difficulties with official statistics in this time of rapid change,
+ the result may overstate China's GDP by as much as 25%)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 11.8% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,500 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25.5% (December 1994 over December
+ 1993)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 2.7% in urban areas (1994); substantial
+ underemployment
+
+ Budget: deficit $13.7 billion (1994)
+
+ Exports: $121 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: textiles, garments, footwear, toys, machinery and
+ equipment, weapon systems
+ partners: Hong Kong, Japan, US, Germany, South Korea, Russia (1993)
+
+ Imports: $115.7 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
+ commodities: rolled steel, motor vehicles, textile machinery, oil
+ products, aircraft
+ partners: Japan, Taiwan, US, Hong Kong, Germany, South Korea (1993)
+
+ External debt: $100 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 17.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 162,000,000 kW
+ production: 746 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 593 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: iron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments,
+ textiles and apparel, petroleum, cement, chemical fertilizers,
+ consumer durables, food processing, autos, consumer electronics,
+ telecommunications
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for almost 30% of GDP; among the world's largest
+ producers of rice, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley,
+ and pork; commercial crops include cotton, other fibers, and oilseeds;
+ produces variety of livestock products; basically self-sufficient in
+ food; fish catch of 13.35 million metric tons (including fresh water
+ and pond raised) (1991)
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium; bulk of production is in
+ Yunnan Province (which produced 25 metric tons in 1994); transshipment
+ point for heroin produced in the Golden Triangle
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: to less developed countries (1970-89) $7 billion
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $220.7 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-87), $13.5 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 yuan (Y) = 10 jiao
+
+ Exchange rates: yuan (Y) per US$1 - 8.4413 (January 1995), 8.6187
+ (1994), 5.7620 (1993), 5.5146 (1992), 5.3234 (1991), 4.7832 (1990)
+ note: beginning 1 January 1994, the People's Bank of China quotes the
+ midpoint rate against the US dollar based on the previous day's
+ prevailing rate in the interbank foreign exchange market
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@China:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 65,780 km
+ standard gauge: 55,180 km 1.435-m gauge (7,174 km electrified; more
+ than 11,000 km double track)
+ narrow gauge: 600 km 1.000-m gauge; 10,000 km 0.762-m to 1.067-m gauge
+ dedicated industrial lines
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1.029 million km
+ paved: 170,000 km
+ unpaved: gravel/improved earth 648,000 km; unimproved earth 211,000 km
+ (1990)
+
+ Inland waterways: 138,600 km; about 109,800 km navigable
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 9,700 km; petroleum products 1,100 km; natural
+ gas 6,200 km (1990)
+
+ Ports: Aihui, Changsha, Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Harbin,
+ Huangpu, Nanning, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shantou,
+ Tanggu, Xiamen, Xingang, Zhanjiang
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1,628 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,013,532
+ GRT/24,027,766 DWT
+ ships by type: barge carrier 3, bulk 298, cargo 849, chemical tanker
+ 14, combination bulk 10, container 98, liquefied gas tanker 4,
+ multifunction large load carrier 1, oil tanker 212, passenger 24,
+ passenger-cargo 25, refrigerated cargo 21, roll-on/roll-off cargo 24,
+ short-sea passenger 44, vehicle carrier 1
+ note: China beneficially owns an additional 250 ships (1,000 GRT or
+ over) totaling approximately 8,831,462 DWT that operate under
+ Panamanian, Hong Kong, Maltese, Liberian, Vanuatu, Cypriot, Saint
+ Vincent and the Grenadines, Bahamian, and Singaporean registry
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 204
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 17
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 69
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 89
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 9
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 7
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 7
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 3
+
+@China:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 20,000,000 telephones (summer 1994); domestic and
+ international services are increasingly available for private use;
+ unevenly distributed internal system serves principal cities,
+ industrial centers, and most townships; expanding phone lines,
+ interprovincial fiber optic links, satellite communications,
+ cellullar/mobile communications, etc.
+ local: NA
+ intercity: fiber optic trunk lines, 55 earth stations for domestic
+ satellites
+ international: 5 INTELSAT earth stations (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian
+ Ocean) and 1 INMARSAT earth station; several international fiber optic
+ links to Japan and Hong Kong
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 274, FM NA, shortwave 0
+ radios: 215 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 202 (repeaters 2,050)
+ televisions: 75 million
+
+@China:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: People's Liberation Army (PLA), which includes the Ground
+ Forces, Navy (includes Marines and Naval Aviation), Air Force, Second
+ Artillery Corps (the strategic missile force), People's Armed Police
+ (internal security troops, nominally subordinate to Ministry of Public
+ Security, but included by the Chinese as part of the "armed forces"
+ and considered to be an adjunct to the PLA in war time)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 351,330,411; males fit for
+ military service 194,286,619; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 9,841,658 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: defense budget - 63.09 billion yuan, NA% of GDP
+ (1995 est.); note - conversion of the defense budget into US dollars
+ using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+CHRISTMAS ISLAND
+
+ (territory of Australia)
+
+@Christmas Island:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of
+ Indonesia
+
+ Map references: Southeast Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 135 sq km
+ land area: 135 sq km
+ comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 138.9 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 12 nm
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
+
+ Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
+
+ Natural resources: phosphate
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: almost completely surrounded by a reef which can be a
+ maritime hazard
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
+
+@Christmas Island:People
+
+ Population: 889 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: -9% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: NA
+
+ Death rate: NA
+
+ Net migration rate: NA
+
+ Infant mortality rate: NA
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: NA
+ male: NA
+ female: NA
+
+ Total fertility rate: NA
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Christmas Islander(s)
+ adjective: Christmas Island
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no
+ indigenous population
+
+ Religions: Buddhist 36.1%, Muslim 25.4%, Christian 17.7% (Roman
+ Catholic 8.2%, Church of England 3.2%, Presbyterian 0.9%, Uniting
+ Church 0.4%, Methodist 0.2%, Baptist 0.1%, and other 4.7%), none
+ 12.7%, unknown 4.6%, other 3.5% (1981)
+
+ Languages: English
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining
+ Company of Christmas Island, Ltd.
+
+@Christmas Island:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
+ conventional short form: Christmas Island
+
+ Digraph: KT
+
+ Type: territory of Australia
+
+ Capital: The Settlement
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
+
+ Independence: none (territory of Australia)
+
+ National holiday: NA
+
+ Constitution: Christmas Island Act of 1958
+
+ Legal system: under the authority of the governor general of Australia
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
+ head of government: Administrator M. J. GRIMES (since NA)
+ cabinet: Advisory Council
+
+ Legislative branch: none
+
+ Judicial branch: none
+
+ Political parties and leaders: none
+
+ Member of: none
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
+
+ Flag: the flag of Australia is used
+
+@Christmas Island:Economy
+
+ Overview: Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic
+ activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the
+ mine as no longer economically viable. Plans have been under way to
+ reopen the mine and also to build a casino and hotel to develop
+ tourism.
+
+ National product: GDP $NA
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $NA
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $NA
+ commodities: phosphate
+ partners: Australia, NZ
+
+ Imports: $NA
+ commodities: consumer goods
+ partners: principally Australia
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 11,000 kW
+ production: 30 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 17,800 kWh (1990)
+
+ Industries: phosphate extraction (near depletion)
+
+ Agriculture: NA
+
+ Economic aid: none
+
+ Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3058 (January
+ 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704, (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991),
+ 1.2799 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Christmas Island:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: NA km
+ paved: NA km
+ unpaved: NA km
+
+ Ports: Flying Fish Cove
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+
+@Christmas Island:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Christmas Island:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+CLIPPERTON ISLAND
+
+ (possession of France)
+
+@Clipperton Island:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, southwest
+ of Mexico
+
+ Map references: World
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 7 sq km
+ land area: 7 sq km
+ comparative area: about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 11.1 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claimed by Mexico
+
+ Climate: tropical
+
+ Terrain: coral atoll
+
+ Natural resources: none
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100% (all coral)
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: reef about 8 km in circumference
+
+@Clipperton Island:People
+
+ Population: uninhabited
+
+@Clipperton Island:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Clipperton Island
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: Ile Clipperton
+ former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion
+
+ Digraph: IP
+
+ Type: French possession administered by France from French Polynesia
+ by High Commissioner of the Republic
+
+ Capital: none; administered by France from French Polynesia
+
+ Independence: none (possession of France)
+
+@Clipperton Island:Economy
+
+ Overview: The only economic activity is a tuna fishing station.
+
+@Clipperton Island:Transportation
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
+
+@Clipperton Island:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of France
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS
+
+ (territory of Australia)
+
+@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean,
+ south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri
+ Lanka
+
+ Map references: Southeast Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 14 sq km
+ land area: 14 sq km
+ comparative area: about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
+ DC
+ note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 2.6 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine
+ months of the year; moderate rain fall
+
+ Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls
+
+ Natural resources: fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: NA%
+ permanent crops: NA%
+ meadows and pastures: NA%
+ forest and woodland: NA%
+ other: NA%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: there are no natural fresh water resources on the
+ island, groundwater does accumulate in natural underground reservoirs
+ natural hazards: cyclones may occur in the early months of the year
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other
+ vegetation
+
+@Cocos (keeling) Islands:People
+
+ Population: 604 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.98% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
+
+ Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
+
+ Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: NA years
+ male: NA years
+ female: NA years
+
+ Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Cocos Islander(s)
+ adjective: Cocos Islander
+
+ Ethnic divisions:
+ West Island: Europeans
+ Home Island: Cocos Malays
+
+ Religions: Sunni Muslims
+
+ Languages: English
+
+ Labor force: NA
+
+@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
+ conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
+
+ Digraph: CK
+
+ Type: territory of Australia
+
+ Capital: West Island
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
+
+ Independence: none (territory of Australia)
+
+ National holiday: NA
+
+ Constitution: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
+
+ Legal system: based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
+
+ Suffrage: NA
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
+ head of government: Administrator B. CUNNINGHAM (since NA)
+ cabinet: Islands Council; Chairman of the Islands Council Haji WAHIN
+ bin Bynie (since NA)
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral Islands Council
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: NA
+
+ Member of: none
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
+
+ Flag: the flag of Australia is used
+
+@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash
+ crop. Copra and fresh coconuts are the major export earners. Small
+ local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but
+ additional food and most other necessities must be imported from
+ Australia.
+
+ National product: GDP $NA
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $NA
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $NA
+ commodities: copra
+ partners: Australia
+
+ Imports: $NA
+ commodities: foodstuffs
+ partners: Australia
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,000 kW
+ production: 2 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,980 kWh (1990)
+
+ Industries: copra products
+
+ Agriculture: gardens provide vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
+
+ Economic aid: none
+
+ Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3058 (January
+ 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991),
+ 1.2799 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: NA km
+ paved: NA km
+ unpaved: NA km
+
+ Ports: none; lagoon anchorage only
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+
+@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: linked by telephone, telex, and facsimile
+ communications via satellite with Australia
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: 250 (1985)
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+COLOMBIA
+
+@Colombia:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
+ Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between
+ Ecuador and Panama
+
+ Map references: South America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1,138,910 sq km
+ land area: 1,038,700 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Montana
+ note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and
+ Serranilla Bank
+
+ Land boundaries: total 7,408 km, Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km,
+ Panama 225 km, Peru 2,900 km, Venezuela 2,050 km
+
+ Coastline: 3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448
+ km)
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in
+ the Gulf of Venezuela; territorial dispute with Nicaragua over
+ Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank
+
+ Climate: tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
+
+ Terrain: flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes
+ Mountains, eastern lowland plains
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel,
+ gold, copper, emeralds
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 4%
+ permanent crops: 2%
+ meadows and pastures: 29%
+ forest and woodland: 49%
+ other: 16%
+
+ Irrigated land: 5,150 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides;
+ air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions
+ natural hazards: highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional
+ earthquakes; periodic droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
+ Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
+ Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not
+ ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change,
+ Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
+
+ Note: only South American country with coastlines on both North
+ Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea
+
+@Colombia:People
+
+ Population: 36,200,251 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 32% (female 5,784,010; male 5,925,600)
+ 15-64 years: 63% (female 11,642,870; male 11,245,235)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 888,358; male 714,178) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.7% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 21.89 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 4.69 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -0.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 26.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 72.48 years
+ male: 69.68 years
+ female: 75.38 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Colombian(s)
+ adjective: Colombian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed
+ black-Indian 3%, Indian 1%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
+
+ Languages: Spanish
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1985)
+ total population: 88%
+ male: 88%
+ female: 88%
+
+ Labor force: 12 million (1990)
+ by occupation: services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)
+
+@Colombia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Colombia
+ conventional short form: Colombia
+ local long form: Republica de Colombia
+ local short form: Colombia
+
+ Digraph: CO
+
+ Type: republic; executive branch dominates government structure
+
+ Capital: Bogota
+
+ Administrative divisions: 32 departments (departamentos, singular -
+ departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas,
+ Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas,
+ Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca,
+ Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte
+ de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia,
+ Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada
+
+ Independence: 20 July 1810 (from Spain)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
+
+ Constitution: 5 July 1991
+
+ Legal system: based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after
+ US procedures was enacted in 1992-93; judicial review of executive and
+ legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
+ reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Ernesto SAMPER Pizano
+ (since 7 August 1994); election last held 29 May 1994 (next to be held
+ May 1998) and resulted in no candidate receiving more than 50% of the
+ total vote; a run-off election to select a president from the two
+ leading candidates was held on 19 June 1994; results - Ernesto SAMPER
+ Pizano (Liberal Party) 50.4%, Andres PASTRANA Arango (Conservative
+ Party) 48.6%, blank votes 1%; Humberto de la CALLE was elected vice
+ president in a new proceedure that replaces the traditional
+ designation of vice presidents by newly elected presidents.
+ cabinet: Cabinet
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Congreso)
+ Senate (Senado): elections last held 13 March 1994 (next to be held NA
+ March 1998); preliminary results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
+ - (102 total) Liberal Party 59, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and
+ NDF) 31, other 12
+ House of Representatives (Camara de Representantes): elections last
+ held 13 March 1994 (next to be held NA March 1998); preliminary
+ results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (161 total) Liberal
+ Party 89, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF) 53, AD/M-19 2,
+ other 17
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justical),
+ Constitutional Court, Council of State
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party (PL), Juan Guillermo
+ ANGEL; Conservative Party (PC), Fabio VALENCIA Cossio; National
+ Salvation Movement (MSN), Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado; New Democratic Force
+ (NDF), Andres PASTRANA Arango; Democratic Alliance M-19 (AD/M-19) is a
+ coalition of small leftist parties and dissident liberals and
+ conservatives; Patriotic Union (UP) is a legal political party formed
+ by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and Colombian
+ Communist Party (PCC), Carlos ROMERO
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: three insurgent groups are active
+ in Colombia - Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Manuel
+ MARULANDA and Alfonso CANO; National Liberation Army (ELN), Manuel
+ PEREZ; and dissidents of the recently demobilized People's Liberation
+ Army (EPL), Francisco CARABALLO; Francisco CARABALLO was captured by
+ the government in June 1994
+
+ Member of: AG, CCC, CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB,
+ IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
+ IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
+ NAM, OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
+ UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos LLERAS de la Fuente
+ chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
+ FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643
+ consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
+ New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and
+ Washington, DC
+ consulate(s): Atlanta and Tampa
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Myles R. R. FRECHETTE
+ embassy: Calle 38, No. 8-61, Bogota
+ mailing address: Apartado Aereo 3831, Bogota; APO AA 34038
+ telephone: [57] (1) 320-1300
+ FAX: [57] (1) 288-5687
+ consulate(s): Barranquilla
+
+ Flag: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and
+ red; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the
+ Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center
+
+@Colombia:Economy
+
+ Overview: Colombia's economy has grown steadily since 1991, when the
+ government implemented sweeping economic reform measures. President
+ SAMPER, who took office in August 1994, has pledged to maintain those
+ reforms while expanding government assistance for poor Colombians, who
+ continue to make up about 40% of the population. In an effort to bring
+ down inflation, SAMPER has arranged a "social pact" with business and
+ labor to curtail price hikes and trim inflation to 18%. The rapid
+ development of oil, coal, and other nontraditional industries, along
+ with copious inflows of capital and strengthening of prices for
+ coffee, have helped keep growth at 5%-6%. Development of the massive
+ Cusiana oilfield provides the means to sustain this level over the
+ next several years. Exporters say, however, that their sales have been
+ hampered by the appreciation of the Colombian peso, and farmers have
+ sought government help in adjusting to greater foreign competition.
+ Moreover, increased foreign investment and even greater domestic
+ growth have been hindered by an inadequate energy and transportation
+ infrastructure and by violence stemming from drug trafficking and
+ persistent rural insurgency.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $172.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5.7% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $4,850 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 22.6% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 7.9% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $16 billion (1995 est.)
+ expenditures: $21 billion (1995 est.)
+
+ Exports: $8.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum, coffee, coal, bananas, fresh cut flowers
+ partners: US 39%, EC 25.7%, Japan 2.9%, Venezuela 8.5% (1992)
+
+ Imports: $10.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer
+ goods, chemicals, paper products
+ partners: US 36%, EC 18%, Brazil 4%, Venezuela 6.5%, Japan 8.7% (1992)
+
+ External debt: $12.6 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1994 est.); accounts for about
+ 20% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 10,220,000 kW
+ production: 33 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 890 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear,
+ beverages, chemicals, metal products, cement; mining - gold, coal,
+ emeralds, iron, nickel, silver, salt
+
+ Agriculture: growth rate 3.8% (1994 est.); accounts for about 15% of
+ GDP; crops make up two-thirds and livestock one-third of agricultural
+ output; climate and soils permit a wide variety of crops, such as
+ coffee, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseeds,
+ vegetables; forest products and shrimp farming are becoming more
+ important
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and cannabis;
+ about 45,000 hectares of coca under cultivation; the world's largest
+ processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of cocaine to the
+ US and other international drug markets; active eradication program
+ against narcotics crop
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.6 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $3.3 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $399 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos
+
+ Exchange rates: Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1 - 846.67 (January
+ 1995), 844.84 (1994), 863.06 (1993), 759.28 (1992), 633.05 (1991),
+ 502.26 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Colombia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 3,386 km
+ standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 3,236 km 0.914-m gauge (2,611 km in use)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 107,377 km (1991)
+ paved: 12,778 km
+ unpaved: gravel/earth 94,599 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 14,300 km, navigable by river boats
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km; natural
+ gas 830 km; natural gas liquids 125 km
+
+ Ports: Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Leticia, Puerto Bolivar,
+ San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco, Turbo
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 104,577 GRT/142,617 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 9, container 4, oil tanker 3
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1,307
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 31
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 734
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 80
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 419
+
+@Colombia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 1,890,000 telephones; modern system in many respects
+
+ local: NA
+ intercity: nationwide microwave radio relay system; 11 domestic earth
+ stations
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 413, FM 0, shortwave 28
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 33
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Colombia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, includes
+ Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana),
+ National Police (Policia Nacional)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 9,851,980; males fit for
+ military service 6,640,348; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 349,599 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.2 billion (1992
+ est.)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+COMOROS
+
+@Comoros:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel,
+ about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern
+ Mozambique
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 2,170 sq km
+ land area: 2,170 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 340 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claims French-administered Mayotte
+
+ Climate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
+
+ Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low
+ hills
+
+ Natural resources: negligible
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 35%
+ permanent crops: 8%
+ meadows and pastures: 7%
+ forest and woodland: 16%
+ other: 34%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: soil degradation and erosion results from crop
+ cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation
+ natural hazards: cyclones and tsunamis possible during rainy season
+ (December to April); Mount Kartala on Grand Comore is an active
+ volcano
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
+ Protection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
+
+ Note: important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
+
+@Comoros:People
+
+ Population: 549,338 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 48% (female 131,334; male 132,327)
+ 15-64 years: 49% (female 137,083; male 133,629)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 7,860; male 7,105) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.56% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 46.22 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 10.6 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 77.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 58.27 years
+ male: 56.04 years
+ female: 60.57 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.73 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Comoran(s)
+ adjective: Comoran
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
+
+ Religions: Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%
+
+ Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of
+ Swahili and Arabic)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
+ total population: 48%
+ male: 56%
+ female: 40%
+
+ Labor force: 140,000 (1982)
+ by occupation: agriculture 80%, government 3%
+
+@Comoros:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
+ conventional short form: Comoros
+ local long form: Republique Federale Islamique des Comores
+ local short form: Comores
+
+ Digraph: CN
+
+ Type: independent republic
+
+ Capital: Moroni
+
+ Administrative divisions: three islands; Grand Comore (Njazidja),
+ Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali)
+ note: there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni,
+ Moroni, and Mutsamudu
+
+ Independence: 6 July 1975 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
+
+ Constitution: 7 June 1992
+
+ Legal system: French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Said Mohamed DJOHAR (since 11 March 1990);
+ election last held 11 March 1990 (next to be held March 1996); results
+ - Said Mohamed DJOHAR (UDZIMA) 55%, Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (UNDC) 45%
+
+ head of government: Prime Minister Halifa HOUMADI (since 13 October
+ 1994); note - HOUMADI is the fifteenth prime minister appointed by
+ President DJOHAR in the last three years
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Federal Assembly (Assemblee Federale): elections last held 12-20
+ December 1993 (next to be held by NA January 1998); results - percent
+ of vote by party NA; seats - (42 total) Ruling Coalition: RDR 15, UNDC
+ 5, MWANGAZA 2; Opposition: UDZIMA 8, other smaller parties 10; 2 seats
+ remained unfilled
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: over 20 political parties are currently
+ active, the most important of which are; Comoran Union for Progress
+ (UDZIMA), Omar TAMOU; Islands' Fraternity and Unity Party (CHUMA),
+ Said Ali KEMAL; Comoran Party for Democracy and Progress (PCDP), Ali
+ MROUDJAE; Realizing Freedom's Capability (UWEZO), Mouazair ABDALLAH;
+ Democratic Front of the Comoros (FDR), Moustapha CHELKH; Dialogue
+ Proposition Action (DPA/MWANGAZA), Said MCHAWGAMA; Rally for Change
+ and Democracy (RACHADE), Hassan HACHIM; Union for Democracy and
+ Decentralization (UNDC), Mohamed Taki Halidi IBRAHAM; Rally for
+ Democracy and Renewal (RDR); Comoran Popular Front (FPC), Mohamed
+ HASSANALI, Mohamed El Arif OUKACHA, Abdou MOUSTAKIM (Secretary
+ General)
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AL, CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
+ IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
+ UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Ahamadu DJIMBANAO (ambassador to
+ the US and Canada)
+ chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal and
+ Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 336 East 45th
+ Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017
+ telephone: [1] (212) 972-8010
+ FAX: [1] (212) 983-4712
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none; ambassador to Port Louis,
+ Mauritius, is accredited to Comoros
+
+ Flag: green with a white crescent in the center of the field, its
+ points facing upward; there are four white five-pointed stars placed
+ in a line between the points of the crescent; the crescent, stars, and
+ color green are traditional symbols of Islam; the four stars represent
+ the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani,
+ and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by
+ Comoros); the design, the most recent of several, is described in the
+ constitution approved by referendum on 7 June 1992
+
+@Comoros:Economy
+
+ Overview: One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of
+ several islands that have poor transportation links, a young and
+ rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low
+ educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence
+ level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence
+ on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including
+ fishing, hunting, and forestry, is the leading sector of the economy.
+ It contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and
+ provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in
+ food production; rice, the main staple, accounts for 90% of imports.
+ The government is struggling to upgrade education and technical
+ training, to privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, to
+ improve health services, to diversify exports, and to reduce the high
+ population growth rate. Continued foreign support is essential if the
+ goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be reached in the late 1990s.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $370 million (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 0.9% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $700 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 15.8% (1989)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $83 million
+ expenditures: $92 million, including capital expenditures of $32
+ million (1992)
+
+ Exports: $13.7 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra
+ partners: US 44%, France 40%, Germany 6%, Africa 5% (1992)
+
+ Imports: $40.9 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: rice and other foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement,
+ consumer goods
+ partners: France 34%, South Africa 14%, Kenya 8%, Japan 4% (1992)
+
+ External debt: $160 million (1992 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -6.5% (1989 est.); accounts for 6%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 16,000 kW
+ production: 17 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 27 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry,
+ construction materials, soft drinks
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP; most of population works in
+ subsistence agriculture and fishing; plantations produce cash crops
+ for export - vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra; principal food
+ crops - coconuts, bananas, cassava; world's leading producer of
+ essence of ylang-ylang (for perfumes) and second-largest producer of
+ vanilla; large net food importer
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY80-89), $10 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $435 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $22 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $18 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 297.07 (January 1995),
+ 416.40 (1994), 254.57 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26
+ (1990)
+ note: beginning 12 January 1994, the Comoran franc was devalued to 75
+ per French franc from 50 per French franc at which it had been fixed
+ since 1948
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Comoros:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 750 km
+ paved: bituminous 210 km
+ unpaved: crushed stone, gravel 540 km
+
+ Ports: Fomboni, Moroni, Mutsamudo
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 4
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+
+@Comoros:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: over 1,800 telephones; sparse system of radio relay
+ and high-frequency radio communication stations for interisland and
+ external communications to Madagascar and Reunion
+ local: NA
+ intercity: high frequency radio and microwave radio relay
+ international: high frequency radio
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Comoros:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Comoran Security Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 117,349; males fit for military
+ service 70,178 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+CONGO
+
+@Congo:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
+ Angola and Gabon
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 342,000 sq km
+ land area: 341,500 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana
+
+ Land boundaries: total 5,504 km, Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km,
+ Central African Republic 467 km, Gabon 1,903 km, Zaire 2,410 km
+
+ Coastline: 169 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 200 nm
+
+ International disputes: long segment of boundary with Zaire along the
+ Congo River is indefinite (no division of the river or its islands has
+ been made)
+
+ Climate: tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to
+ October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly
+ enervating climate astride the Equator
+
+ Terrain: coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern
+ basin
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium,
+ copper, phosphates, natural gas
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 2%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 29%
+ forest and woodland: 62%
+ other: 7%
+
+ Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution
+ from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable;
+ deforestation
+ natural hazards: seasonal flooding
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified -
+ Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea,
+ Tropical Timber 94
+
+ Note: about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe Noire,
+ or along the railroad between them
+
+@Congo:People
+
+ Population: 2,504,996 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 44% (female 543,324; male 548,840)
+ 15-64 years: 53% (female 682,927; male 645,045)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 49,879; male 34,981) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.32% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 39.86 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 16.7 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 109.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 47.09 years
+ male: 45.23 years
+ female: 49 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 5.23 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Congolese or Congo
+
+ Ethnic divisions:
+ south: Kongo 48%
+ north: Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%
+ center: Teke 17%, Europeans 8,500 (mostly French)
+
+ Religions: Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
+
+ Languages: French (official), African languages (Lingala and Kikongo
+ are the most widely used)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1984)
+ total population: 60%
+ male: 71%
+ female: 49%
+
+ Labor force: 79,100 wage earners
+ by occupation: agriculture 75%, commerce, industry, and government 25%
+
+@Congo:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of the Congo
+ conventional short form: Congo
+ local long form: Republique Populaire du Congo
+ local short form: Congo
+ former: Congo/Brazzaville
+
+ Digraph: CF
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Brazzaville
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1
+ commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala,
+ Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha
+
+ Independence: 15 August 1960 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)
+
+ Constitution: new constitution approved by referendum March 1992
+
+ Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Pascal LISSOUBA (since August 1992);
+ election last held August 1992 (next to be held August 1997); results
+ - President Pascal LISSOUBA won with 61% of the vote
+ head of government: Prime Minister Jacques Joachim YHOMBI-OPANGO
+ (since 23 June 1993)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; named by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral
+ National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): election last held 3 October
+ 1993; results - percentage vote by party NA; seats - (125 total) UPADS
+ 64, URD/PCT 58, others 3
+ Senate: election last held 26 July 1992 (next to be held July 1998);
+ results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total) UPADS 23,
+ MCDDI 14, RDD 8, RDPS 5, PCT 2, others 8
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Congolese Labor Party (PCT), Denis
+ SASSOU-NGUESSO, president; Pan-African Union for Social Development
+ (UPADS), Pascal LISSOUBA, leader; Association for Democracy and
+ Development (RDD), Joachim Yhombi OPANGO, president; Congolese
+ Movement for Democracy and Integral Development (MCDDI), Bernard
+ KOLELAS, leader; Association for Democracy and Social Progress (RDPS),
+ Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president; Union of Democratic Forces
+ (UFD), David Charles GANAO, leader; Union for Development and Social
+ Progress (UDPS), Jean-Michael BOKAMBA-YANGOUMA, leader
+ note: Congo has many political parties of which these are among the
+ most important
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Union of Congolese Socialist Youth
+ (UJSC); Congolese Trade Union Congress (CSC); Revolutionary Union of
+ Congolese Women (URFC); General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students
+ (UGEEC)
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77,
+ GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM II,
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Pierre Damien BOUSSOUKOU-BOUMBA
+ chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
+ telephone: [1] (202) 726-0825
+ FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador William C. RAMSEY
+ embassy: Avenue Amilcar Cabral, Brazzaville
+ mailing address: B. P. 1015, Brazzaville
+ telephone: [242] 83 20 70
+ FAX: [242] 83 63 38
+
+ Flag: red, divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow
+ band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle
+ is red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
+
+@Congo:Economy
+
+ Overview: Congo's economy is a mixture of village agriculture and
+ handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on oil, support
+ services, and a government characterized by budget problems and
+ overstaffing. A reform program, supported by the IMF and World Bank,
+ ran into difficulties in 1990-91 because of problems in changing to a
+ democratic political regime and a heavy debt-servicing burden. Oil has
+ supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing about
+ two-thirds of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s
+ rapidly rising oil revenues enabled Congo to finance large-scale
+ development projects with growth averaging 5% annually, one of the
+ highest rates in Africa. Subsequently, growth has slowed to an average
+ of roughly 1.5% annually, only two-thirds of the population growth
+ rate. Political turmoil and misguided government investment have
+ derailed economic reform programs sponsored by the IMF and World Bank.
+ Even with these difficulties Congo enjoys one of the highest incomes
+ per capita in sub-Saharan Africa
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $6.7 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -2.1% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,820 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (1992 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $765 million
+ expenditures: $952 million, including capital expenditures of $65
+ million (1990)
+
+ Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: crude oil 83%, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee,
+ diamonds
+ partners: US, Italy, France, Spain, other EC countries
+
+ Imports: $472 million (c.i.f., 1991)
+ commodities: intermediate manufactures, capital equipment,
+ construction materials, foodstuffs
+ partners: France, US, Italy, Japan, other EC countries
+
+ External debt: $4 billion (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 8% (1993 est.); accounts for 35% of
+ GDP; includes petroleum
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 120,000 kW
+ production: 400 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 201 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: petroleum, cement, lumbering, brewing, sugar milling, palm
+ oil, soap, cigarette
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 12% of GDP (including fishing and forestry);
+ cassava accounts for 90% of food output; other crops - rice, corn,
+ peanuts, vegetables; cash crops include coffee and cocoa; forest
+ products important export earner; imports over 90% of food needs
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $63 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-90), $2.5 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $15 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $338 million
+
+ Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1
+ - 529.43 (January 1994), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
+ 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)
+ note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
+ 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
+ 1948
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Congo:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 797 km (includes 285 km that are privately owned)
+ narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 11,960 km
+ paved: 560 km
+ unpaved: gravel or crushed stone 850 km; improved earth 5,350 km;
+ unimproved earth 5,200 km
+
+ Inland waterways: the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) Rivers provide 1,120
+ km of commercially navigable water transport; the rest are used for
+ local traffic only
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 25 km
+
+ Ports: Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 41
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 11
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 8
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 18
+
+@Congo:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 18,100 telephones; 7 telephones/1,000 persons;
+ services adequate for government use; key centers are Brazzaville,
+ Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo
+ local: NA
+ intercity: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and
+ coaxial cable
+ international: 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 4
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Congo:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, National Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 568,663; males fit for military
+ service 289,335; males reach military age (20) annually 24,749 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $110 million, 3.8% of
+ GDP (1993)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+COOK ISLANDS
+
+ (free association with New Zealand)
+
+@Cook Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
+ one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 240 sq km
+ land area: 240 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 120 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
+
+ Terrain: low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
+
+ Natural resources: negligible
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 4%
+ permanent crops: 22%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 74%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: typhoons (November to March)
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change;
+ signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
+
+@Cook Islands:People
+
+ Population: 19,343 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.13% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 23.05 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -6.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 71.14 years
+ male: 69.2 years
+ female: 73.1 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.27 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Cook Islander(s)
+ adjective: Cook Islander
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and
+ European 7.7%, Polynesian and other 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%
+
+ Religions: Christian (majority of populace members of Cook Islands
+ Christian Church)
+
+ Languages: English (official), Maori
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: 5,810
+ by occupation: agriculture 29%, government 27%, services 25%, industry
+ 15%, other 4% (1981)
+
+@Cook Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Cook Islands
+
+ Digraph: CW
+
+ Type: self-governing parliamentary government in free association with
+ New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs;
+ New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs, in
+ consultation with the Cook Islands
+
+ Capital: Avarua
+
+ Administrative divisions: none
+
+ Independence: none (became self-governing in free association with New
+ Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full
+ independence by unilateral action)
+
+ National holiday: Constitution Day, 4 August
+
+ Constitution: 4 August 1965
+
+ Legal system: NA
+
+ Suffrage: universal adult at age NA
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
+ Representative of the Queen Apenera SHORT (since NA); Representative
+ of New Zealand Adrian SINCOCK (since NA)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Geoffrey HENRY (since 1 February
+ 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Inatio AKARURU (since 1 February 1989)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; collectively responsible to the Parliament
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Parliament: elections last held 24 March 1994 (next to be held NA);
+ results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (25 total) Cook Islands
+ Party 20, Democratic Party 3, Alliance Party 2
+ note: the House of Arikis (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but
+ has no legislative powers
+
+ Judicial branch: High Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey HENRY;
+ Democratic Party, Sir Thomas DAVIS; Cook Islands Labor Party, Rena
+ JONASSEN; Cook Islands People's Party, Sadaraka SADARAKA; Alliance
+ Party, Norman GEORGE
+
+ Member of: AsDB, ESCAP (associate), ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), IOC, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing in free
+ association with New Zealand)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing in free association
+ with New Zealand)
+
+ Flag: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
+ and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every
+ island) centered in the outer half of the flag
+
+@Cook Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: Agriculture provides the economic base. The major export
+ earners are fruit, copra, and clothing. Manufacturing activities are
+ limited to a fruit-processing plant and several clothing factories.
+ Economic development is hindered by the isolation of the islands from
+ foreign markets and a lack of natural resources and good
+ transportation links. A large trade deficit is annually made up for by
+ remittances from emigrants and from foreign aid, largely from New
+ Zealand. Current economic development plans call for exploiting the
+ tourism potential and expanding the fishing industry.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $57 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $3,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.2% (1990)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $38 million
+ expenditures: $34.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $3.4 million (f.o.b., 1990)
+ commodities: copra, fresh and canned fruit, clothing
+ partners: NZ 80%, Japan
+
+ Imports: $50 million (c.i.f., 1990)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber
+ partners: NZ 49%, Japan, Australia, US
+
+ External debt: $124 million (1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 5% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 14,000 kW
+ production: 21 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 741 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: fruit processing, tourism
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 12% of GDP, export crops - copra, citrus
+ fruits, pineapples, tomatoes, bananas; subsistence crops - yams, taro
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $128 million; in 1994, Cook Islands received
+ $4.3 million in budget support and $2.7 million in project aid from
+ New Zealand, the country's largest source of aid
+
+ Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5601 (January
+ 1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991),
+ 1.6750 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Cook Islands:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 187 km
+ paved: 35 km
+ unpaved: gravel 35 km; improved earth 84 km; unimproved earth 33 km
+ (1980)
+
+ Ports: Avarua, Avatiu
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,464 GRT/2,181 DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 7
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+
+@Cook Islands:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 2,052 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: 11,000
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: 17,000 (1989)
+
+@Cook Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+CORAL SEA ISLANDS
+
+ (territory of Australia)
+
+@Coral Sea Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: less than 3 sq km
+ land area: less than 3 sq km
+ comparative area: NA
+ note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea
+ area of about 1 million sq km, with Willis Islets the most important
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 3,095 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical
+
+ Terrain: sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)
+
+ Natural resources: negligible
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover)
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: no permanent fresh water resources
+ natural hazards: occasional, tropical cyclones
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: important nesting area for birds and turtles
+
+@Coral Sea Islands:People
+
+ Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are 3
+ meteorologists
+
+@Coral Sea Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
+ conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands
+
+ Digraph: CR
+
+ Type: territory of Australia administered by the Ministry for
+ Environment, Sport, and Territories
+
+ Capital: none; administered from Canberra, Australia
+
+ Independence: none (territory of Australia)
+
+ Flag: the flag of Australia is used
+
+@Coral Sea Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: no economic activity
+
+@Coral Sea Islands:Transportation
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
+
+@Coral Sea Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by
+ the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities
+ of visitors
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+COSTA RICA
+
+@Costa Rica:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the
+ North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 51,100 sq km
+ land area: 50,660 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia
+ note: includes Isla del Coco
+
+ Land boundaries: total 639 km, Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,290 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May
+ to November)
+
+ Terrain: coastal plains separated by rugged mountains
+
+ Natural resources: hydropower potential
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 6%
+ permanent crops: 7%
+ meadows and pastures: 45%
+ forest and woodland: 34%
+ other: 8%
+
+ Irrigated land: 1,180 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation, largely a result of the clearing of
+ land for cattle ranching; soil erosion
+ natural hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic
+ coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season; active
+ volcanoes
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
+ Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified -
+ Desertification, Marine Life Conservation
+
+@Costa Rica:People
+
+ Population: 3,419,114 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 35% (female 585,976; male 617,456)
+ 15-64 years: 60% (female 1,013,491; male 1,036,195)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 88,050; male 77,946) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.24% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 24.88 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 3.47 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 1.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 10.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 78.11 years
+ male: 76.21 years
+ female: 80.1 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.01 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Costa Rican(s)
+ adjective: Costa Rican
+
+ Ethnic divisions: white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%, Indian 1%,
+ Chinese 1%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
+
+ Languages: Spanish (official), English; spoken around Puerto Limon
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1984)
+ total population: 93%
+ male: 93%
+ female: 93%
+
+ Labor force: 868,300
+ by occupation: industry and commerce 35.1%, government and services
+ 33%, agriculture 27%, other 4.9% (1985 est.)
+
+@Costa Rica:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica
+ conventional short form: Costa Rica
+ local long form: Republica de Costa Rica
+ local short form: Costa Rica
+
+ Digraph: CS
+
+ Type: democratic republic
+
+ Capital: San Jose
+
+ Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular -
+ provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas,
+ San Jose
+
+ Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
+
+ Constitution: 9 November 1949
+
+ Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of
+ legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Jose Maria FIGUERES
+ Olsen (since 8 May 1994); First Vice President Rodrigo OREAMUNO Blanco
+ (since 8 May 1994); Second Vice President Rebeca GRYNSPAN Mayufis
+ (since 8 May 1994); election last held 6 February 1994 (next to be
+ held February 1998); results - President FIGUERES (PLN party) 49.7%,
+ Miquel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC party) 47.5%
+ cabinet: Cabinet; selected by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa): elections last held 6
+ February 1994 (next to be held February 1998); results - percent of
+ vote by party NA; seats - (61 total) PLN 28, PUSC 29, minority parties
+ 4
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National Liberation Party (PLN), Manuel
+ AGUILAR Bonilla; Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), Rafael Angel
+ CALDERON Fournier; Marxist Popular Vanguard Party (PVP), Humberto
+ VARGAS Carbonell; New Republic Movement (MNR), Sergio Erick ARDON
+ Ramirez; Progressive Party (PP), Isaac Felipe AZOFEIFA Bolanos;
+ People's Party of Costa Rica (PPC), Lenin CHACON Vargas; Radical
+ Democratic Party (PRD), Juan Jose ECHEVERRIA Brealey
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Costa Rican Confederation of
+ Democratic Workers (CCTD, Liberation Party affiliate); Confederated
+ Union of Workers (CUT, Communist Party affiliate); Authentic
+ Confederation of Democratic Workers (CATD, Communist Party affiliate);
+ Chamber of Coffee Growers; National Association for Economic
+ Development (ANFE); Free Costa Rica Movement (MCRL, rightwing
+ militants); National Association of Educators (ANDE)
+
+ Member of: AG (observer), BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB,
+ IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM
+ (observer), OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL,
+ WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia PICADO
+ chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945
+ FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795
+ consulate(s) general: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Chicago, Durham, Houston,
+ Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, San
+ Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
+ consulate(s): Austin
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: US Ambassador to Costa Rica Peter DE VOS
+ embassy: Pavas Road, San Jose
+ mailing address: APO AA 34020
+ telephone: [506] 220-3939
+ FAX: [506] 220-2305
+
+ Flag: five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width),
+ white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white disk on the hoist
+ side of the red band
+
+@Costa Rica:Economy
+
+ Overview: Costa Rica's basically stable and progressive economy
+ depends especially on tourism and export of bananas, coffee, and other
+ agricultural products. In 1994 the economy grew at an estimated 4.3%,
+ compared with 6.5% in 1993, 7.7% in 1992, and 2.1% in 1991. Inflation
+ in 1993 dropped to 9% from 17% in 1992 and 25% in 1991, an indication
+ of basic financial stability. Unemployment is officially reported at
+ only 4.0%, but there is much underemployment. Costa Rica signed a free
+ trade agreement with Mexico in 1994.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $16.9 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4.3% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $5,050 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 4% (1993); much underemployment
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.1 billion
+ expenditures: $1.34 billion, including capital expenditures of $110
+ million (1991 est.)
+
+ Exports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar
+ partners: US, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, El Salvador, Netherlands, UK,
+ France
+
+ Imports: $2.9 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment,
+ petroleum
+ partners: US, Japan, Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, Germany
+
+ External debt: $3.2 billion (1991)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 10.5% (1992); accounts for 22% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,040,000 kW
+ production: 4.1 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,164 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, construction
+ materials, fertilizer, plastic products
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 19% of GDP and 70% of exports; cash
+ commodities - coffee, beef, bananas, sugar; other food crops include
+ corn, rice, beans, potatoes; normally self-sufficient in food except
+ for grain; depletion of forest resources resulting in lower timber
+ output
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South
+ America; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.4 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $935 million; Communist countries (1971-89), $27 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Costa Rican colon (C) = 100 centimos
+
+ Exchange rates: Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1 - 164.39 (December
+ 1994), 157.07 (1994), 142.17 (1993), 134.51 (1992), 122.43 (1991),
+ 91.58 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Costa Rica:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 950 km (260 km electrified)
+ narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 35,560 km
+ paved: 5,600 km
+ unpaved: gravel and earth 29,960 km (1992)
+
+ Inland waterways: about 730 km, seasonally navigable
+
+ Pipelines: petroleum products 176 km
+
+ Ports: Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 174
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 17
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 117
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 36
+
+@Costa Rica:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 292,000 telephones; very good domestic telephone
+ service
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: connection into Central American Microwave System; 1
+ INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 71, FM 0, shortwave 13
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 18
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Costa Rica:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Civil Guard, Coast Guard, Air Section, Rural Assistance
+ Guard; note - the Constitution prohibits armed forces
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 896,516; males fit for military
+ service 602,785; males reach military age (18) annually 32,815 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $22 million, 0.5% of
+ GDP (1989)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+COTE D'IVOIRE
+
+ (also known as Ivory Coast)
+
+@Cote D'ivoire:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
+ Ghana and Liberia
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 322,460 sq km
+ land area: 318,000 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico
+
+ Land boundaries: total 3,110 km, Burkina 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea
+ 610 km, Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km
+
+ Coastline: 515 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons -
+ warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and
+ wet (June to October)
+
+ Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt,
+ bauxite, copper
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 9%
+ permanent crops: 4%
+ meadows and pastures: 9%
+ forest and woodland: 26%
+ other: 52%
+
+ Irrigated land: 620 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation (most of the country's forests - once
+ the largest in West Africa - have been cleared by the timber
+ industry); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural
+ effluents
+ natural hazards: coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during
+ the rainy season torrential flooding is possible
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
+ Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
+ Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
+
+@Cote D'ivoire:People
+
+ Population: 14,791,257 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 48% (female 3,506,147; male 3,534,751)
+ 15-64 years: 50% (female 3,619,759; male 3,820,999)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 142,366; male 167,235) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.38% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 46.17 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 14.95 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ note: since 1989, over 350,000 refugees have fled to Cote d'Ivoire to
+ escape the civil war in Liberia; if a lasting peace is achieved in
+ Liberia in 1995, large numbers of refugees can be expected to return
+ to their homes
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 93.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 48.87 years
+ male: 46.52 years
+ female: 51.29 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.61 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Ivorian(s)
+ adjective: Ivorian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Baoule 23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, Malinke 11%,
+ Agni, foreign Africans (mostly Burkinabe and Malians, about 3
+ million), non-Africans 130,000 to 330,000 (French 30,000 and Lebanese
+ 100,000 to 300,000)
+
+ Religions: indigenous 25%, Muslim 60%, Christian 12%
+
+ Languages: French (official), 60 native dialects; Dioula is the most
+ widely spoken
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1988)
+ total population: 34%
+ male: 44%
+ female: 23%
+
+ Labor force: 5.718 million
+ by occupation: over 85% of population engaged in agriculture,
+ forestry, livestock raising; about 11% of labor force are wage
+ earners, nearly half in agriculture and the remainder in government,
+ industry, commerce, and professions
+
+@Cote D'ivoire:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
+ conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire
+ local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire
+ local short form: Cote d'Ivoire
+ former: Ivory Coast
+
+ Digraph: IV
+
+ Type: republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960
+
+ Capital: Yamoussoukro
+ note: although Yamoussoukro has been the capital since 1983, Abidjan
+ remains the administrative center; foreign governments, including the
+ United States, maintain presence in Abidjan
+
+ Administrative divisions: 50 departments (departements, singular -
+ departement); Abengourou, Abidjan, Aboisso, Adzope, Agboville,
+ Agnibilekrou, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou, Bongouanou,
+ Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Daloa, Danane, Daoukro,
+ Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand-Lahou, Guiglo,
+ Issia, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota, Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro, Odienne,
+ Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro, Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou,
+ Tanda, Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toumodi, Vavoua, Yamoussoukro,
+ Zuenoula
+
+ Independence: 7 August 1960 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 7 December
+
+ Constitution: 3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last
+ time November 1990
+
+ Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
+ judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court;
+ has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Henri Konan BEDIE (since 7 December 1993)
+ constitutional successor who will serve during the remainder of the
+ term of former President Felix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY who died in office
+ after continuous service from November 1960 (next election October
+ 1995)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Daniel Kablan DUNCAN (since 10
+ December 1993)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 25
+ November 1990 (next to be held November 1995); results - percent of
+ vote by party NA; seats - (175 total) PDCI 163, FPI 9, PIT 1,
+ independents 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of the Cote d'Ivoire
+ (PDCI), Henri Konan BEDIE; Rally of the Republicans (RDR), Djeny
+ KOBINA; Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), Laurent GBAGBO; Ivorian Worker's
+ Party (PIT), Francis WODIE; Ivorian Socialist Party (PSI), Morifere
+ BAMBA; over 20 smaller parties
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ,
+ G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
+ ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Moise KOUMOUE-KOFFI
+ chancery: 2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Hume A. HORAN
+ embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan
+ mailing address: 01 B. P. 1712, Abidjan
+ telephone: [225] 21 09 79, 21 46 72
+ FAX: [225] 22 32 59
+
+ Flag: three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and
+ green; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the
+ colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar
+ to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white, and red;
+ design was based on the flag of France
+
+@Cote D'ivoire:Economy
+
+ Overview: Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest producers and
+ exporters of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm-kernel oil. Consequently,
+ the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international
+ prices for coffee and cocoa and to weather conditions. Despite
+ attempts by the government to diversify, the economy is still largely
+ dependent on agriculture and related industries. After several years
+ of lagging performance, the Ivorian economy began a comeback in 1994,
+ due to improved prices for cocoa and coffee, growth in non-traditional
+ primary exports such as pineapples and rubber, trade and banking
+ liberalization, offshore oil and gas discoveries, and generous
+ external financing and debt rescheduling by multilateral lenders and
+ France. The 50% devaluation in January 1994 caused a one time jump in
+ the inflation rate. Government adherence to a renewed structural
+ adjustment program has led to a budget surplus for the first time in
+ several years, a smaller personnel budget, and an increase in public
+ investment. While real growth in 1994 was only 1.5%, the IMF and World
+ Bank expect it will surpass 6% in 1995.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $20.5 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 1.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,430 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: 14% (1985)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.9 billion
+ expenditures: $3.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $408
+ million (1993)
+
+ Exports: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: cocoa 30%, coffee 20%, tropical woods 11%, petroleum,
+ cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton
+ partners: France, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Burkina, US, Belgium,
+ UK (1992)
+
+ Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: food, capital goods, consumer goods, fuel
+ partners: France, Nigeria, Japan, Netherlands, US (1992)
+
+ External debt: $17.3 billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 0% (1993 est.); accounts for 20% of
+ GDP, including petroleum
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,170,000 kW
+ production: 1.8 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 123 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: foodstuffs, wood processing, oil refining, automobile
+ assembly, textiles, fertilizer, beverages
+
+ Agriculture: most important sector, contributing one-third to GDP and
+ 80% to exports; cash crops include coffee, cocoa beans, timber,
+ bananas, palm kernels, rubber; food crops - corn, rice, manioc, sweet
+ potatoes; not self-sufficient in bread grain and dairy products
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis; mostly for local
+ consumption; some international drug trade; transshipment point for
+ Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin to Europe and occasionally to the
+ US
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $356 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-88), $5.2 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1
+ - 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
+ 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)
+ note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
+ 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
+ 1948
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Cote D'ivoire:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 660 km (25 km double track)
+ narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 46,600 km
+ paved: 3,600 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, improved earth 32,000 km; unimproved
+ earth 11,000 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 980 km navigable rivers, canals, and numerous
+ coastal lagoons
+
+ Ports: Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 49,671 GRT/69,216 DWT
+ ships by type: chemical tanker 1, container 2, oil tanker 1,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 40
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 11
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 6
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 16
+
+@Cote D'ivoire:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 87,700 telephones; well-developed by African
+ standards but operating well below capacity; consists of open-wire
+ lines and radio relay microwave links
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA microwave radio relay
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) earth
+ stations; 2 coaxial submarine cables
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 71, FM 0, shortwave 13
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 18
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Cote D'ivoire:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie,
+ Presidential Guard, Military Fire Group
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 3,318,314; males fit for
+ military service 1,724,020; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 154,120 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $140 million, 1.4% of
+ GDP (1993)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+CROATIA
+
+@Croatia:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between
+ Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia
+
+ Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 56,538 sq km
+ land area: 56,410 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,028 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km,
+ Hungary 329 km, Serbia and Montenegro 266 km (241 km with Serbia; 25
+ km with Montenego), Slovenia 501 km
+
+ Coastline: 5,790 km (mainland 1,778 km, islands 4,012 km)
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+
+ International disputes: Ethnic Serbs have occupied UN protected areas
+ in eastern Croatia and along the western Bosnia and Herzegovinian
+ border
+
+ Climate: Mediterranean and continental; continental climate
+ predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry
+ summers along coast
+
+ Terrain: geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border,
+ low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coast, coastline, and
+ islands
+
+ Natural resources: oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore,
+ calcium, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 32%
+ permanent crops: 20%
+ meadows and pastures: 18%
+ forest and woodland: 15%
+ other: 15%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and
+ resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from
+ industrial and domestic waste; widespread casualties and destruction
+ of infrastructure in border areas affected by civil strife
+ natural hazards: frequent and destructive earthquakes
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Hazardous Wastes,
+ Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
+ Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur
+ 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification
+
+ Note: controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and
+ Turkish Straits
+
+@Croatia:People
+
+ Population: 4,665,821 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 19% (female 418,272; male 442,064)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 1,592,187; male 1,588,455)
+ 65 years and over: 13% (female 394,650; male 230,193) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.13% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 11.02 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 10.55 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 74.02 years
+ male: 70.59 years
+ female: 77.65 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.62 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Croat(s)
+ adjective: Croatian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Croat 78%, Serb 12%, Muslim 0.9%, Hungarian 0.5%,
+ Slovenian 0.5%, others 8.1% (1991)
+
+ Religions: Catholic 76.5%, Orthodox 11.1%, Slavic Muslim 1.2%,
+ Protestant 0.4%, others and unknown 10.8%
+
+ Languages: Serbo-Croatian 96%, other 4%
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991)
+ total population: 97%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 95%
+
+ Labor force: 1,509,489
+ by occupation: industry and mining 37%, agriculture 16% (1981 est.),
+ government NA%, other
+
+@Croatia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Croatia
+ conventional short form: Croatia
+ local long form: Republika Hrvatska
+ local short form: Hrvatska
+
+ Digraph: HR
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Zagreb
+
+ Administrative divisions: 21 counties (zupanijas, zupanija -
+ singular): Bjelovar-Bilogora, City of Zagreb, Dubrovnik-Neretva,
+ Istra, Karlovac, Koprivnica-Krizevci, Krapina-Zagorje, Lika-Senj,
+ Medimurje, Osijek-Baranja, Pozega-Slavonija, Primorje-Gorski Kotar,
+ Sibenik, Sisak-Moslavina, Slavonski Brod-Posavina, Split-Dalmatia,
+ Varazdin, Virovitica-Podravina, Vukovar-Srijem, Zadar-Knin, Zagreb
+
+ Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
+
+ National holiday: Statehood Day, 30 May (1990)
+
+ Constitution: adopted on 22 December 1990
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Franjo TUDJMAN (since 30 May 1990); election
+ last held 4 August 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - Franjo
+ TUDJMAN reelected with about 56% of the vote; his opponent Dobroslav
+ PARAGA got 5% of the vote
+ head of government: Prime Minister Nikica VALENTIC (since 3 April
+ 1993); Deputy Prime Ministers Mato GRANIC (since 8 September 1992);
+ Ivica KOSTOVIC (since 14 October 1993); Jure RADIC (since NA);
+ Borislav SKEGRO (since 3 April 1993)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral parliament Assembly (Sabor)
+ House of Districts (Zupanije Dom): elections last held 7 and 21
+ February 1993 (next to be held NA February 1997); results - percent of
+ vote by party NA; seats - (68 total; 63 elected, 5 presidentially
+ appointed) HDZ 37, HSLS 16, HSS 5, Istrian Democratic Assembly 3,
+ SPH-SDP 1, HNS 1
+ House of Representatives (Predstavnicke Dom): elections last held 2
+ August 1992 (next to be held NA August 1996); results - percent of
+ vote by party NA; seats - (138 total) HDZ 85, HSLS 14, SPH-SDP 11, HNS
+ 6, Dalmatian Action/Istrian Democratic Assembly/ Rijeka Democratic
+ Alliance coalition 6, HSP 5, HSS 3, SNS 3, independents 5
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Constitutional Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Zlatko
+ CANJUGA, secretary general; Croatian Democratic Independents (HND),
+ Stjepan MESIC, president; Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Drazen
+ BUDISA, president; Croatian Democratic Peasant Party (HDSS), Ante
+ BABIC; Croatian Party of Rights (HSP), Ante DAPIC; Croatian Peasants'
+ Party (HSS), Josip PANKRETIC; Croatian People's Party (HNS), Radimir
+ CACIC, president; Dalmatian Action (DA), Mira LJUBIC-LORGER; Serb
+ National Party (SNS), Milan DJUKIC; Social Democratic Action (SDP),
+ Miko TRIPALO; other small parties include the Istrian Democratic
+ Assembly and the Rijeka Democratic Alliance
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: NA
+
+ Member of: CCC, CE (guest), CEI, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
+ INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OSCE, UN, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Petar A. SARCEVIC
+ chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899
+ FAX: [1] (202) 588-8936
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Peter W. GALBRAITH
+ embassy: Andrije Hebranga 2, Zagreb
+ mailing address: US Embassy, Zagreb, Unit 1345, APO AE 09213-1345
+ telephone: [385] (41) 456-000
+ FAX: [385] (41) 440-235
+
+ Flag: red, white, and blue horizontal bands with Croatian coat of arms
+ (red and white checkered)
+
+@Croatia:Economy
+
+ Overview: Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the republic of
+ Croatia, after Slovenia, was the most prosperous and industrialized
+ area, with a per capita output perhaps one-third above the Yugoslav
+ average. At present, Croatian Serb Separatists control approximately
+ one-third of the Croatian territory, and one of the overriding
+ determinants of Croatia's long-term political and economic prospects
+ will be the resolution of this territorial dispute. Croatia faces
+ serious economic problems stemming from: the legacy of longtime
+ Communist mismanagement of the economy; large foreign debt; damage
+ during the fighting to bridges, factories, power lines, buildings, and
+ houses; the large refugee population, both Croatian and Bosnian; and
+ the disruption of economic ties to Serbia and the other former
+ Yugoslav republics, as well as within its own territory. At the
+ minimum, extensive Western aid and investment, especially in the
+ tourist and oil industries, would seem necessary to revive the
+ moribund economy. However, peace and political stability must come
+ first; only then will recent government moves toward a
+ "market-friendly" economy restore old levels of output. As of February
+ 1995, fighting continues among Croats, Serbs, and Muslims, and
+ national boundaries and final political arrangements are still in
+ doubt.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $12.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3.4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,640 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 17% (December 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $3.9 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment 30%, other
+ manufacturers 37%, chemicals 11%, food and live animals 9%, raw
+ materials 6.5%, fuels and lubricants 5% (1990)
+ partners: EC countries, Slovenia
+
+ Imports: $4.7 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment 21%, fuels and
+ lubricants 19%, food and live animals 16%, chemicals 14%, manufactured
+ goods 13%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 9%, raw materials 6.5%,
+ beverages and tobacco 1% (1990)
+ partners: EC countries, Slovenia, FSU countries
+
+ External debt: $2.9 billion (September 1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -4% (1994 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 3,570,000 kW
+ production: NA kWh
+ consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal,
+ electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum reduction,
+ paper, wood products (including furniture), building materials
+ (including cement), textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum
+ refining, food processing and beverages
+
+ Agriculture: Croatia normally produces a food surplus; most
+ agricultural land in private hands and concentrated in Croat-majority
+ districts in Slavonia and Istria; much of Slavonia's land has been put
+ out of production by fighting; wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflowers,
+ alfalfa, and clover are main crops in Slavonia; central Croatian
+ highlands are less fertile but support cereal production, orchards,
+ vineyards, livestock breeding, and dairy farming; coastal areas and
+ offshore islands grow olives, citrus fruits, and vegetables
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: IMF, $192 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Croatian kuna (HRK) = 100 paras
+
+ Exchange rates: Croatian kuna per US $1 - 5.6144 (November 1994)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Croatia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 2,699 km
+ standard gauge: 2,699 km 1.435-m gauge (963 km electrified)
+ note: disrupted by territorial dispute (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 27,368 km
+ paved: 22,176 km (302 km of expressways)
+ unpaved: 5,192 km (1991)
+
+ Inland waterways: 785 km perennially navigable
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 670 km; petroleum products 20 km; natural gas 310
+ km (1992); note - now disrupted because of territorial dispute
+
+ Ports: Dubrovnik, Omis, Ploce, Pula, Rijeka, Sibenik, Split, Zadar
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 35 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 181,565 GRT/225,533 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 20, chemical tanker 1, container 2, oil
+ tanker 2, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2,
+ short-sea passenger 4
+ note: also controlled by Croatian shipowners are 134 ships (1,000 GRT
+ or over) totaling 3,286,231 DWT that operate under Maltese and Saint
+ Vincent and the Grenadines registry
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 76
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 55
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 8
+
+@Croatia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 350,000 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: no satellite links
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 14, FM 8, shortwave 0
+ radios: 1.1 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 12 (repeaters 2)
+ televisions: 1.027 million
+
+@Croatia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces,
+ Frontier Guard, Home Guard
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,183,184; males fit for
+ military service 943,749; males reach military age (19) annually
+ 32,831 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: 337 billion to 393 billion dinars, NA% of GDP
+ (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars
+ using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+CUBA
+
+@Cuba:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North
+ Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 110,860 sq km
+ land area: 110,860 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
+
+ Land boundaries: total 29 km, US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km
+ note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains part
+ of Cuba
+
+ Coastline: 3,735 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to
+ US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can
+ terminate the lease
+
+ Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to
+ April); rainy season (May to October)
+
+ Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains with rugged hills and mountains
+ in the southeast
+
+ Natural resources: cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt,
+ timber, silica, petroleum
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 23%
+ permanent crops: 6%
+ meadows and pastures: 23%
+ forest and woodland: 17%
+ other: 31%
+
+ Irrigated land: 8,960 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: pollution of Havana Bay; overhunting threatens
+ wildlife populations; deforestation
+ natural hazards: the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August
+ to October (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every
+ other year); droughts are common
+ international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified -
+ Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Marine Life
+ Conservation
+
+ Note: largest country in Caribbean
+
+@Cuba:People
+
+ Population: 10,937,635 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 22% (female 1,191,320; male 1,256,928)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 3,732,434; male 3,751,464)
+ 65 years and over: 10% (female 528,104; male 477,385) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.65% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 14.54 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.53 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -1.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 8.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 77.05 years
+ male: 74.86 years
+ female: 79.37 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Cuban(s)
+ adjective: Cuban
+
+ Ethnic divisions: mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%
+
+ Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 85% prior to Castro assuming power
+
+ Languages: Spanish
+
+ Literacy: age 15-49 and over can read and write (1981)
+ total population: 98%
+
+ Labor force: 4,620,800 economically active population (1988);
+ 3,578,800 in state sector
+ by occupation: services and government 30%, industry 22%, agriculture
+ 20%, commerce 11%, construction 10%, transportation and communications
+ 7% (June 1990)
+
+@Cuba:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
+ conventional short form: Cuba
+ local long form: Republica de Cuba
+ local short form: Cuba
+
+ Digraph: CU
+
+ Type: Communist state
+
+ Capital: Havana
+
+ Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (provincias, singular -
+ provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey,
+ Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo,
+ Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar
+ del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara
+
+ Independence: 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered
+ by the US from 1898 to 1902)
+
+ National holiday: Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953)
+
+ Constitution: 24 February 1976
+
+ Legal system: based on Spanish and American law, with large elements
+ of Communist legal theory; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President of the Council of
+ State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz
+ (Prime Minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office
+ was abolished; President since 2 December 1976); First Vice President
+ of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of
+ Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; proposed by the president of the
+ Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly of People's Power: (Asamblea Nacional del Poder
+ Popular) elections last held February 1993 (next to be held NA); seats
+ - 589 total, elected directly from slates approved by special
+ candidacy commissions
+
+ Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo Popular)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: only party - Cuban Communist Party
+ (PCC), Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary
+
+ Member of: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS,
+ ILO, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO,
+ ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS (excluded from formal
+ participation since 1962), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
+ WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Principal Officer Alfonso FRAGA PEREZ (since August
+ 1992) represented by the Cuban Interests Section of the Swiss Embassy
+ in Washington, DC
+ chancery: 2630 and 2639 16th Street NW, Cuban Interests Section, Swiss
+ Embassy, Washington, DC 20009
+ telephone: [1] (202) 797-8609, 8610, 8615
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Principal Officer Joseph G. SULLIVAN
+ US Interests Section: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada Entre L Y M,
+ Vedado Seccion, Havana
+ mailing address: use street address
+ telephone: 33-3551 through 3559, 33-3543 through 3547, 33-3700
+ (operator assistance required)
+ FAX: Telex 512206
+ note: protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland - US Interests Section,
+ Swiss Embassy
+
+ Flag: five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) alternating
+ with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a
+ white five-pointed star in the center
+
+@Cuba:Economy
+
+ Overview: Cuba's heavily statist economy remains severely depressed as
+ the result of its own inefficiencies and the loss of massive amounts
+ of economic aid from the former Soviet Bloc. Total output in 1994 was
+ only about half the output of 1989. The fall in output and in imports
+ is reflected in the deterioration of food supplies, shortages of
+ electricity, inability to get spare parts, and the replacement of
+ motor-driven vehicles by bicycles and draft animals. Higher world
+ market prices for sugar and nickel in 1994, however, resulted in a
+ slight increase in export earnings for the first time in six years,
+ despite lower production of both commodities. The growth of tourism
+ slowed in late 1994 as a result of negative publicity surrounding the
+ exodus of Cubans from the island and other international factors. The
+ government continued its aggressive search for foreign investment and
+ announced preliminary agreements to form large joint ventures with
+ Mexican investors in telecommunications and oil refining. In mid-1994,
+ the National Assembly began introducing several new taxes and price
+ increases to stem growing excess liquidity and restore some of the
+ peso's value as a monetary instrument. In October the government
+ attempted to stimulate food production by permitting the sale of any
+ surplus production (over state quotas) at unrestricted prices at
+ designated markets. Similar but much smaller markets were also
+ introduced for the sale of manufactured goods in December. The various
+ government measures have influenced a remarkable appreciation of the
+ black market value of the peso, from more than 100 pesos to the dollar
+ in September 1994 to 40 pesos to the dollar in early 1995. Policy
+ discussions continue in the bureaucracy over the proper pace and scope
+ of economic reform.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $14 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 0.4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,260 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $9.3 billion
+ expenditures: $12.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: sugar, nickel, shellfish, tobacco, medical products,
+ citrus, coffee
+ partners: Russia 15%, Canada 9%, China 8%, Egypt 6%, Spain 5%, Japan
+ 4%, Morocco 4% (1994 est.)
+
+ Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals
+ partners: Spain 17%, Mexico 10%, France 8%, China 8%, Venezuela 7%,
+ Italy 4%, Canada 3%, (1994 est.)
+
+ External debt: $10.8 billion (convertible currency, December 1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 3,990,000 kW
+ production: 12 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,022 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: sugar milling and refining, petroleum refining, food and
+ tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, paper and wood products,
+ metals (particularly nickel), cement, fertilizers, consumer goods,
+ agricultural machinery
+
+ Agriculture: key commercial crops - sugarcane, tobacco, and citrus
+ fruits; other products - coffee, rice, potatoes, meat, beans; world's
+ largest sugar exporter; not self-sufficient in food (excluding sugar);
+ sector hurt by persistent shortages of fuels and parts
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $710 million; Communist countries (1970-89),
+ $18.5 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos
+
+ Exchange rates: Cuban pesos (Cu$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (non-convertible,
+ official rate, linked to the US dollar)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Cuba:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 12,623 km
+ standard gauge: 4,881 km 1.435-m gauge (151.7 km electrified)
+ other: 7,742 km 0.914- and 1.435-m gauge for sugar plantation lines
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 26,477 km
+ paved: 14,477 km
+ unpaved: gravel or earth 12,000 km (1989)
+
+ Inland waterways: 240 km
+
+ Ports: Cienfuegos, La Habana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas, Nuevitas,
+ Santiago de Cuba
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 48 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 278,103 GRT/396,138 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 22, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas
+ tanker 4, oil tanker 10, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 9
+ note: Cuba beneficially owns an additional 24 ships (1,000 GRT or
+ over) totaling 215,703 DWT under the registry of Panama, Cyprus,
+ Malta, and Mauritius
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 181
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 7
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 10
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 106
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 36
+
+@Cuba:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 229,000 telephones; 20.7 telephones/1,000 persons;
+ among the world's least developed telephone systems
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 150, FM 5, shortwave 0
+ radios: 2.14 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 58
+ televisions: 1.53 million
+
+@Cuba:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) includes ground forces,
+ Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR),
+ Territorial Militia Troops (MTT), and Youth Labor Army (EJT); Interior
+ Ministry Border Guards (TGF),
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 3,065,751; females age 15-49
+ 3,023,997; males fit for military service 1,909,901; females fit for
+ military service 1,878,768; males reach military age (17) annually
+ 72,582; females reach military age (17) annually 69,361 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - approx. $600 million,
+ 4% of GSP (gross social product) in 1994 was for defense
+
+ Note: Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of
+ Cuba, cut off military aid by 1993
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+CYPRUS
+
+@Cyprus:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle East, island in the Mediterreanean Sea, south of
+ Turkey
+
+ Map references: Middle East
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 9,250 sq km (note - 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish area)
+ land area: 9,240 sq km
+ comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 648 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: 1974 hostilities divided the island into two
+ de facto autonomous areas, a Greek area controlled by the Cypriot
+ Government (59% of the island's land area) and a Turkish-Cypriot area
+ (37% of the island), that are separated by a UN buffer zone (4% of the
+ island); there are two UK sovereign base areas within the Greek
+ Cypriot portion of the island
+
+ Climate: temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, wet
+ winters
+
+ Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered
+ but significant plains along southern coast
+
+ Natural resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt,
+ marble, clay earth pigment
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 40%
+ permanent crops: 7%
+ meadows and pastures: 10%
+ forest and woodland: 18%
+ other: 25%
+
+ Irrigated land: 350 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: water resource problems (no natural reservoir
+ catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, and most potable resources
+ concentrated in the Turkish Cypriot area); water pollution from sewage
+ and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats
+ from urbanization
+ natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Endangered
+ Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
+ Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
+ Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change
+
+@Cyprus:People
+
+ Population:
+ total: 736,636 (July 1995 est.) (78% Greek, 18% Turk, 4% other)
+ Greek area: 602,656 (July 1995 est.) (94.9% Greek, 0.3% Turk, 4.8%
+ other)
+ Turkish area: 133,980 (July 1995 est.) (2.1% Greek, 97.7% Turk, 0.2%
+ other)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 26% (female 92,179; male 97,723)
+ 15-64 years: 64% (female 234,929; male 236,693)
+ 65 years and over: 10% (female 42,190; male 32,922) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.88% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 16.27 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.48 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 8.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 76.47 years
+ male: 74.19 years
+ female: 78.85 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.3 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Cypriot(s)
+ adjective: Cypriot
+
+ Ethnic divisions:
+ total: Greek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek area; 0.5% of
+ the Greeks live in the Turkish area), Turkish 18% (1.3% of the Turks
+ live in the Greek area; 98.7% of the Turks live in the Turkish area),
+ other 4% (99.2% of the other ethnic groups live in the Greek area;
+ 0.8% of the other ethnic groups live in the Turkish area)
+
+ Religions: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian
+ Apostolic, and other 4%
+
+ Languages: Greek, Turkish, English
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1987 est.)
+ total population: 94%
+ male: 98%
+ female: 91%
+
+ Labor force:
+ Greek area: 285,500
+ by occupation: services 57%, industry 29%, agriculture 14% (1992)
+ Turkish area: 74,000
+ by occupation: services 52%, industry 23%, agriculture 25% (1992)
+
+@Cyprus:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
+ conventional short form: Cyprus
+ note: the Turkish area refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic" or
+ the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus"
+
+ Abbreviation: the Turkish area is sometimes referred to as the TRNC
+ which is short for "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus"
+
+ Digraph: CY
+
+ Type: republic
+ note: a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the
+ island began after the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this
+ separation was further solidified following the Turkish invasion of
+ the island in July 1974, which gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto
+ control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally
+ recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish Cypriot President
+ Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and the formation of a "Turkish
+ Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), which has been recognized only by
+ Turkey; both sides publicly call for the resolution of intercommunal
+ differences and creation of a new federal system of government
+
+ Capital: Nicosia
+ note: the Turkish area's capital is Lefkosa (Nicosia)
+
+ Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca,
+ Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish area administrative
+ divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and
+ small parts of Nicosia and Larnaca
+
+ Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK)
+ note: Turkish area proclaimed self-rule on NA February 1975 from
+ Republic of Cyprus
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October
+ note: Turkish area celebrates 15 November as Independence Day
+
+ Constitution: 16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a
+ new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better
+ relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held
+ intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own
+ Constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State
+ of Cyprus," which was renamed the "Turkish Republic of Northern
+ Cyprus" in 1983; a new Constitution for the Turkish area passed by
+ referendum on 5 May 1985
+
+ Legal system: based on common law, with civil law modifications
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Glafcos CLERIDES
+ (since 28 February 1993); election last held 14 February 1993 (next to
+ be held February 1998); results - Glafkos CLERIDES 50.3%, George
+ VASSILIOU 49.7%
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed jointly by the president and
+ vice-president
+ note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been president of the Turkish area since 13
+ February 1975; Hakki ATUN has been prime minister of the Turkish area
+ since 1 January 1994; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the
+ Turkish area; elections last held 15 and 22 April 1995 (next to be
+ held April 2000); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH 62.5%, Dervis EROGLU
+ 37.5%
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Greek area: House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon): elections
+ last held 19 May 1991 (next to be held NA); results - DISY 35.8%, AKEL
+ (Communist) 30.6%, DIKO 19.5%, EDEK 10.9%; others 3.2%; seats - (56
+ total) DISY 20, AKEL (Communist) 18, DIKO 11, EDEK 7
+ Turkish area: Assembly of the Republic (Cumhuriyet Meclisi): elections
+ last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA); results - UBP 29.9%,
+ DP 29.2%, CTP 24.2% TKP 13.3%, others 3.4%; seats - (50 total) UBP
+ (conservative) 15, DP 16, CTP 13, TKP 5, UDP 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court; note - there is also a Supreme Court
+ in the Turkish area
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ Greek area: Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL, Communist
+ Party), Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS; Democratic Rally (DISY), John MATSIS;
+ Democratic Party (DIKO), Spyros KYPRIANOU; United Democratic Union of
+ the Center (EDEK), Vassos LYSSARIDIS; Socialist Democratic Renewal
+ Movement (ADISOK), Mikhalis PAPAPETROU; Liberal Party, Nikos ROLANDIS;
+ Free Democrats, George VASSILIOU
+ Turkish area: National Unity Party (UBP), Dervis EROGLU; Communal
+ Liberation Party (TKP), Mustafa AKINCI; Republican Turkish Party
+ (CTP), Ozker OZGUR; New Cyprus Party (YKP), Alpay DURDURAN; Free
+ Democratic Party (HDP), Ismet KOTAK; National Justice Party (MAP),
+ Zorlu TORE; Unity and Sovereignty Party (BEP), Arif Salih KIRDAG;
+ Democratic Party (DP), Hakki ATUN; Fatherland Party (VP), Orhan UCOK;
+ National Birth Party (UDP); the HDP, MAP, and VP merged under the
+ label National Struggle Unity Party (MMBP) to compete in the 12
+ December 1993 legislative election
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: United Democratic Youth
+ Organization (EDON, Communist controlled); Union of Cyprus Farmers
+ (EKA, Communist controlled); Cyprus Farmers Union (PEK, pro-West);
+ Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation (PEO, Communist controlled);
+ Confederation of Cypriot Workers (SEK, pro-West); Federation of
+ Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions (Turk-Sen); Confederation of
+ Revolutionary Labor Unions (Dev-Is)
+
+ Member of: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer),
+ OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
+ WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Andreas J. JACOVIDES
+ chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+ note: Representative of the Turkish area in the US is Namik KORMAN,
+ office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC, telephone [1] (202)
+ 887-6198
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Richard A. BOUCHER
+ embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 4536 APO AE 09836
+ telephone: [357] (2) 476100
+ FAX: [357] (2) 465944
+
+ Flag: white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name
+ Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green
+ crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches
+ symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and
+ Turkish communities
+ note: the Turkish Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the top
+ and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on a white
+ field
+
+@Cyprus:Economy
+
+ Overview: The Greek Cypriot economy is small, diversified, and
+ prosperous. Industry contributes 14% to GDP and employs 29% of the
+ labor force, while the service sector contributes 53% to GDP and
+ employs 57% of the labor force. An average 6.8% rise in real GDP
+ between 1986 and 1990 was temporarily checked in 1991, because of the
+ adverse effects of the Gulf war on tourism. After surging 8.5% in
+ 1992, growth slowed to 2.0% in 1993 - its lowest level in two decades
+ - because of the decline in tourist arrivals associated with the
+ recession in Western Europe, Cyprus' main trading partner, and the
+ loss in export competitiveness due to a sharp rise in unit labor
+ costs. Real GDP is likely to have picked up in 1994, and inflation is
+ estimated to have risen to between 5% and 6%. The Turkish Cypriot
+ economy has less than one-third the per capita GDP of the south.
+ Because it is recognized only by Turkey, it has had much difficulty
+ arranging foreign financing, and foreign firms have hesitated to
+ invest there. The economy remains heavily dependent on agriculture,
+ which employs one-quarter of the work force. Moreover, because the
+ Turkish lira is legal tender, the Turkish Cypriot economy has suffered
+ the same high inflation as mainland Turkey. The small, vulnerable
+ economy is estimated to have experienced a sharp drop in growth during
+ 1994 because of the severe economic crisis affecting the mainland. To
+ compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides direct and
+ indirect aid to nearly every sector; financial support has risen in
+ value to about one-third of Turkish Cypriot GDP.
+
+ National product:
+ Greek area: GDP - purchasing power parity - $7.3 billion (1994 est.)
+ Turkish area: GDP - purchasing power parity - $510 million (1994 est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate:
+ Greek area: 5% (1994 est.)
+ Turkish area: -4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita:
+ Greek area: $12,500 (1994 est.)
+ Turkish area: $3,500 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices):
+ Greek area: 4.8% (1993)
+ Turkish area: 63.4% (1992)
+
+ Unemployment rate:
+ Greek area: 2.3% (1993)
+ Turkish area: 1.2% (1992)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: Greek area - $1.8 billion Turkish area - $285 million
+ expenditures: Greek area - $2.4 billion, including capital
+ expenditures of $400 million Turkish area - $377 million, including
+ capital expenditures of $80 million (1995 est.)
+
+ Exports: $868 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and
+ shoes
+ partners: UK 18%, Greece 9%, Lebanon 14%, Germany 6%
+
+ Imports: $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed
+ grains, machinery
+ partners: UK 13%, Japan 9%, Italy 10%, Germany 8%, US 8%
+
+ External debt: $2.4 billion (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 0.1% (1993); accounts for 14% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 550,000 kW
+ production: 2.3 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,903 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products,
+ tourism, wood products
+
+ Agriculture: contributes 6% to GDP and employs 25% of labor force in
+ the south; major crops - potatoes, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives,
+ citrus fruits; vegetables and fruit provide 25% of export revenues
+
+ Illicit drugs: transit point for heroin via air routes and container
+ traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $292 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $250 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $62 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $24 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Cypriot pound (#C) = 100 cents; 1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100
+ kurus
+
+ Exchange rates: Cypriot pounds per $US1 - 0.4725 (January 1995),
+ 0.4915 (1994), 0.4970 (1993), 0.4502 (1992), 0.4615 (1991), 0.4572
+ (1990); Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 37,444.1 (December 1994),
+ 29,608.7 (1994), 10,984.6 (1993), 6,872.4 (1992), 4,171.8 (1991),
+ 2,608.6 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Cyprus:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ Greek area: *** No data for this item ***
+ total: 10,448 km
+ paved: 5,694 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 4,754 km (1992)
+ Turkish area: *** No data for this item ***
+ total: 6,116 km
+ paved: 5,278 km
+ unpaved: 838 km
+
+ Ports: Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos Bay
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1,446 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,911,818
+ GRT/39,549,216 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 473, cargo 530, chemical tanker 28, combination
+ bulk 55, combination ore/oil 24, container 92, liquefied gas tanker 3,
+ multifunction large-load carrier 5, oil tanker 120, passenger 5,
+ passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 58,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 33, short-sea passenger 14, specialized tanker
+ 2, vehicle carrier 2
+ note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 48 countries among
+ which are ships of Greece 705, Germany 174, Russia 56, Netherlands 45,
+ Japan 27, Belgium 25, UK 21, Spain 17, Switzerland 14, Hong Kong 13
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 15
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 4
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Cyprus:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 210,000 telephones; excellent in both the area
+ controlled by the Cypriot Government (Greek area), and in the
+ Turkish-Cypriot administered area; largely open-wire and microwave
+ radio relay
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay
+ international: international service by tropospheric scatter, 3
+ submarine cables, and 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
+ and 1 EUTELSAT earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ Greek sector: NA
+ broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 8, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+ Turkish sector: NA
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ Greek sector: NA
+ broadcast stations: 1 (repeaters 34)
+ televisions: NA
+ Turkish sector: NA
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Cyprus:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches:
+ Greek area: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes air and naval
+ elements), Greek Cypriot Police
+ Turkish area: Turkish Cypriot Security Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 188,231; males fit for military
+ service 129,397; males reach military age (18) annually 5,467 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $457 million, 5.6% of
+ GDP (1995)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+CZECH REPUBLIC
+
+@Czech Republic:Geography
+
+ Location: Central Europe, southeast of Germany
+
+ Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 78,703 sq km
+ land area: 78,645 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,880 km, Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km,
+ Poland 658 km, Slovakia 214 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: Liechtenstein claims restitution for l,600
+ square kilometers of Czech territory confiscated from its royal family
+ in 1918; Sudeten German claims for restitution of property confiscated
+ in connection with their expulsion after World War II versus the Czech
+ Republic claims that restitution does not preceed before February 1948
+ when the Communists seized power; unresolved property issues with
+ Slovakia over redistribution of property of the former Czechoslovak
+ federal government
+
+ Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
+
+ Terrain: two main regions: Bohemia in the west, consisting of rolling
+ plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; and Moravia
+ in the east, consisting of very hilly country
+
+ Natural resources: hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: NA%
+ permanent crops: NA%
+ meadows and pastures: NA%
+ forest and woodland: NA%
+ other: NA%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia
+ centered around Zeplica and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present
+ health risks; acid rain damaging forests
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty,
+ Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
+ Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air
+ Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: landlocked; strategically located astride some of oldest and
+ most significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditional
+ military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in
+ central Europe
+
+@Czech Republic:People
+
+ Population: 10,432,774 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 19% (female 981,918; male 1,030,003)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 3,529,411; male 3,530,112)
+ 65 years and over: 13% (female 848,599; male 512,731) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.26% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 13.46 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 10.85 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 73.54 years
+ male: 69.87 years
+ female: 77.41 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.84 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Czech(s)
+ adjective: Czech
+ note: 300,000 Slovaks declared themselves Czech citizens in 1994
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Czech 94.4%, Slovak 3%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%,
+ Gypsy 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 1%
+
+ Religions: atheist 39.8%, Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%,
+ Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%
+
+ Languages: Czech, Slovak
+
+ Literacy: can read and write
+ total population: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 5.389 million
+ by occupation: industry 37.9%, agriculture 8.1%, construction 8.8%,
+ communications and other 45.2% (1990)
+
+@Czech Republic:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Czech Republic
+ conventional short form: Czech Republic
+ local long form: Ceska Republika
+ local short form: Cechy
+
+ Digraph: EZ
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Prague
+
+ Administrative divisions: 8 regions (kraje, kraj - singular);
+ Jihocesky, Jihomoravsky, Praha, Severocesky, Severomoravsky,
+ Stredocesky, Vychodocesky, Zapadocesky
+
+ Independence: 1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)
+
+ National holiday: National Liberation Day, 9 May; Founding of the
+ Republic, 28 October
+
+ Constitution: ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993
+
+ Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has
+ not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring
+ it in line with Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe
+ (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Vaclav HAVEL (since 26 January 1993);
+ election last held 26 January 1993 (next to be held NA January 1998);
+ results - Vaclav HAVEL elected by the National Council
+ head of government: Prime Minister Vaclav KLAUS (since NA June 1992);
+ Deputy Prime Ministers Ivan KOCARNIK, Josef LUX, Jan KALVODA (since NA
+ June 1992)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on recommendation of the
+ prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral National Council (Narodni rada)
+ Senate: elections not yet held; seats (81 total)
+ Chamber of Deputies: elections last held 5-6 June 1992 (next to be
+ held NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA given breakup and
+ realignment of all parliamentary opposition parties since 1992; seats
+ - (200 total) governing coalition: ODS 65, KDS 10, ODA 16, KDU-CSL 15,
+ opposition: CSSD 18, LB 25, KSCM 10, LSU 9, LSNS 5, CMSS 9, SPR-RSC 6,
+ independents 12
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Constitutional Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ governing coalition: Civic Democratic Party (ODS), Vaclav KLAUS,
+ chairman; Christian Democratic Party (KDS), Ivan PILIP, chairman;
+ Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), Jan KALVODA, chairman; Christian
+ Democratic Union/Czech People's Party (KDU-CSL), Josef LUX, chairman
+ opposition: Czech Social Democrats (CSSD - left opposition), Milos
+ ZEMAN, chairman; Left Bloc (LB - left opposition), Marie STIBOROVA,
+ chairman; Communist Party (KSCM - left opposition), Miroslav
+ GREBENICEK, chairman; Liberal Social Union (LSU - left opposition),
+ Frantisek TRNKA, chairman; Liberal National Social Party (LSNS -
+ center party), Pavel HIRS, chairman; Bohemian-Moravian Center Party
+ (CMSS - center party), Jan KYCER, chairman; Assembly for the Republic
+ (SPR-RSC - right radical) , Miroslav SLADEK, chairman
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Czech-Moravian Chamber of Trade
+ Unions; Civic Movement
+
+ Member of: Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE (guest), CEI, CERN, EBRD,
+ ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
+ IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
+ NACC, NSG, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIL, UNOMOZ,
+ UNPROFOR, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Michael ZANTOVSKY
+ chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 363-6315, 6316
+ FAX: [1] (202) 966-8540
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Adrian A. BASORA
+ embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1
+ mailing address: Unit 1330; APO AE 09213-1330
+ telephone: [42] (2) 2451-0847
+ FAX: [42] (2) 2451-1001
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue
+ isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (almost identical to the
+ flag of the former Czechoslovakia)
+
+@Czech Republic:Economy
+
+ Overview: The government of the Czech Republic, using successful
+ stabilization policies to bolster its claims to full membership in the
+ western economic community, has reduced inflation to 10%, kept
+ unemployment at 3%, balanced the budget, run trade surpluses, and
+ reoriented exports to the EU since the breakup of the Czechoslovak
+ federation on 1 January 1993. GDP grew 2% in 1994 after stagnating in
+ 1993 and contracting nearly 20% since 1990. Prague's mass
+ privatization program, including its innovative distribution of
+ ownership shares to Czech citizens via 'coupon vouchers,' has made the
+ most rapid progress in Eastern Europe. When coupon shares are
+ distributed in early 1995, 75%-80% of the economy will be in private
+ hands or partially privatized, according to the Czech government.
+ Privatized companies still face major problems in restructuring; the
+ number of annual bankruptcies quadrupled in 1994. In September 1994,
+ Prague repaid $471 million in IMF loans five years ahead of schedule,
+ making the Czech Republic the first East European country to pay off
+ all IMF debts. Despite these outlays, hard-currency reserves in the
+ banking system totaled more than $8.5 billion in October. Standard &
+ Poor's boosted the Republic's credit rating to BBB+ in mid-1994 - up
+ from a BBB rating that was already two steps higher than Hungary's and
+ one step above Greece's rating. Prague forecasts a balanced budget, at
+ least 3% GDP growth, 5% unemployment, and single-digit inflation for
+ 1995. Inflationary pressures - primarily as a result of foreign bank
+ lending to Czech enterprises but perhaps also due to eased currency
+ convertibility controls - are likely to be the most troublesome issues
+ in 1995. Continuing economic recovery in Western Europe should boost
+ Czech exports and production but a substantial increase in prices
+ could erode the Republic's comparative advantage in low wages and
+ exchange rates. Prague already took steps in 1994 to increase control
+ over banking policies to neutralize the impact of foreign inflows on
+ the money supply. Although Czech unemployment is currently the lowest
+ in Central Europe, it will probably increase 1-2 percentage points in
+ 1995 as large state firms go bankrupt or are restructured and service
+ sector growth slows.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $76.5 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $7,350 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.2% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 3.2% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $14 billion
+ expenditures: $13.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $13.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,
+ chemicals, fuels, minerals, metals, agricultural products
+ (January-November 1994)
+ partners: Germany 28.7%, Slovakia 15.5%, Austria 7.9%, Italy 6.4%,
+ France 3.2%, Russia 3.2%, Poland 3.1%, UK 2.9%, Netherlands 2.4%,
+ Hungary 2.2%, US 2.1%, Belgium 1.3% (January-June 1994)
+
+ Imports: $13.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
+ chemicals, fuels and lubricants, raw materials, agricultural products
+ (January-November 1994)
+ partners: Germany 24.1%, Slovakia 15.6%, Russia 9.8%, Austria 7.6%,
+ Italy 4.9%, France 3.6%, US 3.2%, Netherlands 2.9%, UK 2.8%, Poland
+ 2.7%, Switzerland 2.2%, Belgium 2.0% (January-June 1994)
+
+ External debt: $8.7 billion (October 1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 4.9% (January-September 1994)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 14.470,000 kW
+ production: 56.3 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 4,842 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: fuels, ferrous metallurgy, machinery and equipment, coal,
+ motor vehicles, glass, armaments
+
+ Agriculture: largely self-sufficient in food production; diversified
+ crop and livestock production, including grains, potatoes, sugar
+ beets, hops, fruit, hogs, cattle, and poultry; exporter of forest
+ products
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and
+ Latin American cocaine to Western Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: 1.4 million annually to IMF beginning in 1994
+
+ Currency: 1 koruna (Kc) = 100 haleru
+
+ Exchange rates: koruny (Kcs) per US$1 - 27.762 (January 1995), 28.785
+ (1994), 29.153 (1993), 28.26 (1992), 29.53 (1991), 17.95 (1990)
+ note: values before 1993 reflect Czechoslovak exchange rates
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Czech Republic:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 9,434 km (include 1.520-m broad, 1.435-m standard, and several
+ narrow gauges) (1988)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 55,890 km (1988)
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Inland waterways: NA km; the Elbe (Labe) is the principal river
+
+ Pipelines: natural gas 5,400 km
+
+ Ports: Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 181,646 GRT/282,296 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 9
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 116
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 10
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 32
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 41
+
+@Czech Republic:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM, FM, shortwave
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Czech Republic:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense, Railroad
+ Units
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,753,301; males fit for
+ military service 2,095,661; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 91,177 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: 27 billion koruny, NA% of GNP (1994 est.); note
+ - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current
+ exchange rate could produce misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+DENMARK
+
+@Denmark:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea,
+ on a peninsula north of Germany
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 43,070 sq km
+ land area: 42,370 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Massachusetts
+ note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest
+ of metropolitan Denmark, but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland
+
+ Land boundaries: total 68 km, Germany 68 km
+
+ Coastline: 3,379 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 4 nm
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving
+ Iceland, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a
+ boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
+
+ Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool
+ summers
+
+ Terrain: low and flat to gently rolling plains
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 61%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 6%
+ forest and woodland: 12%
+ other: 21%
+
+ Irrigated land: 4,300 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution, principally from vehicle emissions;
+ nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and
+ surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes
+ natural hazards: flooding is a threat in some areas of the country
+ (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of
+ Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty,
+ Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
+ Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
+ Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
+ Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
+ ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
+ Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of
+ the Sea
+
+ Note: controls Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas; about
+ one-quarter of the population lives in Copenhagen
+
+@Denmark:People
+
+ Population: 5,199,437 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 17% (female 430,598; male 451,993)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 1,731,531; male 1,780,083)
+ 65 years and over: 15% (female 473,537; male 331,695) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.22% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 12.38 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 11.14 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 76.11 years
+ male: 73.23 years
+ female: 79.16 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.69 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Dane(s)
+ adjective: Danish
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Scandinavian, Eskimo, Faroese, German
+
+ Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 91%, other Protestant and Roman
+ Catholic 2%, other 7% (1988)
+
+ Languages: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Eskimo dialect), German
+ (small minority)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
+ total population: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 2,553,900
+ by occupation: private services 37.1%, government services 30.4%,
+ manufacturing and mining 20%, construction 6.3%, agriculture,
+ forestry, and fishing 5.6%, electricity/gas/water 0.6% (1991)
+
+@Denmark:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark
+ conventional short form: Denmark
+ local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
+ local short form: Danmark
+
+ Digraph: DA
+
+ Type: constitutional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Copenhagen
+
+ Administrative divisions: metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter,
+ singular - amt) and 1 city* (stad); Arhus, Bornholm, Frederiksborg,
+ Fyn, Kbenhavn, Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkbing, Roskilde, Snderjylland,
+ Staden Kbenhavn*, Storstrm, Vejle, Vestsjaelland, Viborg
+ note: see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which
+ are part of the Danish realm and self-governing administrative
+ divisions
+
+ Independence: 1849 (became a constitutional monarchy)
+
+ National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
+
+ Constitution: 5 June 1953
+
+ Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts;
+ accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since NA January 1972); Heir
+ Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the Queen (born 26 May
+ 1968)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN (since NA
+ January 1993)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the monarch
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Parliament (Folketing): elections last held 21 September 1994 (next to
+ be held by December 1998); results - Social Democrats 34.6%, Liberals
+ 23.3%, Conservatives 15.0%, Social People's Party 7.3%, Progress Party
+ 6.4%, Radical Liberals 4.6%, Unity Party 3.1%, Center Democrats 2.8%,
+ Christian People's Party 1.8%; seats - (179 total) Social Democrats
+ 63, Liberals 44, Conservatives 28, Social People's Party 13, Progress
+ Party 11, Radical Liberals 8, Unity Party 6, Center Democrats 5,
+ independent 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party, Poul Nyrup
+ RASMUSSEN; Conservative Party, Hans ENGELL; Liberal Party, Uffe
+ ELLEMANN-JENSEN; Socialist People's Party, Holger K. NIELSEN; Progress
+ Party, Group Chairman Kim BEHNKE and Policy Spokesman Jan Kopke
+ CHRISTENSEN; Center Democratic Party, Mimi Stilling JAKOBSEN; Radical
+ Liberal Party, Marianne JELVED; Christian People's Party, Jann
+ SJURSEN; Common Course, Preben Moller HANSEN; Danish Workers' Party;
+ Unity Party
+
+ Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC,
+ CE, CERN, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G- 9, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO,
+ NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
+ UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU,
+ WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Peter Pedersen DYVIG (Knud-Erik TYGESEN
+ is Ambassador Elect for 1995)
+ chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300
+ FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470
+ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. ELSON
+ embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen O
+ mailing address: APO AE 09716
+ telephone: [45] (31) 42 31 44
+ FAX: [45] (35) 43 02 23
+
+ Flag: red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag;
+ the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side, and that
+ design element of the DANNEBROG (Danish flag) was subsequently adopted
+ by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
+
+@Denmark:Economy
+
+ Overview: This thoroughly modern economy features high-tech
+ agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive
+ government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, and high
+ dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is self-sufficient in food
+ production. The new center-left coalition government will concentrate
+ on reducing the persistent high unemployment rate and the budget
+ deficit as well as following the previous government's policies of
+ maintaining low inflation and a current account surplus. In the face
+ of recent international market pressure on the Danish krone, the
+ coalition has also vowed to maintain a stable currency. The coalition
+ hopes to lower marginal income taxes while maintaining overall tax
+ revenues; boost industrial competitiveness through labor market and
+ tax reforms and increased research and development funds; and improve
+ welfare services for the neediest while cutting paperwork and delays.
+ Prime Minister RASMUSSEN's reforms will focus on adapting Denmark to
+ the criteria for European integration by 1999; although Copenhagen has
+ won from the European Union (EU) the right to opt out of the European
+ Monetary Union (EMU) if a national referendum rejects it. Denmark is,
+ in fact, one of the few EU countries likely to fit into the EMU on
+ time. Denmark is weathering the current worldwide slump better than
+ many West European countries. After posting 4.5% real GDP growth in
+ 1994, Copenhagen is predicting a continued strong showing in 1995,
+ with real GDP up by 3.2%. The government expects an upswing in
+ business investment in 1995 to drive economic growth. Although
+ unemployment is high, it remains stable compared to most European
+ countries.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $103 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $19,860 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 12.3% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $56.5 billion
+ expenditures: $64.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $42.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: meat and meat products, dairy products, transport
+ equipment (shipbuilding), fish, chemicals, industrial machinery
+ partners: EC 54.3% (Germany 23.6%, UK 10.1%, France 5.7%), Sweden
+ 10.5%, Norway 5.8%, US 4.9%, Japan 3.6% (1992)
+
+ Imports: $37.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum, machinery and equipment, chemicals, grain and
+ foodstuffs, textiles, paper
+ partners: EC 53.4% (Germany 23.1%, UK 8.2%, France 5.6%), Sweden
+ 10.8%, Norway 5.4%, US 5.7%, Japan 4.1% (1992)
+
+ External debt: $40.9 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -2.5% (1993 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 10,030,000 kW
+ production: 32 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 5,835 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and
+ clothing, chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture, and
+ other wood products, shipbuilding
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP; principal products - meat, dairy,
+ grain, potatoes, rape, sugar beets, fish
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $5.9 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
+
+ Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.034 (January 1995),
+ 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991), 6.189 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Denmark:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 2,838 km (494 km privately owned and operated)
+ standard gauge: 2,838 km 1.435-m gauge (440 km electrified; 760 km
+ double track) (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 71,042 km
+ paved: concrete, asphalt, stone block 71,042 km (696 km of
+ expressways)
+
+ Inland waterways: 417 km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 110 km; petroleum products 578 km; natural gas
+ 700 km
+
+ Ports: Alborg, Arhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Grenaa, Koge,
+ Odense, Struer
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 345 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,005,470 GRT/6,974,750
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 17, cargo 109, chemical tanker 24, combination
+ bulk 1, container 61, liquefied gas tanker 32, livestock carrier 4,
+ oil tanker 32, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 18,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 35, short-sea passenger 11
+ note: Denmark has created its own internal register, called the Danish
+ International Ship register (DIS); DIS ships do not have to meet
+ Danish manning regulations, and they amount to a flag of convenience
+ within the Danish register
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 118
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 13
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 85
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
+
+@Denmark:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 4,509,000 telephones; excellent telephone and
+ telegraph services; buried and submarine cables and microwave radio
+ relay support trunk network
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay
+ international: 19 submarine coaxial cables; 7 INTELSAT, EUTELSAT, and
+ INMARSAT earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 50
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Denmark:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air
+ Force, Home Guard
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,347,774; males fit for
+ military service 1,158,223; males reach military age (20) annually
+ 36,191 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.7 billion, 1.9% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+DJIBOUTI
+
+@Djibouti:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea,
+ between Eritrea and Somalia
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 22,000 sq km
+ land area: 21,980 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts
+
+ Land boundaries: total 508 km, Eritrea 113 km, Ethiopia 337 km,
+ Somalia 58 km
+
+ Coastline: 314 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: desert; torrid, dry
+
+ Terrain: coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
+
+ Natural resources: geothermal areas
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 9%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 91%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification
+ natural hazards: earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic
+ disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species,
+ Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Climate
+ Change, Desertification
+
+ Note: strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close
+ to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; a vast
+ wasteland
+
+@Djibouti:People
+
+ Population: 421,320 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 43% (female 90,070; male 90,631)
+ 15-64 years: 55% (female 108,824; male 121,715)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 4,900; male 5,180) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.48% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 42.79 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 15.51 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -12.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 108.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 49.7 years
+ male: 47.83 years
+ female: 51.62 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.15 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Djiboutian(s)
+ adjective: Djiboutian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and
+ Italian 5%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
+
+ Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 48%
+ male: 63%
+ female: 34%
+
+@Djibouti:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti
+ conventional short form: Djibouti
+ former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas French Somaliland
+
+ Digraph: DJ
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Djibouti
+
+ Administrative divisions: 5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle);
+ 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
+
+ Independence: 27 June 1977 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
+
+ Constitution: multiparty constitution approved in referendum 4
+ September 1992
+
+ Legal system: based on French civil law system, traditional practices,
+ and Islamic law
+
+ Suffrage: universal adult at age NA
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President HASSAN GOULED Aptidon (since 24 June 1977);
+ election last held 7 May 1993 (next to be held NA 1999); results -
+ President Hassan GOULED Aptidon was reelected
+ head of government: Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30
+ September 1978)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; responsible to the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Deputes): elections last held 18
+ December 1992; results - RPP (the ruling party) dominated; seats - (65
+ total) RPP 65
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ ruling party: People's Progress Assembly (RPP), Hassan GOULED Aptidon
+ other parties: Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Mohamed Jama ELABE;
+ Democratic National Party (PND), ADEN Robleh Awaleh
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Front for the Restoration of Unity
+ and Democracy (FRUD) and affiliates; Movement for Unity and Democracy
+ (MUD)
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Roble OLHAYE
+ chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
+ telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270
+ FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Martin L. CHESHES
+ embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti
+ mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti
+ telephone: [253] 35 39 95
+ FAX: [253] 35 39 40
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green
+ with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red
+ five-pointed star in the center
+
+@Djibouti:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is based on service activities connected with
+ the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in
+ northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital
+ city, the remainder being mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall
+ limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must be
+ imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the
+ region and an international transshipment and refueling center. It has
+ few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore,
+ heavily dependent on foreign assistance (an important supplement to
+ GDP) to help support its balance of payments and to finance
+ development projects. An unemployment rate of over 30% continues to be
+ a major problem. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over
+ the last six years because of recession, civil war, and a high
+ population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees).
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $500 million (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -3% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,200 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: over 30% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $164 million
+ expenditures: $201 million, including capital expenditures of $16
+ million (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $184 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
+ partners: Somalia 48%, Yemen 42%
+
+ Imports: $384 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals,
+ petroleum products
+ partners: France, UK, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, South Korea
+
+ External debt: $227 million (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 3% (1991 est.); accounts for 14% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 90,000 kW
+ production: 170 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 398 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as dairy
+ products and mineral-water bottling
+
+ Agriculture: mostly fruit and vegetables; herding of goats, sheep, and
+ camels
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY78-89), $39 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, including ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $1.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89),
+ $149 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $35 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1 - 177.721 (fixed rate
+ since 1973)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Djibouti:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 97 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
+ narrow gauge: 97 km 1.000-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 2,900 km
+ paved: 280 km
+ unpaved: improved, unimproved earth 2,620 km (1982)
+
+ Ports: Djibouti
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 13
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
+
+@Djibouti:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; telephone facilities in the city of
+ Djibouti are adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to
+ outlying areas of the country
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay network
+ international: international connections via submarine cable to Saudi
+ Arabia and by satellite link to other countries; 1 INTELSAT (Indian
+ Ocean) and 1 ARABSAT earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Djibouti:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force),
+ National Security Force (Force Nationale de Securite), National Police
+ Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 101,385; males fit for military
+ service 59,337 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $26 million, NA% of
+ GDP (1989)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+DOMINICA
+
+@Dominica:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North
+ Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad
+ and Tobago
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 750 sq km
+ land area: 750 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of
+ Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 148 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
+
+ Terrain: rugged mountains of volcanic origin
+
+ Natural resources: timber
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 9%
+ permanent crops: 13%
+ meadows and pastures: 3%
+ forest and woodland: 41%
+ other: 34%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat; destructive
+ hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
+ Whaling
+
+@Dominica:People
+
+ Population: 82,608 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 29% (female 11,665; male 12,130)
+ 15-64 years: 64% (female 25,606; male 26,890)
+ 65 years and over: 7% (female 3,724; male 2,593) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.4% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 18.63 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.33 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -9.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 77.2 years
+ male: 74.35 years
+ female: 80.2 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.95 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Dominican(s)
+ adjective: Dominican
+
+ Ethnic divisions: black, Carib Indians
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%,
+ Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none
+ 2%, unknown 1%, other 5%
+
+ Languages: English (official), French patois
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970)
+ total population: 94%
+ male: 94%
+ female: 94%
+
+ Labor force: 25,000
+ by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services
+ 28% (1984)
+
+@Dominica:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica
+ conventional short form: Dominica
+
+ Digraph: DO
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Roseau
+
+ Administrative divisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David,
+ Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint
+ Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter
+
+ Independence: 3 November 1978 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
+
+ Constitution: 3 November 1978
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO (since 25 October
+ 1993) election last held 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October
+ 1998); results - President Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO was elected by the
+ House of Assembly to a five-year term
+ head of government: Prime Minister (Mary) Eugenia CHARLES (since 21
+ July 1980, elected for a third term 28 May 1990)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on the advice of the
+ prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ House of Assembly: elections last held 28 May 1990 (next to be held by
+ October 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30
+ total; 9 appointed senators and 21 elected representatives) DFP 11,
+ UWP 6, DLP 4
+
+ Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), Brian
+ ALLEYNE; Dominica Labor Party (DLP), Rosie DOUGLAS; United Workers
+ Party (UWP), Edison JAMES
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Dominica Liberation Movement
+ (DLM), a small leftist group
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD,
+ ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, NAM
+ (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
+ WHO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: Dominica has no embassy in the US
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation: no official presence since the
+ Ambassador resides in Bridgetown (Barbados), but travels frequently to
+ Dominica
+
+ Flag: green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical
+ part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - the horizontal part is
+ yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the
+ cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green
+ five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10
+ administrative divisions (parishes)
+
+@Dominica:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is dependent on agriculture and thus is highly
+ vulnerable to climatic conditions. Agriculture accounts for about 30%
+ of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Principal products include
+ bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, and coconuts. Development of the
+ tourist industry remains difficult because of the rugged coastline and
+ the lack of an international airport. In 1994 a tropical storm
+ devastated the banana industry.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $200 million (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 1.6% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,260 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $70 million
+ expenditures: $84 million, including capital expenditures of $26
+ million (FY90/91 est.)
+
+ Exports: $48.3 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
+ partners: UK 55%, CARICOM countries, Italy, US
+
+ Imports: $98.8 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food,
+ chemicals
+ partners: US 25%, CARICOM, UK, Japan, Canada
+
+ External debt: $92.8 million (1992)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -10% (1994 est.); accounts for 7%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 7,000 kW
+ production: 30 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 347 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement
+ blocks, shoes
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP; principal crops - bananas,
+ citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts; bananas provide the bulk of
+ export earnings; forestry and fisheries potential not exploited
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and
+ Europe; minor cannabis producer
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $120 million
+
+ Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed
+ rate since 1976)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Dominica:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 750 km
+ paved: 370 km
+ unpaved: gravel or earth 380 km
+
+ Ports: Portsmouth, Roseau
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+
+@Dominica:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 4,600 telephones; fully automatic network
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: SHF radio and microwave radio relay links to Martinique
+ and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radio links to Saint Lucia
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1 cable
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Dominica:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Special
+ Service Unit, Coast Guard)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
+
+@Dominican Republic:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola,
+ between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 48,730 sq km
+ land area: 48,380 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
+
+ Land boundaries: total 275 km, Haiti 275 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,288 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 6 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation;
+ seasonal variation in rainfall
+
+ Terrain: rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys
+ interspersed
+
+ Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 23%
+ permanent crops: 7%
+ meadows and pastures: 43%
+ forest and woodland: 13%
+ other: 14%
+
+ Irrigated land: 2,250 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages
+ coral reefs; deforestation
+ natural hazards: occasional hurricanes (July to October)
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine
+ Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
+ Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is
+ the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)
+
+@Dominican Republic:People
+
+ Population: 7,511,263 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 35% (female 1,288,210; male 1,336,162)
+ 15-64 years: 61% (female 2,246,791; male 2,312,555)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 178,388; male 149,157) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.17% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 23.92 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.15 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -6.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 49.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 68.73 years
+ male: 66.57 years
+ female: 70.99 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.72 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Dominican(s)
+ adjective: Dominican
+
+ Ethnic divisions: white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
+
+ Languages: Spanish
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 83%
+ male: 85%
+ female: 82%
+
+ Labor force: 2.3 million to 2.6 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 49%, services 33%, industry 18% (1986)
+
+@Dominican Republic:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Dominican Republic
+ conventional short form: none
+ local long form: Republica Dominicana
+ local short form: none
+
+ Digraph: DR
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Santo Domingo
+
+ Administrative divisions: 29 provinces (provincias, singular -
+ provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona,
+ Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat,
+ Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria
+ Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata,
+ Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez,
+ San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago
+ Rodriguez, Valverde
+
+ Independence: 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
+
+ Constitution: 28 November 1966
+
+ Legal system: based on French civil codes
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory or married persons
+ regardless of age
+ note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Joaquin BALAGUER
+ Ricardo (since 16 August 1986, sixth elected term began 16 August
+ 1994); Vice President Jacinto PEYNADO (since 16 August 1994) election
+ last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held May 1996); results - Joaquin
+ BALAGUER (PRSC) 42.6%, Juan BOSCH Gavino (PLD) 13.2%, Jose Francisco
+ PENA Gomez (PRD) 41.9%, Jacobo MAJLUTA (PRI) 2.3%
+ cabinet: Cabinet; nominated by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
+ Senate (Senado): elections last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held May
+ 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30 total) PRSC
+ 15, PLD 1, PRD 14
+ Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): elections last held 16 May
+ 1994 (next to be held May 1998); results - percent of vote by party
+ NA; seats - (120 total) PLD 13, PRSC 50, PRD 57
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ major parties: Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Joaquin
+ BALAGUER Ricardo; Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), (vacant following
+ retirement of Juan BOSCH Gavino); Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD),
+ Jose Franciso PENA Gomez; Independent Revolutionary Party (PRI),
+ Jacobo MAJLUTA
+ minor parties: National Veterans and Civilian Party (PNVC), Juan Rene
+ BEAUCHAMPS Javier; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic (PLRD),
+ Andres Van Der HORST; Democratic Quisqueyan Party (PQD), Elias WESSIN
+ Chavez; National Progressive Force (FNP), Marino VINICIO Castillo;
+ Popular Christian Party (PPC), Rogelio DELGADO Bogaert; Dominican
+ Communist Party (PCD), Narciso ISA Conde; Dominican Workers' Party
+ (PTD), Ivan RODRIGUEZ; Anti-Imperialist Patriotic Union (UPA), Ignacio
+ RODRIGUEZ Chiappini; Alliance for Democracy Party (APD), Maximilano
+ Rabelais PUIG Miller, Nelsida MARMOLEJOS, Vicente BENGOA; Democratic
+ Union (UD), Fernando ALVAREZ Bogaert
+ note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to
+ form the Dominican Leftist Front (FID); however, they still retain
+ individual party structures
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Collective of Popular Organzations
+ (COP), leader NA
+
+ Member of: ACP, CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT,
+ IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
+ IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM
+ (guest), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
+ WHO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Jose del Carmen ARIZA Gomez
+ chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280
+ FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057
+ consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto
+ Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and
+ San Juan (Puerto Rico)
+ consulate(s): Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston,
+ Jacksonville, Minneapolis, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico)
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Donna Jean HRINAK
+ embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo
+ Navarro, Santo Domingo
+ mailing address: Unit 5500, Santo Domingo; APO AA 34041
+ telephone: [1] (809) 541-2171, 8100
+ FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437
+
+ Flag: a centered white cross that extends to the edges, divides the
+ flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and
+ red, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of
+ arms is at the center of the cross
+
+@Dominican Republic:Economy
+
+ Overview: The Dominican economy showed some signs of slippage in 1994,
+ although its overall performance in recent years has been relatively
+ strong. After posting an increase of nearly 8% in 1992, GDP growth
+ fell to 3% in 1993 and 1994 as mining output decreased and erosion of
+ real wages caused private consumption to decline. A pre-election boost
+ in government spending in early 1994 led to the first government
+ deficit in four years and bumped inflation up to 14% for the year.
+ Continued dynamism in construction and the services sector, especially
+ tourism, should keep the economy growing in 1995. Tourism,
+ agriculture, and manufacturing for export remain key sectors of the
+ economy. Domestic industry is based on the processing of agricultural
+ products, oil refining, and chemicals.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $24 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.9% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $3,070 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 30% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.8 billion
+ expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $585 million (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: ferronickel, sugar, gold, coffee, cocoa
+ partners: US 52%, EC 23%, Puerto Rico 9%, Asia 7% (1992)
+
+ Imports: $2.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and
+ pharmaceuticals
+ partners: US 60% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $4.3 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 3.4% (1994); accounts for 14% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,450,000 kW
+ production: 5.4 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 651 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining,
+ textiles, cement, tobacco
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GDP and employs 49% of labor force;
+ commercial crops - sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, and tobacco; food
+ crops - rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; animal output - cattle,
+ hogs, dairy products, meat, eggs; not self-sufficient in food
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined
+ for the US and Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-89), $575 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $655 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos
+
+ Exchange rates: Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1 - 13.258 (January
+ 1995), 13.160 (1994), 12.679 (1993), 12.774 (1992), 12.692 (1991),
+ 8.525 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Dominican Republic:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,655 km (in numerous segments; includes 4 different gauges
+ from 0.558-m narrow gauge to 1.435-m standard gauge)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 12,000 km
+ paved: 5,800 km
+ unpaved: gravel or improved earth 5,600 km; unimproved earth 600 km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km
+
+ Ports: Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo
+ Domingo
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 36
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 16
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
+
+@Dominican Republic:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 190,000 telephones; relatively efficient domestic
+ system based on islandwide microwave radio relay network
+ local: NA
+ intercity: islandwide microwave radio relay network
+ international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean)
+ earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 120, FM 0, shortwave 6
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 18
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Dominican Republic:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,008,597; males fit for
+ military service 1,266,812; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 79,769 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $116 million, 1.4% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ECUADOR
+
+@Ecuador:Geography
+
+ Location: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the
+ Equator, between Colombia and Peru
+
+ Map references: South America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 283,560 sq km
+ land area: 276,840 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Nevada
+ note: includes Galapagos Islands
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,010 km, Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
+
+ Coastline: 2,237 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland and
+ Galapagos Islands
+ territorial sea: 200 nm
+
+ International disputes: three sections of the boundary with Peru are
+ in dispute
+
+ Climate: tropical along coast becoming cooler inland
+
+ Terrain: coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands
+ (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, fish, timber
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 6%
+ permanent crops: 3%
+ meadows and pastures: 17%
+ forest and woodland: 51%
+ other: 23%
+
+ Irrigated land: 5,500 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water
+ pollution
+ natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity;
+ periodic droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
+ Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
+ Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
+ Tropical Timber 94
+
+ Note: Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
+
+@Ecuador:People
+
+ Population: 10,890,950 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 36% (female 1,928,977; male 1,990,036)
+ 15-64 years: 60% (female 3,281,575; male 3,230,082)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 244,862; male 215,418) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.95% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 25.08 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.55 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 37.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 70.35 years
+ male: 67.83 years
+ female: 72.99 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.97 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Ecuadorian(s)
+ adjective: Ecuadorian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and Spanish) 55%, Indian 25%,
+ Spanish 10%, black 10%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
+
+ Languages: Spanish (official), Indian languages (especially Quechua)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 87%
+ male: 90%
+ female: 84%
+
+ Labor force: 2.8 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 35%, manufacturing 21%, commerce 16%,
+ services and other activities 28% (1982)
+
+@Ecuador:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
+ conventional short form: Ecuador
+ local long form: Republica del Ecuador
+ local short form: Ecuador
+
+ Digraph: EC
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Quito
+
+ Administrative divisions: 21 provinces (provincias, singular -
+ provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El
+ Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi,
+ Morona-Santiago, Napo, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios, Tungurahua,
+ Zamora-Chinchipe
+
+ Independence: 24 May 1822 (from Spain)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 10 August (1809) (independence of
+ Quito)
+
+ Constitution: 10 August 1979
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory
+ ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons
+ ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN
+ Cordovez (since 10 August 1992); Vice President Alberto DAHIK Garzoni
+ (since 10 August 1992); election runoff election held 5 July 1992
+ (next to be held NA 1996); results - Sixto DURAN-BALLEN elected as
+ president and Alberto DAHIK elected as vice president
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Congress (Congreso Nacional): elections last held 1 May 1994
+ (next to be held 1 May 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA;
+ seats - (77 total) PSC 25, PRE 11, MPD 8, ID 7, DP 7, PCE 7, PUR 2,
+ CFP 2, APRE 2, PSE 1, FRA 1, PLRE 1, LN 1, independents 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ Center-Right parties: Social Christian Party (PSC), Jaime NEBOT Saadi,
+ president; Republican Unity Party (PUR), President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN,
+ leader; Ecuadorian Conservative Party (PCE), Vice President Alberto
+ DAHIK, president
+ Center-Left parties: Democratic Left (ID), Andres VALLEJO Arcos,
+ Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos, leaders; Popular Democracy (DP), Rodrigo PAZ,
+ leader; Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party (PLRE), Medardo MORA, leader;
+ Radical Alfarista Front (FRA), Jaime ASPIAZU Seminario, director
+ populist parties: Roldista Party (PRE), Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz,
+ director; Concentration of Popular Forces (CFP), Rodolfo BAQUERIZO
+ Nazur, leader; Popular Revolutionary Action (APRE), Frank VARGAS
+ Passos, leader
+ Far-Left parties: Popular Democratic Movement (MPD), Juan Jose
+ CASTELLO, leader; Ecuadorian Socialist Party (PSE), Leon ROLDOS,
+ leader; Broad Leftist Front (FADI), Rene Mauge MOSQUERA, chairman;
+ Ecuadorian National Liberation (LN), Alfredo CASTILLO, director
+ Communists: Communist Party of Ecuador (PCE, pro-North Korea), Rene
+ Mauge MOSQUERA, Secretary General; Communist Party of
+ Ecuador/Marxist-Leninist (PCMLE, Maoist)
+
+ Member of: AG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
+ ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
+ IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Edgar TERAN Teran
+ chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
+ telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200
+ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
+ Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
+ consulate(s): Newark
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Peter F. ROMERO
+ embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito
+ mailing address: APO AA 34039-3420
+ telephone: [593] (2) 562-890, 561-624, 561-749
+ FAX: [593] (2) 502-052
+ consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
+
+ Flag: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and
+ red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag;
+ similar to the flag of Colombia that is shorter and does not bear a
+ coat of arms
+
+@Ecuador:Economy
+
+ Overview: Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural
+ areas. Growth has been uneven in recent years because of fluctuations
+ in prices for Ecuador's primary exports - oil and bananas - as well as
+ because of government policies designed to curb inflation. President
+ Sixto DURAN-BALLEN launched a series of macroeconomic reforms when he
+ came into office in August 1992 which included raising domestic fuel
+ prices and utility rates, eliminating most subsidies, and bringing the
+ government budget into balance. These measures helped to reduce
+ inflation from 55% in 1992 to 25% in 1994. DURAN-BALLEN has a much
+ more favorable attitude toward foreign investment than his predecessor
+ and has supported several laws designed to encourage foreign
+ investment. Ecuador has implemented free or complementary trade
+ agreements with Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela, as well
+ as applied for World Trade Organization membership. Ecuador signed a
+ standby agreement with the IMF and rescheduled its $7.6 billion
+ commercial debt in 1994 thereby regaining access to multilateral
+ lending. Growth in 1994 speeded up to 3.9%, based on increased exports
+ of bananas and non-traditional products, while international reserves
+ increased to a record $1.6 billion.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $41.1 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3.9% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $3,840 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 7.1% (1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $2.76 billion
+ expenditures: $2.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1994)
+
+ Exports: $3.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum 39%, bananas 17%, shrimp 16%, cocoa 3%, coffee
+ 6%
+ partners: US 42%, Latin America 29%, Caribbean, EU countries 17%
+
+ Imports: $3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: transport equipment, consumer goods, vehicles, machinery,
+ chemicals
+ partners: US 28%, EU 17%, Latin America 31%, Caribbean, Japan
+
+ External debt: $13.2 billion (yearend 1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 6.4% (1993); accounts for almost
+ 35% of GDP, including petroleum
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 2,230,000 kW
+ production: 6.9 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 612 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work, paper
+ products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 14% of GDP (including fishing and forestry);
+ leading producer and exporter of bananas and balsawood; other
+ agricultural exports - coffee, cocoa, fish, shrimp; other crops -
+ rice, potatoes, manioc, plantains, sugarcane; livestock products -
+ cattle, sheep, hogs, beef, pork, dairy products; net importer of
+ foodgrains, dairy products, and sugar
+
+ Illicit drugs: significant transit country for derivatives of coca
+ originating in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru; minor illicit producer of
+ coca; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit
+ narcotics; important money-laundering hub
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $498 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-91), $2.39 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $64 million
+
+ Currency: 1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos
+
+ Exchange rates: sucres (S/) per US$1 - 1,198.1 (December 1994),
+ 2,196.7 (1994), 1,919.1 (1993), 1,534.0 (1992), 1,046.25 (1991), 767.8
+ (1990), 767.78 (1990), 526.35 (1989)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Ecuador:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 965 km (single track)
+ narrow gauge: 965 km 1.067-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 43,709 km
+ paved: 5,245 km
+ unpaved: 38,464 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 1,500 km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km
+
+ Ports: Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, San
+ Lorenzo
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 222,822 GRT/326,447 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 2, container 2, liquefied gas tanker 2,
+ oil tanker 13, passenger 3, refrigerated cargo 10
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 175
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 15
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 107
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 31
+
+@Ecuador:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 318,000 telephones; 30 telephones/1,000 persons;
+ domestic facilities generally inadequate and unreliable
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 272, FM 0, shortwave 39
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 33
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Ecuador:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano), Navy (Armada Ecuatoriana,
+ includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana), National
+ Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,814,867; males fit for
+ military service 1,903,979; males reach military age (20) annually
+ 113,985 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+EGYPT
+
+@Egypt:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
+ Libya and the Gaza Strip
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1,001,450 sq km
+ land area: 995,450 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of New
+ Mexico
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,689 km, Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km,
+ Libya 1,150 km, Sudan 1,273 km
+
+ Coastline: 2,450 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: administrative boundary with Sudan does not
+ coincide with international boundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle,"
+ a barren area of 20,580 sq km, tensions over this disputed area began
+ to escalate in 1992 and remain high
+
+ Climate: desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
+
+ Terrain: vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates,
+ manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 3%
+ permanent crops: 2%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 95%
+
+ Irrigated land: 25,850 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: agricultural land being lost to urbanization and
+ windblown sands; increasing soil salinization below Aswan High Dam;
+ desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and
+ marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides,
+ raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water
+ resources away from the Nile which is the only perennial water source;
+ rapid growth in population overstraining natural resources
+ natural hazards: periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash
+ floods, landslides, volcanic activity; hot, driving windstorm called
+ khamsin occurs in spring; duststorms, sandstorms
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law
+ of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
+ Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified
+ - Desertification, Tropical Timber 94
+
+ Note: controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and
+ remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, shortest sea
+ link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and
+ juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern
+ geopolitics
+
+@Egypt:People
+
+ Population: 62,359,623 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 37% (female 11,380,668; male 11,872,728)
+ 15-64 years: 59% (female 18,250,706; male 18,641,830)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 1,204,477; male 1,009,214) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.95% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 28.69 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.86 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 74.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 61.12 years
+ male: 59.22 years
+ female: 63.12 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.67 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Egyptian(s)
+ adjective: Egyptian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and
+ Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily
+ Italian and French) 1%
+
+ Religions: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94% (official estimate), Coptic
+ Christian and other 6% (official estimate)
+
+ Languages: Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by
+ educated classes
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 48%
+ male: 63%
+ female: 34%
+
+ Labor force: 16 million (1994 est.)
+ by occupation: government, public sector enterprises, and armed forces
+ 36%, agriculture 34%, privately owned service and manufacturing
+ enterprises 20% (1984)
+ note: shortage of skilled labor; 2,500,000 Egyptians work abroad,
+ mostly in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Arab states (1993 est.)
+
+@Egypt:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt
+ conventional short form: Egypt
+ local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
+ local short form: none
+ former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)
+
+ Digraph: EG
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Cairo
+
+ Administrative divisions: 26 governorates (muhafazat, singular -
+ muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum,
+ Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah,
+ Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah,
+ As Suways, Aswan, Asyu't, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina,
+ Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina, Suhaj
+
+ Independence: 28 February 1922 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 23 July (1952)
+
+ Constitution: 11 September 1971
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic
+ codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees
+ validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (sworn in as
+ president on 14 October 1981, eight days after the assassination of
+ President SADAT); national referendum held 4 October 1993 validated
+ Mubarak's nomination by the People's Assembly to a third 6-year
+ presidential term
+ head of government: Prime Minister Atef Mohammed Najib SEDKY (since 12
+ November 1986)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral
+ People's Assembly (Majlis al-Cha'b): elections last held 29 November
+ 1990 (next to be held NA November 1995); results - NDP 86.3%, NPUG
+ 1.3%, independents 12.4%; seats - (454 total, 444 elected, 10
+ appointed by the president) NDP 383, NPUG 6, independents 55; note -
+ most opposition parties boycotted; NDP figures include NDP members who
+ ran as independents and other NDP-affiliated independents
+ Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura): functions only in a consultative
+ role; elections last held 8 June 1989 (next to be held NA June 1995);
+ results - NDP 100%; seats - (258 total, 172 elected, 86 appointed by
+ the president) NDP 172
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party (NDP),
+ President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK, leader, is the dominant party; legal
+ opposition parties are; New Wafd Party (NWP), Fu'ad SIRAJ AL-DIN;
+ Socialist Labor Party, Ibrahim SHUKRI; National Progressive Unionist
+ Grouping (NPUG), Khalid MUHYI-AL-DIN; Socialist Liberal Party (SLP),
+ Mustafa Kamal MURAD; Democratic Unionist Party, Mohammed
+ 'Abd-al-Mun'im TURK; Umma Party, Ahmad al-SABAHI; Misr al-Fatah Party
+ (Young Egypt Party), Gamal RABIE; Nasserist Arab Democratic Party,
+ Dia' al-din DAWUD; Democratic Peoples' Party, Anwar AFIFI; The Greens
+ Party, Kamal KIRAH; Social Justice Party, Muhammad 'ABD-AL-'AL
+ note: formation of political parties must be approved by government
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: despite a constitutional ban
+ against religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim
+ Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's potentially most significant
+ political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity by
+ the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but has moved more
+ aggressively in the past year to block its influence; trade unions and
+ professional associations are officially sanctioned
+
+ Member of: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19,
+ G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
+ IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,
+ OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIL, UNPROFOR, UPU,
+ WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed Maher El SAYED
+ chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400
+ FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319, 5131
+ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Edward S. WALKER, Jr.
+ embassy: (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City, Cairo
+
+ mailing address: APO AE 09839-4900
+ telephone: [20] (2) 3557371
+ FAX: [20] (2) 3573200
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with
+ the national emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facing
+ the hoist side above a scroll bearing the name of the country in
+ Arabic) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen,
+ which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Syria that
+ has two green stars and to the flag of Iraq, which has three green
+ stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in
+ the white band
+
+@Egypt:Economy
+
+ Overview: Half of Egypt's GDP originates in the public sector, most
+ industrial plants being owned by the government. Overregulation holds
+ back technical modernization and foreign investment. Even so, the
+ economy grew rapidly during the late 1970s and early 1980s, but in
+ 1986 the collapse of world oil prices and an increasingly heavy burden
+ of debt servicing led Egypt to begin negotiations with the IMF for
+ balance-of-payments support. Egypt's first IMF standby arrangement
+ concluded in mid-1987 was suspended in early 1988 because of the
+ government's failure to adopt promised reforms. Egypt signed a
+ follow-on program with the IMF and also negotiated a structural
+ adjustment loan with the World Bank in 1991. In 1991-93 the government
+ made solid progress on administrative reforms such as liberalizing
+ exchange and interest rates but resisted implementing major structural
+ reforms like streamlining the public sector. As a result, the economy
+ has not gained momentum and unemployment has become a growing problem.
+ Egypt probably will continue making uneven progress in implementing
+ the successor programs with the IMF and World Bank it signed onto in
+ late 1993. Tourism has plunged since 1992 because of sporadic attacks
+ by Islamic extremists on tourist groups. President MUBARAK has cited
+ population growth as the main cause of the country's economic
+ troubles. The addition of about 1.2 million people a year to the
+ already huge population of 62 million exerts enormous pressure on the
+ 5% of the land area available for agriculture along the Nile.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $151.5 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 1.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,490 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 20% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $18 billion
+ expenditures: $19.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.8
+ billion (FY94/95 est.)
+
+ Exports: $3.1 billion (f.o.b., FY93/94 est.)
+ commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, cotton yarn, raw
+ cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals
+ partners: EU, US, Japan
+
+ Imports: $11.2 billion (c.i.f., FY93/94 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers, wood
+ products, durable consumer goods, capital goods
+ partners: EU, US, Japan
+
+ External debt: $31.2 billion (December 1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 2.7% (FY92/93 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 11,830,000 kW
+ production: 44.5 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 695 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, petroleum,
+ construction, cement, metals
+
+ Agriculture: cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruit, vegetables;
+ cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats; annual fish catch about 140,000
+ metric tons
+
+ Illicit drugs: a transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian
+ heroin and opium moving to Europe and the US; popular transit stop for
+ Nigerian couriers; large domestic consumption of hashish from Lebanon
+ and Syria
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $15.7 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-88), $10.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $2.9 billion;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $2.4 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Egyptian pound (#E) = 100 piasters
+
+ Exchange rates: Egyptian pounds (#E) per US$1 - 3.4 (November 1994),
+ 3.369 (November 1993), 3.345 (November 1992), 2.7072 (1990); market
+ rate: 3.3920 (January 1995), 3.3920 (1994), 3.3704 (1993), 3.3300
+ (1992), 2.0000 (1991), 1.1000 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Egypt:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 4,895 km (42 km electrified; 951 km double track)
+ standard gauge: 4,548 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 951 km
+ double track)
+ narrow gauge: 347 km 0.750-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 47,387 km
+ paved: 34,593 km
+ unpaved: 12,794 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 3,500 km (including the Nile, Lake Nasser,
+ Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in the delta);
+ Suez Canal, 193.5 km long (including approaches), used by oceangoing
+ vessels drawing up to 16.1 meters of water
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 1,171 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural gas
+ 460 km
+
+ Ports: Alexandria, Al Ghurdaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur Safajah, Damietta,
+ Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 168 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,187,442 GRT/1,821,327
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 19, cargo 83, container 2, oil tanker 15,
+ passenger 30, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14,
+ short-sea passenger 4
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 91
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 11
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 35
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 14
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
+
+@Egypt:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 600,000 telephones; 11 telephones/1,000 persons;
+ large system by Third World standards but inadequate for present
+ requirements and undergoing extensive upgrading
+ local: NA
+ intercity: principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah,
+ Ismailia Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave
+ radio relay
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean), 1
+ ARABSAT, and 1 INMARSAT earth station; 5 coaxial submarine cables,
+ microwave troposcatter (to Sudan), and microwave radio relay (to
+ Libya, Israel, and Jordan)
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 39, FM 6, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 41
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Egypt:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 16,113,413; males fit for
+ military service 10,455,955; males reach military age (20) annually
+ 648,724 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.5 billion, 8.2% of
+ total government budget (FY94/95)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+EL SALVADOR
+
+@El Salvador:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between
+ Guatemala and Honduras
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 21,040 sq km
+ land area: 20,720 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Massachusetts
+
+ Land boundaries: total 545 km, Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
+
+ Coastline: 307 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 200 nm
+
+ International disputes: land boundary dispute with Honduras mostly
+ resolved by 11 September 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ)
+ decision; with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo de
+ Fonseca, ICJ referred to an earlier agreement in this century and
+ advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras
+ and Nicaragua likely would be required
+
+ Climate: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November
+ to April)
+
+ Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
+
+ Natural resources: hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 27%
+ permanent crops: 8%
+ meadows and pastures: 29%
+ forest and woodland: 6%
+ other: 30%
+
+ Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution;
+ contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
+ natural hazards: known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and
+ sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed,
+ but not ratified - Climate Change, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: smallest Central American country and only one without a
+ coastline on Caribbean Sea
+
+@El Salvador:People
+
+ Population: 5,870,481 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 40% (female 1,165,152; male 1,200,759)
+ 15-64 years: 56% (female 1,677,958; male 1,602,230)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 122,368; male 102,014) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.02% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 32.39 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.19 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -5.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 38.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 67.5 years
+ male: 64.89 years
+ female: 70.23 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.69 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Salvadoran(s)
+ adjective: Salvadoran
+
+ Ethnic divisions: mestizo 94%, Indian 5%, white 1%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 75%
+ note: there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughout the
+ country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 million
+ Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador
+
+ Languages: Spanish, Nahua (among some Indians)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 73%
+ male: 76%
+ female: 70%
+
+ Labor force: 1.7 million (1982 est.)
+ by occupation: agriculture 40%, commerce 16%, manufacturing 15%,
+ government 13%, financial services 9%, transportation 6%, other 1%
+ note: shortage of skilled labor and a large pool of unskilled labor,
+ but training programs improving situation (1984 est.)
+
+@El Salvador:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
+ conventional short form: El Salvador
+ local long form: Republica de El Salvador
+ local short form: El Salvador
+
+ Digraph: ES
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: San Salvador
+
+ Administrative divisions: 14 departments (departamentos, singular -
+ departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La
+ Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, Santa
+ Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan
+
+ Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
+
+ Constitution: 20 December 1983
+
+ Legal system: based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law;
+ judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts
+ compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Armando CALDERON SOL
+ (since 1 June 1994); Vice President Enrique BORGO Bustamante (since 1
+ June 1994) election last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held March
+ 1999); results - Armando CALDERON SOL (ARENA) 49.03%, Ruben ZAMORA
+ Rivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 24.09%, Fidel CHAVEZ Mena (PDC) 16.39%, other
+ 10.49%; because no candidate received a majority, a run-off election
+ was held 24 April 1994; results - Armando CALDERON SOL (ARENA) 68.35%,
+ Ruben ZAMORA Rivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 31.65%
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa): elections last held 20
+ March 1994 (next to be held March 1997); results - ARENA 46.4%, FMLN
+ 25.0%, PDC 21.4%, PCN 4.8%, other 2.4%; seats - (84 total) ARENA 39,
+ FMLN 21, PDC 18, PCN 4, other 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National Republican Alliance (ARENA),
+ Juan Jose DOMENECH, president; Farabundo Marti National Liberation
+ Front (FMLN), Salvador SANCHEZ Ceren (aka Leonel GONZALEZ), general
+ coordinator; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Ronal UMANA, secretary
+ general; National Conciliation Party (PCN), Ciro CRUZ Zepeda,
+ secretary general; Democratic Convergence (CD), Juan Jose MARTEL,
+ secretary general; Unity Movement, Jorge MARTINEZ Menendez, president
+ note: newly formed parties not yet officially recognized by the
+ Supreme Electoral Tribunal: Liberal Democratic Party (PLD), Kirio
+ Waldo SALGADO, founder; Social Democratic Party (breakaway from FMLN),
+ Joaquin VILLALOBOS, founder; Social Christian Renovation Movement
+ (MRSC) (breakaway from PDC), Abraham RODRIGUEZ, founder
+
+ Other political or pressure groups:
+ labor organizations: Salvadoran Communal Union (UCS), peasant
+ association; General Confederation of Workers (CGT), moderate; United
+ Workers Front (FUT)
+ business organizations: Productive Alliance (AP), conservative;
+ National Federation of Salvadoran Small Businessmen (FENAPES),
+ conservative
+
+ Member of: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
+ IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL,
+ PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Ana Cristina SOL
+ chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671, 9672
+ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
+ New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Alan H. FLANIGAN
+ embassy: Final Boulevard, Station Antiguo Cuscatlan, San Salvador
+ mailing address: Unit 3116, San Salvador; APO AA 34023
+ telephone: [503] 78-4444
+ FAX: [503] 78-6011
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with
+ the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms
+ features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL
+ SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua,
+ which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it
+ features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on
+ top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of
+ Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered
+ in the white band
+
+@El Salvador:Economy
+
+ Overview: The agricultural sector accounts for 24% of GDP, employs
+ about 40% of the labor force, and contributes about 66% to total
+ exports. Coffee is the major commercial crop, accounting for 45% of
+ export earnings. The manufacturing sector, based largely on food and
+ beverage processing, accounts for 19% of GDP and 15% of employment. In
+ 1992-94 the government made substantial progress toward privatization
+ and deregulation of the economy. Growth in national output in 1991-94
+ nearly averaged 5%, exceeding growth in population for the first time
+ since 1987; and inflation in 1994 of 10% was down from 19% in 1993.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $9.8 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,710 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 6.7% (1993)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $846 million
+ expenditures: $890 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $823 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: coffee, sugarcane, shrimp
+ partners: US, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Germany
+
+ Imports: $2.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods
+ partners: US, Guatemala, Mexico, Venezuela, Germany
+
+ External debt: $2.6 billion (December 1992)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 7.6% (1993)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 750,000 kW
+ production: 2.4 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 408 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: food processing, beverages, petroleum, nonmetallic
+ products, tobacco, chemicals, textiles, furniture
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 24% of GDP and 40% of labor force (including
+ fishing and forestry); coffee most important commercial crop; other
+ products - sugarcane, corn, rice, beans, oilseeds, beef, dairy
+ products, shrimp; not self-sufficient in food
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; marijuana produced for
+ local consumption
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $2.95 billion
+ (plus $250 million for 1992-96); Western (non-US) countries, ODA and
+ OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $525 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Salvadoran colon (C) = 100 centavos
+
+ Exchange rates: Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 - 8.760 (January
+ 1995), 8.750 (1994), 8.670 (1993), 8.4500 (1992), 8.080 (1991), 8.0300
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@El Salvador:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 602 km (single track; note - some sections abandoned, unusable,
+ or operating at reduced capacity)
+ narrow gauge: 602 km 0.914-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 10,000 km
+ paved: 1,500 km
+ unpaved: gravel 4,100 km; improved, unimproved earth 4,400 km
+
+ Inland waterways: Rio Lempa partially navigable
+
+ Ports: Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco, La Libertad, La Union, Puerto El
+ Triunfo
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 106
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 78
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 23
+
+@El Salvador:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 116,000 telephones; 21 telephones/1,000 persons
+ local: NA
+ intercity: nationwide microwave radio relay system
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station; connected to
+ Central American Microwave System
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 77, FM 0, shortwave 2
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 5
+ televisions: NA
+
+@El Salvador:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,393,480; males fit for
+ military service 892,958; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 77,562 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $103 million, 0.7% of
+ GDP (1994); $91.9 million, less than 1% of GDP (1995 est.)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+EQUATORIAL GUINEA
+
+@Equatorial Guinea:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
+ Cameroon and Gabon
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 28,050 sq km
+ land area: 28,050 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
+
+ Land boundaries: total 539 km, Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
+
+ Coastline: 296 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because
+ of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay
+
+ Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
+
+ Terrain: coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
+
+ Natural resources: timber, petroleum, small unexploited deposits of
+ gold, manganese, uranium
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 8%
+ permanent crops: 4%
+ meadows and pastures: 4%
+ forest and woodland: 51%
+ other: 33%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: tap water is not potable; desertification
+ natural hazards: violent windstorms
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species,
+ Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of
+ the Sea
+
+ Note: insular and continental regions rather widely separated
+
+@Equatorial Guinea:People
+
+ Population: 420,293 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 43% (female 90,404; male 90,997)
+ 15-64 years: 53% (female 117,124; male 105,724)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 8,969; male 7,075) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.59% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 40.22 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 14.36 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 100.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 52.56 years
+ male: 50.39 years
+ female: 54.79 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 5.23 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
+ adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni
+ (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
+
+ Religions: nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan
+ practices
+
+ Languages: Spanish (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1983)
+ total population: 62%
+ male: 77%
+ female: 48%
+
+ Labor force: 172,000 (1986 est.)
+ by occupation: agriculture 66%, services 23%, industry 11% (1980)
+ note: labor shortages on plantations
+
+@Equatorial Guinea:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea
+ conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea
+ local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial
+ local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial
+ former: Spanish Guinea
+
+ Digraph: EK
+
+ Type: republic in transition to multiparty democracy
+
+ Capital: Malabo
+
+ Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular -
+ provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem,
+ Litoral, Wele-Nzas
+
+ Independence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
+
+ Constitution: new constitution 17 November 1991
+
+ Legal system: partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
+
+ Suffrage: universal adult at age NA
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA
+ MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979); election last held 25 June 1989 (next
+ to be held 25 June 1996); results - President Brig. Gen. (Ret.)
+ Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO was reelected without opposition
+ head of government: Prime Minister Silvestre SIALE BILEKA (since 17
+ January 1992); Vice Prime Minister Anatolio NDONG MBA (since November
+ 1993)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ House of People's Representatives: (Camara de Representantes del
+ Pueblo) elections last held 21 November 1993; seats - (82 total) PDGE
+ 72, various opposition parties 10
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ ruling party: Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea (PDGE), Brig.
+ Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO, party leader
+ opposition parties: Progressive Democratic Alliance (ADP),
+ Antonio-Ebang Mbele Abang, president; Popular Action of Equatorial
+ Guinea (APGE),Casiano Masi Edu, leader; Liberal Democratic Convention
+ (CLD), Alfonso Nsue MOKUY, president; Convergence for Social Democracy
+ (CPDS),Santiago Obama Ndong, president; Social Democratic and Popular
+ Convergence (CSDP), Secundino Oyono Agueng Ada, general secretary;
+ Party of the Social Democratic Coalition (PCSD), Buenaventura Moswi
+ M'Asumu, general coordinater; Liberal Party (PL), leaders unknown;
+ Party of Progress (PP), Severo MOTO Nsa, president; Social Democratic
+ Party (PSD), Benjamin-Gabriel Balingha Balinga Alene, general
+ secretary; Socialist Party of Equatorial Guinea (PSGE), Tomas MICHEBE
+ Fernandez, general secretary; National Democratic Union (UDENA), Jose
+ MECHEBA Ikaka, president; Democratic Social Union (UDS), Jesus Nze
+ Obama Avomo, general secretary; Popular Union (UP), Juan Bitui,
+ president
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,
+ ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU,
+ UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Teodoro
+ Biyogo NSUE
+ chancery: (temporary) 57 Magnolia Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10553
+ telephone: [1] (914) 738-9584, 667-6913
+ FAX: [1] (914) 667-6838
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Joseph P. O'NEILL
+ embassy: Calle de Los Ministros, Malabo
+ mailing address: P.O. Box 597, Malabo
+ telephone: [240] (9) 21-85, 24-06, 25-07
+ FAX: [240] (9) 21-64
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with
+ a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms
+ centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow
+ six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore
+ islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below
+ which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace,
+ Justice)
+
+@Equatorial Guinea:Economy
+
+ Overview: Agriculture, forestry, and fishing account for about half of
+ GDP and nearly all exports. Subsistence farming predominates. Although
+ pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for
+ hard currency earnings, the deterioration of the rural economy under
+ successive brutal regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led
+ growth. A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the
+ international donor community have failed to revitalize export
+ agriculture. Businesses for the most part are owned by government
+ officials and their family members. Commerce accounts for about 8% of
+ GDP and the construction, public works, and service sectors for about
+ 38%. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore,
+ manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Oil exploration, taking place
+ under concessions offered to US, French, and Spanish firms, has been
+ moderately successful. Increased production from recently discovered
+ natural gas fields will provide a greater share of exports in 1995.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $280 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 7.3% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $700 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (1992 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $32.5 million
+ expenditures: $35.9 million, including capital expenditures of $3
+ million (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $56 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: coffee, timber, cocoa beans
+ partners: Spain 55.2%, Nigeria 11.4%, Cameroon 9.1% (1992)
+
+ Imports: $62 million (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinery
+ partners: Cameroon 23.1%, Spain 21.8%, France 14.1%, US 4.3% (1992)
+
+ External debt: $260 million (1992 est)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 11.3% (1993 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 23,000 kW
+ production: 20 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 50 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: fishing, sawmilling
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for almost 50% of GDP, cash crops - timber and
+ coffee from Rio Muni, cocoa from Bioko; food crops - rice, yams,
+ cassava, bananas, oil palm nuts, manioc, livestock
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY81-89), $14 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $130 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $55 million
+
+ Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1
+ - 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 273,16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
+ 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)
+ note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
+ 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
+ 1948
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Equatorial Guinea:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 2,760 km (2,460 km on Rio Muni and 300 km on Bioko)
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: Bata, Luba, Malabo
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,412 GRT/6,699 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 1, passenger-cargo 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 3
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+
+@Equatorial Guinea:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 2,000 telephones; poor system with adequate
+ government services
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: international communications from Bata and Malabo to
+ African and European countries; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Equatorial Guinea:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention Force, National
+ Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 89,752; males fit for military
+ service 45,611 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.5 million, NA% of
+ GDP (FY93/94)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ERITREA
+
+@Eritrea:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and
+ Sudan
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 121,320 sq km
+ land area: 121,320 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Pennsylvania
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,630 km, Djibouti 113 km, Ethiopia 912 km,
+ Sudan 605 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,151 km (land and island coastline is 2,234 km)
+
+ Maritime claims: NA
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter
+ in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually); semiarid
+ in western hills and lowlands; rainfall heaviest during June-September
+ except on coastal desert
+
+ Terrain: dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending
+ highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the
+ northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling
+ plains
+
+ Natural resources: gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, probably oil
+ (petroleum geologists are prospecting for it), fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 3%
+ permanent crops: 2% (coffee)
+ meadows and pastures: 40%
+ forest and woodland: 5%
+ other: 50%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: famine; deforestation; desertification; soil erosion;
+ overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare
+ natural hazards: frequent droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species; signed, but
+ not ratified - Desertification
+
+ Note: strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping
+ lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the Red
+ Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993
+
+@Eritrea:People
+
+ Population: 3,578,709 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 43% (female 763,416; male 774,922)
+ 15-64 years: 54% (female 965,124; male 965,435)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 52,950; male 56,862) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 9.04% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 44.34 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 15.67 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ note: repatriation of up to a half million Eritrean refugees in Sudan
+ is now underway; 100,000 are expected to return during 1995
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 120.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 50 years
+ male: 48.28 years
+ female: 51.78 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.53 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Eritrean(s)
+ adjective: Eritrean
+
+ Ethnic divisions: ethnic Tigrays 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%,
+ Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%
+
+ Religions: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
+
+ Languages: Tigre and Kunama, Cushitic dialects, Tigre, Nora Bana,
+ Arabic
+
+ Labor force: NA
+
+@Eritrea:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: State of Eritrea
+ conventional short form: Eritrea
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: none
+ former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
+
+ Digraph: ER
+
+ Type: transitional government
+ note: on 29 May 1991 ISAIAS Afworke, secretary general of the Peoples'
+ Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), which then served and still
+ serves as the country's legislative body, announced the formation of
+ the Provisional Government in Eritrea (PGE) in preparation for the
+ 23-25 April 1993 referendum on independence for the autonomous region
+ of Eritrea; the result was a landslide vote for independence which was
+ proclaimed on 27 April 1993
+
+ Capital: Asmara (formerly Asmera)
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Akole Guzay, Baraka, Danakil,
+ Hamasen, Sahil, Samhar, Senhit, Seraye, Sahil
+
+ Independence: 27 May 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the Eritrea
+ Autonomous Region)
+
+ National holiday: National Day (independence from Ethiopia), 24 May
+ (1993)
+
+ Constitution: transitional "constitution" decreed 19 May 1993
+
+ Legal system: NA
+
+ Suffrage: NA
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President ISAIAS Afworke (since
+ 22 May 1993)
+ cabinet: State Council; the collective executive authority
+ note: election to be held before 20 May 1997
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly: PFDJ Central Committee serves as the country's
+ legislative body until country-wide elections are held (before 20 May
+ 1997)
+
+ Judicial branch: Judiciary
+
+ Political parties and leaders: People's Front for Democracy and
+ Justice (PFDJ), ISAIAS Afworke, PETROS Solomon (the only party
+ recognized by the government)
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Eritrean Islamic Jihad (EIJ);
+ Islamic Militant Group; Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF), ABDULLAH
+ Muhammed; Eritrean Liberation Front - United Organization (ELF-UO),
+ Mohammed Said NAWUD; Eritrean Liberation Front - Revolutionary Council
+ (ELF-RC), Ahmed NASSER
+
+ Member of: ACP, ECA, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), ITU, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador AMDEMICHAEL Berhane Khasai
+ chancery: Suite 400, 910 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
+ telephone: [1] (202) 429-1991
+ FAX: [1] (202) 429-9004
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Robert G. HOUDEK
+ embassy: 34 Zera Yacob St., Asmara
+ mailing address: P.O. Box 211, Asmara
+ telephone: [291] (1) 120004
+ FAX: [291] (1) 127584
+
+ Flag: red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the
+ flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower
+ one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered
+ on the hoist side of the red triangle
+
+@Eritrea:Economy
+
+ Overview: With independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993, Eritrea
+ faces the bitter economic problems of a small, desperately poor
+ African country. Most of the population will continue to depend on
+ subsistence farming. Domestic output is substantially augmented by
+ worker remittances from abroad. Government revenues come from custom
+ duties and income and sales taxes. Eritrea has inherited the entire
+ coastline of Ethiopia and has long-term prospects for revenues from
+ the development of offshore oil, offshore fishing, and tourism. For
+ the time being, Ethiopia will be largely dependent on Eritrean ports
+ for its foreign trade.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.8 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $500 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $NA
+ commodities: NA
+ partners: NA
+
+ Imports: $NA
+ commodities: NA
+ partners: NA
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: NA kW
+ production: NA kWh
+ consumption per capita: NA kWh
+
+ Industries: food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles
+
+ Agriculture: products - sorghum, livestock (including goats), fish,
+ lentils, vegetables, maize, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal (for making
+ rope)
+
+ Economic aid: $NA
+
+ Currency: 1 birr (Br) = 100 cents; at present, Ethiopian currency used
+
+ Exchange rates: 1 birr (Br) per US$1 - 5.9500 (January 1995), 5.9500
+ (1994), 5.000 (fixed rate 1992-93); note - official rate pegged to US$
+
+ Fiscal year: NA
+
+@Eritrea:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 307 km; note - nonoperational since 1978; links Ak'ordat and
+ Asmara (formerly Asmera) with the port of Massawa (formerly Mits'iwa)
+ narrow gauge: 307 km 1.000-m gauge (1993 est.)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 3,845 km
+ paved: 807 km
+ unpaved: gravel 840 km; improved earth 402 km; unimproved earth 1,796
+ km
+
+ Ports: Assab (Aseb), Massawa (Mits'iwa)
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 20
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 6
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
+
+@Eritrea:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Eritrea:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ESTONIA
+
+@Estonia:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of
+ Finland, between Latvia and Russia
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 45,100 sq km
+ land area: 43,200 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than New Hampshire and Vermont
+ combined
+ note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
+
+ Land boundaries: total 557 km, Latvia 267 km, Russia 290 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,393 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: limits to be fixed in coordination with
+ neighboring states
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claims over 2,000 sq km of Russian territory
+ in the Narva and Pechora regions - based on boundary established under
+ the 1921 Peace Treaty of Tartu
+
+ Climate: maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers
+
+ Terrain: marshy, lowlands
+
+ Natural resources: shale oil, peat, phosphorite, amber
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 22%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 11%
+ forest and woodland: 31%
+ other: 36%
+
+ Irrigated land: 110 sq km (1990)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air heavily polluted with sulfur dioxide from
+ oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; contamination of soil and
+ groundwater with petroleum products, chemicals at military bases
+ natural hazards: flooding occurs frequently in the spring
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
+
+@Estonia:People
+
+ Population: 1,625,399 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 22% (female 174,304; male 181,101)
+ 15-64 years: 65% (female 549,473; male 515,426)
+ 65 years and over: 13% (female 139,722; male 65,373) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.53% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 13.9 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 11.93 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 3.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 18.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 70.17 years
+ male: 65.2 years
+ female: 75.39 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.98 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Estonian(s)
+ adjective: Estonian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Estonian 61.5%, Russian 30.3%, Ukrainian 3.17%,
+ Byelorussian 1.8%, Finn 1.1%, other 2.13% (1989)
+
+ Religions: Lutheran
+
+ Languages: Estonian (official), Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian, other
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
+ total population: 100%
+ male: 100%
+ female: 100%
+
+ Labor force: 750,000 (1992)
+ by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry
+ 20%, other 38% (1990)
+
+@Estonia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Estonia
+ conventional short form: Estonia
+ local long form: Eesti Vabariik
+ local short form: Eesti
+ former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
+
+ Digraph: EN
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Tallinn
+
+ Administrative divisions: 15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond):
+ Harju maakond (Tallinn), Hiiu maakond (Kardla), Ida-Viru maakond
+ (Johvi), Jarva maakond (Paide), Jogeva maakond (Jogeva), Laane maakond
+ (Haapsalu), Laane-Viru maakond (Rakvere), Parnu maakond (Parnu), Polva
+ maakond (Polva), Rapla maakond (Rapla), Saare maakond (Kuessaare),
+ Tartu maakond (Tartu), Valga maakond (Valga), Viljandi maakond
+ (Viljandi), Voru maakond (Voru)
+ note: county centers are in parentheses
+
+ Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 24 February (1918)
+
+ Constitution: adopted 28 June 1992
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of
+ legislative acts
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since 21 October 1992);
+ election last held 20 September 1992; (next to be held fall 1996);
+ results - no candidate received majority; newly elected Parliament
+ elected Lennart MERI (21 October 1992)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Andres TARAND (since NA October
+ 1994)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister,
+ authorized by the legislature
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Parliament (Riigikogu): elections last held 5 March 1995 (next to be
+ held NA 1998); results - KMU 32.22%, RE 16.18%, K 14.17%, Pro Patria
+ and ERSP 7.85%, M 5.98%, Our Home is Estonia and Right-Wingers 5.0%;
+ seats - (101 total) KMU 41, RE 19, K 16, Pro Patria 8, Our Home is
+ Estonia 6, M 6, Right-Wingers 5
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Coalition Party and Rural Union (KMU)
+ made up of 4 parties: Coalition Party, Country People's Party,
+ Farmer's Assembly, and Pensioners' and Families' League; Coalition
+ Party, Tiit VAHI, chairman; Country People's Party, Arnold RUUTEL,
+ chairman; Farmer's Assembly, Jaak-Hans KUKS, chairman; Pensioners' and
+ Families' League; Reform Party-Liberals (RE), Siim KALLAS, chairman;
+ Center Party (K), Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman; Union of Pro Patria
+ (Isaama of Fatherland), Mart LAAR, chairman; National Independence
+ Party (ERSP), Kelam TUNNE, chairman; Our Home is Estonia made up of 2
+ parties: United Peoples Party and the Russian Party in Estonia; United
+ Peoples Party, Viktor ANDREJEV, chairman; Russian Party in Estonia,
+ Sergei KUZNETSOV, chairman; Moderates (M) made up of 2 parties: Social
+ Democratic Party and Rural Center Party; Social Democratic Party, Eiki
+ NESTOR, chairman; Rural Center Party, Vambo KAAL, chairman;
+ Right-Wingers, Ulo NUGIS, chairman
+
+ Member of: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
+ ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate
+ partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Toomas Hendrik ILVES
+ chancery: 1030 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005, Suite 1000
+ telephone: [1] (202) 789-0320
+ FAX: [1] (202) 789-0471
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Keith SMITH
+ embassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [372] (2) 312-021 through 024
+ FAX: [372] (2) 312-025
+
+ Flag: pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three
+ equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white
+
+@Estonia:Economy
+
+ Overview: Bolstered by a widespread national desire to reintegrate
+ into Western Europe, the Estonian government has pursued an ambitious
+ program of market reforms and stabilization measures, which is rapidly
+ transforming the economy. Three years after independence - and two
+ years after the introduction of the kroon - Estonians are beginning to
+ reap tangible benefits; inflation, though still high, was brought down
+ to about 2% per month in second half 1994; production declines have
+ bottomed out with estimated growth of 4% in 1994; and living standards
+ are rising. Economic restructuring has been dramatic. By 1994 the
+ service sector accounted for over 55% of GDP, while the once-dominant
+ heavy industrial sector continues to shrink. The private sector is
+ growing rapidly; the share of the state enterprises in the economy has
+ steadily declined and by late 1994 accounted for only about 40% of
+ GDP. Estonia's foreign trade has shifted rapidly from East to West;
+ the Western industrialized countries now account for two-thirds of
+ foreign trade.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $10.4 billion (1994
+ estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $6,460 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% per month (1994 average)
+
+ Unemployment rate: about 2% in 1994 (official estimate but large
+ number of underemployed workers)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $643 million
+ expenditures: $639 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $1.65 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: textile 14%, food products 11%, vehicles 11%, metals 11%
+ (1993)
+ partners: Russia, Finland, Sweden, Germany
+
+ Imports: $1 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
+ commodities: machinery 18%, fuels 15%, vehicles 14%, textiles 10%
+ (1993)
+ partners: Finland, Russia, Germany, Sweden
+
+ External debt: $650 million (end of 1991)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -27% (1993)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 3,420,000 kW
+ production: 11.3 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 6,528 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates, electric motors,
+ excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper, shoes,
+ apparel
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP; employs 20% of work force; very
+ efficient by Soviet standards; net exports of meat, fish, dairy
+ products, and potatoes; imports of feedgrains for livestock; fruits
+ and vegetables
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and
+ Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; very limited
+ illicit opium producer; mostly for domestic consumption
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1992), $10 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 cents (introduced in August
+ 1992)
+
+ Exchange rates: kroons (EEK) per US$1 - 12.25 (January 1995); note -
+ kroons are tied to the German Deutschmark at a fixed rate of 8 to 1
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Estonia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,030 km common carrier lines only; does not include dedicated
+ industrial lines
+ broad gauge: 1,030 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 30,300 km
+ paved or graveled: 29,200 km
+ unpaved: earth 1,100 km (1990)
+
+ Inland waterways: 500 km perennially navigable
+
+ Pipelines: natural gas 420 km (1992)
+
+ Ports: Haapsalu, Narva, Novotallin, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 65 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 415,332 GRT/532,749 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 44, container 2, oil tanker 2,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 4
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 22
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 5
+
+@Estonia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: about 400,000 telephones; 246 telephones/1,000
+ persons; telephone system is antiquated; improvements are being made
+ piecemeal, with emphasis on business needs and international
+ connections; there are still about 150,000 unfulfilled requests for
+ telephone service
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: international traffic is carried to the other former
+ USSR republics by land line or microwave and to other countries partly
+ by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch, and
+ partly by a new Tallinn-Helsinki fiber optic submarine cable which
+ gives Estonia access to international circuits everywhere; substantial
+ investment has been made in cellular systems which are operational
+ throughout Estonia and also Latvia and which have access to the
+ international packet switched digital network via Helsinki
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 3; note - provide Estonian programs as well as
+ Moscow Ostenkino's first and second programs
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Estonia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force (not
+ officially sanctioned), Maritime Border Guard, Volunteer Defense
+ League (Kaitseliit), Security Forces (internal and border troops),
+ Coast Guard
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 396,588; males fit for military
+ service 311,838; males reach military age (18) annually 11,915 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $34.1 million, almost
+ 5% of the overall State budget and 1.5% of GDP (1995)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ETHIOPIA
+
+@Ethiopia:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1,127,127 sq km
+ land area: 1,119,683 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 5,311 km, Djibouti 337 km, Eritrea 912 km,
+ Kenya 830 km, Somalia 1,626 km, Sudan 1,606 km
+
+ Coastline: none - landlocked
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: southern half of the boundary with Somalia is
+ a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Somalia
+ over the Ogaden
+
+ Climate: tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
+
+ Terrain: high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great
+ Rift Valley
+
+ Natural resources: small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 12%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 41%
+ forest and woodland: 24%
+ other: 22%
+
+ Irrigated land: 1,620 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
+ desertification; famine
+ natural hazards: geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to
+ earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified -
+ Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear
+ Test Ban
+
+ Note: landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with
+ the de jure independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993
+
+@Ethiopia:People
+
+ Population: 55,979,018 (July 1995 est.)
+ note: Ethiopian demographic data, except population and population
+ growth rate, include Eritrea
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 46% (female 12,782,345; male 12,802,187)
+ 15-64 years: 52% (female 14,352,059; male 14,511,342)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 815,974; male 715,111) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.09% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 46.68 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 15.77 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ note: repatriation of Ethiopian refugees from Sudan, Kenya and
+ Somalia, where they had taken refuge from war and famine in earlier
+ years, is expected to continue in 1995; additional influxes of
+ Sudanese and Somalis fleeing fighting in their countries can be
+ expected in 1995
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 120.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 50 years
+ male: 48.28 years
+ female: 51.78 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 7.07 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Ethiopian(s)
+ adjective: Ethiopian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%,
+ Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%,
+ other 5%
+
+ Languages: Amharic (official), Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali,
+ Arabic, English (major foreign language taught in schools)
+
+ Literacy: age 10 and over can read and write (1984)
+ total population: 24%
+ male: 33%
+ female: 16%
+
+ Labor force: 18 million
+ by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and
+ services 12%, industry and construction 8% (1985)
+
+@Ethiopia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Ethiopia
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: Ityop'iya
+
+ Digraph: ET
+
+ Type: transitional government
+ note: on 28 May 1991 the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic
+ Front (EPRDF) toppled the authoritarian government of MENGISTU
+ Haile-Mariam and took control in Addis Ababa; a new constitution was
+ promulgated in December 1994 and national and regional elections are
+ scheduled for May 1995; the administrative regions will elect regional
+ assemblies by popular vote; the National Assembly will have two
+ chambers - one elected by popular vote and the other selected as
+ representatives by the regional assemblies; the lower house of the
+ National Assembly will select or confirm the president, the prime
+ minister and the cabinet officers and judges; the prime minister will
+ be the chief executive officer and the duties of the president will be
+ mostly ceremonial
+
+ Capital: Addis Ababa
+
+ Administrative divisions: 14 ethnically-based administrative regions
+ (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akababi) Addis Ababa,
+ Afar, Amhara, Benishangul, Gambela, Gurage-Hadiya-Kambata, Hareri,
+ Kefa, Omo, Oromo, Sidama, Somali, Tigray, Wolayta
+ note: the following named four administrative regions may have been
+ abolished and their territories distributed among the remaining ten
+ regions: Kefa, Omo, Sidama, and Wolayta
+
+ Independence: oldest independent country in Africa and one of the
+ oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 28 May (1991) (defeat of Mengistu
+ regime)
+
+ Constitution: new constitution promulgated in December 1994
+
+ Legal system: NA
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President MELES Zenawi (since 1 June 1991); appointed
+ by the Council of Representatives following the military defeat of the
+ MENGISTU government; following the elections to the National Assembly
+ scheduled for May 1995 the lower house of the National Assembly will
+ nominate a new president
+ head of government: Prime Minister TAMIRAT Layne (since 6 June 1991);
+ a new prime minister will be designated by the party in power
+ following the elections to the General Assembly in May 1995
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; presently designated by the chairman of
+ the Council of Representatives; under the new constitution and
+ following the elections in May 1995 the cabinet officers will be
+ selected by the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch:
+ Constituent Assembly: elections were held on 5 June 1994; results -
+ government parties swept almost all seats; in December 1994 the
+ Constituent Assembly ratified the new constitution with few changes;
+ the new constitution prescribes two chambers for the new National
+ Assembly - one which is elected by popular vote and one which
+ represents the ethnic interests of the regional governments
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Ethiopian People's Revolutionary
+ Democratic Front (EPRDF), MELES Zenawi;
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF); All
+ Amhara People's Organization; Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic
+ Coalition; numerous small, ethnic-based groups have formed since
+ Mengistu's resignation, including several Islamic militant groups
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
+ IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU,
+ WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos
+ chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 234-2281, 2282
+ FAX: [1] (202) 328-7950
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Irvin HICKS
+ embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
+ telephone: [251] (1) 550666
+ FAX: [251] (1) 552191
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red;
+ Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the colors
+ of her flag were so often adopted by other African countries upon
+ independence that they became known as the pan-African colors
+
+@Ethiopia:Economy
+
+ Overview: With the independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993, Ethiopia
+ continues to face difficult economic problems as one of the poorest
+ and least developed countries in Africa. Its economy is based on
+ agriculture, which accounts for about 45% of GDP, 90% of exports, and
+ 80% of total employment; coffee generates 60% of export earnings. The
+ agricultural sector suffers from frequent periods of drought, poor
+ cultivation practices, and deterioration of internal security
+ conditions. The manufacturing sector is heavily dependent on inputs
+ from the agricultural sector. Over 90% of large-scale industry, but
+ less than 10% of agriculture, is state run. The government is
+ considering selling off a portion of state-owned plants, and is
+ implementing reform measures that are gradually liberalizing the
+ economy. A major medium-term problem is the improvement of roads,
+ water supply, and other parts of an infrastructure badly neglected
+ during years of civil strife.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $20.3 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $380 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (FY93/94)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.2 billion
+ expenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $707
+ million (FY93/94)
+
+ Exports: $219.8 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: coffee, leather products, gold
+ partners: Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy
+
+ Imports: $1.04 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: capital goods, consumer goods, fuel
+ partners: US, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Japan
+
+ External debt: $3.7 billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -3.3% (FY91/92); accounts for 12%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 460,000 kW
+ production: 1.3 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 23 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals
+ processing, cement
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 45% of GDP; export crops of coffee and
+ oilseeds are grown partly on state farms; estimated 50% of
+ agricultural production is at subsistence level; principal crops and
+ livestock - cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseeds, sugarcane, potatoes and
+ other vegetables, hides and skins, cattle, sheep, goats
+
+ Illicit drugs: transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and
+ Southeast Asia and destined for Europe and North America as well as
+ cocaine destined for southern African markets; cultivates qat (chat)
+ for local use and regional export
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $504 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $3.4 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $8 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $2 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 birr (Br) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: birr (Br) per US$1 - 5.9500 (January 1995), 5.9500
+ (1994), 5.0000 (fixed rate 1992-93); fixed at 2.070 before 1992; note
+ - official rate pegged to the US$
+
+ Fiscal year: 8 July - 7 July
+
+@Ethiopia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
+
+ narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 24,127 km
+ paved: 3,289 km
+ unpaved: gravel 6,664 km; improved earth 1,652 km; unimproved earth
+ 12,522 km (1993)
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 62,627 GRT/88,909 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 8, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 2,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 98
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 24
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 4
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 14
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 42
+
+@Ethiopia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; open-wire and radio relay system
+ adequate for government use
+ local: NA
+ intercity: open wire and microwave radio relay links
+ international: open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio relay
+ to Kenya and Djibouti; 3 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific
+ Ocean) earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: 9 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: 100,000
+
+@Ethiopia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Transitional Government of Ethiopia Forces, Air Force,
+ Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 12,658,084; males fit for
+ military service 6,569,759; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 565,976 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $140 million, 4.1% of
+ GDP (FY94/95)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+EUROPA ISLAND
+
+ (possession of France)
+
+@Europa Island:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about
+ one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 28 sq km
+ land area: 28 sq km
+ comparative area: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 22.2 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claimed by Madagascar
+
+ Climate: tropical
+
+ Terrain: NA
+
+ Natural resources: negligible
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: NA%
+ permanent crops: NA%
+ meadows and pastures: NA%
+ forest and woodland: NA% (heavily wooded)
+ other: NA%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: wildlife sanctuary
+
+@Europa Island:People
+
+ Population: uninhabited
+
+@Europa Island:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Europa Island
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: Ile Europa
+
+ Digraph: EU
+
+ Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic;
+ resident in Reunion
+
+ Capital: none; administered by France from Reunion
+
+ Independence: none (possession of France)
+
+@Europa Island:Economy
+
+ Overview: no economic activity
+
+@Europa Island:Transportation
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Europa Island:Communications
+
+ Note: 1 meteorological station
+
+@Europa Island:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of France
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+FALKLAND ISLANDS (ISLAS MALVINAS)
+
+ (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):Geography
+
+ Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean,
+ east of southern Argentina
+
+ Map references: South America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 12,170 sq km
+ land area: 12,170 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut
+ note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and
+ about 200 small islands
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,288 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200 nm
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina
+
+ Climate: cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain
+ occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year,
+ except in January and February, but does not accumulate
+
+ Terrain: rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
+
+ Natural resources: fish, wildlife
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 99%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 1%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short
+ growing season
+
+@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):People
+
+ Population: 2,317 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.43% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: NA
+
+ Death rate: NA
+
+ Net migration rate: NA
+
+ Infant mortality rate: NA
+
+ Life expectancy at birth: NA
+
+ Total fertility rate: NA
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Falkland Islander(s)
+ adjective: Falkland Island
+
+ Ethnic divisions: British
+
+ Religions: primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church,
+ Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day
+ Adventist
+
+ Languages: English
+
+ Labor force: 1,100 (est.)
+ by occupation: agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding)
+
+@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Colony of the Falkland Islands
+ conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
+
+ Digraph: FA
+
+ Type: dependent territory of the UK
+
+ Capital: Stanley
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
+
+ Constitution: 3 October 1985
+
+ Legal system: English common law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
+ head of government: Governor David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992)
+ cabinet: Executive Council; 3 members elected by the Legislative
+ Council, 2 ex-officio members (chief executive and the financial
+ secretary), and the governor
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Legislative Council: elections last held 11 October 1989 (next to be
+ held October 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (10
+ total, 8 elected) independents 8
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: NA
+
+ Member of: ICFTU
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
+ and the Falkland Island coat of arms in a white disk centered on the
+ outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep
+ raising is the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire
+ (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom
+ bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT
+
+@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep
+ farming, which directly or indirectly employs most of the work force.
+ Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter
+ fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the
+ sale of postage stamps and coins. Rich stocks of fish in the
+ surrounding waters are not presently exploited by the islanders. So
+ far, efforts to establish a domestic fishing industry have been
+ unsuccessful. The economy has diversified since 1987 when the
+ government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers
+ operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license
+ fees total more than $40 million per year and support the island's
+ health, education, and welfare system. To encourage tourism, the
+ Falkland Islands Development Corporation has built three lodges for
+ visitors attracted by the abundant wildlife and trout fishing. The
+ islands are now self-financing except for defense. The British
+ Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the
+ islands in 1993 and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves
+ capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day.
+
+ National product: GDP $NA
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $NA
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.4% (1980-87 average)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%; labor shortage
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $65 million
+ expenditures: $55.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1992-93)
+
+ Exports: at least $14.7 million
+ commodities: wool, hides and skins, and meat
+ partners: UK, Netherlands, Japan (1987 est.)
+
+ Imports: at least $13.9 million
+ commodities: food, clothing, timber, and machinery
+ partners: UK, Netherlands Antilles (Curacao), Japan (1987 est.)
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 9,200 kW
+ production: 17 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 7,253 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: wool and fish processing
+
+ Agriculture: predominantly sheep farming; small dairy herds; some
+ fodder and vegetable crops
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1992-93), $87 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Falkland pound (#F) = 100 pence
+
+ Exchange rates: Falkland pound (#F) per US$1 - 0.6350 (January 1995),
+ 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5604
+ (1990); note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 510 km
+ paved: 30 km
+ unpaved: gravel 80 km; unimproved earth 400 km
+
+ Ports: Stanley
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 5
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 4
+
+@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 590 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radio
+ networks provide effective service to almost all points on both
+ islands
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station with links
+ through London to other countries
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: British Forces Falkland Islands (includes Army, Royal Air
+ Force, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines), Police Force
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+FAROE ISLANDS
+
+ (part of the Danish realm)
+
+@Faroe Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and
+ the north Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to
+ Norway
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1,400 sq km
+ land area: 1,400 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than eight times the size of
+ Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 764 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
+
+ Terrain: rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
+
+ Natural resources: fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 2%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 98%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: archipelago of 18 inhabited islands and a few uninhabited
+ islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in
+ northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small
+ coastal lowlands
+
+@Faroe Islands:People
+
+ Population: 48,871 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 24% (female 5,673; male 6,119)
+ 15-64 years: 63% (female 14,164; male 16,835)
+ 65 years and over: 13% (female 3,335; male 2,745) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.99% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 17.54 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.59 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 78.29 years
+ male: 74.91 years
+ female: 81.8 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.42 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Faroese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Faroese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Scandinavian
+
+ Religions: Evangelical Lutheran
+
+ Languages: Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: 17,585
+ by occupation: largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing,
+ transportation, and commerce
+
+@Faroe Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Faroe Islands
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: Foroyar
+
+ Digraph: FO
+
+ Type: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative
+ division of Denmark
+
+ Capital: Torshavn
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (self-governing overseas administrative
+ division of Denmark)
+
+ Independence: none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas
+ administrative division of Denmark)
+
+ National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
+
+ Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
+
+ Legal system: Danish
+
+ Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972),
+ represented by High Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Edmund JOENSEN (since 15 September
+ 1994)
+ cabinet: Landsstyri; elected by the local legislature
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Faroese Parliament (Logting): elections last held 8 July 1994 (next to
+ be held by July 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
+ (32 total) Liberal Party 8, People's Party 6, Social Democrats 5,
+ Republicans 4, Workers' Party 3, Christian Democrats 2, Center Party
+ 2, Home Rule Party 2
+ Danish Parliament: elections last held on 21 September 1994 (next to
+ be held by September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;
+ seats - (2 total) Liberals 2
+
+ Judicial branch: none
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party, Marita
+ PETERSEN; Workers Front, Oli JACOBSEN; Home Rule Party, Helena Dam A
+ NEYSTABOE; The 'Coalition Party', Edmund JOENSEN; Republican Party,
+ Finnbogir ESAKSON; Centrist Party, Tordur NICLASEN; Christian People's
+ Party, Niels Pauli DANIELSEN; People's Party, Arnfinn KALLSBERG;
+ Liberal Party; Christian Democratic Party
+
+ Member of: none
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing overseas
+ administrative division of Denmark)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing overseas
+ administrative division of Denmark)
+
+ Flag: white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the
+ edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the
+ hoist side in the style of the DANNEBROG (Danish flag)
+
+@Faroe Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: The Faroese, who have long enjoyed the affluent living
+ standards of the Danes and other Scandinavians, now must cope with the
+ decline of the all-important fishing industry and one of the world's
+ heaviest per capita external debts of about $25,000. When the nations
+ of the world extended their fishing zones to 200 nautical miles in the
+ early 1970s, the Faroese no longer could continue their traditional
+ long-distance fishing and subsequently depleted their own nearby
+ fishing areas. The government's tight controls on fish stocks and its
+ austerity measures have caused a recession, and subsidy cuts will
+ force nationalization in the fishing industry, which has already been
+ plagued with bankruptcies. Copenhagen has threatened to withhold its
+ annual subsidy of $130 million - roughly one-third of the islands'
+ budget revenues - unless the Faroese make significant efforts to
+ balance their budget. To this extent the Faroe government is expected
+ to continue its tough policies, including introducing a 20%
+ value-added tax (VAT) in 1993, and has agreed to an IMF
+ economic-political stabilization plan. In addition to its annual
+ subsidy, the Danish government has bailed out the second largest Faroe
+ bank to the tune of $140 million since October 1992.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $662 million (1989
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -10.8% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $14,000 (1989 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.8% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 23% (1993)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $407.2 million
+ expenditures: $482.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $345.3 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: fish and fish products 88%, animal feedstuffs, transport
+ equipment (ships) (1989)
+ partners: Denmark 20%, Germany 18.3%, UK 14.2%, France 11.2%, Spain
+ 7.9%, US 4.5%
+
+ Imports: $234.4 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment 24.4%, manufactures
+ 24%, food and livestock 19%, fuels 12%, chemicals 6.5%
+ partners: Denmark 43.8%, Norway 19.8%, Sweden 4.9%, Germany 4.2%, US
+ 1.3%
+
+ External debt: $1.2 billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 90,000 kW
+ production: 200 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,953 kWh (1992)
+
+ Industries: fishing, shipbuilding, handicrafts
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 27% of GDP; principal crops - potatoes and
+ vegetables; livestock - sheep; annual fish catch about 360,000 metric
+ tons
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: receives an annual subsidy from Denmark of about $130
+ million
+
+ Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
+
+ Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.034 (January 1995),
+ 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991), 6.189 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Faroe Islands:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 200 km
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: Klaksvick, Torshavn, Tvoroyri
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,879 GRT/18,444 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger
+ 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Faroe Islands:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 27,900 telephones; good international
+ communications; fair domestic facilities
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 3 coaxial submarine cables
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3 repeaters 10, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 3 (repeaters 29)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Faroe Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: no organized native military forces; only a small Police
+ Force and Coast Guard are maintained
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of Denmark
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+FIJI
+
+@Fiji:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about
+ two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 18,270 sq km
+ land area: 18,270 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,129 km
+
+ Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation;
+ rectilinear shelf claim added
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
+
+ Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin
+
+ Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 8%
+ permanent crops: 5%
+ meadows and pastures: 3%
+ forest and woodland: 65%
+ other: 19%
+
+ Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; soil erosion
+ natural hazards: cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law
+ of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Tropical Timber 94
+
+ Note: includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
+
+@Fiji:People
+
+ Population: 772,891 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 36% (female 136,570; male 142,581)
+ 15-64 years: 61% (female 235,491; male 235,411)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 11,943; male 10,895) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.16% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 23.69 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.42 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -5.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 17.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 65.42 years
+ male: 63.13 years
+ female: 67.82 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.87 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Fijian(s)
+ adjective: Fijian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Fijian 49%, Indian 46%, European, other Pacific
+ Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5%
+
+ Religions: Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu
+ 38%, Muslim 8%, other 2%
+ note: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is a
+ Muslim minority (1986)
+
+ Languages: English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1986)
+ total population: 87%
+ male: 90%
+ female: 84%
+
+ Labor force: 235,000
+ by occupation: subsistence agriculture 67%, wage earners 18%, salary
+ earners 15% (1987)
+
+@Fiji:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Fiji
+ conventional short form: Fiji
+
+ Digraph: FJ
+
+ Type: republic
+ note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally declared
+ Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987
+
+ Capital: Suva
+
+ Administrative divisions: 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central,
+ Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western
+
+ Independence: 10 October 1970 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 10 October (1970)
+
+ Constitution: 10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987); a new
+ Constitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and promulgated on 25
+ July 1990; the 1990 Constitution is under review; the review is
+ scheduled to be complete by 1997
+
+ Legal system: based on British system
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (since 12 January
+ 1994); First Vice President Ratu Sir Josaia TAIVAIQIA (since 12
+ January 1994); Second Vice President Ratu Inoke TAKIVEIKATA (since 12
+ January 1994); note - President GANILAU died on 15 December 1993 and
+ Vice President MARA became acting president; MARA was elected
+ president by the Great Council of Chiefs on 12 January 1994
+ head of government: Prime Minister Sitiveni RABUKA (since 2 June 1992)
+
+ Presidential Council: appointed by the governor general
+ Great Council of Chiefs: highest ranking members of the traditional
+ chiefly system
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by prime minister from members of
+ Parliament and responsible to Parliament
+
+ Legislative branch: the bicameral Parliament was dissolved following
+ the coup of 14 May 1987
+ Senate: nonelective body containing 34 seats, 24 reserved for ethnic
+ Fijians, 9 for Indians and others, 1 for the island of Rotuma;
+ appointed by President
+ House of Representatives: elections last held 18-25 February 1994
+ (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA;
+ seats - (70 total, with ethnic Fijians allocated 37 seats, ethnic
+ Indians 27 seats, and independents and other 6 seats) number of seats
+ by party SVT 31, NFP 20, FLP 7, FA 5, GVP 4, independents 2, ANC 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Fijian Political Party (SVT - primarily
+ Fijian), leader Maj. Gen. Sitivini RABUKA; National Federation Party
+ (NFP; primarily Indian), Jai Ram REDDY; Fijian Nationalist Party
+ (FNP), Sakeasi BUTADROKA; Fiji Labor Party (FLP), Mahendra CHAUDHRY;
+ General Voters Party (GVP), Bill SORBY; Fiji Conservative Party (FCP),
+ Isireli VUIBAU; Conservative Party of Fiji (CPF), Jolale ULUDOLE and
+ Viliame SAVU; Fiji Indian Liberal Party, Swami MAHARAJ; Fiji Indian
+ Congress Party, Ishwari BAJPAI; Fiji Independent Labor (Muslim),
+ leader NA; Four Corners Party, David TULVANUAVOU; Fijian Association
+ (FA), leader NA; General Electors' Association, leader NA
+ note: in early 1995, ethnic Fijian members of the All National
+ Congress (ANC) merged with the Fijian Association (FA); the new FA is
+ scheduled to hold its first meeting in April 1995 at which time the
+ leaders of the party will be chosen; it is likely that Josevata
+ KAMIKAMICA, the leader of the FA before the merger, will be elected
+ leader and Adi Kuini Bavadra SPEED, the leader of the ANC before the
+ merger, will be elected deputy leader; the remaining members of the
+ ANC have renamed their party the General Electors' Association
+
+ Member of: ACP, AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
+ ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
+ ITU, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
+ UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Pita Kewa NACUVA
+ chancery: Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
+ telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320
+ FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996
+ consulate(s): New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Michael W. MARINE
+ embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
+ telephone: [679] 314466
+ FAX: [679] 300081
+
+ Flag: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
+ quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag;
+ the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the
+ cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree,
+ bananas, and a white dove
+
+@Fiji:Economy
+
+ Overview: Fiji's economy is primarily agricultural, with a large
+ subsistence sector. Sugar exports and tourism are the major sources of
+ foreign exchange. Industry contributes 13% to GDP, with sugar
+ processing accounting for one-third of industrial activity. Roughly
+ 250,000 tourists visit each year. Political uncertainty and drought,
+ however, contribute to substantial fluctuations in earnings from
+ tourism and sugar and to the emigration of skilled workers. In 1992,
+ growth was approximately 3%, based on growth in tourism and a
+ lessening of labor-management disputes in the sugar and gold-mining
+ sectors. In 1993, the government's budgeted growth rate of 3% was not
+ achieved because of a decline in non-sugar agricultural output and
+ damage from Cyclone Kina. Growth in 1994 is estimated to be 5%,
+ largely attributed to increased tourism and expansion in domestic
+ production, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $4.3 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $5,650 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 5.4% (1992)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $485 million
+ expenditures: $579 million, including capital expenditures of $58
+ million (1994)
+
+ Exports: $405 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: sugar 40%, clothing, gold, processed fish, lumber
+ partners: EC 26%, Australia 15%, Pacific Islands 11%, Japan 6%
+
+ Imports: $634 million (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products,
+ food, consumer goods, chemicals
+ partners: Australia 30%, NZ 17%, Japan 13%, EC 6%, US 6%
+
+ External debt: $670 million (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 0% (1993 est.); accounts for 13% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 200,000 kW
+ production: 480 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 581 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: sugar, tourism, copra, gold, silver, clothing, lumber,
+ small cottage industries
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 23% of GDP; principal cash crop is
+ sugarcane; coconuts, cassava, rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; small
+ livestock sector includes cattle, pigs, horses, and goats; fish catch
+ nearly 33,000 tons (1989)
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1980-89), $815 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Fijian dollar (F$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1 - 1.4140 (January 1995),
+ 1.4641 (1994), 1.5418 (1993), 1.5030 (1992), 1.4756 (1991), 1.4809
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Fiji:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 644 km; note - belongs to the government owned Fiji Sugar
+ Corporation
+ narrow gauge: 644 km 0.610-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 3,300 km
+ paved: 1,590 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 1,290 km; unimproved
+ earth 420 km (1984)
+
+ Inland waterways: 203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and
+ 200-metric-ton barges
+
+ Ports: Labasa, Lautoka, Levuka, Savusavu, Suva
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,267 GRT/17,884 DWT
+ ships by type: chemical tanker 2, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo
+ 2
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 23
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 16
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
+
+@Fiji:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 53,228 telephones; 71 telephones/1,000 persons;
+ modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated)
+ public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter
+ facilities; regional radio center
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: important COMPAC cable link between US-Canada and
+ NZ-Australia; 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Fiji:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF; includes army, navy,
+ and air elements)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 201,441; males fit for military
+ service 111,046; males reach military age (18) annually 8,466 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $22.4 million, about
+ 2% of GDP (FY91/92)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+FINLAND
+
+@Finland:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia,
+ and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 337,030 sq km
+ land area: 305,470 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,628 km, Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia
+ 1,313 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations)
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 6 nm
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
+ territorial sea: 4 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mild
+ because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic
+ Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
+
+ Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes
+ and low hills
+
+ Natural resources: timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 8%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 76%
+ other: 16%
+
+ Irrigated land: 620 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution from manufacturing and power plants
+ contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes,
+ agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
+ Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
+ Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
+ Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur
+ 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national
+ capital on European continent; population concentrated on small
+ southwestern coastal plain
+
+@Finland:People
+
+ Population: 5,085,206 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 19% (female 469,666; male 491,484)
+ 15-64 years: 67% (female 1,683,371; male 1,716,307)
+ 65 years and over: 14% (female 457,061; male 267,317) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.3% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 12.22 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.77 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 76.22 years
+ male: 72.51 years
+ female: 80.11 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.79 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Finn(s)
+ adjective: Finnish
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Finn, Swede, Lapp, Gypsy, Tatar
+
+ Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other
+ 1%
+
+ Languages: Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official), small
+ Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
+ total population: 100%
+
+ Labor force: 2.533 million
+ by occupation: public services 30.4%, industry 20.9%, commerce 15.0%,
+ finance, insurance, and business services 10.2%, agriculture and
+ forestry 8.6%, transport and communications 7.7%, construction 7.2%
+
+@Finland:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Finland
+ conventional short form: Finland
+ local long form: Suomen Tasavalta
+ local short form: Suomi
+
+ Digraph: FI
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Helsinki
+
+ Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (laanit, singular - laani);
+ Ahvenanmaa, Hame, Keski-Suomi, Kuopio, Kymi, Lappi, Mikkeli, Oulu,
+ Pohjois-Karjala, Turku ja Pori, Uusimaa, Vaasa
+
+ Independence: 6 December 1917 (from Soviet Union)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
+
+ Constitution: 17 July 1919
+
+ Legal system: civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may
+ request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory
+ ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994);
+ election last held 31 January-6 February 1994 (next to be held January
+ 2000); results - Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%
+ head of government: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April
+ 1995); Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)
+ cabinet: Council of State (Valtioneuvosto); appointed by the
+ president, responsible to Parliament
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Parliament (Eduskunta): elections last held 19 March 1995 (next to be
+ held March 1999); results - Social Democratic Party 28.3%, Center
+ Party 19.9%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 17.9%, Leftist
+ Alliance (Communist) 11.2%, Swedish People's Party 5.1%, Green League
+ 6.5%, Ecology Party 0.3%, Rural 1.3%, Finnish Christian League 3.0%,
+ Liberal People's Party 0.6%, Young Finns 2.8%; seats - (200 total)
+ Social Democratic Party 63, Center Party 44, National Coalition
+ (Conservative) Party 39, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 22, Swedish
+ People's Party 11, Green League 9, Ecology Party 1, Rural 1, Finnish
+ Christian League 7, Young Finns 2, Aaland Islands 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Korkein Oikeus)
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ government coalition: Social Democratic Party, Paavo LIPPONEN;
+ National Coalition (conservative) Party, Sauli NIINISTO; Leftist
+ Alliance (Communist) People's Democratic League and Democratic
+ Alternative, Claes ANDERSON; Swedish People's Party, (Johan) Ole
+ NORRBACK; Green League, Pekka HAAVISTO
+ other: Center Party, Esko AHO; Finnish Christian League, Toimi
+ KANKAANNIEMI; Rural Party, Tina MAKELA; Liberal People's Party,
+ Tuulikki UKKOLA; Greens Ecological Party (EPV); Young Finns
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Finnish Communist Party-Unity,
+ Yrjo HAKANEN; Constitutional Rightist Party; Finnish Pensioners Party;
+ Communist Workers Party, Timo LAHDENMAKI
+
+ Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC,
+ CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA (associate), EU, FAO, G- 9, GATT, IADB,
+ IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
+ IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC
+ (observer), NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
+ OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO,
+ UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
+ WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Jukka VALTASAARI
+ chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800
+ FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030
+ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Derek N. SHEARER
+ embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki
+ mailing address: APO AE 09723
+ telephone: [358] (0) 171931
+ FAX: [358] (0) 174681
+
+ Flag: white with a blue cross that extends to the edges of the flag;
+ the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the
+ style of the DANNEBROG (Danish flag)
+
+@Finland:Economy
+
+ Overview: Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free market
+ economy, with per capita output two-thirds of the US figure. Its key
+ economic sector is manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, and
+ engineering industries. Trade is important, with the export of goods
+ representing about 30% of GDP. Except for timber and several minerals,
+ Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some
+ components for manufactured goods. Because of the climate,
+ agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in
+ basic products. Forestry, an important export earner, provides a
+ secondary occupation for the rural population. The economy, which
+ experienced an average of 4.9% annual growth between 1987 and 1989,
+ sank into deep recession in 1991 as GDP contracted by 6.5%. The
+ recession - which continued in 1992 with GDP contracting by 4.1% - has
+ been caused by economic overheating, depressed foreign markets, and
+ the dismantling of the barter system between Finland and the former
+ Soviet Union under which Soviet oil and gas had been exchanged for
+ Finnish manufactured goods. The Finnish Government has proposed
+ efforts to increase industrial competitiveness and efficiency by an
+ increase in exports to Western markets, cuts in public expenditures,
+ partial privatization of state enterprises, and changes in monetary
+ policy. In June 1991 Helsinki had tied the markka to the European
+ Union's (EU) European Currency Unit (ECU) to promote stability.
+ Ongoing speculation resulting from a lack of confidence in the
+ government's policies forced Helsinki to devalue the markka by about
+ 12% in November 1991 and to indefinitely break the link in September
+ 1992. The devaluations have boosted the competitiveness of Finnish
+ exports. The recession bottomed out in 1993, and Finland participated
+ in the general European upturn of 1994. Unemployment probably will
+ remain a serious problem during the next few years; the majority of
+ Finnish firms face a weak domestic market and the troubled German and
+ Swedish export markets. The Finns voted in an October 1994 referendum
+ to enter the EU, and Finland officially joined the Union on 1 January
+ 1995. Increasing integration with Western Europe will dominate the
+ economic picture over the next few years.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $81.8 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $16,140 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (1992)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 22% (1993)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $21.7 billion
+ expenditures: $31.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $23.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: paper and pulp, machinery, chemicals, metals, timber
+ partners: EC 53.2% (Germany 15.6%, UK 10.7%), EFTA 19.5% (Sweden
+ 12.8%), US 5.9%, Japan 1.3%, Russia 2.8% (1992)
+
+ Imports: $18 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals,
+ transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and
+ fabrics, fodder grains
+ partners: EC 47.2% (Germany 16.9%, UK 8.7%), EFTA 19.0% (Sweden
+ 11.7%), US 6.1%, Japan 5.5%, Russia 7.1% (1992)
+
+ External debt: $30 billion (December 1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1993 est.); accounts for 28% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 13,360,000 kW
+ production: 58 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 12,196 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: metal products, shipbuilding, forestry and wood processing
+ (pulp, paper), copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles,
+ clothing
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 7% of GDP (including forestry); livestock
+ production, especially dairy cattle, predominates; main crops -
+ cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; 85% self-sufficient, but short of
+ foodgrains and fodder grains; annual fish catch about 160,000 metric
+ tons
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Latin American cocaine for the
+ West European market
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.7 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 markka (FMk) or Finmark = 100 pennia
+
+ Exchange rates: markkaa (FMk) per US$1 - 4.7358 (January 1995), 5.2235
+ (1994), 5.7123 (1993), 4.4794 (1992), 4.0440 (1991), 3.8235 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Finland:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 5,864 km
+ broad gauge: 5,864 km 1.524-m gauge (1,710 km electrified; 480 km
+ multiple track)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 76,755 km
+ paved: bituminous concrete, bituminous treated soil 47,588 km (318 km
+ of expressways)
+ unpaved: gravel 29,167 km (1992)
+
+ Inland waterways: 6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km
+ suitable for steamers
+
+ Pipelines: natural gas 580 km
+
+ Ports: Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa, Oulu, Pori, Rauma,
+ Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 93 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,050,270 GRT/1,080,150
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 20, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gas
+ tanker 3, oil tanker 12, passenger 3, refrigerated cargo 1,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 31, short-sea passenger 10, vehicle carrier 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 159
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 23
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 21
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 94
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
+
+@Finland:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 3,140,000 telephones; good service from cable and
+ microwave radio relay network
+ local: NA
+ intercity: cable and microwave radio relay
+ international: 1 submarine cable; INTELSAT satellite transmission
+ service via Swedish earth station and a receive-only INTELSAT earth
+ station near Helsinki for TV programs
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 105, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 235
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Finland:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (includes Sea Guard)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,318,231; males fit for
+ military service 1,083,749; males reach military age (17) annually
+ 33,085 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.86 billion, about
+ 1.9% of GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+FRANCE
+
+@France:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English
+ Channel, between Belgium and Spain southeast of the UK; bordering the
+ Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 547,030 sq km
+ land area: 545,630 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Colorado
+ note: includes Corsica and the rest of metropolitan France, but
+ excludes the overseas administrative divisions
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,892.4 km, Andorra 60 km, Belgium 620 km,
+ Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain
+ 623 km, Switzerland 573 km
+
+ Coastline: 3,427 km (mainland 2,783 km, Corsica 644 km)
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa
+ Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island;
+ Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; Seychelles
+ claims Tromelin Island; Suriname claims part of French Guiana; Mexico
+ claims Clipperton Island; territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie
+ Land); Saint Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime boundary dispute
+ between Canada and France
+
+ Climate: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and
+ hot summers along the Mediterranean
+
+ Terrain: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west;
+ remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east
+
+ Natural resources: coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc, potash
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 32%
+ permanent crops: 2%
+ meadows and pastures: 23%
+ forest and woodland: 27%
+ other: 16%
+
+ Irrigated land: 11,600 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from
+ industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes,
+ agricultural runoff
+ natural hazards: flooding
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,
+ Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,
+ Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
+ Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air
+ Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
+ Desertification, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: largest West European nation; occasional warm tropical wind
+ known as mistral
+
+@France:People
+
+ Population: 58,109,160 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 19% (female 5,438,447; male 5,700,143)
+ 15-64 years: 65% (female 18,889,771; male 19,001,536)
+ 65 years and over: 16% (female 5,433,276; male 3,645,987) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.46% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.29 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 78.37 years
+ male: 74.5 years
+ female: 82.44 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
+ adjective: French
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North
+ African, Indochinese, Basque minorities
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim (North
+ African workers) 1%, unaffiliated 6%
+
+ Languages: French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and
+ languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque,
+ Flemish)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991 est.)
+ total population: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 24.17 million
+ by occupation: services 61.5%, industry 31.3%, agriculture 7.2% (1987)
+
+@France:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: French Republic
+ conventional short form: France
+ local long form: Republique Francaise
+ local short form: France
+
+ Digraph: FR
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Paris
+
+ Administrative divisions: 22 regions (regions, singular - region);
+ Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne,
+ Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie,
+ Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine,
+ Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie,
+ Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes
+ note: the 22 regions are subdivided into 96 departments; see separate
+ entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe,
+ Martinique, Reunion) and the territorial collectivities (Mayotte,
+ Saint Pierre and Miquelon)
+
+ Dependent areas: Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island,
+ French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso
+ Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis
+ and Futuna
+ note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
+
+ Independence: 486 (unified by Clovis)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
+
+ Constitution: 28 September 1958, amended concerning election of
+ president in 1962, amended to comply with provisions of EC Maastricht
+ Treaty in 1992; amended to tighten immigration laws 1993
+
+ Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of
+ administrative but not legislative acts
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981);
+ election last held 8 May 1988 (next to be held by May 1995); results -
+ Second Ballot Francois MITTERRAND 54%, Jacques CHIRAC 46%
+ head of government: Prime Minister Edouard BALLADUR (since 29 March
+ 1993)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on the
+ suggestion of the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlement)
+ Senate (Senat): elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held
+ September 1995; nine-year term, elected by thirds every three years);
+ results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (321 total; 296
+ metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and territories, and
+ 12 for French nationals abroad) RPR 91, UDF 142, PS 66, PCF 16,
+ independents 2, other 4
+ National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 21 and 28
+ March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by
+ party NA; seats - (577 total) RPR 247, UDF 213, PS 67, PCF 24,
+ independents 26
+
+ Judicial branch: Constitutional Court (Cour Constitutionnelle)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR), Alain
+ JUPPE, interim head; Union for French Democracy (UDF, coalition of PR,
+ CDS, RAD, PSD), Valery Giscard d'ESTAING; Republican Party (PR),
+ Gerard LONGUET; Center for Social Democrats (CDS), Francois BAYROU;
+ Radical (RAD), Yves GALLAND; Socialist Party (PS), Henri EMMANUELLI;
+ Left Radical Movement (MRG), Jean-Francois HORY; Communist Party
+ (PCF), Robert HUE; National Front (FN), Jean-Marie LE PEN; The Greens,
+ Antoine WAECHTER, Jean-Louis VIDAL, Guy CAMBOT; Generation Ecology
+ (GE), Brice LALONDE
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Communist-controlled labor union
+ (Confederation Generale du Travail - CGT) nearly 2.4 million members
+ (claimed); Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise
+ Democratique du Travail or CFDT) about 800,000 members (est.);
+ independent labor union (Force Ouvriere) 1 million members (est.);
+ independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale des Cadres)
+ 340,000 members (claimed); National Council of French Employers
+ (Conseil National du Patronat Francais - CNPF or Patronat)
+
+ Member of: ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC,
+ BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, EBRD, EC, ECA (associate),
+ ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, FZ, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, GATT, IADB,
+ IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
+ IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO,
+ MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUSAL, OSCE, PCA,
+ SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
+ UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU,
+ WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Jacques ANDREANI
+ chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
+ telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000
+ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los
+ Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan
+ (Puerto Rico)
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela C. HARRIMAN
+ embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08
+ mailing address: Unit 21551, Paris; APO AE 09777
+ telephone: [33] (1) 42 96 12 02, 42 61 80 75
+ FAX: [33] (1) 42 66 97 83
+ consulate(s) general: Bordeaux, Marseille, Strasbourg
+
+ Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red;
+ known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the design and colors are
+ similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad,
+ Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, and Luxembourg; the official flag for all
+ French dependent areas
+
+@France:Economy
+
+ Overview: One of the world's most highly developed economies, France
+ has substantial agricultural resources and a diversified modern
+ industrial sector. Large tracts of fertile land, the application of
+ modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make it the leading
+ agricultural producer in Western Europe. Largely self-sufficient in
+ agricultural products, France is a major exporter of wheat and dairy
+ products. The industrial sector generates about one-quarter of GDP,
+ and the growing services sector has become crucial to the economy.
+ Following stagnation and recession in 1991-93, French GDP in 1994
+ expanded 2.4%. Growth in 1995 is expected to be in the 3.0% to 3.5%
+ range. Persistently high unemployment will still pose a major problem
+ for the government. Paris remains committed to maintaining the
+ franc-deutsche mark parity, which has kept French interest rates high
+ despite France's low inflation. Although the pace of economic and
+ financial integration within the European Union has slowed down,
+ integration presumably will remain a major force shaping the fortunes
+ of the various economic sectors over the next few years.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.0801 trillion
+ (1994 est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $18,670 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 12.6% (yearend 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $220.5 billion
+ expenditures: $249.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $47
+ billion (1993 budget)
+
+ Exports: $249.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals,
+ foodstuffs, agricultural products, iron and steel products, textiles
+ and clothing
+ partners: Germany 18.6%, Italy 11.0%, Spain 11.0%, Belgium-Luxembourg
+ 9.1%, UK 8.8%, Netherlands 7.9%, US 6.4%, Japan 2.0%, FSU 0.7% (1991
+ est.)
+
+ Imports: $238.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: crude oil, machinery and equipment, agricultural
+ products, chemicals, iron and steel products
+ partners: Germany 17.8%, Italy 10.9%, US 9.5%, Netherlands 8.9%, Spain
+ 8.8%, Belgium-Luxembourg 8.5%, UK 7.5%, Japan 4.1%, FSU 1.3% (1991
+ est.)
+
+ External debt: $300 billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 2.6% (1994 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 105,250,000 kW
+ production: 447 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 6,149 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy,
+ aircraft, electronics, mining, textiles, food processing, tourism
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP (including fishing and forestry);
+ one of the world's top five wheat producers; other principal products
+ - beef, dairy products, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes;
+ self-sufficient for most temperate-zone foods; shortages include fats
+ and oils and tropical produce, but overall net exporter of farm
+ products; fish catch of 850,000 metric tons ranks among world's top 20
+ countries and is all used domestically
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $75.1 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9243 (January 1995),
+ 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@France:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 34,074 km
+ standard gauge: 33,975 km 1.435-m gauge (5,850 km electrified; 12,132
+ km double or multiple track)
+ other: 99 km various gauges including 1.000-m (privately owned and
+ operated) (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1,511,200 km
+ paved: 811,200 km (including 7,700 km of controlled access divided
+ highway)
+ unpaved: 700,000 km (1992)
+
+ Inland waterways: 14,932 km; 6,969 km heavily traveled
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 3,059 km; petroleum products 4,487 km; natural
+ gas 24,746 km
+
+ Ports: Bordeaux, Boulogne, Cherbourg, Dijon, Dunkerque, La Pallice, Le
+ Havre, Lyon, Marseille, Mullhouse, Nantes, Paris, Rouen, Saint
+ Nazaire, Saint Malo, Strasbourg
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,186,183 GRT/3,323,068
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 7, chemical tanker 6, container 15,
+ liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 21, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off
+ cargo 11, short-sea passenger 5, specialized tanker 2
+ note: France also maintains a captive register for French-owned ships
+ in the Kerguelen Islands (French Southern and Antarctic Lands) and
+ French Polynesia
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 476
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 12
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 29
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 96
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 74
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 188
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 74
+
+@France:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 39,200,000 telephones; highly developed; extensive
+ cable and microwave radio relay networks; large-scale introduction of
+ optical-fiber systems; satellite systems for domestic traffic
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay, optical fiber cable, and domestic
+ satellites
+ international: 2 INTELSAT earth stations (with total of 5 antennas - 2
+ Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean); HF radio communications with
+ more than 20 countries; INMARSAT service; EUTELSAT TV service
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 41, FM 800 (mostly repeaters), shortwave 0
+ radios: 48 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 846 (mostly repeaters)
+ televisions: 36 million
+
+@France:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air), Air Force and Air Defense,
+ National Gendarmerie
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 14,740,155; males fit for
+ military service 12,258,691; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 378,489 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $47.1 billion, 3.1%
+ of GDP (1995)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+FRENCH GUIANA
+
+ (overseas department of France)
+
+@French Guiana:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
+ between Brazil and Suriname
+
+ Map references: South America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 91,000 sq km
+ land area: 89,150 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,183 km, Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
+
+ Coastline: 378 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani
+ and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa)
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation
+
+ Terrain: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains
+
+ Natural resources: bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar,
+ kaolin, fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 82%
+ other: 18%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: high frequency of heavy showers and severe
+ thunderstorms; flooding
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: mostly an unsettled wilderness
+
+@French Guiana:People
+
+ Population: 145,270 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 32% (female 22,511; male 23,535)
+ 15-64 years: 63% (female 41,995; male 50,064)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 3,608; male 3,557) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 4.13% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 25.23 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 4.61 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 20.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 75.52 years
+ male: 72.27 years
+ female: 78.94 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.46 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: French Guianese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: French Guianese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: black or mulatto 66%, Caucasian 12%, East Indian,
+ Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic
+
+ Languages: French
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
+ total population: 83%
+ male: 84%
+ female: 82%
+
+ Labor force: 23,265
+ by occupation: services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry
+ 21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980)
+
+@French Guiana:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Department of Guiana
+ conventional short form: French Guiana
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: Guyane
+
+ Digraph: FG
+
+ Type: overseas department of France
+
+ Capital: Cayenne
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
+
+ Independence: none (overseas department of France)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
+
+ Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
+
+ Legal system: French legal system
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
+ head of government: Prefect Jean-Francois CORDET (since NA 1992);
+ President of the General Council Elie CASTOR (since NA); President of
+ the Regional Council Antoine KARAM (22 March 1993)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and a unicameral
+ Regional Council
+ General Council: elections last held 25 September and 8 October 1988
+ (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
+ (19 total) PSG 12, URC 7
+ Regional Council: elections last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held
+ NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (31 total) PSG 16,
+ FDG 10, RPR 2, independents 3
+ French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held
+ September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1
+ total) PSG 1
+ French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993
+ (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;
+ seats - (2 total) RPR 1, independent 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Appeals (highest local court based in
+ Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French
+ Guiana)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Guianese Socialist Party (PSG), Elie
+ CASTRO; Conservative Union for the Republic (UPR), Leon BERTRAND;
+ Rally for the Center Right (URC); Rally for the Republic (RPR); Guyana
+ Democratic Front (FDG), Georges OTHILY; Walwari Committee, Christine
+ TAUBIRA-DELANON
+
+ Member of: FZ, WCL, WFTU
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas department of France)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (overseas department of France)
+
+ Flag: the flag of France is used
+
+@French Guiana:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is tied closely to that of France through
+ subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou,
+ fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities, with
+ exports of fish and fish products (mostly shrimp) accounting for more
+ than 60% of total revenue in 1992. The large reserves of tropical
+ hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry
+ that provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops - rice,
+ cassava, bananas, and sugarcane - is limited to the coastal area,
+ where the population is largely concentrated. French Guiana is heavily
+ dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious
+ problem, particularly among younger workers.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $800 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $6,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1992)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 13% (1990)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $735 million
+ expenditures: $735 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1987)
+
+ Exports: $59 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: shrimp, timber, rum, rosewood essence
+ partners: France 52%, Spain 15%, US 5% (1992)
+
+ Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
+ commodities: food (grains, processed meat), other consumer goods,
+ producer goods, petroleum
+ partners: France 77%, Germany 11%, US 5% (1992)
+
+ External debt: $1.2 billion (1988)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 180,000 kW
+ production: 450 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,149 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum,
+ gold mining
+
+ Agriculture: some vegetables for local consumption; rice, corn,
+ manioc, cocoa, bananas, sugar; livestock - cattle, pigs, poultry
+
+ Illicit drugs: small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $1.51 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9243 (January 1995),
+ 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@French Guiana:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 22 km (est.)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1,137 km
+ paved: 455 km
+ unpaved: improved, unimproved earth 682 km (1988)
+
+ Inland waterways: 460 km, navigable by small oceangoing vessels and
+ river and coastal steamers; 3,300 km navigable by native craft
+
+ Ports: Cayenne, Degrad des Cannes, Saint-Laurent du Maroni
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 11
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+
+@French Guiana:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 18,100 telephones; fair open-wire and microwave
+ radio relay system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: open wire and microwave radio relay
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 7, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 9
+ televisions: NA
+
+@French Guiana:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 41,986; males fit for military
+ service 27,298
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of France
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+FRENCH POLYNESIA
+
+ (overseas territory of France)
+
+@French Polynesia:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about
+ one-half of the way from South America to Australia
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 3,941 sq km
+ land area: 3,660 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 2,525 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical, but moderate
+
+ Terrain: mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
+
+ Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 1%
+ permanent crops: 19%
+ meadows and pastures: 5%
+ forest and woodland: 31%
+ other: 44%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: occasional cyclonic storms in January
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: includes five archipelagoes; Makatea in French Polynesia is one
+ of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the
+ others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru
+
+@French Polynesia:People
+
+ Population: 219,999 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 36% (female 38,361; male 39,744)
+ 15-64 years: 60% (female 64,034; male 69,024)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 4,437; male 4,399) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.23% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 27.56 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.27 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 14.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 70.75 years
+ male: 68.32 years
+ female: 73.29 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.3 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: French Polynesian(s)
+ adjective: French Polynesian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%,
+ metropolitan French 4%
+
+ Religions: Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 16%
+
+ Languages: French (official), Tahitian (official)
+
+ Literacy: age 14 and over can read and write but definition of
+ literary not available (1977)
+ total population: 98%
+ male: 98%
+ female: 98%
+
+ Labor force: 76,630 employed (1988)
+
+@French Polynesia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Territory of French Polynesia
+ conventional short form: French Polynesia
+ local long form: Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise
+ local short form: Polynesie Francaise
+
+ Digraph: FP
+
+ Type: overseas territory of France since 1946
+
+ Capital: Papeete
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there
+ are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
+ Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel des
+ Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent,
+ and Iles Sous-le-Vent
+ note: Clipperton Island is administered by France from French
+ Polynesia
+
+ Independence: none (overseas territory of France)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
+
+ Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
+
+ Legal system: based on French system
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981);
+ High Commissioner of the Republic Paul RONCIERE (since 8 August 1994)
+ head of government: President of the Territorial Government of French
+ Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 10 May 1991); Deputy to the French
+ Assembly and President of the Territorial Assembly Jean JUVENTIN
+ (since NA November 1992); Territorial Vice President and Minister of
+ Health Michel BUILLARD (since 12 September 1991)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of
+ the Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Territorial Assembly: elections last held 17 March 1991 (next to be
+ held March 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (41
+ total) People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 18, Polynesian Union
+ Party 12, New Fatherland Party 7, other 4
+ French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held
+ September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1
+ total) party NA
+ French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993
+ (next to be held NA March 1998); results - percent of vote by party
+ NA; seats - (2 total) People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, Court of the First Instance, Court
+ of Administrative Law
+
+ Political parties and leaders: People's Rally for the Republic
+ (Tahoeraa Huiraatira), Gaston FLOSSE; Polynesian Union Party (includes
+ Te Tiarama), Alexandre LEONTIEFF; Here Ai'a Party, Jean JUVENTIN; New
+ Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api), Emile VERNAUDON; Polynesian Liberation
+ Front (Tavini Hviraatira No Te Ao Maohi), Oscar TEMARU; Independent
+ Party (Ia Mana Te Nunaa), Jacques DROLLET; other small parties
+
+ Member of: ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas territory of France)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (overseas territory of France)
+
+ Flag: the flag of France is used
+
+@French Polynesia:Economy
+
+ Overview: Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the
+ region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence economy to one
+ in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the
+ military or supports the tourist industry. Tourism accounts for about
+ 20% of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.5 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $7,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1991)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 10% (1990 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $614 million
+ expenditures: $957 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1988)
+
+ Exports: $88.9 million (f.o.b., 1989)
+ commodities: coconut products 79%, mother-of-pearl 14%, vanilla, shark
+ meat
+ partners: France 54%, US 17%, Japan 17%
+
+ Imports: $765 million (c.i.f., 1989)
+ commodities: fuels, foodstuffs, equipment
+ partners: France 53%, US 11%, Australia 6%, NZ 5%
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 15% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 75,000 kW
+ production: 275 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,189 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts
+
+ Agriculture: coconut and vanilla plantations; vegetables and fruit;
+ poultry, beef, dairy products
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-88), $3.95 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1
+ - 96.25 (January 1995), 100.94 (1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992),
+ 102.57 (1991), 99.00 (1990); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the
+ French franc
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@French Polynesia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 600 km (1982)
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: Mataura, Papeete, Rikitea, Uturoa
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,127 GRT/6,710 DWT
+ ships by type: passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1
+ note: a subset of the French register allowing French-owned ships to
+ operate under more liberal taxation and manning regulations than
+ permissable under the main French register
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 43
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 14
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 18
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
+
+@French Polynesia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 33,200 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 2, shortwave 0
+ radios: 84,000
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 6
+ televisions: 26,400
+
+@French Polynesia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: French Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
+
+ Note: defense is responsibility of France
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+FRENCH SOUTHERN AND ANTARCTIC LANDS
+
+ (overseas territory of France)
+
+@French Southern And Antarctic Lands:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, about
+ equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note - "French
+ Southern and Antarctic Lands" includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul,
+ Iles Crozet, and Iles Kerguelen in the southern Indian Ocean, along
+ with the French-claimed sector of Antartica, "Terre Adelie"; the
+ United States does not recognize the French claim to "Terre Adelie"
+
+ Map references: Antarctic Region
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 7,781 sq km
+ land area: 7,781 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Delaware
+ note: includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet and Iles
+ Kerguelen; excludes "Terre Adelie" claim of about 500,000 sq km in
+ Antarctica that is not recognized by the US
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,232 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen only
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: "Terre Adelie" claim in Antarctica is not
+ recognized by the US
+
+ Climate: antarctic
+
+ Terrain: volcanic
+
+ Natural resources: fish, crayfish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct
+ volcanoes
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: remote location in the southern Indian Ocean
+
+@French Southern And Antarctic Lands:People
+
+ Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are researchers
+ whose numbers vary from 150 in winter (July) to 200 in summer
+ (January)
+
+@French Southern And Antarctic Lands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic
+ Lands
+ conventional short form: French Southern and Antarctic Lands
+ local long form: Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques
+ Francaises
+ local short form: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises
+
+ Digraph: FS
+
+ Type: overseas territory of France since 1955; governed by High
+ Administrator Bernard de GOUTTES (since May 1990), who is assisted by
+ a 7-member Consultative Council and a 12-member Scientific Council
+
+ Capital: none; administered from Paris, France
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there
+ are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
+ Government, but there are 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles
+ Kerguelen, and Iles Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes "Terre Adelie"
+ claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US
+
+ Independence: none (overseas territory of France)
+
+ Flag: the flag of France is used
+
+@French Southern And Antarctic Lands:Economy
+
+ Overview: Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and
+ geophysical research stations and French and other fishing fleets. The
+ fish catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are exported to
+ France and Reunion.
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $17.5 million
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992)
+
+@French Southern And Antarctic Lands:Transportation
+
+ Highways:
+ total: NA
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 48 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,290,975 GRT/2,403,050
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 6, chemical tanker 4, container 1,
+ liquefied gas tanker 3, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker
+ 15, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8, specialized
+ liquefied tanker 1
+ note: a subset of the French register allowing French-owned ships to
+ operate under more liberal taxation and manning regulations than
+ permissable under the main French register
+
+ Airports: none
+
+@French Southern And Antarctic Lands:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@French Southern And Antarctic Lands:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of France
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+GABON
+
+@Gabon:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator,
+ between Congo and Equatorial Guinea
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 267,670 sq km
+ land area: 257,670 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Colorado
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,551 km, Cameroon 298 km, Congo 1,903 km,
+ Equatorial Guinea 350 km
+
+ Coastline: 885 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial
+ Guinea because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay
+
+ Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
+
+ Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and
+ south
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron
+ ore
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 1%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 18%
+ forest and woodland: 78%
+ other: 2%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; poaching
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine
+ Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
+ Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94
+
+@Gabon:People
+
+ Population: 1,155,749 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 34% (female 193,859; male 194,761)
+ 15-64 years: 61% (female 347,839; male 359,997)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 30,218; male 29,075) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.46% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 28.34 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 13.72 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 92.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 55.14 years
+ male: 52.31 years
+ female: 58.06 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.93 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Gabonese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings
+ (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke), other Africans and Europeans
+ 100,000, including 27,000 French
+
+ Religions: Christian 55%-75%, Muslim less than 1%, animist
+
+ Languages: French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira,
+ Bandjabi
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 61%
+ male: 74%
+ female: 48%
+
+ Labor force: 120,000 salaried
+ by occupation: agriculture 65.0%, industry and commerce 30.0%,
+ services 2.5%, government 2.5%
+
+@Gabon:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
+ conventional short form: Gabon
+ local long form: Republique Gabonaise
+ local short form: Gabon
+
+ Digraph: GB
+
+ Type: republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties
+ legalized 1990)
+
+ Capital: Libreville
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue,
+ Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo,
+ Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
+
+ Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: Renovation Day, 12 March (1968) (Gabonese Democratic
+ Party established)
+
+ Constitution: adopted 14 March 1991
+
+ Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
+ judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the
+ Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967);
+ election last held on 5 December 1993 (next to be held 1998); results
+ - President Omar BONGO was reelected with 51% of the vote
+ head of government: Prime Minister Paulin OBAME Nguema (since 9
+ December 1994)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister in
+ consultation with the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held on 5
+ December 1993 (next to be held by 1998); results - percent of vote by
+ party NA; seats - (120 total) PDG 62, Morena-Bucherons/RNB 19, PGP 18,
+ National Recovery Movement (Morena-Original) 7, APSG 6, USG 4, CRP 1,
+ independents 3
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG, former
+ sole party), Jaques ADIAHENOT, Secretary General; National Recovery
+ Movement - Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons/RNB), Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE,
+ leader; Gabonese Party for Progress (PGP), Pierre-Louis AGONDHO-OKAWE,
+ President; National Recovery Movement (Morena-Original), Pierre
+ ZONGUE-NGUEMA, Chairman; Association for Socialism in Gabon (APSG),
+ leader NA; Gabonese Socialist Union (USG), leader NA; Circle for
+ Renewal and Progress (CRP), leader NA; Union for Democracy and
+ Development (UDD), leader NA; Rally of Democrats (RD), leader NA;
+ Forces of Change for Democratic Union, leader NA
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24,
+ G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS
+ (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
+ NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
+ WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Paul BOUNDOUKOU-LATHA
+ chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007, Suite 200
+ telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph C. WILSON IV
+ embassy: Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville
+ mailing address: B. P. 4000, Libreville
+ telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, 74 34 92
+ FAX: [241] 74 55 07
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue
+
+@Gabon:Economy
+
+ Overview: Notwithstanding its serious ongoing economic problems, Gabon
+ enjoys a per capita income more than twice that of most nations of
+ sub-Saharan Africa. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil
+ was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now
+ accounts for 50% of GDP. Real growth was feeble in 1992 and Gabon
+ continues to face the problem of fluctuating prices for its oil,
+ timber, manganese, and uranium exports. Despite an abundance of
+ natural wealth, and a manageable rate of population growth, the
+ economy is hobbled by poor fiscal management. In 1992, the fiscal
+ deficit widened to 2.4% of GDP, and Gabon failed to settle arrears on
+ its bilateral debt, leading to a cancellation of rescheduling
+ agreements with official and private creditors. Devaluation of its
+ Francophone currency by 50% in January 1994 did not set off an
+ expected inflationary spiral but the government must continue to keep
+ a tight reign on spending and wage increases.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $5.6 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 1.9% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $4,900 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.3 billion
+ expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $311
+ million (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est)
+ commodities: crude oil 80%, timber 10%, manganese 6%, uranium 2%
+ partners: US 38%, France 26%, Japan, Germany
+
+ Imports: $832 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, chemical products, petroleum products,
+ construction materials, manufactures, machinery
+ partners: France 42%, African countries 23%, US, Japan
+
+ External debt: $3.3 billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -3% (1991)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 315,000 kW
+ production: 910 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 757 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: food and beverages, lumbering and plywood, textiles,
+ cement, petroleum refining, mining - manganese, uranium, gold,
+ petroleum
+
+ Agriculture: cash crops - cocoa, coffee, palm oil; livestock raising
+ not developed; importer of food; small fishing operations provide a
+ catch of about 20,000 metric tons; okoume (a tropical softwood) is the
+ most important timber product
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $68 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-90), $2.342 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $27 million
+
+ Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1
+ - 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
+ 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)
+ note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
+ 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
+ 1948
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Gabon:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 649 km single track (Transgabonese Railroad)
+ standard gauge: 649 km 1.437-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 7,500 km
+ paved: 560 km
+ unpaved: crushed stone 960 km; earth 5,980 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 1,600 km perennially navigable
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km
+
+ Ports: Cape Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville, Owendo, Port-Gentil
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,281 GRT/12,665 DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 69
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 28
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 8
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 23
+
+@Gabon:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 15,000 telephones; telephone density - 13/1,000
+ persons
+ local: NA
+ intercity: adequate system, comprising cable, microwave radio relay,
+ tropospheric scatter, radiocommunication stations, and 12 domestic
+ satellite links
+ international: 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 6, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 3 (repeaters 5)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Gabon:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard, National
+ Gendarmerie, National Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 272,025; males fit for military
+ service 138,197; males reach military age (20) annually 10,516 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $154 million, 2.4% of
+ GDP (1993)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+THE GAMBIA
+
+@The Gambia:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and
+ Senegal
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 11,300 sq km
+ land area: 10,000 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Delaware
+
+ Land boundaries: total 740 km, Senegal 740 km
+
+ Coastline: 80 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 18 nm
+ continental shelf: not specified
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: short section of boundary with Senegal is
+ indefinite
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry
+ season (November to May)
+
+ Terrain: flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
+
+ Natural resources: fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 16%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 9%
+ forest and woodland: 20%
+ other: 55%
+
+ Irrigated land: 120 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases
+ prevalent
+ natural hazards: rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last thirty years
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
+
+ Note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent
+ of Africa
+
+@The Gambia:People
+
+ Population: 989,273 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 47% (female 231,636; male 231,053)
+ 15-64 years: 51% (female 257,329; male 244,947)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 11,850; male 12,458) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.08% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 45.97 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 15.19 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 120.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 50.55 years
+ male: 48.25 years
+ female: 52.92 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.23 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Gambian(s)
+ adjective: Gambian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola
+ 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-Gambian 1%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
+
+ Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous
+ vernaculars
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 27%
+ male: 39%
+ female: 16%
+
+ Labor force: 400,000 (1986 est.)
+ by occupation: agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services
+ 18.9%, government 6.1%
+
+@The Gambia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
+ conventional short form: The Gambia
+
+ Digraph: GA
+
+ Type: republic under multiparty democratic rule
+
+ Capital: Banjul
+
+ Administrative divisions: 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower
+ River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western
+
+ Independence: 18 February 1965 (from UK; The Gambia and Senegal signed
+ an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the creation of a
+ loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was
+ dissolved on 30 September 1989)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
+
+ Constitution: 24 April 1970
+
+ Legal system: based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law,
+ and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
+ reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: Chairman of the Armed Forces
+ Provisional Ruling Council Capt. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since the
+ military coup of 22 July 1994); Vice Chairman of the Armed Forces
+ Provisional Ruling Council Capt. Edward SINGHATEH (since March 1995);
+ election last held on 29 April 1992; results - Sir Dawda JAWARA (PPP)
+ 58.5%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 22.2%, Assan Musa CAMARA (GPP) 8.0%
+ (prior to the 22 July 1994 coup, next election was scheduled for April
+ 1997)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from members of the House
+ of Representatives (present cabinet appointed by Chairman of the Armed
+ Forces Provisional Ruling Council)
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ House of Representatives: elections last held on 29 April 1992 (next
+ to be held April 1997); results - PPP 58.1%; seats - (43 total, 36
+ elected) PPP 30, NCP 6
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: People's Progressive Party (PPP), Dawda
+ K. JAWARA (in exile), secretary general; National Convention Party
+ (NCP), Sheriff DIBBA (in exile); Gambian People's Party (GPP), Hassan
+ Musa CAMARA; United Party (UP), leader NA; People's Democratic
+ Organization of Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), leader NA;
+ People's Democratic Party (PDP), Jabel SALLAH
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Aminatta DIBBA
+ chancery: Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
+ telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399, 1379, 1425
+ FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Andrew J. WINTER
+ embassy: Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul
+ mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
+ telephone: [220] 392856, 392858, 391970, 391971
+ FAX: [220] 392475
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white
+ edges, and green
+
+@The Gambia:Economy
+
+ Overview: The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural
+ resources and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the
+ population is engaged in crop production and livestock raising, which
+ contribute 30% to GDP. Small-scale manufacturing activity - processing
+ peanuts, fish, and hides - accounts for less than 10% of GDP. A
+ sustained structural adjustment program, including a liberalized trade
+ policy, had fostered a respectable 4% rate of growth in recent years.
+ Reexport trade constitutes one-third of economic activity; however,
+ border closures associated with Senegal's monetary crisis in late 1993
+ led to a halving of reexport trade, reducing government revenues in
+ turn. The 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 has made
+ Senegalese goods more competitive and apparently prompted a relaxation
+ of Senegalese controls, paving the way for a comeback in reexports.
+ But overwhelming these developments were the devastating effects of
+ the military's takeover in July 1994. By October, traffic at the Port
+ of Banjul had fallen precipitously as importers nervously scaled back
+ their activities with the commencement of the anticorruption drive by
+ the new regime. Concerned with the growing potential for serious
+ unrest after a countercoup attempt was bloodily put down by the
+ regime, the United Kingdom and the EU in November issued a travelers
+ advisory for The Gambia, which brought a halt to tourism almost
+ immediately. The Gambia faces additional problems in 1995 if, as is
+ likely, economic sanctions by Western governments remain in effect in
+ response to indications that the military regime intends to stay in
+ power far longer than expected by the donors.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $1,050 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1993)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $94 million
+ expenditures: $89 million, including capital expenditures of $24
+ million (FY92/93 est.)
+
+ Exports: $81 million (f.o.b., FY92/93 est.)
+ commodities: peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm
+ kernels
+ partners: Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1%, other 5% (1989)
+
+ Imports: $154 million (f.o.b., FY92/93 est.)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery
+ and transport equipment
+ partners: Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR and Eastern Europe 9%, US 6%,
+ other 3% (1989)
+
+ External debt: $286 million (FY92/93 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 6.7%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 30,000 kW
+ production: 70 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 64 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural
+ machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP; one-third of food requirements
+ is imported; major export crop is peanuts; other principal crops -
+ millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava, palm kernels; livestock -
+ cattle, sheep, goats; forestry and fishing resources not fully
+ exploited
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $93 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $535 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $39 million
+
+ Currency: 1 dalasi (D) = 100 butut
+
+ Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1 - 9.565 (January 1995), 9.576
+ (1994), 9.129 (1993), 8.888 (1992), 8.803 (1991), 7.883 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@The Gambia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 3,083 km
+ paved: 431 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 501 km; unimproved earth 2,151 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 400 km
+
+ Ports: Banjul
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,194 GRT/19,394 DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+
+@The Gambia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 3,500 telephones; telephone density - 4
+ telephones/1,000 persons
+ local: NA
+ intercity: adequate network of radio relay and wire
+ international: 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@The Gambia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, National Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 214,680; males fit for military
+ service 108,659 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $14 million, 3.8% of
+ GDP (FY93/94)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+GAZA STRIP
+
+ Note--The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim
+ Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13
+ September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding five
+ years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the
+ West Bank. Under the DOP, final status negotiations are to begin no
+ later than the beginning of the third year of the transitional period.
+
+@Gaza Strip:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt
+ and Israel
+
+ Map references: Middle East
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 360 sq km
+ land area: 360 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: total 62 km, Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km
+
+ Coastline: 40 km
+
+ Maritime claims: Israeli occupied with interim status subject to
+ Israeli/Palestinian negotiations - final status to be determined
+
+ International disputes: West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli occupied
+ with interim status subject to Israeli/Palestinian negotiations -
+ final status to be determined
+
+ Climate: temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
+
+ Terrain: flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
+
+ Natural resources: negligible
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 13%
+ permanent crops: 32%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 55%
+
+ Irrigated land: 115 sq km (1992 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: desertification
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: there are 24 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites in
+ the Gaza Strip (August 1994 est.)
+
+@Gaza Strip:People
+
+ Population: 813,322 (July 1995 est.)
+ note: in addition, there are 4,800 Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip
+ (August 1994 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 52% (female 205,192; male 215,158)
+ 15-64 years: 45% (female 185,748; male 183,886)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 13,106; male 10,232) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 4.55% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 50.24 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 4.75 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 30.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 71.09 years
+ male: 69.56 years
+ female: 72.69 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 7.74 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: NA
+ adjective: NA
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Palestinian Arab and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6%
+
+ Religions: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 98.7%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish
+ 0.6%
+
+ Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers), English
+ (widely understood)
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: construction 33.4%, agriculture 20.0%, commerce,
+ restaurants, and hotels 14.9%, industry 10.0%, other services 21.7%
+ (1991)
+ note: excluding Jewish settlers
+
+@Gaza Strip:Government
+
+ Note: Under the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim
+ Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), Israel agreed to transfer
+ certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, and
+ subsequently to an elected Palestinian Council, as part of interim
+ self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A
+ transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho
+ has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement
+ on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area. The DOP provides that Israel
+ will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external
+ security and for internal security and public order of settlements and
+ Israelis. Final status is to be determined through direct negotiations
+ within five years.
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Gaza Strip
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: Qita Ghazzah
+
+ Digraph: GZ
+
+@Gaza Strip:Economy
+
+ Overview: In 1991 roughly 40% of Gaza Strip workers were employed
+ across the border by Israeli industrial, construction, and
+ agricultural enterprises, with worker remittances supplementing GDP by
+ roughly 50%. Gaza depends upon Israel for nearly 90% of its external
+ trade. Aggravating the impact of Israeli military administration,
+ unrest in the territory since 1988 (intifadah) has raised unemployment
+ and lowered the standard of living of Gazans. The Persian Gulf crisis
+ and its aftershocks also have dealt blows to Gaza since August 1990.
+ Worker remittances from the Gulf states have dropped, unemployment has
+ increased, and exports have fallen. The withdrawal of Israel from the
+ Gaza Strip in May 1994 brings a new set of adjustment problems.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.7 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $2,400 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.7% (1993)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 45% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $33.6 million
+ expenditures: $34.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (FY89/90)
+
+ Exports: $83 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: citrus
+ partners: Israel, Egypt
+
+ Imports: $365 million (c.i.f., 1992)
+ commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials
+ partners: Israel, Egypt
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 11% (1991 est.)
+
+ Electricity: power supplied by Israel
+
+ Industries: generally small family businesses that produce textiles,
+ soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis
+ have established some small-scale modern industries in an industrial
+ center
+
+ Agriculture: olives, citrus and other fruits; vegetables; beef and
+ dairy products
+
+ Economic aid: $240 million disbursed from international aid pledges in
+ 1994
+
+ Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot
+
+ Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 3.0270 (December
+ 1994), 3.0111 (1994), 2.8301 (1993), 2.4591 (1992), 2.2791 (1991),
+ 2.0162 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
+
+@Gaza Strip:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: NA km; note - one line, abandoned and in disrepair, little
+ trackage remains
+
+ Highways:
+ total: NA
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+ note: small, poorly developed road network
+
+ Ports: Gaza
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+
+@Gaza Strip:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA; note - 10% of Palestinian households have
+ telephones (1992 est.)
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA; note - 95% of Palestinian households have radios (1992
+ est.)
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA; note - 59% of Palestinian households have televisions
+ (1992 est.)
+
+@Gaza Strip:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: NA
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+GEORGIA
+
+ Note--Georgia has been beset by ethnic and civil strife since
+ independence. In late 1991, the country's first elected president,
+ Zviad GAMSAKHURDIA was ousted in an armed coup. In October 1993,
+ GAMSAKHURDIA, and his supporters sponsored a failed attempt to retake
+ power from the current government led by former Soviet Foreign
+ Minister Eduard SHEVARDNADZE. The Georgian government has also faced
+ armed separatist conflicts in the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions.
+ A cease-fire went into effect in South Ossetia in June 1992 and a
+ joint Georgian-Ossetian-Russian peacekeeping force has been in place
+ since that time. Georgian forces were driven out of the Abkhaz region
+ in September 1993 after a yearlong war with Abkhaz separatists. Nearly
+ 200,000 Georgian refugees have since fled Abkhazia, adding
+ substantially to the estimated 100,000 internally displaced persons
+ already in Georgia. Russian peacekeepers are deployed along the border
+ of Abkhazia and the rest of Georgia.
+
+@Georgia:Geography
+
+ Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey
+ and Russia
+
+ Map references: Middle East
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 69,700 sq km
+ land area: 69,700 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than South Carolina
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,461 km, Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km,
+ Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km
+
+ Coastline: 310 km
+
+ Maritime claims: NA
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
+
+ Terrain: largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the
+ north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhida Lowland
+ opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east;
+ good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of Kolkhida Lowland
+
+ Natural resources: forest lands, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron
+ ores, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils
+ allow for important tea and citrus growth
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 11%
+ permanent crops: 4%
+ meadows and pastures: 29%
+ forest and woodland: 38%
+ other: 18%
+
+ Irrigated land: 4,660 sq km (1990)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy
+ pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of
+ potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
+
+@Georgia:People
+
+ Population: 5,725,972 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 24% (female 674,331; male 707,355)
+ 15-64 years: 64% (female 1,894,681; male 1,791,847)
+ 65 years and over: 12% (female 410,703; male 247,055) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.77% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 15.77 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.73 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 22.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 73.1 years
+ male: 69.43 years
+ female: 76.95 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.16 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Georgian(s)
+ adjective: Georgian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri
+ 5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, other 5%
+
+ Religions: Georgian Orthodox 65%, Russian Orthodox 10%, Muslim 11%,
+ Armenian Orthodox 8%, unknown 6%
+
+ Languages: Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%,
+ other 7%
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
+ total population: 99%
+ male: 100%
+ female: 98%
+
+ Labor force: 2.763 million
+ by occupation: industry and construction 31%, agriculture and forestry
+ 25%, other 44% (1990)
+
+@Georgia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Georgia
+ conventional short form: Georgia
+ local long form: Sak'art'velos Respublika
+ local short form: Sak'art'velo
+ former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
+
+ Digraph: GG
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: T'bilisi
+
+ Administrative divisions: 2 autonomous republics (avtomnoy respubliki,
+ singular - avtom respublika); Abkhazia (Sokhumi), Ajaria (Bat'umi)
+ note: the administrative centers of the autonomous republics are
+ included in parentheses; there are no oblasts - the rayons around
+ T'bilisi are under direct republic jurisdiction
+
+ Independence: 9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 26 May (1991)
+
+ Constitution: adopted 21 February 1921; currently amending
+ constitution for Parliamentary and popular review by late 1995
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Chairman of Parliament Eduard Amvrosiyevich
+ SHEVARDNADZE (Chairman of the Government Council since 10 March 1992;
+ elected Chairman of Parliament in 11 October 1992; note - the
+ Government Council has since been disbanded); election last held 11
+ October 1992 (next to be held October 1995); results - Eduard
+ SHEVARDNADZE 95%
+ head of government: Prime Minister Otar PATSATSIA (since September
+ 1993); Deputy Prime Ministers Avtandil MARGIANI, Zurab KERVALISHVILI
+ (since 25 November 1992), Tamaz NADAREISHVILI (since September 1993),
+ Temur BASILIA (since 17 March 1994), Bakur GULA (since NA)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Georgian Parliament (Supreme Soviet): elections last held 11 October
+ 1992 (next to be held October 1995); results - percent of vote by
+ party NA; seats - (225 total) number of seats by party NA
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Citizens Union (CU), Eduard
+ SHEVARDNADZE, Zurab SHVANIA, general secretary; National Democratic
+ Party (NDP), Georgi (Gia) CHANTURIA, Ivane GIORGADZE; United
+ Republican Party, umbrella organization for parties including the GPF
+ and the Charter 1991 Party, cochairmen Bakhtand DZABIRADZE, Notar
+ NATADZE, and Theodor PAATASHVILI; Georgian Popular Front (GPF), Nodar
+ NATADZE, chairman; Charter 1991 Party, Thedor PAATASHVILI; Georgian
+ Social Democratic Party (GSDP), Guram MUCHAIDZE, secretary general;
+ National Reconstruction and Rebirth of Georgia Union, Valerian
+ ADVADZE; Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Irakli SHENGELAYA;
+ Democratic Georgia Union (DGU), El'dar SHENGELAYA; National
+ Independence Party (NIP), Irakliy TSERETELI, chairman; Georgian
+ Monarchists' Party (GMP), Temur ZHORZHOLIANI; Green Party, Zurab
+ ZHVANIA; Republican Party (RP), Ivliane KHAINDRAVA; Workers' Union of
+ Georgia (WUG), Vakhtang GABUNIA; Agrarian Party of Georgia (APG), Roin
+ LIPARTELIANI; Choice Society (Archevani), Jaba IOSELIANI, chairman;
+ Georgian Workers Communist Party, Panteleimon GIORGADZE, chairman;
+ National Liberation Front, Tengiz SIGULA, chairman
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: supporters of ousted President
+ Zviad GAMSAKHURDIA (deceased 1 January 1994) boycotted the October
+ elections and remain a source of opposition
+
+ Member of: BSEC, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INMARSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN,
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Tedo JAPARIDZE
+ chancery: (temporary) Suite 424, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC
+ 20005
+ telephone: [1] (202) 393-6060, 5959
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Kent N. BROWN
+ embassy: #25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [7] (8832) 98-99-67, 93-38-03
+ FAX: [7] (8832) 93-37-59
+
+ Flag: maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side corner;
+ rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below
+
+@Georgia:Economy
+
+ Overview: Georgia's economy has traditionally revolved around Black
+ Sea tourism; cultivation of citrus fruits, tea, and grapes; mining of
+ manganese and copper; and a small industrial sector producing wine,
+ metals, machinery, chemicals, and textiles. The country imports the
+ bulk of its energy needs, including natural gas and oil products. Its
+ only sizable domestic energy resource is hydropower. Since 1990,
+ widespread conflicts, e.g., in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and
+ Mingreliya, have severely aggravated the economic crisis resulting
+ from the disintegration of the Soviet command economy in December
+ 1991. Throughout 1993 and 1994, much of industry was functioning at
+ only 20% of capacity; heavy disruptions in agricultural cultivation
+ were reported; and tourism was shut down. The country is precariously
+ dependent on US and EU humanitarian grain shipments, as most other
+ foods are priced beyond reach of the average citizen. Georgia is also
+ suffering from an acute energy crisis, as it is having problems paying
+ for even minimal imports. Georgia is pinning its hopes for recovery on
+ reestablishing trade ties with Russia and on developing international
+ transportation through the key Black Sea ports of P'ot'i and Bat'umi.
+ The government began a tenuous program in 1994 aiming to stabilize
+ prices and reduce large consumer subsidies.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $6 billion (1994
+ estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -30% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,060 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 40.5% per month (2nd half 1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: officially less than 5% but real unemployment may
+ be more than 20%, with even larger numbers of underemployed workers
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $NA
+ commodities: citrus fruits, tea, wine, other agricultural products;
+ diverse types of machinery; ferrous and nonferrous metals; textiles;
+ chemicals; fuel re-exports
+ partners: Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan (1992)
+
+ Imports: $NA
+ commodities: fuel, grain and other foods, machinery and parts,
+ transport equipment
+ partners: Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey (1993); note - EU and US sent
+ humanitarian food shipments
+
+ External debt: NA (T'bilisi owes about $400 million to Turkmenistan
+ for natural gas as of January 1995)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -27% (1993); accounts for 36% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 4,410,000 kW
+ production: 9.1 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,526 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: heavy industrial products include raw steel, rolled steel,
+ airplanes; machine tools, foundry equipment, electric locomotives,
+ tower cranes, electric welding equipment, machinery for food
+ preparation and meat packing, electric motors, process control
+ equipment, instruments; trucks, tractors, and other farm machinery;
+ light industrial products, including cloth, hosiery, and shoes;
+ chemicals; wood-working industries; the most important food industry
+ is wine
+
+ Agriculture: accounted for 97% of former USSR citrus fruits and 93% of
+ former USSR tea; important producer of grapes; also cultivates
+ vegetables and potatoes; dependent on imports for grain, dairy
+ products, sugar; small livestock sector
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly
+ for domestic consumption; used as transshipment point for illicit
+ drugs to Western Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: heavily dependent on US and EU for humanitarian grain
+ shipments; EC granted around $70 million in trade credits in 1992 and
+ another $40 million in 1993; Turkey granted $50 million in 1993;
+ smaller scale credits granted by Russia and China
+
+ Currency: coupons introduced in April 1993 to be followed by
+ introduction of the lari at undetermined future date; in July 1993 use
+ of the Russian ruble was banned
+
+ Exchange rates: coupons per $US1 - 1,280,000 (end December 1994)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Georgia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,570 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
+ lines
+ broad gauge: 1,570 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 33,900 km
+ paved and graveled: 29,500 km
+ unpaved: earth 4,400 km (1990)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 370 km; refined products 300 km; natural gas 440
+ km (1992)
+
+ Ports: Bat'umi, P'ot'i, Sokhumi
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 419,416 GRT/640,897 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 1, oil tanker 19, short-sea passenger 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 28
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 6
+
+ Note: transportation network is in poor condition and disrupted by
+ ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network
+ lacks maintenance and repair
+
+@Georgia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 672,000 telephones (mid-1993); 117 telephones/1,000
+ persons; poor telephone service; 339,000 unsatisfied applications for
+ telephones (December 1990)
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: links via landline to CIS members and Turkey;
+ low-capacity satellite link and leased international connections via
+ the Moscow international gateway switch with other countries;
+ international electronic mail and telex service available
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Georgia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Interior Ministry Troops, Border
+ Guards/National Guard
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,385,593; males fit for
+ military service 1,095,835; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 42,207 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $85 million, NA% of
+ GDP (1992)
+
+ Note: Georgian forces are poorly organized and not fully under the
+ government's control
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+GERMANY
+
+@Germany:Geography
+
+ Location: Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea,
+ between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 356,910 sq km
+ land area: 349,520 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana
+ note: includes the formerly separate Federal Republic of Germany, the
+ German Democratic Republic, and Berlin following formal unification on
+ 3 October 1990
+
+ Land boundaries: total 3,621 km, Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech
+ Republic 646 km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km,
+ Netherlands 577 km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km
+
+ Coastline: 2,389 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers;
+ occasional warm, tropical foehn wind; high relative humidity
+
+ Terrain: lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south
+
+ Natural resources: iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium,
+ copper, natural gas, salt, nickel
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 34%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 16%
+ forest and woodland: 30%
+ other: 19%
+
+ Irrigated land: 4,800 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries
+ and lead emissions from vehicle exhausts (the result of continued use
+ of leaded fuels) contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting
+ from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; heavy pollution in
+ the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in
+ eastern Germany
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
+ Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
+ Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
+ Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
+ Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
+ Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air
+ Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes
+
+ Note: strategic location on North European Plain and along the
+ entrance to the Baltic Sea
+
+@Germany:People
+
+ Population: 81,337,541 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 16% (female 6,518,108; male 6,857,577)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 27,167,824; male 28,130,083)
+ 65 years and over: 16% (female 8,127,938; male 4,536,011) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.26% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 10.98 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 10.83 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 2.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 76.62 years
+ male: 73.5 years
+ female: 79.92 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: German(s)
+ adjective: German
+
+ Ethnic divisions: German 95.1%, Turkish 2.3%, Italians 0.7%, Greeks
+ 0.4%, Poles 0.4%, other 1.1% (made up largely of people fleeing the
+ war in the former Yugoslavia)
+
+ Religions: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 37%, unaffiliated or other
+ 18%
+
+ Languages: German
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991 est.)
+ total population: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 36.75 million
+ by occupation: industry 41%, agriculture 6%, other 53% (1987)
+
+@Germany:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany
+ conventional short form: Germany
+ local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland
+ local short form: Deutschland
+
+ Digraph: GM
+
+ Type: federal republic
+
+ Capital: Berlin
+ note: the shift from Bonn to Berlin will take place over a period of
+ years with Bonn retaining many administrative functions and several
+ ministries
+
+ Administrative divisions: 16 states (laender, singular - land);
+ Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg,
+ Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen,
+ Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt,
+ Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen
+
+ Independence: 18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided
+ into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in
+ 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West
+ Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and
+ French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany)
+ proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone;
+ unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October
+ 1990; all four power rights formally relinquished 15 March 1991
+
+ National holiday: German Unity Day (Day of Unity), 3 October (1990)
+
+ Constitution: 23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution of
+ the united German people 3 October 1990
+
+ Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial
+ review of legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has
+ not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Roman HERZOG (since 1 July 1994)
+ head of government: Chancellor Dr. Helmut KOHL (since 4 October 1982)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president upon the proposal of the
+ chancellor
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral chamber (no official name for the two
+ chambers as a whole)
+ Federal Assembly (Bundestag): last held 16 October 1994 (next to be
+ held by NA 1998); results - CDU 34.2%, SPD 36.4%, Alliance 90/Greens
+ 7.3%, CSU 7.3%, FDP 6.9%, PDS 4.4%, Republicans 1.9% ; seats - (662
+ total, but number can vary) CDU 244, SPD 252, Alliance 90/Greens 49,
+ CSU 50, FDP 47, PDS 30; elected by direct popular vote under a system
+ combining direct and proportional representation; a party must win 5%
+ of the national vote or 3 direct mandates to gain representation
+ Federal Council (Bundesrat): State governments are directly
+ represented by votes; each has 3 to 6 votes depending on size and are
+ required to vote as a block; current composition: votes - (68 total)
+ SPD-led states 37, CDU-led states 31
+
+ Judicial branch: Federal Constitutional Court
+ (Bundesverfassungsgericht)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Union (CDU),
+ Helmut KOHL, chairman; Christian Social Union (CSU), Theo WAIGEL,
+ chairman; Free Democratic Party (FDP), Klaus KINKEL, chairman; Social
+ Democratic Party (SPD), Rudolf SCHARPING, chairman; Alliance
+ '90/Greens, Krista SAGER, Juergen TRITTIN, cochairpersons; Party of
+ Democratic Socialism (PDS), Lothar BISKY, chairman; Republikaner, Rolf
+ SCHLIERER, chairman; National Democratic Party (NPD), Guenter DECKERT;
+ Communist Party (DKP), Rolf PRIEMER
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: expellee, refugee, and veterans
+ groups
+
+ Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS,
+ CBSS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO,
+ G- 5, G- 7, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
+ IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
+ IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG,
+ OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
+ UNITAR, UNOMIG, UPU, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Juergen CHROBOG
+ chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
+ telephone: [1] (202) 298-4000
+ FAX: [1] (202) 298-4249
+ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los
+ Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle
+ consulate(s): Manila (Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands) and
+ Wellington (America Samoa)
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Charles E. REDMAN
+ embassy: Deichmanns Aue 29, 53170 Bonn
+ mailing address: Unit 21701, Bonn; APO AE 09080
+ telephone: [49] (228) 3391
+ FAX: [49] (228) 339-2663
+ branch office: Berlin
+ consulate(s) general: Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and
+ Stuttgart
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and yellow
+
+@Germany:Economy
+
+ Overview: Five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, progress
+ towards economic integration between eastern and western Germany is
+ clearly visible, yet the eastern region almost certainly will remain
+ dependent on subsidies funded by western Germany until well into the
+ next century. The staggering $390 billion in western German assistance
+ that the eastern states have received since 1990 - 40 times the amount
+ in real terms of US Marshall Fund aid sent to West Germany after World
+ War II - is just beginning to have an impact on the eastern German
+ standard of living, which plummeted after unification. Assistance to
+ the east continues to run at roughly $100 billion annually. Although
+ the growth rate in the east was much greater than in the west in
+ 1993-94, eastern GDP per capita nonetheless remains well below
+ preunification levels; it will take 10-15 years for the eastern states
+ to match western Germany's living standards. The economic recovery in
+ the east is led by the construction industries which account for
+ one-third of industrial output, with growth increasingly supported by
+ the service sectors and light manufacturing industries. Eastern
+ Germany's economy is changing from one anchored on manufacturing to a
+ more service-oriented economy. Western Germany, with three times the
+ per capita output of the eastern states, has an advanced market
+ economy and is a world leader in exports. The strong recovery in 1994
+ from recession began in the export sector and spread to the investment
+ and consumption sectors in response to falling interest rates. Western
+ Germany has a highly urbanized and skilled population that enjoys
+ excellent living standards, abundant leisure time, and comprehensive
+ social welfare benefits. It is relatively poor in natural resources,
+ coal being the most important mineral. Western Germany's world-class
+ companies manufacture technologically advanced goods. The region's
+ economy is mature: services and manufacturing account for the dominant
+ share of economic activities, and raw materials and semimanufactured
+ goods constitute a large portion of imports.
+
+ National product:
+ Germany: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.3446 trillion (1994 est.)
+ western: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.2363 trillion (1994 est.)
+ eastern: GDP - purchasing power parity - $108.3 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate:
+ Germany: 2.9% (1994 est.)
+ western: 2.3% (1994 est.)
+ eastern: 9.2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita:
+ Germany: $16,580 (1994 est.)
+ western: $19,660 (1994 est.)
+ eastern: $5,950 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices):
+ western: 3% (1994)
+ eastern: 3.2% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate:
+ western: 8.2% (December 1994)
+ eastern: 13.5% (December 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $690 billion
+ expenditures: $780 billion, including capital expenditures of $96.5
+ billion (1994)
+
+ Exports: $437 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: manufactures 89.3% (including machines and machine tools,
+ chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel products), agricultural
+ products 5.5%, raw materials 2.7%, fuels 1.3% (1993)
+ partners: EC 47.9% (France 11.7%, Netherlands 7.4%, Italy 7.5%, UK
+ 7.7%, Belgium-Luxembourg 6.6%), EFTA 15.5%, US 7.7%, Eastern Europe
+ 5.2%, OPEC 3.0% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $362 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: manufactures 75.1%, agricultural products 10.0%, fuels
+ 8.3%, raw materials 5.0% (1993)
+ partners: EC 46.4% (France 11.3%, Netherlands 8.4%, Italy 8.1%, UK
+ 6.0%, Belgium-Luxembourg 5.7%), EFTA 14.3%, US 7.3%, Japan 6.3%,
+ Eastern Europe 5.1%, OPEC 2.6% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production:
+ western: growth rate 2.8% (1994)
+ eastern: growth rate $NA
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 115,430,000 kW
+ production: 493 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 5,683 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries:
+ western: among world's largest and technologically advanced producers
+ of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine
+ tools, electronics; food and beverages
+ eastern: metal fabrication, chemicals, brown coal, shipbuilding,
+ machine building, food and beverages, textiles, petroleum refining
+
+ Agriculture:
+ western: accounts for about 1% of GDP (including fishing and
+ forestry); diversified crop and livestock farming; principal crops and
+ livestock include potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit,
+ cabbage, cattle, pigs, poultry; net importer of food
+ eastern: accounts for about 10% of GDP (including fishing and
+ forestry); principal crops - wheat, rye, barley, potatoes, sugar
+ beets, fruit; livestock products include pork, beef, chicken, milk,
+ hides and skins; net importer of food
+
+ Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American
+ cocaine processors; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and
+ Latin American cocaine for West European markets
+
+ Economic aid:
+ western-donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $75.5 billion
+ eastern-donor: bilateral to non-Communist less developed countries
+ (1956-89) $4 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 deutsche mark (DM) = 100 pfennige
+
+ Exchange rates: deutsche marks (DM) per US$1 - 1.5313 (January 1995),
+ 1.6228 (1994), 1.6533 (1993), 1.5617 (1992), 1.6595 (1991), 1.6157
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Germany:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 43,457 km
+ standard gauge: 43,190 km (electrified 16,694 km)
+ narrow gauge: 267 km (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 636,282 km
+ paved: 501,282 km (10,955 km of autobahn)
+ unpaved: 135,000 km (1991)
+
+ Inland waterways:
+ western: 5,222 km, of which almost 70% are usable by craft of
+ 1,000-metric-ton capacity or larger; major rivers include the Rhine
+ and Elbe; Kiel Canal is an important connection between the Baltic Sea
+ and North Sea
+ eastern: 2,319 km (1988)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 3,644 km; petroleum products 3,946 km; natural
+ gas 97,564 km (1988)
+
+ Ports: Berlin, Bonn, Brake, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Cologne, Dresden,
+ Duisburg, Emden, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Kiel, Lubeck, Magdeburg,
+ Mannheim, Rostock, Stuttgart
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 481 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,065,074 GRT/6,409,198
+ DWT
+ ships by type: barge carrier 6, bulk 8, cargo 224, chemical tanker 16,
+ combination bulk 4, combination ore/oil 5, container 158, liquefied
+ gas tanker 13, oil tanker 10, passenger 3, railcar carrier 4,
+ refrigerated cargo 7, roll-on/roll-off cargo 18, short-sea passenger 5
+
+ note: the German register includes ships of the former East and West
+ Germany
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 660
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 13
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 64
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 68
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 53
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 381
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 9
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 62
+
+@Germany:Communications
+
+ Telephone system:
+ western: 40,300,000 telephones; highly developed, modern
+ telecommunication service to all parts of the country; fully adequate
+ in all respects; intensively developed, highly redundant cable and
+ microwave radio relay networks, all completely automatic
+ local: very modern
+ intercity: domestic satellite, microwave radio relay, and cable
+ systems
+ international: 12 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean), 2 INTELSAT (Indian
+ Ocean), and 1 EUTELSAT earth station; 2 HF radiocommunication centers;
+ tropospheric scatter links
+ eastern: 3,970,000 telephones; badly needs modernization
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT earth station and 1 Intersputnik system
+
+ Radio:
+ western: NA
+ broadcast stations: AM 80, FM 470, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+ eastern: NA
+ broadcast stations: AM 23, FM 17, shortwave 0
+ radios: 67 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 246 (repeaters 6,000); note - there are 15 Russian
+ repeaters in eastern Germany
+ televisions: 25 million in western Germany, 6 million in eastern
+ Germany
+
+@Germany:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm), Air Force, Border
+ Police, Coast Guard
+
+ Manpower availability: males 15-49 20,274,127; males fit for military
+ service 17,472,940; males reach military age (18) annually 428,082
+ (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $40 billion, 1.8% of
+ GNP (1995)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+GHANA
+
+@Ghana:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
+ Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 238,540 sq km
+ land area: 230,020 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,093 km, Burkina 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km,
+ Togo 877 km
+
+ Coastline: 539 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast;
+ hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
+
+ Terrain: mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central
+ area
+
+ Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite,
+ manganese, fish, rubber
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 5%
+ permanent crops: 7%
+ meadows and pastures: 15%
+ forest and woodland: 37%
+ other: 36%
+
+ Irrigated land: 80 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: recent drought in north severely affecting
+ agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
+ poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water
+ pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
+ natural hazards: dry, dusty, harmattan winds occur from January to
+ March; droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species,
+ Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
+ Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands;
+ signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification, Marine
+ Life Conservation
+
+ Note: Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake; northeasterly
+ harmattan wind (January to March)
+
+@Ghana:People
+
+ Population: 17,763,138 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 46% (female 4,030,154; male 4,069,945)
+ 15-64 years: 51% (female 4,638,451; male 4,494,533)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 276,186; male 253,869) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.06% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 43.57 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 12.02 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -0.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 81.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 55.85 years
+ male: 53.88 years
+ female: 57.88 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.09 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Ghanaian(s)
+ adjective: Ghanaian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: black African 99.8% (major tribes - Akan 44%,
+ Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%), European and other 0.2%
+
+ Religions: indigenous beliefs 38%, Muslim 30%, Christian 24%, other 8%
+
+ Languages: English (official), African languages (including Akan,
+ Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 60%
+ male: 70%
+ female: 51%
+
+ Labor force: 3.7 million
+ by occupation: agriculture and fishing 54.7%, industry 18.7%, sales
+ and clerical 15.2%, services, transportation, and communications 7.7%,
+ professional 3.7%
+
+@Ghana:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
+ conventional short form: Ghana
+ former: Gold Coast
+
+ Digraph: GH
+
+ Type: constitutional democracy
+
+ Capital: Accra
+
+ Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central,
+ Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta,
+ Western
+
+ Independence: 6 March 1957 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
+
+ Constitution: new constitution approved 28 April 1992
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; has not
+ accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Jerry John RAWLINGS
+ (since 3 November 1992) election last held 3 November 1992 (next to be
+ held November 1996); results - opposition boycotted the election, the
+ National Democratic Congress won 198 of the total 200 seats and 2
+ seats were won by independents
+ cabinet: Cabinet; president nominates members subject to approval by
+ the Parliament
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly: elections last held 29 December 1992 (next to be
+ held December 1996); results - opposition boycotted the election; the
+ National Democratic Congress won 198 0f 200 total seats and
+ independents won 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress, Jerry
+ John RAWLINGS; New Patriotic Party, Albert Adu BOAHEN; People's
+ Heritage Party, Alex ERSKINE; various other smaller parties
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT,
+ IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN,
+ UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU,
+ WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Ekwow SPIO-GARBRAH
+ chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520
+ FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth L. BROWN (scheduled to leave in
+ June 1995)
+ embassy: Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra
+ telephone: [233] (21) 775348, 775349, 775297, 775298
+ FAX: [233] (21) 776008
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green
+ with a large black five-pointed star centered in the gold band; uses
+ the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of
+ Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band
+
+@Ghana:Economy
+
+ Overview: Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana is relatively
+ well off, having twice the per capita output of the poorer countries
+ in West Africa. Heavily reliant on international assistance, Ghana has
+ made steady progress in liberalizing its economy since 1983. Overall
+ growth continued at a rate of approximately 5% in 1994, due largely to
+ increased gold, timber, and cocoa production - major sources of
+ foreign exchange. The economy, however, continues to revolve around
+ subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 45% of GDP and employs 55%
+ of the work force, mainly small landholders. Public sector wage
+ increases, regional peacekeeping commitments, and the containment of
+ internal unrest in the underdeveloped north have placed substantial
+ demands on the government's budget and have led to inflationary
+ deficit financing and a 27% depreciation of the cedi in 1994.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $22.6 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,310 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 10% (1991)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.05 billion
+ expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $178
+ million (1993)
+
+ Exports: $1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: cocoa 40%, gold, timber, tuna, bauxite, and aluminum
+ partners: Germany 31%, US 12%, UK 11%, Netherlands 6%, Japan 5% (1991)
+
+ Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum 16%, consumer goods, foods, intermediate goods,
+ capital equipment
+ partners: UK 22%, US 11%, Germany 9%, Japan 6%
+
+ External debt: $4.6 billion (December 1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 3.4% in manufacturing (1993);
+ accounts for almost 15% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,180,000 kW
+ production: 6.1 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 323 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum, food
+ processing
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for almost 50% of GDP (including fishing and
+ forestry); the major cash crop is cocoa; other principal crops - rice,
+ coffee, cassava, peanuts, corn, shea nuts, timber; normally
+ self-sufficient in food
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug
+ trade; transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin destined
+ for Europe and the US
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $455 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $2.6 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $78 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89) $106 million
+
+ Currency: 1 new cedi (C) = 100 pesewas
+
+ Exchange rates: new cedis per US$1 - 1,046.74 (December 1994), 936.71
+ (1994), 649.06 (1993), 437.09 (1992), 367.83 (1991), 326.33 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Ghana:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 953 km; note - undergoing major renovation
+ narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (32 km double track)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 32,250 km
+ paved: concrete, bituminous 6,084 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, improved earth 26,166 km
+
+ Inland waterways: Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of
+ perennial navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides
+ 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways
+
+ Pipelines: none
+
+ Ports: Takoradi, Tema
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 27,427 GRT/35,894 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 12
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+
+@Ghana:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 42,300 telephones; poor to fair system; telephone
+ density - 2.4/1,000 persons
+ local: NA
+ intercity: primarily microwave radio relay
+ international: 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 4 (translators 8)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Ghana:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force, Palace Guard, Civil
+ Defense
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 3,975,767; males fit for
+ military service 2,217,032; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 170,723 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $108 million, 1.5% of
+ GDP (1993)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+GIBRALTAR
+
+ (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+@Gibraltar:Geography
+
+ Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar,
+ which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the
+ southern coast of Spain
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 6.5 sq km
+ land area: 6.5 sq km
+ comparative area: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1.2 km, Spain 1.2 km
+
+ Coastline: 12 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: source of occasional friction between Spain
+ and the UK
+
+ Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
+
+ Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders The Rock
+
+ Natural resources: negligible
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: limited natural freshwater resources, so large
+ concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North
+ Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
+
+@Gibraltar:People
+
+ Population: 31,874 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 24% (female 3,757; male 3,835)
+ 15-64 years: 63% (female 9,730; male 10,485)
+ 65 years and over: 13% (female 2,360; male 1,707) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.62% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.85 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 76.61 years
+ male: 73.7 years
+ female: 79.48 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.29 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Gibraltarian(s)
+ adjective: Gibraltar
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England 8%,
+ other 3%), Moslem 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)
+
+ Languages: English (used in schools and for official purposes),
+ Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers)
+ note: UK military establishments and civil government employ nearly
+ 50% of the labor force
+
+@Gibraltar:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Gibraltar
+
+ Digraph: GI
+
+ Type: dependent territory of the UK
+
+ Capital: Gilbraltar
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ National holiday: Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)
+
+ Constitution: 30 May 1969
+
+ Legal system: English law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects resident
+ six months or more
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor and Commander in Chief Gen. Sir John CHAPPLE
+ (since NA March 1993)
+ head of government: Chief Minister Joe BOSSANO (since 25 March 1988)
+ Gibraltar Council: advises the governor
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed from the elected members of
+ the Assembly by the governor in consultation with the chief minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ House of Assembly: elections last held on 16 January 1992 (next to be
+ held January 1996); results - SL 73.3%; seats - (18 total, 15 elected)
+ number of seats by party NA
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Court of Appeal
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party (SL),
+ Joe BOSSANO; Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for the Advancement of
+ Civil Rights (GCL/AACR), leader NA; Gibraltar Social Democrats, Peter
+ CARUANA; Gibraltar National Party, Joe GARCIA
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Housewives Association; Chamber of
+ Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization
+
+ Member of: INTERPOL (subbureau)
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Flag: two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a
+ three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from
+ the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band
+
+@Gibraltar:Economy
+
+ Overview: Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade and
+ offshore banking. The British military presence has been severely
+ reduced and now only contributes about 11% to the local economy. The
+ financial sector accounts for 15% of GDP; tourism, shipping services
+ fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. Because more
+ than 70% of the economy is in the public sector, changes in government
+ spending have a major impact on the level of employment.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $205 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $6,600 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1988)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $116 million
+ expenditures: $124 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1992-93)
+
+ Exports: $57 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: (principally re-exports) petroleum 51%, manufactured
+ goods 41%, other 8%
+ partners: UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG
+
+ Imports: $420 million (c.i.f., 1992)
+ commodities: fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
+ partners: UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands
+
+ External debt: $318 million (1987)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 47,000 kW
+ production: 90 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,539 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce;
+ support to large UK naval and air bases; transit trade and supply
+ depot in the port; light manufacturing of tobacco, roasted coffee,
+ ice, mineral waters, candy, beer, and canned fish
+
+ Agriculture: none
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $800,000;
+ Western (non-US) countries and ODA bilateral commitments (1992-93),
+ $2.5 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Gibraltar pound (#G) = 100 pence
+
+ Exchange rates: Gibraltar pounds (#G) per US$1 - 0.6350 (January
+ 1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991),
+ 0.5603 (1990); note - the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British
+ pound
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Gibraltar:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: NA km; 1.000-m gauge system in dockyard area only
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 50 km
+ paved: 50 km
+
+ Pipelines: none
+
+ Ports: Gibraltar
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 419,707 GRT/721,110 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, container 2, oil
+ tanker 14
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+
+@Gibraltar:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 9,400 telephones; adequate, automatic domestic
+ system and adequate international radiocommunication and microwave
+ facilities
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 4
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Gibraltar:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+GLORIOSO ISLANDS
+
+ (possession of France)
+
+@Glorioso Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean,
+ northwest of Madagascar
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 5 sq km
+ land area: 5 sq km
+ comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
+ DC
+ note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and
+ South Rock
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 35.2 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claimed by Madagascar
+
+ Climate: tropical
+
+ Terrain: NA
+
+ Natural resources: guano, coconuts
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms)
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: periodic cyclones
+ international agreements: NA
+
+@Glorioso Islands:People
+
+ Population: uninhabited
+
+@Glorioso Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Glorioso Islands
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: Iles Glorieuses
+
+ Digraph: GO
+
+ Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic,
+ resident in Reunion
+
+ Capital: none; administered by France from Reunion
+
+ Independence: none (possession of France)
+
+@Glorioso Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: no economic activity
+
+@Glorioso Islands:Transportation
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Glorioso Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of France
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+GREECE
+
+@Greece:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and
+ the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 131,940 sq km
+ land area: 130,800 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Alabama
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,210 km, Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km,
+ Turkey 206 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 228 km
+
+ Coastline: 13,676 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ territorial sea: 6 nm
+
+ International disputes: complex maritime, air, and territorial
+ disputes with Turkey in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question; dispute with The
+ Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over name, symbols, and certain
+ constitutional provisions; Greece is involved in a bilateral dispute
+ with Albania over border demarcation, the treatment of Albania's
+ ethnic Greek minority, and migrant Albanian workers in Greece
+
+ Climate: temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
+
+ Terrain: mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as peninsulas
+ or chains of islands
+
+ Natural resources: bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 23%
+ permanent crops: 8%
+ meadows and pastures: 40%
+ forest and woodland: 20%
+ other: 9%
+
+ Irrigated land: 11,900 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution; water pollution
+ natural hazards: severe earthquakes
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty,
+ Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
+ Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
+ Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands;
+ signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
+ Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
+ Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern
+ approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an
+ archipelago of about 2,000 islands
+
+@Greece:People
+
+ Population: 10,647,511 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 18% (female 904,374; male 947,494)
+ 15-64 years: 67% (female 3,601,029; male 3,565,931)
+ 65 years and over: 15% (female 919,044; male 709,639) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.72% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 10.56 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.31 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 5.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 77.92 years
+ male: 75.39 years
+ female: 80.59 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Greek(s)
+ adjective: Greek
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Greek 98%, other 2%
+ note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in
+ Greece
+
+ Religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
+
+ Languages: Greek (official), English, French
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991)
+ total population: 95%
+ male: 98%
+ female: 93%
+
+ Labor force: 4.077 million
+ by occupation: services 52%, agriculture 23%, industry 25% (1994)
+
+@Greece:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Hellenic Republic
+ conventional short form: Greece
+ local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia
+ local short form: Ellas
+ former: Kingdom of Greece
+
+ Digraph: GR
+
+ Type: presidential parliamentary government; monarchy rejected by
+ referendum 8 December 1974
+
+ Capital: Athens
+
+ Administrative divisions: 52 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos);
+ Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia, Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki,
+ Dhodhekanisos, Dhrama, Evritania, Evros, Evvoia, Florina, Fokis,
+ Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina, Iraklion, Kardhitsa,
+ Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkira, Khalkidhiki, Khania, Khios,
+ Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi,
+ Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Piraievs, Preveza,
+ Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala,
+ Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos, autonomous region: Agion Oros (Mt. Athos)
+
+ Independence: 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 25 March (1821) (proclamation of
+ the war of independence)
+
+ Constitution: 11 June 1975
+
+ Legal system: based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into
+ civil, criminal, and administrative courts
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Konstantinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS (since
+ 10 March 1995) election last held 10 March 1995 (next to be held by NA
+ 2000); results - Konstantinos STEPHANOPOULOS was elected by Parliament
+
+ head of government: Prime Minister Andreas PAPANDREOU (since 10
+ October 1993)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on recommendation of the
+ prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Chamber of Deputies (Vouli ton Ellinon): elections last held 10
+ October 1993 (next to be held by NA October 1997); results - PASOK
+ 46.88%, ND 39.30%, Political Spring 4.87%, KKE 4.54%, and Progressive
+ Left (replaced by Coalition of the Left and Progress) 2.94%; seats -
+ (300 total) PASOK 170, ND 111, Political Spring 10, KKE 9
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court, Special Supreme Tribunal
+
+ Political parties and leaders: New Democracy (ND; conservative),
+ Miltiades EVERT; Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), Andreas
+ PAPANDREOU; Communist Party (KKE), Aleka PAPARIGA;
+ Ecologist-Alternative List, leader rotates; Political Spring, Antonis
+ SAMARAS; Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos), Nikolaos
+ KONSTANTOPOULOS
+
+ Member of: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, EC, ECE,
+ EIB, FAO, G- 6, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
+ IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
+ IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
+ (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
+ UPU, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Loucas TSILAS
+ chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 939-5800
+ FAX: [1] (202) 939-5824
+ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles,
+ New York, and San Francisco
+ consulate(s): New Orleans
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas M.T. NILES
+ embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens
+ mailing address: PSC 108, Athens; APO AE 09842
+ telephone: [30] (1) 721-2951, 8401
+ FAX: [30] (1) 645-6282
+ consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
+
+ Flag: nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white;
+ there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white
+ cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion
+ of the country
+
+@Greece:Economy
+
+ Overview: Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the basic
+ entrepreneurial system overlaid in 1981-89 by a socialist system that
+ enlarged the public sector from 55% of GDP in 1981 to about 70% in
+ 1989. Since then, the public sector has been reduced to about 60% of
+ GDP. Tourism continues as a major source of foreign exchange, and
+ agriculture is self-sufficient except for meat, dairy products, and
+ animal feedstuffs. Over the last decade, real GDP growth has averaged
+ 1.6% a year, compared with the European Union average of 2.2%.
+ Inflation continues to be well above the EU average, and the national
+ debt has reached 140% of GDP, the highest in the EU. Prime Minister
+ PAPANDREOU will probably make only limited progress correcting the
+ economy's problems of high inflation, large budget deficit, and
+ decaying infrastructure. His economic program suggests that although
+ he will shun his expansionary policies of the 1980s, he will avoid
+ tough measures needed to slow inflation or reduce the state's role in
+ the economy. He has limited the previous government's privatization
+ plans, for example, and has called for generous welfare spending and
+ real wage increases. Athens continues to rely heavily on EU aid, which
+ recently has amounted to about 6% of GDP. Greece almost certainly will
+ not meet the EU's Maastricht Treaty convergence targets of public
+ deficit held to 3% of GDP and national debt to 60% of GDP by 1999. Per
+ capita GDP has fallen below Portugal's level, the lowest among EU
+ members.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $93.7 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 0.4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $8,870 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.9% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 10.1% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $28.3 billion
+ expenditures: $37.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.2
+ billion (1994)
+
+ Exports: $9 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: manufactured goods 53%, foodstuffs 34%, fuels 5%
+ partners: Germany 24%, Italy 14%, France 7%, UK 6%, US 4% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $19.2 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: manufactured goods 72%, foodstuffs 15%, fuels 10%
+ partners: Germany 16%, Italy 14%, France 7%, Japan 7%, UK 6% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $26.9 billion (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 3.2% (1993 est.); accounts for 18%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 8,970,000 kW
+ production: 35.8 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,257 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals,
+ metal products, mining, petroleum
+
+ Agriculture: including fishing and forestry, accounts for 12% of GDP;
+ principal products - wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives,
+ tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; self-sufficient in food except
+ meat, dairy products, and animal feedstuffs
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and limited opium; mostly
+ for domestic production; serves as a gateway to Europe for traffickers
+ smuggling cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia
+ to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; transshipment point
+ for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $525 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $1.39 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta
+
+ Exchange rates: drachmae (Dr) per US$1 - 238.20 (January 1995), 242.60
+ (1994), 229.26 (1993), 190.62 (1992), 182.27 (1991), 158.51 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Greece:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 2,503 km
+ standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (36 km electrified; 100 km
+ double track)
+ narrow gauge: 887 km 1,000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge; 29 km 0.600-m
+ gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 130,000 km
+ paved: 119,210 km (116 km expressways)
+ unpaved: 10,790 km (1990)
+
+ Inland waterways: 80 km; system consists of three coastal canals;
+ including the Corinth Canal (6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of
+ Corinth connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and
+ shortens the sea voyage from the Adriatic to Piraievs (Piraeus) by 325
+ km; and three unconnected rivers
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km
+
+ Ports: Alexandroupolis, Elevsis, Iraklion (Crete), Kavala, Kerkira,
+ Khalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Piraievs (Piraeus),
+ Thessaloniki, Volos
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1,046 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 29,076,911
+ GRT/53,618,024 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 469, cargo 105, chemical tanker 22, combination
+ bulk 21, combination ore/oil 31, container 40, liquefied gas tanker 5,
+ oil tanker 239, passenger 14, passenger-cargo 3, refrigerated cargo
+ 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 16, short-sea passenger 67, specialized
+ tanker 3, vehicle carrier 1
+ note: ethnic Greeks also own 125 ships under Liberian registry, 323
+ under Panamanian, 705 under Cypriot, 351 under Maltese, and 100 under
+ Bahamian
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 79
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 5
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 17
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 22
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+
+@Greece:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 4,080,000 telephones; adequate, modern networks
+ reach all areas; microwave radio relay carries most traffic; extensive
+ open-wire network; submarine cables to off-shore islands
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay and open wire
+ international: tropospheric links, 8 submarine cables; 2 INTELSAT (1
+ Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 EUTELSAT ground station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 29, FM 17 (repeaters 20), shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 361
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Greece:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force, National
+ Guard, Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,676,152; males fit for
+ military service 2,046,996; males reach military age (21) annually
+ 75,857 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $4.1 billion, 5.4% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+GREENLAND
+
+ (part of the Danish realm)
+
+@Greenland:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and
+ the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
+
+ Map references: Arctic Region
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 2,175,600 sq km
+ land area: 383,600 sq km (ice free)
+ comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of Texas
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 44,087 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
+
+ Terrain: flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow,
+ mountainous, barren, rocky coast
+
+ Natural resources: zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, cryolite,
+ uranium, fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 1%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 99%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the
+ island
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe;
+ sparse population confined to small settlements along coast
+
+@Greenland:People
+
+ Population: 57,611 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 27% (female 7,664; male 7,881)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 17,761; male 21,580)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 1,500; male 1,225) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.05% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 17.7 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.2 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 25.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 67.65 years
+ male: 63.33 years
+ female: 71.98 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.25 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Greenlander(s)
+ adjective: Greenlandic
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Greenlander 86% (Eskimos and Greenland-born
+ Caucasians), Danish 14%
+
+ Religions: Evangelical Lutheran
+
+ Languages: Eskimo dialects, Danish
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: 22,800
+ by occupation: largely engaged in fishing, hunting, sheep breeding
+
+@Greenland:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Greenland
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
+
+ Digraph: GL
+
+ Type: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative
+ division
+
+ Capital: Nuuk (Godthab)
+
+ Administrative divisions: 3 municipalities (kommuner, singular -
+ kommun); Nordgronland, Ostgronland, Vestgronland
+
+ Independence: none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas
+ administrative division)
+
+ National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
+
+ Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
+
+ Legal system: Danish
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972),
+ represented by High Commissioner Steen SPORE (since NA 1993)
+ head of government: Home Rule Chairman Lars Emil JOHANSEN (since 15
+ March 1991)
+ cabinet: Landsstyre; formed from the Landsting on basis of strength of
+ parties
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Parliament (Landsting): elections last held on 4 March 1995 (next to
+ be held 5 March 1999); results - Siumut 38.5%, Inuit Ataqatigiit
+ 20.3%, Atassut Party 29.7%; seats - (31 total) Siumut 12, Atassut
+ Party 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit 6, conservative splinter grouping 2,
+ independent 1
+ Danish Folketing: last held on 21 September 1994 (next to be held by
+ September 1998); Greenland elects two representatives to the
+ Folketing; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total)
+ Liberals 1, Social Democrats 1; note - Greenlandic representatives are
+ affiliated with Danish political parties
+
+ Judicial branch: High Court (Landsret)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: two-party ruling coalition; Siumut
+ (Forward Party, a moderate socialist party that advocates more
+ distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark), Lars
+ Emil JOHANSEN, chairman; Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) (Eskimo Brotherhood, a
+ Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark
+ rather than home rule), Josef MOTZFELDT; Atassut Party (Solidarity, a
+ more conservative party that favors continuing close relations with
+ Denmark), Daniel SKIFTE; AKULLIIT, Bjarne KREUTZMANN; Issituup (Polar
+ Party), Nicolai HEINRICH
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing overseas
+ administrative division of Denmark)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing overseas
+ administrative division of Denmark)
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large
+ disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk
+ is red, the bottom half is white
+
+@Greenland:Economy
+
+ Overview: Greenland's economic situation at present is difficult.
+ Unemployment is increasing, and prospects for economic growth in the
+ immediate future are dim. Following the closing of the Black Angel
+ lead and zinc mine in 1989, Greenland became almost completely
+ dependent on fishing and fish processing, the sector accounting for
+ 95% of exports. Prospects for fisheries are not bright, as the
+ important shrimp catches will at best stabilize and cod catches have
+ dropped. Resumption of mining and hydrocarbon activities is not around
+ the corner, thus leaving only tourism with some potential for the near
+ future. The public sector in Greenland, i.e., the central government
+ and its commercial entities and the municipalities, plays a dominant
+ role in Greenland accounting for about two-thirds of total employment.
+ About half the government's revenues come from grants from the Danish
+ Government.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $NA
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $NA
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 6.6% (1993 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $667 million
+ expenditures: $635 million, including capital expenditures of $103.8
+ million (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $330.5 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: fish and fish products 95%
+ partners: Denmark 79%, Benelux 9%, Germany 5%
+
+ Imports: $369.6 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: manufactured goods 28%, machinery and transport equipment
+ 24%, food and live animals 12.4%, petroleum products 12%
+ partners: Denmark 65%, Norway 8.8%, US 4.6%, Germany 3.8%, Japan 3.8%,
+ Sweden 2.4%
+
+ External debt: $297.1 million (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 84,000 kW
+ production: 210 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,361 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: fish processing (mainly shrimp), lead and zinc mining,
+ handicrafts, some small shipyards, potential for platinum and gold
+ mining
+
+ Agriculture: sector dominated by fishing and sheep raising; crops
+ limited to forage and small garden vegetables; 1988 fish catch of
+ 133,500 metric tons
+
+ Economic aid: none
+
+ Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
+
+ Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.034 (January 1995),
+ 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991), 6.189 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Greenland:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 150 km
+ paved: 60 km
+ unpaved: 90 km
+
+ Ports: Faeringehavn, Frederikshaab, Holsteinsborg, Nanortalik, Narsaq,
+ Nuuk (Godthaab), Sondrestrom
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 10
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+
+@Greenland:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 17,900 telephones; adequate domestic and
+ international service provided by cables and microwave radio relay
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay
+ international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean)
+ earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 7 (repeaters 35), shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 4 (repeaters 9)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Greenland:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is responsibility of Denmark
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+GRENADA
+
+@Grenada:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad
+ and Tobago
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 340 sq km
+ land area: 340 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 121 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
+
+ Terrain: volcanic in origin with central mountains
+
+ Natural resources: timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 15%
+ permanent crops: 26%
+ meadows and pastures: 3%
+ forest and woodland: 9%
+ other: 47%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season
+ lasts from June to November
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law
+ of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
+
+ Note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is
+ divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
+
+@Grenada:People
+
+ Population: 94,486 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 43% (female 20,076; male 20,824)
+ 15-64 years: 52% (female 23,123; male 25,828)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 2,514; male 2,121) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.45% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 29.69 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.95 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -19.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 70.67 years
+ male: 68.2 years
+ female: 73.17 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.85 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Grenadian(s)
+ adjective: Grenadian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: black African
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic, Anglican, other Protestant sects
+
+ Languages: English (official), French patois
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970)
+ total population: 98%
+ male: 98%
+ female: 98%
+
+ Labor force: 36,000
+ by occupation: services 31%, agriculture 24%, construction 8%,
+ manufacturing 5%, other 32% (1985)
+
+@Grenada:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Grenada
+
+ Digraph: GJ
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Saint George's
+
+ Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and
+ Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint
+ John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick
+
+ Independence: 7 February 1974 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
+
+ Constitution: 19 December 1973
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor General Reginald Oswald PALMER (since 6 August
+ 1992)
+ head of government: Prime Minister George BRIZAN (since 1 February
+ 1994)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice of the
+ prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
+ Senate: consists of a 13-member body, 10 appointed by the government
+ and 3 by the Leader of the Opposition
+ House of Representatives: elections last held on 13 March 1990 (next
+ to be held by NA July 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA;
+ seats - (15 total) NDC 7, GULP 4, TNP 2, NNP 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress (NDC),
+ George BRIZAN; Grenada United Labor Party (GULP), Sir Eric GAIRY; The
+ National Party (TNP), Ben JONES; New National Party (NNP), Keith
+ MITCHELL; Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement (MBPM), Terrence MARRYSHOW
+
+ Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO
+ (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
+ UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Denneth MODESTE
+ chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
+ telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ollie P. ANDERSON, Jr.
+ embassy: Point Salines, Saint George's
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, W.I.
+ telephone: [1] (809) 444-1173 through 1178
+ FAX: [1] (809) 444-4820
+
+ Flag: a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and
+ bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side) with a red
+ border around the flag; there are seven yellow five-pointed stars with
+ three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red
+ border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag;
+ there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle
+ (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg, after
+ Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven administrative
+ divisions
+
+@Grenada:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is essentially agricultural and centers on the
+ traditional production of spices and tropical plants. Agriculture
+ accounts for about 15% of GDP and 80% of exports and employs 24% of
+ the labor force. Tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner,
+ followed by agricultural exports. Manufacturing remains relatively
+ undeveloped, but is expected to grow, given a more favorable private
+ investment climate since 1983. The economy achieved an impressive
+ average annual growth rate of 5.5% in 1986-91 but has stalled since
+ 1992. Unemployment remains high at about 25%.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $258 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 0.5% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,750 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 25% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $82.2 million (1993 est.)
+ expenditures: $74.3 million, including capital expenditures of $11.8
+ million (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $18.6 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing,
+ mace
+ partners: Netherlands, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, United States
+
+ Imports: $133.8 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: food 25%, manufactured goods 22%, machinery 20%,
+ chemicals 10%, fuel 6% (1989)
+ partners: US 29%, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (1989)
+
+ External debt: $89.9 million (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 1.8% (1992 est.); accounts for 9%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 12,500 kW
+ production: 60 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 639 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: food and beverage, textile, light assembly operations,
+ tourism, construction
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 14% of GDP and 80% of exports; bananas,
+ cocoa, nutmeg, and mace account for two-thirds of total crop
+ production; world's second-largest producer and fourth-largest
+ exporter of nutmeg and mace; small-sized farms predominate, growing a
+ variety of citrus fruits, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, and
+ vegetables
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY84-89), $60 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $70 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $32 million
+
+ Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed
+ rate since 1976)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Grenada:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1,000 km
+ paved: 600 km
+ unpaved: otherwise improved 300 km; unimproved earth 100 km
+
+ Ports: Grenville, Saint George's
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 3
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+
+@Grenada:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 5,650 telephones; automatic, islandwide telephone
+ system; new SHF radio links to the islands of Trinidad, Tobago, and
+ Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to the islands of Trinidad and
+ Carriacou
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: SHF, VHF, and UHF radio communications
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Grenada:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Royal Grenada Police Force, Coast Guard
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+GUADELOUPE
+
+ (overseas department of France)
+
+@Guadeloupe:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea, southeast
+ of Puerto Rico
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1,780 sq km
+ land area: 1,706 sq km
+ comparative area: 10 times the size of Washington, DC
+ note: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands, of which
+ Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, and Marie-Galante are the three largest
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 306 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: subtropical tempered by trade winds; relatively high humidity
+
+ Terrain: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains;
+ Grand-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other
+ islands are volcanic in origin
+
+ Natural resources: cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster
+ tourism
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 18%
+ permanent crops: 5%
+ meadows and pastures: 13%
+ forest and woodland: 40%
+ other: 24%
+
+ Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: hurricanes (June to October); La Soufriere is an
+ active volcano
+ international agreements: NA
+
+@Guadeloupe:People
+
+ Population: 402,815 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 26% (female 51,069; male 52,922)
+ 15-64 years: 66% (female 134,328; male 130,875)
+ 65 years and over: 8% (female 19,318; male 14,303) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.24% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 18.15 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.58 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 8.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 77.2 years
+ male: 74.16 years
+ female: 80.38 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.95 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Guadeloupian(s)
+ adjective: Guadeloupe
+
+ Ethnic divisions: black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian,
+ Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
+
+ Languages: French, creole patois
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
+ total population: 90%
+ male: 90%
+ female: 90%
+
+ Labor force: 120,000
+ by occupation: services, government, and commerce 53.0%, industry
+ 25.8%, agriculture 21.2%
+
+@Guadeloupe:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe
+ conventional short form: Guadeloupe
+ local long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe
+ local short form: Guadeloupe
+
+ Digraph: GP
+
+ Type: overseas department of France
+
+ Capital: Basse-Terre
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
+
+ Independence: none (overseas department of France)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
+
+ Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
+
+ Legal system: French legal system
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
+ head of government: Prefect Franck PERRIEZ (since NA 1992); President
+ of the General Council Dominique LARIFLA (since NA); President of the
+ Regional Council Lucette MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional
+ Council
+ General Council: elections last held NA March 1992 (next to be held by
+ NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (43 total)
+ FRUI.G 13, RPR/DUD 13, PPDG 8, FGPS 3, PCG 3, UPLG 1, PSG 1,
+ independent 1
+ Regional Council: elections last held on 31 January 1993 (next to be
+ held by 16 March 1998); results - RPR/DUD 48.30%, FGPS 17.09%, FRUI.G
+ 7.44%, PPDG 8.90%, UPLG 7.75% PCG 6.05%; seats - (41 total) seats by
+ party NA
+ French Senate: elections last held in September 1986 (next to be held
+ September 1995); Guadeloupe elects two representatives; results -
+ percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) PCG 1, FGPS 1
+ French National Assembly: elections last held on 21 and 28 March 1993
+ (next to be held March 1998); Guadeloupe elects four representatives;
+ results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (4 total) FGPS 1, RPR
+ 1, PPDG 1, independent 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel) with jurisdiction over
+ Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR), Aldo
+ BLAISE; Communist Party of Guadeloupe (PCG), Christian Medard CELESTE;
+ Socialist Party (FGPS), Georges LOUISOR; Popular Union for the
+ Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG), Lucien PERATIN; FGPS Dissidents
+ (FRUI.G); Union for French Democracy (UDF), Simon BARLAGNE;
+ Progressive Democratic Party (PPDG), Henri BANGOU
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Popular Union for the Liberation
+ of Guadeloupe (UPLG); Movement for Independent Guadeloupe (MPGI);
+ General Union of Guadeloupe Workers (UGTG); General Federation of
+ Guadeloupe Workers (CGT-G); Christian Movement for the Liberation of
+ Guadeloupe (KLPG)
+
+ Member of: FZ, WCL, WFTU
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas department of France)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (overseas department of France)
+
+ Flag: the flag of France is used
+
+@Guadeloupe:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry,
+ and services. It is also dependent upon France for large subsidies and
+ imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US. In
+ addition, an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the
+ islands. The traditionally important sugarcane crop is slowly being
+ replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50%
+ of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root
+ crops are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is
+ still dependent on imported food, which comes mainly from France.
+ Light industry consists mostly of sugar and rum production. Most
+ manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially
+ high among the young.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.8 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $9,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1990)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 31.3% (1990)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $400 million
+ expenditures: $671 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1989)
+
+ Exports: $130 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: bananas, sugar, rum
+ partners: France 70%, Martinique 17% (1991)
+
+ Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and other consumer
+ goods, construction materials
+ partners: France 60%, EC, US, Japan (1991)
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 320,000 kW
+ production: 650 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,421 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism
+
+ Agriculture: cash crops - bananas, sugarcane; other products include
+ tropical fruits and vegetables; livestock - cattle, pigs, goats; not
+ self-sufficient in food
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $4 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $8.235 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9243 (January 1995),
+ 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Guadeloupe:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: NA km; privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1,940 km
+ paved: 1,600 km
+ unpaved: gravel, earth 340 km
+
+ Ports: Basse-Terre, Gustavia, Marigot, Pointe-a-Pitre
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 9
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 6
+
+@Guadeloupe:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 57,300 telephones; domestic facilities inadequate
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station; interisland
+ microwave radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Martinique
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 8 (private stations licensed to broadcast
+ FM 30), shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 9
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Guadeloupe:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie
+
+ Note: defense is responsibility of France
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+GUAM
+
+ (territory of the US)
+
+@Guam:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
+ three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 541.3 sq km
+ land area: 541.3 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of
+ Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 125.5 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by
+ northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season
+ from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation
+
+ Terrain: volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat
+ coraline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water) with steep
+ coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising hills in
+ center, mountains in south
+
+ Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially
+ from Japan)
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 11%
+ permanent crops: 11%
+ meadows and pastures: 15%
+ forest and woodland: 18%
+ other: 45%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively
+ rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)
+
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands
+ archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
+
+@Guam:People
+
+ Population: 153,307 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.42% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 25.01 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 3.86 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 15.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 74.29 years
+ male: 72.42 years
+ female: 76.13 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.32 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Guamanian(s)
+ adjective: Guamanian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, Caucasian 10%, Chinese,
+ Japanese, Korean, and other 18%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%
+
+ Languages: English, Chamorro, Japanese
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 99%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 46,930 (1990)
+ by occupation: federal and territorial government 40%, private 60%
+ (trade 18%, services 15.6%, construction 13.8%, other 12.6%) (1990)
+
+@Guam:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Territory of Guam
+ conventional short form: Guam
+
+ Digraph: GQ
+
+ Type: organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy
+ relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office
+ of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the
+ Interior
+
+ Capital: Agana
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
+
+ Independence: none (territory of the US)
+
+ National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March) (1521);
+ Liberation Day, 21 July
+
+ Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950
+
+ Legal system: modeled on US; federal laws apply
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in
+ US presidential elections
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January
+ 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
+ head of government: Governor Carl GUTIERREZ (since 8 November 1994);
+ Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994);
+ election last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998);
+ results - Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) was elected Governor and Madeleine
+ BORDALLO (Democrat) was elected Lieutenant Governor
+ cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with
+ the consent of the Guam legislature
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Legislature: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA
+ November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21
+ total) Democrats 14, Republican 7
+ US House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next
+ to be held NA November 1996); Guam elects one delegate; results -
+ Robert UNDERWOOD was reelected as delegate; seats - (1 total) Democrat
+ 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Federal District Court, Territorial Superior Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party (controls the
+ legislature); Republican Party (party of the Governor)
+
+ Member of: ESCAP (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, SPC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of the US)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)
+
+ Flag: territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all
+ four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse
+ containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree
+ with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the
+ national flag
+
+@Guam:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy depends mainly on US military spending and on
+ revenues from tourism. Over the past 20 years the tourist industry has
+ grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the
+ expansion of older ones. Visitors numbered about 900,000 in 1992. The
+ slowdown in Japanese economic growth has been reflected in less
+ vigorous growth in the tourism sector. About 60% of the labor force
+ works for the private sector and the rest for government. Most food
+ and industrial goods are imported, with about 75% from the US. Guam
+ faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to
+ offset the impact of military downsizing.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2 billion (1991
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $14,000 (1991 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1992 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 2% (1992 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $525 million
+ expenditures: $395 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1991)
+
+ Exports: $34 million (f.o.b., 1984)
+ commodities: mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products,
+ construction materials, fish, food and beverage products
+ partners: US 25%, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 63%, other
+ 12%
+
+ Imports: $493 million (c.i.f., 1984)
+ commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured
+ goods
+ partners: US 23%, Japan 19%, other 58%
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 300,000 kW
+ production: 750 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 4,797 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: US military, tourism, construction, transshipment
+ services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing,
+ textiles
+
+ Agriculture: relatively undeveloped with most food imported; fruits,
+ vegetables, eggs, pork, poultry, beef, copra
+
+ Economic aid: although Guam receives no foreign aid, it does receive
+ large transfer payments from the general revenues of the US Federal
+ Treasury into which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under
+ the provisions of a special law of Congress, the Guamanian Treasury,
+ rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by
+ military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam
+
+ Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: US currency is used
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
+
+@Guam:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 674 km (all-weather roads)
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: Apra Harbor
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 5
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+
+@Guam:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 26,317 telephones (1989)
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 3
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Guam:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+GUATEMALA
+
+@Guatemala:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
+ Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El
+ Salvador and Mexico
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 108,890 sq km
+ land area: 108,430 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Tennessee
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,687 km, Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km,
+ Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km
+
+ Coastline: 400 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: border with Belize in dispute; talks to
+ resolve the dispute are stalled
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
+
+ Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling
+ limestone plateau (Peten)
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 12%
+ permanent crops: 4%
+ meadows and pastures: 12%
+ forest and woodland: 40%
+ other: 32%
+
+ Irrigated land: 780 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
+ natural hazards: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with frequent
+ violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other
+ tropical storms
+ international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Endangered
+ Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
+ Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
+ Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: no natural harbors on west coast
+
+@Guatemala:People
+
+ Population: 10,998,602 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 43% (female 2,324,041; male 2,424,686)
+ 15-64 years: 53% (female 2,939,170; male 2,934,334)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 198,807; male 177,564) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.53% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 34.65 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.33 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -2.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 52.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 64.85 years
+ male: 62.27 years
+ female: 67.56 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.63 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Guatemalan(s)
+ adjective: Guatemalan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Mestizo - mixed Amerindian-Spanish ancestry (in
+ local Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Amerindian or predominently
+ Amerindian 44%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, traditional Mayan
+
+ Languages: Spanish 60%, Indian language 40% (23 Indian dialects,
+ including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 55%
+ male: 63%
+ female: 47%
+
+ Labor force: 3.2 million (1994 est.)
+ by occupation: agriculture 60%, services 13%, manufacturing 12%,
+ commerce 7%, construction 4%, transport 3%, utilities 0.7%, mining
+ 0.3% (1985)
+
+@Guatemala:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
+ conventional short form: Guatemala
+ local long form: Republica de Guatemala
+ local short form: Guatemala
+
+ Digraph: GT
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Guatemala
+
+ Administrative divisions: 22 departments (departamentos, singular -
+ departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula,
+ El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa,
+ Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San
+ Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa
+
+ Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
+
+ Constitution: 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986
+ note: suspended 25 May 1993 by President SERRANO; reinstated 5 June
+ 1993 following ouster of president
+
+ Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts;
+ has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Ramiro DE LEON Carpio
+ (since 6 June 1993); Vice President Arturo HERBRUGER (since 18 June
+ 1993); election runoff held on 11 January 1991 (next to be held
+ November 1995); results - Jorge SERRANO Elias (MAS) 68.1%, Jorge
+ CARPIO Nicolle (UCN) 31.9%
+ note: President SERRANO resigned on 1 June 1993 shortly after
+ dissolving Congress and the judiciary; on 6 June 1993, Ramiro DE LEON
+ Carpio was chosen as the new president by a vote of Congress; he will
+ finish off the remainder of SERRANO's term which expires 14 January
+ 1996
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; named by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la Republica): by agreement of
+ 11 November 1993, a special election was held on 14 August 1994 to
+ select 80 new congressmen (next election to be held in November 1995
+ for full four year terms); results - percent of vote by party; FRG
+ 40%, PAN 31.25%, DCG 15%, UCN 10%, MLN 2.5%, UD 1.25%; seats - (80
+ total) FRG 32, PAN 25, DCG 12, UCN 8, MLN 2, UD 1
+ note: on 11 November 1993 the congress approved a procedure that would
+ reduce its membership from 116 seats to 80; the procedure provided for
+ a special election in mid-1994 to elect an interim congress of 80
+ members to serve until replaced in a general election in November
+ 1995; the plan was approved in a general referendum in January 1994
+ and the special election was held on 14 August 1994
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia);
+ additionally the Court of Constitutionality is presided over by the
+ President of the Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National Centrist Union (UCN),
+ (vacant); Solidarity Action Movement (MAS), Oliverio GARCIA Rodas;
+ Christian Democratic Party (DCG), Alfonso CABRERA Hidalgo; National
+ Advancement Party (PAN), Alvaro ARZU Irigoyen; National Liberation
+ Movement (MLN), Mario SANDOVAL Alarcon; Social Democratic Party (PSD),
+ Mario SOLORZANO Martinez; Revolutionary Party (PR), Carlos CHAVARRIA
+ Perez; Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG), Efrain RIOS Montt;
+ Democratic Union (UD)
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Coordinating Committee of
+ Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations
+ (CACIF); Mutual Support Group (GAM); Agrarian Owners Group (UNAGRO);
+ Committee for Campesino Unity (CUC); leftist guerrilla movement known
+ as Guatemalan National Revolutionary Union (URNG) has four main
+ factions - Guerrilla army of the Poor (EGP); Revolutionary
+ Organization of the People in Arms (ORPA); Rebel Armed Forces (FAR);
+ Guatemalan Labor Party (PGT/O)
+
+ Member of: BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA,
+ IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS,
+ OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
+ WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Edmond MULET
+ chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952 through 4954
+ FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908
+ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,
+ and San Francisco
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Marilyn McAFEE
+ embassy: 7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
+ mailing address: APO AA 34024
+ telephone: [502] (2) 311541
+ FAX: [502] (2) 318885
+
+ Flag: three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white,
+ and light blue with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the
+ coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird) and
+ a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821
+ (the original date of independence from Spain) all superimposed on a
+ pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed swords and framed by a
+ wreath
+
+@Guatemala:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is based on family and corporate agriculture,
+ which accounts for 25% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force,
+ and supplies two-thirds of exports. Manufacturing, predominantly in
+ private hands, accounts for about 15% of GDP and 12% of the labor
+ force. In both 1990 and 1991, the economy grew by 3%, the fourth and
+ fifth consecutive years of mild growth. In 1992 growth picked up to
+ almost 5% as government policies favoring competition and foreign
+ trade and investment took stronger hold. In 1993-94, despite political
+ unrest, this momentum continued, foreign investment held up, and
+ annual growth was 4%.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $33 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $3,080 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 4.9%; underemployment 30%-40% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $604 million (1990)
+ expenditures: $808 million, including capital expenditures of $134
+ million (1990)
+
+ Exports: $1.38 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: coffee, sugar, bananas, cardamon, beef
+ partners: US 30%, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Germany, Honduras
+
+ Imports: $2.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: fuel and petroleum products, machinery, grain,
+ fertilizers, motor vehicles
+ partners: US 44%, Mexico, Venezuela, Japan, Germany
+
+ External debt: $2.2 billion ( 1992 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 1.9% (1991 est.); accounts for 18%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 700,000 kW
+ production: 2.3 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 211 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals,
+ petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 25% of GDP; most important sector of
+ economy; contributes two-thirds of export earnings; principal crops -
+ sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; livestock - cattle,
+ sheep, pigs, chickens; food importer
+
+ Illicit drugs: transit country for cocaine shipments; illicit producer
+ of opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; the
+ government has an active eradication program for cannabis and opium
+ poppy
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $1.1 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $7.92 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos
+
+ Exchange rates: free market quetzales (Q) per US$1 - 5.7372 (January
+ 1995), 5.7512 (1994), 5,6354 (1993), 5.1706 (1992), 5.0289 (1991),
+ 4.4858 (1990); note - black-market rate 2.800 (May 1989)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Guatemala:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,019 km (102 km privately owned)
+ narrow gauge: 1,019 km 0.914-m gauge (single track)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 26,429 km
+ paved: 2,868 km
+ unpaved: gravel 11,421 km; unimproved earth 12,140 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km
+ navigable during high-water season
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 275 km
+
+ Ports: Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, San Jose, Santo
+ Tomas de Castilla
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 528
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 360
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 12
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 146
+
+@Guatemala:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 97,670 telephones; fairly modern network centered in
+ the city of Guatemala
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: connection into Central American Microwave System; 1
+ INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 15
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 25
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Guatemala:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,574,501; males fit for
+ military service 1,683,028; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 123,715 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $121 million, 1% of
+ GDP (1993)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+GUERNSEY
+
+ (British crown dependency)
+
+@Guernsey:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of
+ France
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 194 sq km
+ land area: 194 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
+ note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller
+ islands
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 50 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of
+ days are overcast
+
+ Terrain: mostly level with low hills in southwest
+
+ Natural resources: cropland
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: NA%
+ permanent crops: NA%
+ meadows and pastures: NA%
+ forest and woodland: NA%
+ other: NA%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
+
+@Guernsey:People
+
+ Population: 64,353 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 18% (female 5,664; male 5,892)
+ 15-64 years: 66% (female 21,574; male 21,030)
+ 65 years and over: 16% (female 6,059; male 4,134) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.98% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 13.29 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.93 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 6.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 78.34 years
+ male: 75.63 years
+ female: 81.07 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Channel Islander(s)
+ adjective: Channel Islander
+
+ Ethnic divisions: UK and Norman-French descent
+
+ Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist,
+ Congregational, Methodist
+
+ Languages: English, French; Norman-French dialect spoken in country
+ districts
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+
+@Guernsey:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey
+ conventional short form: Guernsey
+
+ Digraph: GK
+
+ Type: British crown dependency
+
+ Capital: Saint Peter Port
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
+
+ Independence: none (British crown dependency)
+
+ National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
+
+ Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
+ practice
+
+ Legal system: English law and local statute; justice is administered
+ by the Royal Court
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
+ head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief
+ Vice-Admiral Sir John COWARD (since NA 1994); Bailiff Mr. Graham
+ Martyn DOREY (since February 1992)
+ cabinet: Advisory and Finance Committee (other committees); appointed
+ by the States
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Assembly of the States: elections last held NA (next to be held NA);
+ results - no percent of vote by party since all are independents;
+ seats - (60 total, 33 elected), all independents
+
+ Judicial branch: Royal Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
+
+ Member of: none
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (British crown dependency)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (British crown dependency)
+
+ Flag: white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of
+ England) extending to the edges of the flag
+
+@Guernsey:Economy
+
+ Overview: Financial services account for more than 50% of total
+ income. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and
+ cut flowers, have been declining. Bank profits (1992) registered a
+ record 26% growth. Fund management and insurance are the two other
+ major income generators. Per capita output and living standards are
+ somewhat lower than the levels of the less affluent EU countries.
+
+ National product: GDP $NA
+
+ National product real growth rate: 9% (1987)
+
+ National product per capita: $NA
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1988)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $208.9 million
+ expenditures: $173.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1988)
+
+ Exports: $NA
+ commodities: tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant,
+ other vegetables
+ partners: UK (regarded as internal trade)
+
+ Imports: $NA
+ commodities: coal, gasoline, and oil
+ partners: UK (regarded as internal trade)
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 173,000 kW
+ production: 525 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 9,060 kWh (1992)
+
+ Industries: tourism, banking
+
+ Agriculture: tomatoes, flowers (mostly grown in greenhouses), sweet
+ peppers, eggplant, other vegetables, fruit; Guernsey cattle
+
+ Economic aid: none
+
+ Currency: 1 Guernsey (#G) pound = 100 pence
+
+ Exchange rates: Guernsey pounds (#G) per US$1 - 0.6350 (January 1995),
+ 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603
+ (1990); note - the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Guernsey:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: NA
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+
+@Guernsey:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 41,900 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 submarine cable
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Guernsey:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+GUINEA
+
+@Guinea:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
+ Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 245,860 sq km
+ land area: 245,860 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon
+
+ Land boundaries: total 3,399 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Cote d'Ivoire
+ 610 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652
+ km
+
+ Coastline: 320 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to
+ November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with
+ northeasterly harmattan winds
+
+ Terrain: generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior
+
+ Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium,
+ hydropower, fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 6%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 12%
+ forest and woodland: 42%
+ other: 40%
+
+ Irrigated land: 240 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water;
+ desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing
+ natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility
+ during dry season
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands;
+ signed, but not ratified - Desertification
+
+@Guinea:People
+
+ Population: 6,549,336 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 44% (female 1,450,501; male 1,448,164)
+ 15-64 years: 53% (female 1,784,420; male 1,691,502)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 102,735; male 72,014) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.43% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 43.43 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 19.13 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ note: Guinea has received about 400,000 refugees from the civil wars
+ in Liberia and Sierra Leone; the continued fighting in Sierra Leone
+ will likely drive more refugees into Guinea in 1995; on the other
+ hand, peace may be achieved in Liberia and permit Liberian refugees to
+ return home
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 136.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 44.6 years
+ male: 42.31 years
+ female: 46.95 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 5.79 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Guinean(s)
+ adjective: Guinean
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller tribes
+ 10%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
+
+ Languages: French (official); each tribe has its own language
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 24%
+ male: 35%
+ female: 13%
+
+ Labor force: 2.4 million (1983)
+ by occupation: agriculture 80.0%, industry and commerce 11.0%,
+ services 5.4%, civil servants 3.6%
+
+@Guinea:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Guinea
+ conventional short form: Guinea
+ local long form: Republique de Guinee
+ local short form: Guinee
+ former: French Guinea
+
+ Digraph: GV
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Conakry
+
+ Administrative divisions: 33 administrative regions (regions
+ administratives, singular - region administrative); Beyla, Boffa,
+ Boke, Conakry, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Faranah, Forecariah,
+ Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia, Kissidougou,
+ Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma, Lola, Macenta, Mali,
+ Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele, Tougue, Yomou
+
+ Independence: 2 October 1958 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: Anniversary of the Second Republic, 3 April (1984)
+
+ Constitution: 23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)
+
+ Legal system: based on French civil law system, customary law, and
+ decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted
+ compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Lansana CONTE,
+ elected in the first multi-party election 19 December 1993; prior to
+ the election he had ruled as head of military government since 5 April
+ 1984
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ People's National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale Populaire): the
+ People's National Assembly was dissolved after the 3 April 1984 coup;
+ framework established in December 1991 for a new National Assembly
+ with 114 seats; legislative elections, tentatively scheduled for 1994,
+ were not held and are now rescheduled for 11 June 1995
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: political parties were legalized on 1
+ April 1992
+ pro-government: Party for Unity and Progress (PUP)
+ other: Rally for the Guinean People (RPG), Alpha CONDE; Union for a
+ New Republic (UNR), Mamadou BAH; Party for Renewal and Progress (PRP),
+ Siradiou DIALLO; Movement of Patriotic Democrats (MDP), Ahmed Tidiane
+ CISSE
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO (observer), ECA, ECOWAS, FAO,
+ G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Elhadj Boubacar BARRY
+ chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 483-9420
+ FAX: [1] (202) 483-8688
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. SALOOM III
+ embassy: 2nd Boulevard and 9th Avenue, Conakry
+ mailing address: B. P. 603, Conakry
+ telephone: [224] 44 15 20 through 44 15 23
+ FAX: [224] 44 15 22
+
+ Flag: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and
+ green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the
+ flag of Rwanda, which has a large black letter R centered in the
+ yellow band
+
+@Guinea-bissau:Economy
+
+ Overview: Although possessing major mineral and hydropower resources
+ and considerable potential for agricultural development, Guinea
+ remains one of the poorest countries in the world. The agricultural
+ sector contributes about 40% to GDP and employs 80% of the work force,
+ while industry accounts for 27% of GDP. Guinea possesses over 25% of
+ the world's bauxite reserves. The mining sector accounted for 85% of
+ exports in 1991. Long-run improvements in literacy, financial
+ institutions, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to
+ move out of poverty. Except in the bauxite industry, foreign
+ investment remains minimal.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $6.3 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 0.8% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $980 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16.6% (1992 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $449 million
+ expenditures: $708 million, including capital expenditures of $361
+ million (1990 est.)
+
+ Exports: $622 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
+ commodities: bauxite, alumina, diamonds, gold, coffee, pineapples,
+ bananas, palm kernels
+ partners: US 23%, Belgium 12%, Ireland 12%, Spain 12%
+
+ Imports: $768 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport
+ equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, and other grain
+ partners: France 26%, Cote d'Ivoire 12%, Hong Kong 6%, Germany 6%
+
+ External debt: 2.5 billion (1992)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 27% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 180,000 kW
+ production: 520 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 77 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: mining - bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light
+ manufacturing and agricultural processing industries
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP (includes fishing and forestry);
+ mostly subsistence farming; principal products - rice, coffee,
+ pineapples, palm kernels, cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, timber;
+ livestock - cattle, sheep and goats; not self-sufficient in food
+ grains
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $227 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $1.465 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $120 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $446 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Guinean franc (FG) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Guinean francs (FG) per US$1 - 810.94 (1 July 1993),
+ 922.9 (30 September 1992), 675 (1990), 618 (1989), 515 (1988), 440
+ (1987), 383 (1986)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Guinea:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,048 km
+ standard gauge: 241 km 1.435-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 807 km 1.000-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 30,100 km
+ paved: 1,145 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 12,955 km (of which barely 4,500 are
+ currently all-weather roads); unimproved earth 16,000 km (1987)
+
+ Inland waterways: 1,295 km navigable by shallow-draft native craft
+
+ Ports: Boke, Conakry, Kamsar
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 15
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 7
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+
+@Guinea:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 15,000 telephones; poor to fair system of open-wire
+ lines, small radiocommunication stations, and new radio relay system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay and radio communication stations
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: 200,000
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: 65,000
+
+@Guinea:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy (acts primarily as a coast guard), Air Force,
+ Republican Guard, Presidential Guard, paramilitary National
+ Gendarmerie, National Police Force (Surete National)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,478,653; males fit for
+ military service 745,990 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $50 million, 1.6% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+GUINEA-BISSAU
+
+@Guinea-bissau:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
+ Guinea and Senegal
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 36,120 sq km
+ land area: 28,000 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of
+ Connecticut
+
+ Land boundaries: total 724 km, Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km
+
+ Coastline: 350 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy
+ season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season
+ (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
+
+ Terrain: mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east
+
+ Natural resources: unexploited deposits of petroleum, bauxite,
+ phosphates, fish, timber
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 11%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 43%
+ forest and woodland: 38%
+ other: 7%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
+ natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility
+ during dry season; brush fires
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the
+ Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
+ Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification
+
+@Guinea-bissau:People
+
+ Population: 1,124,537 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 43% (female 242,518; male 243,093)
+ 15-64 years: 54% (female 320,987; male 286,308)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 16,129; male 15,502) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.36% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 40.24 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 16.62 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 117.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 47.87 years
+ male: 46.21 years
+ female: 49.57 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 5.43 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Guinea-Bissauan(s)
+ adjective: Guinea-Bissauan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%,
+ Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%
+
+ Religions: indigenous beliefs 65%, Muslim 30%, Christian 5%
+
+ Languages: Portuguese (official), Criolo, African languages
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 36%
+ male: 50%
+ female: 24%
+
+ Labor force: 403,000 (est.)
+ by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry, services, and commerce 5%,
+ government 5%
+
+@Guinea-bissau:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau
+ conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau
+ local long form: Republica de Guine-Bissau
+ local short form: Guine-Bissau
+ former: Portuguese Guinea
+
+ Digraph: PU
+
+ Type: republic, formerly highly centralized, multiparty since mid-1991
+
+ Capital: Bissau
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao);
+ Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali
+
+ Independence: 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 10 September (1974)
+
+ Constitution: 16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991 (currently undergoing
+ revision to liberalize popular participation in the government)
+
+ Legal system: NA
+
+ Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau Joao
+ Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed power 14 November 1980); election last held
+ August 1994 (next to be held 1999); results - Joao Bernardo VIEIRA
+ 52%, Kumba YALLA 48%
+ head of government: Prime Minister Manuel SATURNINO, since 5 November
+ 1994
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National People's Assembly: (Assembleia Nacional Popular) elections
+ last held 3 July and 7 August 1994 (next to be held 1999); results -
+ percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100 total) PAIGC 62, RGB 19, PRS
+ 12, Union for Change Coalition 6, FLING 1
+
+ Judicial branch: none; there is a Ministry of Justice in the Council
+ of Ministers
+
+ Political parties and leaders: African Party for the Independence of
+ Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC), President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA,
+ leader; Guinea-Bissau Resistance (RGB); Democratic Front (FD),
+ Aristides MENEZES, leader; Social Renovation Party (PRS); Union for
+ Change Coalition; Front for the Liberation and Independence of Guinea
+ (FLING); Democratic Social Front (FDS), Rafael BARBOSA, leader; Bafata
+ Movement, Domingos Fernandes GARNER, leader; Guinea-Bissau Resistance
+ (RGB); Union for Change Coalition; Front for the Liberation and
+ Independence of Guinea (FLING)
+
+ Member of: ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT,
+ IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN,
+ UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIL, UNOMOZ, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
+ WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Alfredo Lopes CABRAL
+ chancery: 918 16th Street NW, Mezzanine Suite, Washington, DC 20006
+ telephone: [1] (202) 872-4222
+ FAX: [1] (202) 872-4226
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Roger A. McGUIRE
+ embassy: Bairro de Penha, Bissau
+ mailing address: C.P. 297, 1067 Bissau Codex, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
+ telephone: [245] 252273, 252274, 252275, 252276
+ FAX: [245] 252282
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a
+ vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed
+ star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of
+ Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Cape Verde, which has the black star
+ raised above the center of the red band and is framed by two corn
+ stalks and a yellow clam shell
+
+@Guinea:Economy
+
+ Overview: Guinea-Bissau ranks among the poorest countries in the
+ world. Agriculture and fishing are the main economic activities.
+ Cashew nuts, peanuts, and palm kernels are the primary exports.
+ Exploitation of known mineral deposits is unlikely at present because
+ of a weak infrastructure and the high cost of development. With IMF
+ support the country is committed to an economic reform program
+ emphasizing monetary stability and private sector growth. This process
+ will continue at a slow pace because of a heavy foreign debt burden
+ and internal constraints.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $900 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.9% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $840 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 55% (1991 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $33.6 million
+ expenditures: $44.8 million, including capital expenditures of
+ $570,000 (1991 est.)
+
+ Exports: $19 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: cashews, fish, peanuts, palm kernels
+ partners: Portugal, Spain, Senegal, India, Nigeria
+
+ Imports: $56 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, petroleum products,
+ machinery and equipment
+ partners: Portugal, Netherlands, China, Germany, Senegal
+
+ External debt: $462 million (December 1990 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA (1991 est.); accounts for 8% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 22,000 kW
+ production: 40 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 37 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: agricultural processing, beer, soft drinks
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for over 45% of GDP, nearly 100% of exports, and
+ 90% of employment; rice is the staple food; other crops include corn,
+ beans, cassava, cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, and cotton; not
+ self-sufficient in food; fishing and forestry potential not fully
+ exploited
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $49 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $615 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $41 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $68 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Guinea-Bissauan peso (PG) = 100 centavos
+
+ Exchange rates: Guinea-Bissauan pesos (PG) per US$1 - 14,482 (December
+ 1994), 12,892 (1994), 10,082 (1993), 6,934 (1992), 3,659 (1991), 2,185
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Guinea-bissau:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 3,218 km
+ paved: bituminous 2,698 km
+ unpaved: earth 520 km
+
+ Inland waterways: scattered stretches are important to coastal
+ commerce
+
+ Ports: Bissau
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 32
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 22
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
+
+@Guinea-bissau:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 3,000 telephones; poor system; telephone density -
+ 2.7 telephones/1,000 persons
+ local: NA
+ intercity: combination of microwave radio relay, open wire lines and
+ radiocommunications
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Guinea-bissau:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; includes Army,
+ Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 251,636; males fit for military
+ service 143,694 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $9 million, 4.5% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+GUYANA
+
+@Guyana:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
+ between Suriname and Venezuela
+
+ Map references: South America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 214,970 sq km
+ land area: 196,850 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Idaho
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,462 km, Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km,
+ Venezuela 743 km
+
+ Coastline: 459 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental
+ margin
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: all of the area west of the Essequibo River
+ claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper
+ Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters of the
+ Courantyne)
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two
+ rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January)
+
+ Terrain: mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
+
+ Natural resources: bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp,
+ fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 3%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 6%
+ forest and woodland: 83%
+ other: 8%
+
+ Irrigated land: 1,300 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: water pollution from sewage and agricultural and
+ industrial chemicals; deforestation
+ natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat during rainy
+ seasons
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical
+ Timber 83
+
+@Guyana:People
+
+ Population: 723,774 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 33% (female 118,515; male 123,048)
+ 15-64 years: 62% (female 224,484; male 225,543)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 17,540; male 14,644) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: -0.81% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 19.41 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.34 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -20.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 47.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 65.1 years
+ male: 61.86 years
+ female: 68.5 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.23 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Guyanese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: East Indian 51%, black and mixed 43%, Amerindian 4%,
+ European and Chinese 2%
+
+ Religions: Christian 57%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, other 1%
+
+ Languages: English, Amerindian dialects
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1990 est.)
+ total population: 96%
+ male: 98%
+ female: 95%
+
+ Labor force: 268,000
+ by occupation: industry and commerce 44.5%, agriculture 33.8%,
+ services 21.7%
+ note: public-sector employment amounts to 60%-80% of the total labor
+ force (1985)
+
+@Guyana:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Co-operative Republic of Guyana
+ conventional short form: Guyana
+ former: British Guiana
+
+ Digraph: GY
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Georgetown
+
+ Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni,
+ Demerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West
+ Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper
+ Demerara-Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo
+
+ Independence: 26 May 1966 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
+
+ Constitution: 6 October 1980
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law with certain admixtures of
+ Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Executive President Cheddi JAGAN (since 5 October
+ 1992); election last held 5 October 1992; results - Cheddi JAGAN was
+ elected president since he was leader of the party with the most votes
+ in the National Assembly elections
+ head of government: Prime Minister Sam HINDS (since 5 October 1992)
+ cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers; appointed by the president, responsible
+ to the legislature
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly: elections last held on 5 October 1992 (next to be
+ held in 1997); results - PPP 53.4%, PNC 42.3%, WPA 2%, TUF 1.2%; seats
+ - (65 total, 53 elected) PPP 36, PNC 26, WPA 2, TUF 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature
+
+ Political parties and leaders: People's Progressive Party (PPP),
+ Cheddi JAGAN; People's National Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond HOYTE;
+ Good and Green Georgetown (GGG), Hamilton GREEN; Working People's
+ Alliance (WPA), Eusi KWAYANA, Rupert ROOPNARINE; Democratic Labor
+ Movement (DLM), Paul TENNASSEE; People's Democratic Movement (PDM),
+ Llewellyn JOHN; National Democratic Front (NDF), Joseph BACCHUS; The
+ United Force (TUF), Manzoor NADIR; United Republican Party (URP),
+ Leslie RAMSAMMY; National Republican Party (NRP), Robert GANGADEEN;
+ Guyana Labor Party (GLP), Nanda GOPAUL
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Trades Union Congress (TUC);
+ Guyana Council of Indian Organizations (GCIO); Civil Liberties Action
+ Committee (CLAC)
+ note: the latter two organizations are small and active but not well
+ organized
+
+ Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB,
+ IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS,
+ ONUSAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Ali Odeen ISHMAEL
+ chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900, 6901
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador George F. JONES
+ embassy: 99-100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown
+ telephone: [592] (2) 54900 through 54909, 57960 through 57969
+ FAX: [592] (2) 58497
+
+ Flag: green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side)
+ superimposed on a long yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow black
+ border between the red and yellow, and a narrow white border between
+ the yellow and the green
+
+@Guyana:Economy
+
+ Overview: Guyana, one of the poorest countries in the Western
+ Hemisphere, has pushed ahead strongly in 1992-94, with an 8% average
+ annual economic growth rate, led by gold mining, and rice, sugar, and
+ forestry products for export. Favorable factors include recovery in
+ the key agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere
+ for business initiative, a more realistic exchange rate, a sharp drop
+ in the inflation rate, and the continued support of international
+ organizations. Serious underlying economic problems will continue.
+ Electric power has been in short supply and constitutes a major
+ barrier to future gains in national output. The government will have
+ to persist in efforts to manage its large $2.2 billion external debt,
+ control inflation, and to extend the privatization program.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 8.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,950 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 12% (1992 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $23.7 million
+ expenditures: $19.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $475 million (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: sugar, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses
+ partners: UK 33%, US 31%, Canada 9%, France 5%, Japan 3% (1992)
+
+ Imports: $456 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food
+ partners: US 37%, Trinidad and Tobago 13%, UK 11%, Italy 8%, Japan 5%
+ (1992)
+
+ External debt: $2.2 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 5.6% (1994 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 110,000 kW
+ production: 230 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 286 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: bauxite mining, sugar, rice milling, timber, fishing
+ (shrimp), textiles, gold mining
+
+ Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for 25% of GDP and
+ about half of exports; sugar and rice are key crops; development
+ potential exists for fishing and forestry; not self-sufficient in
+ food, especially wheat, vegetable oils, and animal products
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics from South America -
+ primarily Venezuela - to the US and Europe; producer of cannabis
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $116 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $325 million; Communist countries 1970-89, $242 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Guyanese dollar (G$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1 - 142.7 (January 1995),
+ 138.3 (1994), 126.7 (1993), 125.0 (1992), 111.8 (1991), 39.533 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Guyana:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 100 km NA-m gauge industrial lines for the transport of
+ minerals, including bauxite
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 7,665 km
+ paved: 550 km
+ unpaved: gravel 5,000 km; earth 2,115 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 6,000 km total of navigable waterways; Berbice,
+ Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for
+ 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively
+
+ Ports: Bartica, Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam, Parika
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,317 GRT/2,558 DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 54
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 34
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 14
+
+@Guyana:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: over 27,000 telephones; fair system for long
+ distance calling
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay network for trunk lines
+ international: tropospheric scatter link to Trinidad; 1 INTELSAT
+ (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 1
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Guyana:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Guyana Defense Force (GDF; includes Ground Forces, Coast
+ Guard, and Air Corps), Guyana People's Militia (GPM), Guyana National
+ Service (GNS)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 198,665; males fit for military
+ service 150,573 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+HAITI
+
+@Haiti:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola,
+ between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the
+ Dominican Republic
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 27,750 sq km
+ land area: 27,560 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
+
+ Land boundaries: total 275 km, Dominican Republic 275 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,771 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claims US-administered Navassa Island
+
+ Climate: tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade
+ winds
+
+ Terrain: mostly rough and mountainous
+
+ Natural resources: bauxite
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 20%
+ permanent crops: 13%
+ meadows and pastures: 18%
+ forest and woodland: 4%
+ other: 45%
+
+ Irrigated land: 750 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: extensive deforestation (much of the remaining
+ forested land is being cleared for agriculture and use as fuel); soil
+ erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water
+ natural hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject
+ to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and
+ earthquakes; periodic droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Marine Dumping, Marine Life
+ Conservation; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
+
+ Note: shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western
+ one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)
+
+@Haiti:People
+
+ Population: 6,539,983 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 46% (female 1,490,939; male 1,535,607)
+ 15-64 years: 50% (female 1,692,032; male 1,557,568)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 133,291; male 130,546) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.5% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 38.64 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 18.65 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -4.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 107.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 44.77 years
+ male: 43.04 years
+ female: 46.59 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 5.82 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Haitian(s)
+ adjective: Haitian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: black 95%, mulatto and European 5%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 80% (of which an overwhelming majority also
+ practice Voodoo), Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%,
+ Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982)
+
+ Languages: French (official) 10%, Creole
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
+ total population: 35%
+ male: 37%
+ female: 32%
+
+ Labor force: 2.3 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 66%, services 25%, industry 9%
+ note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1982)
+
+@Haiti:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Haiti
+ conventional short form: Haiti
+ local long form: Republique d'Haiti
+ local short form: Haiti
+
+ Digraph: HA
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Port-au-Prince
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 departments, (departements, singular -
+ departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nord, Nord-Est,
+ Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est
+
+ Independence: 1 January 1804 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
+
+ Constitution: approved March 1987, suspended June 1988, most articles
+ reinstated March 1989; October 1991, government claims to be observing
+ the Constitution
+
+ Legal system: based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE (since 7 February
+ 1991), ousted in a coup in September 1991 but, with US military
+ support, returned to power on 15 October 1994; election last held 16
+ December 1990 (next to be held by December 1995); results - Rev.
+ Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE 67.5%, Marc BAZIN 14.2%, Louis DEJOIE 4.9%
+ head of government: Prime Minister Smarck MICHEL (since October 1994)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; chosen by prime minister in consultation with the
+ president
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
+ Senate: elections last held 18 January 1993, widely condemned as
+ illegitimate (next to be held 25 June 1994); results - percent of vote
+ by party NA; seats - (27 total) FNCD 12, MIDH-PANPRA 8, PAIN 2, MRN 1,
+ RDNP 1, PNT 1, independent 2
+ Chamber of Deputies: elections last held 16 December 1990, with runoff
+ held 20 January 1991 (next to be held 25 June 1995); results - percent
+ of vote by party NA; seats - (83 total) FNCD 27, MIDH-PANPRA 17, PDCH
+ 7, PAIN 6, RDNP 6, MDN 5, PNT 3, MKN 2, MODELH 2, MRN 1, independents
+ 5, other 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour de Cassation)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National Front for Change and Democracy
+ (FNCD), Evans PAUL, including National Cooperative Action Movement
+ (MKN), Volvick Remy JOSEPH; National Congress of Democratic Movements
+ (CONACOM), Victor BENOIT; Movement for the Installation of Democracy
+ in Haiti (MIDH), Marc BAZIN; National Progressive Revolutionary Party
+ (PANPRA), Serge GILLES; National Patriotic Movement of November 28
+ (MNP-28), Dejean BELIZAIRE; National Agricultural and Industrial Party
+ (PAIN), Louis DEJOIE; Movement for National Reconstruction (MRN), Rene
+ THEODORE; Haitian Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Joseph DOUZE;
+ Assembly of Progressive National Democrats (RDNP), Leslie MANIGAT;
+ National Party of Labor (PNT), Thomas DESULME; Mobilization for
+ National Development (MDN), Hubert DE RONCERAY; Democratic Movement
+ for the Liberation of Haiti (MODELH), Francois LATORTUE; Haitian
+ Social Christian Party (PSCH), Gregoire EUGENE; Movement for the
+ Organization of the Country (MOP), Gesner COMEAU and Jean MOLIERE;
+ Democratic Unity Confederation (KID), Evans PAUL; National Lavalas
+ Political Organization (OPL), Gerard PIERRE/CHARLES
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Roman Catholic Church;
+ Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH); Federation of Workers Trade
+ Unions (FOS); Autonomous Haitian Workers (CATH); National Popular
+ Assembly (APN); Revolutionary Front for Haitian Advancement and
+ Progress (FRAPH)
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, CARICOM (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT,
+ IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Jean CASIMIR
+ chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090 through 4092
+ FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215
+ consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan
+ (Puerto Rico)
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador William Lacy SWING
+ embassy: Harry Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince
+ telephone: [509] 22-0354, 22-0368, 22-0200, 22-0612
+ FAX: [509] 23-1641
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered
+ white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree
+ flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto
+ L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)
+
+@Haiti:Economy
+
+ Overview: About 75% of the population live in abject poverty.
+ Agriculture is mainly small-scale subsistence farming and employs
+ two-thirds of the work force. The majority of the population does not
+ have ready access to safe drinking water, adequate medical care, or
+ sufficient food. The lack of employment opportunities remains one of
+ the most critical problems facing the economy, along with soil erosion
+ and political instability. International trade sanctions in response
+ to the September 1991 coup against President ARISTIDE further damaged
+ the economy. The restoration of President ARISTIDE, the lifting of
+ sanctions in late 1994, and foreign aid will alleviate some economic
+ problems. Haiti will continue to depend heavily on foreign aid.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $5.6 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -15% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $870 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 52% (FY93/94 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 50% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $56 million
+ expenditures: $131 million, including capital expenditures of $6
+ million (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $173.3 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: light manufactures 65%, coffee 19%, other agriculture 8%,
+ other 8%
+ partners: US 81%, Europe 12% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $476.8 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: machines and manufactures 34%, food and beverages 22%,
+ petroleum products 14%, chemicals 10%, fats and oils 9%
+ partners: US 51%, Europe 16%, Latin America 18% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $871 million (September 1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -2% (1991 est.); accounts for 15%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 150,000 kW
+ production: 590 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 86 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: sugar refining, textiles, flour milling, cement
+ manufacturing, tourism, light assembly industries based on imported
+ parts
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 28% of GDP and employs two-thirds of work
+ force; mostly small-scale subsistence farms; commercial crops -
+ coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, wood; staple crops - rice, corn, sorghum;
+ shortage of wheat flour
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana en route
+ to the US and Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1970-89), $700 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $770 million
+
+ Currency: 1 gourde (G) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: gourdes (G) per US$1 - 14.10 (1 December 1994), 12.00
+ (1 July 1993), 8.4 (December 1991), fixed rate of 5.000 through second
+ quarter of 1991
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
+
+@Haiti:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 40 km (single track; privately owned industrial line)
+ narrow gauge: 40 km 0.760-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 4,000 km
+ paved: 950 km
+ unpaved: otherwise improved 900 km; unimproved earth 2,150 km
+
+ Inland waterways: negligible; less than 100 km navigable
+
+ Ports: Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Jeremie, Cayes, Miragoane,
+ Port-au-Prince, Port-de-Paix, Saint-Marc
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 14
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 6
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
+
+@Haiti:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 36,000 telephones; domestic facilities barely
+ adequate, international facilities slightly better
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 33, FM 0, shortwave 2
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 4
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Haiti:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police
+ note: the regular Haitian Army, Navy and Air Force are currently
+ suspended and replaced by the Interim Public Security Force (IPSF)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,323,034; males fit for
+ military service 716,233; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 64,371 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $34 million, 1.5% of
+ GDP (1988 est.)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+HEARD ISLAND AND MCDONALD ISLANDS
+
+ (territory of Australia)
+
+@Heard Island And Mcdonald Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, islands in the Indian Ocean, about
+ two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica
+
+ Map references: Antarctic Region
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 412 sq km
+ land area: 412 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 101.9 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: antarctic
+
+ Terrain: Heard Island - bleak and mountainous, with a quiescent
+ volcano; McDonald Islands - small and rocky
+
+ Natural resources: none
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: Heard Island is dominated by a dormant volcano called
+ Big Ben
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: primarily used for research stations
+
+@Heard Island And Mcdonald Islands:People
+
+ Population: uninhabited
+
+@Heard Island And Mcdonald Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
+
+ conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
+
+ Digraph: HM
+
+ Type: territory of Australia administered by the Ministry for
+ Environment, Sport, and Territories
+
+ Capital: none; administered from Canberra, Australia
+
+ Independence: none (territory of Australia)
+
+@Heard Island And Mcdonald Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: no economic activity
+
+@Heard Island And Mcdonald Islands:Transportation
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
+
+@Heard Island And Mcdonald Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+HOLY SEE (VATICAN CITY)
+
+@Holy See (vatican City):Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 0.44 sq km
+ land area: 0.44 sq km
+ comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: total 3.2 km, Italy 3.2 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with
+ hot, dry summers (May to September)
+
+ Terrain: low hill
+
+ Natural resources: none
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution,
+ Environmental Modification
+
+ Note: urban; landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy; world's smallest
+ state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel
+ Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights
+
+@Holy See (vatican City):People
+
+ Population: 830 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.15% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: NA
+
+ Death rate: NA
+
+ Net migration rate: NA
+
+ Infant mortality rate: NA
+
+ Life expectancy at birth: NA
+
+ Total fertility rate: NA
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: none
+ adjective: none
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Italians, Swiss
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic
+
+ Languages: Italian, Latin, various other languages
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay
+ workers who live outside the Vatican
+
+@Holy See (vatican City):Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
+ conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)
+ local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
+ local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
+
+ Digraph: VT
+
+ Type: monarchical-sacerdotal state
+
+ Capital: Vatican City
+
+ Independence: 11 February 1929 (from Italy)
+
+ National holiday: Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978)
+ (John Paul II)
+ note: Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978
+
+ Constitution: Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)
+
+ Legal system: NA
+
+ Suffrage: limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October
+ 1978); election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the
+ death of the current pope); results - Karol WOJTYLA was elected for
+ life by the College of Cardinals
+ head of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal
+ SODANO (since NA 1991)
+ cabinet: Pontifical Commission; appointed by Pope
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral Pontifical Commission
+
+ Judicial branch: none; normally handled by Italy
+
+ Political parties and leaders: none
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: none (exclusive of influence
+ exercised by church officers)
+
+ Member of: IAEA, ICFTU, INTELSAT, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer),
+ OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Agostino
+ CACCIAVILLAN
+ chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond L. FLYNN
+ embassy: Via Delle Terme Deciane 26, Rome 00153
+ mailing address: PSC 59, APO AE 09624
+ telephone: [39] (6) 46741
+ FAX: [39] (6) 6380159
+
+ Flag: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the
+ crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white
+ band
+
+@Holy See (vatican City):Economy
+
+ Overview: This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially
+ by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics
+ throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps and tourist mementos,
+ fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications. The
+ incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to, or
+ somewhat better than, those of counterparts who work in the city of
+ Rome.
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $169 million
+ expenditures: $167.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1993)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 5,000 kW standby
+ production: power supplied by Italy
+ consumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)
+
+ Industries: printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and
+ staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
+
+ Currency: 1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi
+
+ Exchange rates: Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1,609.5 (January 1995),
+ 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991),
+ 1,198.1 (1990); note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian
+ lira which circulates freely
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Holy See (vatican City):Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 862 meters; note - connects to Italy's network at Rome's Saint
+ Peter's station
+ narrow gauge: 862 meters 1.435-m gauge
+
+ Highways: none; all city streets
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports: none
+
+@Holy See (vatican City):Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 2,000 telephones; automatic exchange
+ local: NA
+ intercity: tied into Italian system
+ international: uses Italian system
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Holy See (vatican City):Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are
+ posted at entrances to the Vatican City
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+HONDURAS
+
+@Honduras:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
+ Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between
+ El Salvador and Nicaragua
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 112,090 sq km
+ land area: 111,890 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,520 km, Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km,
+ Nicaragua 922 km
+
+ Coastline: 820 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: land boundary dispute with El Salvador mostly
+ resolved by 11 September 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ)
+ decision; with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo de
+ Fonseca, ICJ referred to an earlier agreement in this century and
+ advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras
+ and Nicaragua likely would be required
+
+ Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
+
+ Terrain: mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
+
+ Natural resources: timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore,
+ antimony, coal, fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 14%
+ permanent crops: 2%
+ meadows and pastures: 30%
+ forest and woodland: 34%
+ other: 20%
+
+ Irrigated land: 900 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: urban population expanding; deforestation results from
+ logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further
+ land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development
+ and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands;
+ mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest
+ source of freshwater) with heavy metals as well as several rivers and
+ streams
+ natural hazards: frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; damaging
+ hurricanes and floods along Caribbean coast
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the
+ Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
+ Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change
+
+@Honduras:People
+
+ Population: 5,459,743 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 43% (female 1,159,846; male 1,201,927)
+ 15-64 years: 53% (female 1,468,950; male 1,444,959)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 95,361; male 88,700) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.66% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 34.12 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -1.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 43.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 68.04 years
+ male: 65.64 years
+ female: 70.55 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.55 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Honduran(s)
+ adjective: Honduran
+
+ Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and European) 90%, Indian 7%,
+ black 2%, white 1%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minority
+
+ Languages: Spanish, Indian dialects
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 73%
+ male: 76%
+ female: 71%
+
+ Labor force: 1.3 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 62%, services 20%, manufacturing 9%,
+ construction 3%, other 6% (1985)
+
+@Honduras:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Honduras
+ conventional short form: Honduras
+ local long form: Republica de Honduras
+ local short form: Honduras
+
+ Digraph: HO
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Tegucigalpa
+
+ Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos, singular -
+ departamento); Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes,
+ El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la
+ Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle,
+ Yoro
+
+ Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
+
+ Constitution: 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982
+
+ Legal system: rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence of
+ English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Carlos Roberto REINA
+ Idiaquez (since 27 January 1994); election last held 28 November 1993
+ (next to be held November 1997); results - Carlos Roberto REINA
+ Idiaquez (PLH) 53%, Oswaldo RAMOS Soto (PNH) 41%, other 6%
+ cabinet: Cabinet
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Congress (Congreso Nacional): elections last held on 27
+ November 1993 (next to be held November 1997); results - PNH 53%, PLH
+ 41%, PDCH 1.0%, PINU-SD 2.5%, other 2.5%; seats - (134 total) PNH 55,
+ PLH 77, PINU-SD 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justica)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party (PLH), Rafael PINEDA
+ Ponce, president; National Party of Honduras (PNH), Oswaldo RAMOS
+ Soto, president; National Innovation and Unity Party (PINU), Olban
+ VALLADARES, president; Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Efrain DIAZ
+ Arrivillaga, president
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: National Association of Honduran
+ Campesinos (ANACH); Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (COHEP);
+ Confederation of Honduran Workers (CTH); National Union of Campesinos
+ (UNC); General Workers Confederation (CGT); United Federation of
+ Honduran Workers (FUTH); Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in
+ Honduras (CODEH); Coordinating Committee of Popular Organizations
+ (CCOP)
+
+ Member of: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
+ IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA,
+ UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto FLORES Bermudez
+ chancery: 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 966-7702, 2604, 5008, 4596
+ FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751
+ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
+ Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
+ consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, and Jacksonville
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador William T. PRYCE
+ embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No 3453, Tegucigalpa
+ mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa
+ telephone: [504] 36-9320, 38-5114
+ FAX: [504] 36-9037
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with
+ five blue five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the
+ white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal
+ Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,
+ Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which
+ features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL
+ SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also
+ similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled
+ by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the
+ bottom, centered in the white band
+
+@Honduras:Economy
+
+ Overview: Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western
+ Hemisphere. Agriculture, the most important sector of the economy,
+ accounts for 28% of GDP, employs 62% of the labor force, and produces
+ two-thirds of exports. Productivity remains low. Manufacturing, still
+ in its early stages, employs 9% of the labor force, accounts for 15%
+ of GDP, and generates 20% of exports. The service sectors, including
+ public administration, account for 50% of GDP and employ 20% of the
+ labor force. Many basic problems face the economy, including rapid
+ population growth, high unemployment, inflation, a lack of basic
+ services, a large and inefficient public sector, and the dependence of
+ the export sector mostly on coffee and bananas, which are subject to
+ sharp price fluctuations. A far-reaching reform program, initiated by
+ former President CALLEJAS in 1990 and scaled back by President REINA,
+ is beginning to take hold.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $9.7 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -1.9% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,820 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 10%; underemployed 30%-40% (1992)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $527 million
+ expenditures: $668 million, including capital expenditures of $166
+ million (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $850 million (f.o.b., 1993 est)
+ commodities: bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals, meat, lumber
+ partners: US 53%, Germany 11%, Belgium 8%, UK 5%
+
+ Imports: $990 million (c.i.f. 1994 est)
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemical products,
+ manufactured goods, fuel and oil, foodstuffs
+ partners: US 50%, Mexico 8%, Guatemala 6%
+
+ External debt: $4 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 10% (1992 est.); accounts for 22%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 290,000 kW
+ production: 2.3 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 445 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: agricultural processing (sugar and coffee), textiles,
+ clothing, wood products
+
+ Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for 28% of GDP, more
+ than 60% of the labor force, and two-thirds of exports; principal
+ products include bananas, coffee, timber, beef, citrus fruit, shrimp;
+ importer of wheat
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics; illicit producer of
+ cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local
+ consumption
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.4 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $1.1 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos
+
+ Exchange rates: lempiras (L) per US$1 - 9.1283 (October 1994), 7.2600
+ (1993), 5.8300 (1992), 5.4000 (1991); 2.0000 (fixed rate until 1991)
+ 5.70 parallel black-market rate (November 1990); the lempira was
+ allowed to float in 1992
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Honduras:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 785 km
+ narrow gauge: 508 km 1.067-m gauge; 277 km 0.914-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 8,950 km
+ paved: 1,700 km
+ unpaved: otherwise improved 5,000 km; unimproved earth 2,250 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 465 km navigable by small craft
+
+ Ports: La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela,
+ Puerto Lempira
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 271 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 802,990 GRT/1,210,553
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 31, cargo 171, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk
+ 1, container 6, liquefied gas tanker 2, livestock carrier 3, oil
+ tanker 21, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 19,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 1,
+ vehicle carrier 1
+ note: a flag of convenience registry; Russia owns 14 ships, Vietnam 7,
+ North Korea 4, US 3, Hong Kong 2, South Korea 2, Greece 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 159
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 118
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 4
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 27
+
+@Honduras:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; 7 telephones/1,000 persons;
+ inadequate system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations and the
+ Central American microwave radio relay system
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 176, FM 0, shortwave 7
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 28
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Honduras:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, Public Security
+ Forces (FUSEP)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,275,670; males fit for
+ military service 760,113; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 62,405 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $41 million, about
+ 0.4% of GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+HONG KONG
+
+ (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+@Hong Kong:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
+
+ Map references: Southeast Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1,040 sq km
+ land area: 990 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than six times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: total 30 km, China 30 km
+
+ Coastline: 733 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy
+ from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
+
+ Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
+
+ Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 7%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 1%
+ forest and woodland: 12%
+ other: 79%
+
+ Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air and water pollution from rapid urbanization
+ natural hazards: occasional typhoons
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: more than 200 islands
+
+@Hong Kong:People
+
+ Population: 5,542,869 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 19% (female 499,460; male 549,734)
+ 15-64 years: 70% (female 1,866,540; male 2,016,684)
+ 65 years and over: 11% (female 331,391; male 279,060) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: -0.12% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 12.02 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.02 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -7.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 80.18 years
+ male: 76.78 years
+ female: 83.78 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.39 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Chinese
+ adjective: Chinese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Chinese 95%, other 5%
+
+ Religions: eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
+
+ Languages: Chinese (Cantonese), English
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1971)
+ total population: 77%
+ male: 90%
+ female: 64%
+
+ Labor force: 2.8 million (1990)
+ by occupation: manufacturing 28.5%, wholesale and retail trade,
+ restaurants, and hotels 27.9%, services 17.7%, financing, insurance,
+ and real estate 9.2%, transport and communications 4.5%, construction
+ 2.5%, other 9.7% (1989)
+
+@Hong Kong:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Hong Kong
+
+ Abbreviation: HK
+
+ Digraph: HK
+
+ Type: dependent territory of the UK scheduled to revert to China in
+ 1997
+
+ Capital: Victoria
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK; the UK signed an
+ agreement with China on 19 December 1984 to return Hong Kong to China
+ on 1 July 1997; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect
+ Hong Kong's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle)
+
+ National holiday: Liberation Day, 29 August (1945)
+
+ Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
+ practice; new Basic Law approved in March 1990 in preparation for 1997
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law
+
+ Suffrage: direct election 21 years of age; universal for permanent
+ residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven
+ years; indirect election limited to about 100,000 professionals of
+ electoral college and functional constituencies
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
+ head of government: Governor Chris PATTEN (since 9 July 1992); Chief
+ Secretary Anson CHAN Fang On-Sang (since 29 November 1993)
+ cabinet: Executive Council; appointed by the governor
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Legislative Council: indirect elections last held 12 September 1991
+ and direct elections were held for the first time 15 September 1991
+ (next to be held 17 September 1995 when the number of directly-elected
+ seats increases to 50); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
+ (60 total; 21 indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 18
+ directly elected, 18 appointed by governor, 3 ex officio members);
+ indirect elections - number of seats by functional constituency NA;
+ direct elections - UDHK 12, Meeting Point 3, ADPL 1, other 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party, Martin LEE, chairman;
+ Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, TSANG Yuk-shing,
+ chairman; Hong Kong Democratic Foundation, Dr. Patrick SHIU Kin-ying,
+ chairman
+ note: in April 1994, the United Democrats of Hong Kong (UDHK) and
+ Meeting Point merged to form the Democratic Party; the merger became
+ effective in October 1994
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Liberal Party, Allen LEE,
+ chairman; Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood (ADPL),
+ Frederick FUNG Kin Kee, chairman; Liberal Democratic Federation, HU
+ Fa-kuang, chairman; Federation of Trade Unions (pro-China), LEE
+ Chark-tim, president; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council
+ (pro-Taiwan); Confederation of Trade Unions (pro-democracy), LAU
+ Chin-shek, chairman; Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Chinese
+ General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Federation of Hong Kong
+ Industries; Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Hong Kong
+ Professional Teachers' Union, CHEUNG Man-kwong, president; Hong Kong
+ Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China,
+ Szeto WAH, chairman
+
+ Member of: APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP (associate), GATT, ICFTU, IMO
+ (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Consul General Richard W. MUELLER
+ consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong
+ mailing address: PSC 464, Box 30, Hong Kong, or FPO AP 96522-0002
+ telephone: [852] 523-9011
+ FAX: [852] 845-4845
+
+ Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
+ with the Hong Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer
+ half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a shield (bearing two
+ junks below a crown) held by a lion (representing the UK) and a dragon
+ (representing China) with another lion above the shield and a banner
+ bearing the words HONG KONG below the shield
+
+@Hong Kong:Economy
+
+ Overview: Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy with few
+ tariffs or nontariff barriers. Natural resources are limited, and food
+ and raw materials must be imported. Manufacturing accounts for about
+ 17% of GDP. Goods and services exports account for about 50% of GDP.
+ Real GDP growth averaged a remarkable 8% in 1987-88, slowed to 3.0% in
+ 1989-90, and picked up to 4.2% in 1991, 5.0% in 1992, 5.2% in 1993,
+ and 5.5% in 1994. Unemployment, which has been declining since the
+ mid-1980s, is now about 2%. A shortage of labor continues to put
+ upward pressure on prices and the cost of living. Prospects for
+ 1995-96 remain bright so long as major trading partners continue to be
+ reasonably prosperous and so long as investors feel China will support
+ free market practices after the takeover in 1997.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $136.1 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $24,530 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.5% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 1.9% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $19.2 billion
+ expenditures: $19.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (FY93/94)
+
+ Exports: $168.7 billion (including re-exports of $121.0 billion
+ )(f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric, footwear, electrical
+ appliances, watches and clocks, toys
+ partners: China 32%, US 23%, Germany 5%, Japan 5%, UK 3% (1993 est.)
+
+ Imports: $160 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials,
+ semimanufactures, petroleum; a large share is re-exported
+ partners: China 36%, Japan 19%, Taiwan 9%, US 7% (1993 est.)
+
+ External debt: none (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 2% (1993 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 8,930,000 kW
+ production: 33 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 4,628 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics, toys,
+ watches, clocks
+
+ Agriculture: minor role in the economy; local farmers produce 26%
+ fresh vegetables, 27% live poultry; 8% of land area suitable for
+ farming
+
+ Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade; transshipment
+ and major financial and money-laundering center; increasing indigenous
+ amphetamine and cocaine abuse
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $152 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $923 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$ - 7.800 (1994), 7.800
+ (1993), 7.741 (1992), 7.771 (1991), 7.790 (1990); note - linked to the
+ US dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$ since 1985
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Hong Kong:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 35 km
+ standard gauge: 35 km 1.435-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1,100 km
+ paved: 794 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 306 km
+
+ Ports: Hong Kong
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 217 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,657,749 GRT/13,181,496
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 116, cargo 29, chemical tanker 2, combination bulk
+ 2, combination ore/oil 6, container 28, liquefied gas tanker 5, oil
+ tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 7, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle
+ carrier 3
+ note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 15 countries among
+ which are UK with 53 ships, China 15, Bermuda 7, Japan 6, Belgium 3,
+ Germany 3, Greece 3, Canada 2, Netherlands 2, Singapore 2
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 3
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+
+@Hong Kong:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 3,000,000 telephones; modern facilities provide
+ excellent domestic and international services
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave transmission links and extensive optical fiber
+ transmission network
+ international: 3 INTELSAT (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) earth
+ stations; coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; links to 5 international
+ submarine cables providing access to ASEAN member nations, Japan,
+ Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 6, shortwave 0
+ radios: 2.5 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 4 (British Broadcasting Corporation repeater 1;
+ British Forces Broadcasting Service repeater 1)
+ televisions: 1.312 million (1,224,000 color TV sets)
+
+@Hong Kong:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Headquarters of British Forces, Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air
+ Force, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Police
+ Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,634,559; males fit for
+ military service 1,245,905; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 40,996 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $207 million, 0.2% of
+ GDP (FY92/93); this represents 65% of the total cost of defending the
+ colony, the remainder being paid by the UK
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+HOWLAND ISLAND
+
+ (territory of the US)
+
+@Howland Island:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half
+ of the way from Hawaii to Australia
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1.6 sq km
+ land area: 1.6 sq km
+ comparative area: about 2.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 6.4 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
+
+ Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a
+ narrow fringing reef; depressed central area
+
+ Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 5%
+ other: 95%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: no natural fresh water resources
+ natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
+ be a maritime hazard
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and
+ low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a
+ nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and
+ marine wildlife; feral cats
+
+@Howland Island:People
+
+ Population: uninhabited; note - American civilians evacuated in 1942
+ after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by
+ US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public
+ entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to
+ scientists and educators
+
+@Howland Island:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Howland Island
+
+ Digraph: HQ
+
+ Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and
+ Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the
+ National Wildlife Refuge System
+
+ Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
+
+@Howland Island:Economy
+
+ Overview: no economic activity
+
+@Howland Island:Transportation
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat landing
+ area along the middle of the west coast
+
+ Airports: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on
+ the round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan - they
+ left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again;
+ the airstrip is no longer serviceable
+
+ Note: Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
+ that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been
+ rebuilt in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart
+
+@Howland Island:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the
+ US Coast Guard
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+HUNGARY
+
+@Hungary:Geography
+
+ Location: Central Europe, northwest of Romania
+
+ Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 93,030 sq km
+ land area: 92,340 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,989 km, Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km,
+ Romania 443 km, Serbia and Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia),
+ Slovakia 515 km, Slovenia 82 km, Ukraine 103 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Slovakia
+
+ Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
+
+ Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the
+ Slovakian border
+
+ Natural resources: bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 50.7%
+ permanent crops: 6.1%
+ meadows and pastures: 12.6%
+ forest and woodland: 18.3%
+ other: 12.3%
+
+ Irrigated land: 1,750 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution; industrial and municipal pollution of
+ Lake Balaton
+ natural hazards: levees are common along many streams, but flooding
+ occurs almost every year
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty,
+ Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
+ Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
+ Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not
+ ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
+ Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between
+ Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and
+ Mediterranean basin
+
+@Hungary:People
+
+ Population: 10,318,838 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 18% (female 918,281; male 958,027)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 3,534,218; male 3,440,036)
+ 65 years and over: 14% (female 914,221; male 554,055) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.02% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 12.65 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 12.44 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 71.9 years
+ male: 67.94 years
+ female: 76.06 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Hungarian(s)
+ adjective: Hungarian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Hungarian 89.9%, Gypsy 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%,
+ Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%, atheist
+ and other 7.5%
+
+ Languages: Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
+ total population: 99%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 98%
+
+ Labor force: 5.4 million
+ by occupation: services, trade, government, and other 44.8%, industry
+ 29.7%, agriculture 16.1%, construction 7.0% (1991)
+
+@Hungary:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Hungary
+ conventional short form: Hungary
+ local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag
+ local short form: Magyarorszag
+
+ Digraph: HU
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Budapest
+
+ Administrative divisions: 38 counties (megyek, singular - megye) and 1
+ capital city* (fovaros); Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Bekescsaba,
+ Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest*, Csongrad, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros,
+ Eger, Fejer, Gyor, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves,
+ Hodmezovasarhely, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar, Kecskemet,
+ Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs,
+ Pest, Somogy, Sopron, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged, Szekesfehervar,
+ Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala,
+ Zalaegerszeg
+
+ Independence: 1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
+
+ National holiday: St. Stephen's Day (National Day), 20 August
+ (commemorates the founding of Hungarian state circa 1000 A.D.)
+
+ Constitution: 18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19
+ April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for
+ individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime
+ minister and also established the principle of parliamentary oversight
+
+ Legal system: in process of revision, moving toward rule of law based
+ on Western model
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990; previously
+ interim president from 2 May 1990); election last held 3 August 1990
+ (next to be held NA 1995); results - President GONCZ elected by
+ parliamentary vote; note - President GONCZ was elected by the National
+ Assembly with a total of 295 votes out of 304 as interim President
+ from 2 May 1990 until elected President
+ head of government: Prime Minister Gyula HORN (since 15 July 1994)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; elected by the National Assembly on
+ recommendation of the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Orszaggyules): elections last held on 8 and 29 May
+ 1994 (next to be held spring 1998); results - percent of vote by party
+ NA; seats - (386 total) MSzP 209, SzDSz 70, MDF 37, FKgP 26, KDNP 22,
+ FiDeSz 20, other 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Constitutional Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF), Lajos
+ FUR, chairman; Independent Smallholders (FKgP), Jozsef TORGYAN,
+ president; Hungarian Socialist Party (MSzP), Gyula HORN, president;
+ Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP), Dr. Lazlo SURJAN,
+ president; Federation of Young Democrats (FiDeSz), Viktor ORBAN,
+ chairman; Alliance of Free Democrats (SzDSz), Ivan PETO, chairman
+ note: the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party (MSzMP)
+ renounced Communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSzP) in
+ October 1989; there is still a small MMP
+
+ Member of: Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, FAO,
+ G- 9, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG,
+ OAS (observer), OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
+ UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMIG, UNOMOZ, UNOMUR, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate
+ partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Gyorgy BANLAKI (since 27 October 1994)
+ chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730
+ FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135
+ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Donald M. BLINKEN
+ embassy: V. Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest
+ mailing address: Am Embassy, Unit 1320, Budapest; APO AE 09213-1320
+ telephone: [36] (1) 112-6450
+ FAX: [36] (1) 132-8934
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green
+
+@Hungary:Economy
+
+ Overview: Since 1989 Hungary has been a leader in the transition from
+ a socialist command economy to a market economy - thanks in large part
+ to its initial economic reforms during the Communist era. The private
+ sector now accounts for about 55% of GDP. Nonetheless, the
+ transformation is proving difficult, and many citizens say life was
+ better under the old system. On the bright side, the four-year decline
+ in output finally ended in 1994, as real GDP increased an estimated
+ 3%. This growth helped reduce unemployment to just over 10% by
+ yearend, down from a peak of 13%. However, no progress was made
+ against inflation, which remained stuck at about 20%, and the
+ already-large current account deficit in the balance of payments
+ actually got worse, reaching almost $4 billion. Underlying Hungary's
+ other economic problems is the large budget deficit, which probably
+ exceeded 7% of GDP in 1994, despite some late-year budget cutting by
+ the new leftist government. In 1995 the government has pledged to
+ accelerate privatization and lower the budget deficit to 5.5% of GDP.
+ It believes this fiscal tightening will reduce the current account
+ deficit to $2.5 billion but at the cost of holding economic growth to
+ only 1%.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $58.8 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $5,700 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 21% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 10.4% (yearend 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $11.3 billion
+ expenditures: $14.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1994)
+
+ Exports: $10.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: raw materials and semi-finished goods 30.0%, machinery
+ and transport equipment 20.1%, consumer goods 25.2%, food and
+ agriculture 21.4%, fuels and energy 3.4% (1993)
+ partners: Germany 25.3%, Italy 8.3%, Austria 10.5%, the FSU 14.0%, US
+ 4.3% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $14.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: fuels and energy 12.6%, raw materials and semi-finished
+ goods 27.3%, machinery and transport equipment 33.0%, consumer goods
+ 21.2%, food and agriculture 5.9% (1993)
+ partners: Germany 21.5%, Italy 6.1%, Austria 11.8%, the FSU 20.9%, US
+ 4.3% (1993); note - about one-fourth of the imports from the FSU were
+ MiGs delivered as a debt payment
+
+ External debt: $27 billion (September 1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 7% (1994 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 6,740,000 kW
+ production: 31 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,012 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed
+ foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), buses,
+ automobiles
+
+ Agriculture: including forestry, accounts for 15% of GDP and 16% of
+ employment; highly diversified crop and livestock farming; principal
+ crops - wheat, corn, sunflowers, potatoes, sugar beets; livestock -
+ hogs, cattle, poultry, dairy products; self-sufficient in food output
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southeast Asia heroin and South
+ American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producer of
+ precursor chemicals
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: assistance pledged by OECD countries since 1989 about $9
+ billion
+
+ Currency: 1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler
+
+ Exchange rates: forints per US$1 - 112 (January 1995), 105.16 (1994),
+ 91.93 (1993), 78.99 (1992), 74.74 (1991), 63.21 (1990), 59.07 (1989)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Hungary:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 7,785 km
+ broad gauge: 35 km 1.520-m gauge
+ standard gauge: 7,574 km 1.435-m gauge (2,277 km electrified; 1,236 km
+ double track)
+ narrow gauge: 176 km mostly 0.760-m gauge (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 158,711 km
+ paved: 69,992 km (441 km expressways)
+ unpaved: 88,719 km (1992)
+
+ Inland waterways: 1,622 km (1988)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 1,204 km; natural gas 4,387 km (1991)
+
+ Ports: Budapest, Dunaujvaros
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 10 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 46,121 GRT/61,613
+ DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 78
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 9
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 14
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 34
+
+@Hungary:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 1,520,000 phones; 14.7 telephones/100 inhabitants
+ (1993); 14,213 telex lines; automatic telephone network based on
+ microwave radio relay system; 608,000 telephones on order; 12-15 year
+ wait for a telephone; 49% of all phones are in Budapest (1991)
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay
+ international: 1 INTELSAT and Intersputnik earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 32, FM 15, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 41 (Russian repeaters 8)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Hungary:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard,
+ Territorial Defense
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,639,860; males fit for
+ military service 2,105,632; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 86,298 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: 66.5 billion forints, NA% of GDP (1994 est.);
+ note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the
+ prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ICELAND
+
+@Iceland:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the
+ North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
+
+ Map references: Arctic Region
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 103,000 sq km
+ land area: 100,250 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Kentucky
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 4,988 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving
+ Denmark, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a
+ boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
+
+ Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy
+ winters; damp, cool summers
+
+ Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields;
+ coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
+
+ Natural resources: fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 1%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 20%
+ forest and woodland: 1%
+ other: 78%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate
+ wastewater treatment
+ natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activity
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
+ Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not
+ ratified - Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
+
+ Note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost
+ European country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of
+ continental Europe
+
+@Iceland:People
+
+ Population: 265,998 (July 1995 est.)
+ note: population data estimates based on average growth rate may
+ differ slightly from official population data because of volatile
+ migration rates
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 24% (female 31,482; male 32,912)
+ 15-64 years: 65% (female 84,559; male 87,089)
+ 65 years and over: 11% (female 16,554; male 13,402) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.92% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 15.85 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.7 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 78.98 years
+ male: 76.69 years
+ female: 81.39 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.06 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Icelander(s)
+ adjective: Icelandic
+
+ Ethnic divisions: homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and
+ Celts
+
+ Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman
+ Catholic 3%, none 1% (1988)
+
+ Languages: Icelandic
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.)
+ total population: 100%
+
+ Labor force: 127,900
+ by occupation: commerce, transportation, and services 60.0%,
+ manufacturing 12.5%, fishing and fish processing 11.8%, construction
+ 10.8%, agriculture 4.0% (1990)
+
+@Iceland:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
+ conventional short form: Iceland
+ local long form: Lyoveldio Island
+ local short form: Island
+
+ Digraph: IC
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Reykjavik
+
+ Administrative divisions: 23 counties (syslar, singular - sysla) and
+ 14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular - kaupstadhur); Akranes*,
+ Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla,
+ Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla,
+ Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*,
+ Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*, Myrasysla,
+ Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasys-la,
+ Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*,
+ Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*, Skagafjardharsysla,
+ Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla,
+ Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla,
+ Vestur-Hunavatnssysla, Vestur-Isafjardharsysla,
+ Vestur-Skaftafellssysla
+
+ Independence: 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
+
+ National holiday: Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17
+ June (1944)
+
+ Constitution: 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
+
+ Legal system: civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept
+ compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980);
+ election last held on 29 June 1988 (next scheduled for June 1996);
+ results - there was no election in 1992 as President Vigdis
+ FINNBOGADOTTIR was unopposed
+ head of government: Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)
+
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Parliament (Althing): elections last held on 8 April 1995 (next to be
+ held by April 1999); results - Independence Party 37.1%, Progressive
+ Party 23.3%, Social Democratic Party 11.4%, Socialists 14.3%, People's
+ Movement 7.2%, Women's Party 4.9%; seats - (63 total) Independence 25,
+ Progressive 15, Social Democratic 7, Socialists 9, People's Movement
+ 4, Women's Party 3
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Haestirettur)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Independence Party (conservative),
+ David ODDSSON; Progressive Party, Halldor ASGRIMSSON; Social
+ Democratic Party, Jon Baldvin HANNIBALSSON; People's Alliance (left
+ socialist), Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON; Women's Party; People's Movement
+ (moderate left); National Awakening, Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR
+
+ Member of: Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, GATT,
+ IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC,
+ NEA, NIB, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNU, UPU, WEU
+ (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Einar BENEDIKTSSON
+ chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
+ telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653 through 6655
+ FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Parker W. BORG
+ embassy: Laufasvegur 21, Box 40, Reykjavik
+ mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, Reykjavik; FPO AE
+ 09728-0340
+ telephone: [354] (1) 629100
+ FAX: [354] (1) 629139
+
+ Flag: blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends to the
+ edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the
+ hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
+
+@Iceland:Economy
+
+ Overview: Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically
+ capitalistic, but with an extensive welfare system, relatively low
+ unemployment, and comparatively even distribution of income. The
+ economy is heavily dependent on the fishing industry, which provides
+ nearly 75% of export earnings and employs 12% of the work force. In
+ the absence of other natural resources - except energy - Iceland's
+ economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices. The economy, in
+ recession since 1988, began to recover in 1993, posting 0.4% growth,
+ but was still hampered by cutbacks in fish quotas as well as falling
+ world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum,
+ and ferrosilicon. Real GDP grew by perhaps 2.4% in 1994. The
+ center-right government plans to continue its policies of reducing the
+ budget and current account deficits, limiting foreign borrowing,
+ containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies,
+ diversifying the economy, and privatizing state-owned industries. The
+ government, however, remains divided on the issue of EU membership,
+ primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over
+ their fishing resources.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $4.5 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $17,250 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 7% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.9 billion
+ expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum,
+ ferrosilicon, diatomite
+ partners: EC 68% (UK 25%, Germany 12%), US 11%, Japan 8% (1992)
+
+ Imports: $1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum
+ products, foodstuffs, textiles
+ partners: EC 53% (Germany 14%, Denmark 10%, UK 9%), Norway 14%, US 9%
+ (1992)
+
+ External debt: $2.5 billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 1.75% (1991 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,070,000 kW
+ production: 4.7 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 16,458 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferro-silicon
+ production, geothermal power
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 15% of GDP; fishing is most important
+ economic activity, contributing nearly 75% to export earnings;
+ principal crops - potatoes, turnips; livestock - cattle, sheep; fish
+ catch of about 1.1 million metric tons in 1992
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $19.1 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar
+
+ Exchange rates: Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 67.760 (January
+ 1995), 69.944 (1994), 67.603 (1993), 57.546 (1992), 58.996 (1991),
+ 58.284 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Iceland:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 11,373 km
+ paved: 2,513 km
+ unpaved: gravel, earth 8,860 km (1992)
+
+ Ports: Akureyri, Hornafjordur, Isafjordur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn,
+ Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vestmannaeyjar
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,025 GRT/40,410 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 1, refrigerated
+ cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 90
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 53
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 23
+
+@Iceland:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 140,000 telephones; adequate domestic service
+ local: NA
+ intercity: the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic
+ cables and microwave radio relay links
+ international: 2 earth stations carry all international traffic
+ through an Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT satellite
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 147 (transmitters and repeaters),
+ shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 202 (transmitters and repeaters)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Iceland:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: no regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard; note -
+ Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force
+ (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 70,743; males fit for military
+ service 62,698 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: none
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+INDIA
+
+@India:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of
+ Bengal, between Bangladesh and Pakistan
+
+ Map references: Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 3,287,590 km2
+ land area: 2,973,190 km2
+ comparative area: slightly more than one-third the size of the US
+
+ Land boundaries: total 14,103 km, Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km,
+ Burma 1,463 km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km
+
+ Coastline: 7,000 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: boundaries with Bangladesh and China; status
+ of Kashmir with Pakistan; water-sharing problems with downstream
+ riparians, Bangladesh over the Ganges and Pakistan over the Indus
+
+ Climate: varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north
+
+ Terrain: upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain
+ along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north
+
+ Natural resources: coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron
+ ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas,
+ diamonds, petroleum, limestone
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 55%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 4%
+ forest and woodland: 23%
+ other: 17%
+
+ Irrigated land: 430,390 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing;
+ desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle
+ emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural
+ pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and
+ rapidly growing population is overstraining natural resources
+ natural hazards: droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstorms common;
+ earthquakes
+ international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
+ Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
+ ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of
+ the Sea
+
+ Note: dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean
+ trade routes
+
+@India:People
+
+ Population: 936,545,814 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 35% (female 159,921,309; male 168,812,255)
+ 15-64 years: 61% (female 274,105,407; male 296,145,798)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 18,870,762; male 18,690,283) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.77% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 27.78 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 10.07 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 76.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 59.04 years
+ male: 58.5 years
+ female: 59.61 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.4 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Indian(s)
+ adjective: Indian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other
+ 3%
+
+ Religions: Hindu 80%, Muslim 14%, Christian 2.4%, Sikh 2%, Buddhist
+ 0.7%, Jains 0.5%, other 0.4%
+
+ Languages: English enjoys associate status but is the most important
+ language for national, political, and commercial communication, Hindi
+ the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people, Bengali
+ (official), Telugu (official), Marathi (official), Tamil (official),
+ Urdu (official), Gujarati (official), Malayalam (official), Kannada
+ (official), Oriya (official), Punjabi (official), Assamese (official),
+ Kashmiri (official), Sindhi (official), Sanskrit (official),
+ Hindustani a popular variant of Hindu/Urdu, is spoken widely
+ throughout northern India
+ note: 24 languages each spoken by a million or more persons; numerous
+ other languages and dialects, for the most part mutually
+ unintelligible
+
+ Literacy: age 7 and over can read and write (1991)
+ total population: 52%
+ male: 64%
+ female: 39%
+
+ Labor force: 314.751 million (1990)
+ by occupation: agriculture 65% (1993 est.)
+
+@India:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of India
+ conventional short form: India
+
+ Digraph: IN
+
+ Type: federal republic
+
+ Capital: New Delhi
+
+ Administrative divisions: 25 states and 7 union territories*; Andaman
+ and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar,
+ Chandigarh*, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*, Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa,
+ Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka,
+ Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya,
+ Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry*, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim,
+ Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
+
+ Independence: 15 August 1947 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 26
+ January (1950)
+
+ Constitution: 26 January 1950
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law; limited judicial review of
+ legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
+ reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Shankar Dayal SHARMA (since 25 July 1992);
+ Vice President Kicheril Raman NARAYANAN (since 21 August 1992)
+ head of government: Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha RAO (since 21 June
+ 1991)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on
+ recommendation of the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Sansad)
+ Council of States (Rajya Sabha): body consisting of not more than 250
+ members, up to 12 appointed by the president, the remainder chosen by
+ the elected members of the state and territorial assemblies
+ People's Assembly (Lok Sabha): elections last held 21 May, 12 and 15
+ June 1991 (next to be held by 1996); results - percent of vote by
+ party NA; seats - (545 total, 543 elected, 2 appointed) Congress (I)
+ Party 245, BJP 119, Janata Dal Party 39, Janata Dal (Ajit Singh) 20,
+ CPI/M 35, CPI 14, Telugu Desam 13, AIADMK 11, Samajwadi Janata Party
+ 5, Shiv Sena 4, RSP 4, BSP 1, Congress (S) Party 1, other 23, vacant
+ 9; note - the distribution of seats as of 18 January 1995 is as
+ follows: Congress (I) Party 260, BJP 117, CPI/M 36, Janata Dal Party
+ 24, Samta Party 14, CPI 14, AIADMK 12, Janata Dal (Ajit) 7, Telugu
+ Desam 7, RSP 4, Janata Dal (Ex-Ajit) 3, Samajwadi Party 3, BSP 3, AIFB
+ 3, Shiv Sena 2, Congress (S) Party 1, Kerala Congress (Mani faction)
+ 1, Bihar Peoples Party 1, India National League 1, other 14, vacant 16
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Congress (I) Party, P. V. Narasimha
+ RAO, president; Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), L.K. ADVANI; Janata Dal
+ Party, S.R. BOMMAI; Janata Dal (Ajit), Ajit SINGH; Janata Dal
+ (Ex-Ajit), leader NA; Communist Party of India/Marxist (CPI/M),
+ Harkishan Singh SURJEET; Communist Party of India (CPI), Indrajit
+ GUPTA; Telugu Desam (a regional party in Andhra Pradesh), N. T. Rama
+ RAO; All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK; a regional
+ party in Tamil Nadu), Jayaram JAYALALITHA; Samajwadi Party (SP),
+ Mulayam Singh YADAV (President), Om Prakash CHAUTALA, Devi LAL; Shiv
+ Sena, Bal THACKERAY; Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Tridip
+ CHOWDHURY; Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Kanshi RAM; Congress (S) Party,
+ leader NA; Communist Party of India/Marxist-Leninist (CPI/ML), Vinod
+ MISHRA; Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (a regional party in Tamil Nadu), M.
+ KARUNANIDHI; Akali Dal factions representing Sikh religious community
+ in the Punjab; National Conference (NC; a regional party in Jammu and
+ Kashmir), Farooq ABDULLAH; Bihar Peoples Party, Lovely ANAND; Samta
+ Party (formerly Janata Dal members), Natish KUMAR; Indian National
+ League, Suliaman SAIT; Kerala Congress (Mani faction), K.M. MANI; All
+ India Forward Bloc (AIFB), Prem Dutta PALIWAL (Chairman), Chitta BASU
+ (General Secretary)
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: various separatist groups seeking
+ greater communal and/or regional autonomy; numerous religious or
+ militant/chauvinistic organizations, including Adam Sena, Ananda Marg,
+ Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
+
+ Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G- 6,
+ G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
+ IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
+ IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAVEM
+ II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNOMIL, UNOMOZ, UNOSOM,
+ UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Siddhartha Shankar RAY
+ chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 939-7000
+ consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Frank G. WISNER
+ embassy: Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri 110021, New Delhi
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [91] (11) 600651
+ FAX: [91] (11) 6872028
+ consulate(s) general: Bombay, Calcutta, Madras
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green
+ with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band;
+ similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk centered
+ in the white band
+
+@India:Economy
+
+ Overview: India's economy is a mixture of traditional village farming,
+ modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries,
+ and a multitude of support services. Faster economic growth in the
+ 1980s permitted a significant increase in real per capita private
+ consumption. A large share of the population, perhaps as much as 40%,
+ remains too poor to afford an adequate diet. Financial strains in 1990
+ and 1991 prompted government austerity measures that slowed industrial
+ growth but permitted India to meet its international payment
+ obligations without rescheduling its debt. Production, trade, and
+ investment reforms since 1991 have provided new opportunities for
+ Indian businessmen and an estimated 100 million to 200 million middle
+ class consumers. New Delhi has always paid its foreign debts on
+ schedule and has stimulated exports, attracted foreign investment, and
+ revived confidence in India's economic prospects. Foreign exchange
+ reserves, precariously low three years ago, now total more than $19
+ billion. Positive factors for the remainder of the 1990s are India's
+ strong entrepreneurial class and the central government's recognition
+ of the continuing need for market-oriented approaches to economic
+ development, for example in upgrading the wholly inadequate
+ communications facilities. Negative factors include the desperate
+ poverty of hundreds of millions of Indians and the impact of the huge
+ and expanding population on an already overloaded environment.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.2539 trillion
+ (1994 est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,360 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $30.85 billion
+ expenditures: $48.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $10.5
+ billion (FY93/94)
+
+ Exports: $24.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: clothing, gems and jewelry, engineering goods, chemicals,
+ leather manufactures, cotton yarn, and fabric
+ partners: US, Japan, Germany, UK, Hong Kong
+
+ Imports: $25.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, machinery, gems,
+ fertilizer, chemicals
+ partners: US, Germany, Saudi Arabia, UK, Belgium, Japan
+
+ External debt: $89.2 billion (November 1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 7% (1994 est.); accounts for 28% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 81,200,000 kW
+ production: 314 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 324 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel,
+ transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 34% of GDP; principal crops - rice, wheat,
+ oilseeds, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; livestock - cattle,
+ buffaloes, sheep, goats, poultry; fish catch of about 3 million metric
+ tons ranks India among the world's top 10 fishing nations
+
+ Illicit drugs: licit producer of opium poppy for the pharmaceutical
+ trade, but an undetermined quantity of opium is diverted to illicit
+ international drug markets; major transit country for illicit
+ narcotics produced in neighboring countries; illicit producer of
+ hashish and methaqualone; produced 82 metric tons of illicit opium in
+ 1994
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.4 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1980-89), $31.7 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $315 million;
+ USSR (1970-89), $11.6 billion; Eastern Europe (1970-89), $105 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Indian rupee (Re) = 100 paise
+
+ Exchange rates: Indian rupees (Rs) per US$1 - 31.374 (January 1995),
+ 31.374 (1994), 30.493 (1993), 25.918 (1992), 22.742 (1991), 17.504
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@India:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 62,211 km (6,500 km electrified; 12,617 km double track)
+ broad gauge: 34,544 km 1.676-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 23,599 km 1.000-m gauge; 4,068 km 0.762-m and 0.610-m
+ gauge (1994 est.)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1.97 million km
+ paved: 960,000 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 1.01 million km (1989)
+
+ Inland waterways: 16,180 km; 3,631 km navigable by large vessels
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 3,497 km; petroleum products 1,703 km; natural
+ gas 902 km (1989)
+
+ Ports: Bombay, Calcutta, Cochin, Haldia, Kandla, Madras, Mormugao, New
+ Mangalore, Pondicherry, Port Blair (Andaman Islands), Tuticorin,
+ Vishakhapatnam
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 299 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,288,902 GRT/10,454,178
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 114, cargo 78, chemical tanker 9, combination bulk
+ 2, combination ore/oil 5, container 10, liquefied gas tanker 6, oil
+ tanker 68, passenger-cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea
+ passenger 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 352
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 11
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 48
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 85
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 72
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 81
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 7
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 46
+
+@India:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; 5 telephones/1,000 persons; domestic
+ telephone system is poor; long-distance telephoning has been improved
+ by a domestic satellite system which also carries TV
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 3 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth stations and submarine
+ cables to Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 96, FM 4, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 274 (government controlled)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@India:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, various security or paramilitary
+ forces (includes Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, and Coast Guard)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 253,134,487; males fit for
+ military service 148,814,104; males reach military age (17) annually
+ 9,461,907 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $7.8 billion, 2.8% of
+ GDP (FY94/95)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+INDIAN OCEAN
+
+@Indian Ocean:Geography
+
+ Location: body of water between Africa, Antarctica, Asia, and
+ Australia
+
+ Map references: World
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 73.6 million sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than eight times the size of the US;
+ third-largest ocean (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but
+ larger than the Arctic Ocean)
+ note: includes Arabian Sea, Bass Straight, Bay of Bengal, Great
+ Australian Bight, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of
+ Malacca, and other tributary water bodies
+
+ Coastline: 66,526 km
+
+ International disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
+
+ Climate: northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon
+ (June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and
+ October/November in the northern Indian Ocean and January/February in
+ the southern Indian Ocean
+
+ Terrain: surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad, circular
+ system of currents) in the southern Indian Ocean; unique reversal of
+ surface currents in the northern Indian Ocean, low atmospheric
+ pressure over southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in
+ the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and currents,
+ while high pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter air
+ results in the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and
+ currents; ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and
+ subdivided by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean
+ Ridge, and Ninety East Ridge; maximum depth is 7,258 meters in the
+ Java Trench
+
+ Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel
+ aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: endangered marine species include the dugong, seals,
+ turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf,
+ and Red Sea
+ natural hazards: ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme
+ south near Antarctica from May to October
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz,
+ Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the Lombok
+ Strait
+
+@Indian Ocean:Government
+
+ Digraph: XO
+
+@Indian Ocean:Economy
+
+ Overview: The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting the
+ Middle East, Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. It
+ carries a particularly heavy traffic of petroleum and petroleum
+ products from the oilfields of the Persian Gulf and Indonesia. Its
+ fish are of great and growing importance to the bordering countries
+ for domestic consumption and export. Fishing fleets from Russia,
+ Japan, Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the Indian Ocean, mainly for
+ shrimp and tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being tapped in
+ the offshore areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and western
+ Australia. An estimated 40% of the world's offshore oil production
+ comes from the Indian Ocean. Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and
+ offshore placer deposits are actively exploited by bordering
+ countries, particularly India, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and
+ Thailand.
+
+ Industries: based on exploitation of natural resources, particularly
+ fish, minerals, oil and gas, fishing, sand and gravel
+
+@Indian Ocean:Transportation
+
+ Ports: Bombay (India), Calcutta (India), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Durban
+ (South Africa), Jakarta (Indonesia), Madras (India), Melbourne
+ (Australia), Richard's Bay (South Africa)
+
+@Indian Ocean:Communications
+
+ Telephone system:
+ international: submarine cables from India to United Arab Emirates and
+ Malaysia, and from Sri Lanka to Djibouti and Indonesia
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+INDONESIA
+
+@Indonesia:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and
+ the Pacific Ocean
+
+ Map references: Southeast Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1,919,440 sq km
+ land area: 1,826,440 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Texas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,602 km, Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea
+ 820 km
+
+ Coastline: 54,716 km
+
+ Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor
+ Province) disputed with Portugal and not recognized by the UN; two
+ islands in dispute with Malaysia
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
+
+ Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior
+ mountains
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber,
+ bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 8%
+ permanent crops: 3%
+ meadows and pastures: 7%
+ forest and woodland: 67%
+ other: 15%
+
+ Irrigated land: 75,500 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes,
+ sewage; air pollution in urban areas
+ natural hazards: occasional floods, severe droughts, and tsunamis
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
+ Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
+ Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Marine Life
+ Conservation, Tropical Timber 94
+
+ Note: archipelago of 13,500 islands (6,000 inhabited); straddles
+ Equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from
+ Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean
+
+@Indonesia:People
+
+ Population: 203,583,886 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 32% (female 32,548,039; male 33,485,810)
+ 15-64 years: 64% (female 65,394,816; male 64,914,362)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 4,027,367; male 3,213,492) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.56% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 24.06 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.48 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 65 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 61.22 years
+ male: 59.13 years
+ female: 63.42 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.74 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Indonesian(s)
+ adjective: Indonesian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal
+ Malays 7.5%, other 26%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 87%, Protestant 6%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%,
+ Buddhist 1%, other 1% (1985)
+
+ Languages: Bahasa Indonesia (modified form of Malay; official),
+ English, Dutch, local dialects the most widely spoken of which is
+ Javanese
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 82%
+ male: 88%
+ female: 75%
+
+ Labor force: 67 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 55%, manufacturing 10%, construction 4%,
+ transport and communications 3% (1985 est.)
+
+@Indonesia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Indonesia
+ conventional short form: Indonesia
+ local long form: Republik Indonesia
+ local short form: Indonesia
+ former: Netherlands East Indies; Dutch East Indies
+
+ Digraph: ID
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Jakarta
+
+ Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (propinsi-propinsi, singular -
+ propinsi), 2 special regions* (daerah-daerah istimewa, singular -
+ daerah istimewa), and 1 special capital city district** (daerah khusus
+ ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Bengkulu, Irian Jaya, Jakarta Raya**, Jambi,
+ Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan Barat, Kalimantan
+ Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur, Lampung, Maluku, Nusa
+ Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Riau, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi
+ Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat, Sumatera
+ Selatan, Sumatera Utara, Timor Timur, Yogyakarta*
+
+ Independence: 17 August 1945 (proclaimed independence; on 27 December
+ 1949, Indonesia became legally independent from the Netherlands)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 17 August (1945)
+
+ Constitution: August 1945, abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949
+ and Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959
+
+ Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by
+ indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not
+ accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of
+ age
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Gen. (Ret.) SOEHARTO
+ (since 27 March 1968); Vice President Gen. (Ret.) Try SUTRISNO (since
+ 11 March 1993)
+ cabinet: Cabinet
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat or DPR): elections
+ last held on 8 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - GOLKAR
+ 68%, PPP 17%, PDI 15%; seats - (500 total, 400 elected, 100 military
+ representatives appointed) GOLKAR 282, PPP 62, PDI 56
+ note: the People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan
+ Rakyat or MPR) includes the DPR plus 500 indirectly elected members
+ who meet every five years to elect the president and vice president
+ and, theoretically, to determine national policy
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: GOLKAR (quasi-official party based on
+ functional groups), Lt. Gen. (Ret.) HARMOKO, general chairman;
+ Indonesia Democracy Party (PDI - federation of former Nationalist and
+ Christian Parties), Megawati SUKARNOPUTRI, chairman; Development Unity
+ Party (PPP, federation of former Islamic parties), Ismail Hasan
+ METAREUM, chairman
+
+ Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77,
+ GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
+ ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
+ ITU, NAM, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIH,
+ UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Arifin Mohamad SIREGAR
+ chancery: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
+ telephone: [1] (202) 775-5200
+ FAX: [1] (202) 775-5365
+ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San
+ Francisco
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Robert L. BARRY
+ embassy: Medan Merdeka Selatan 5, Box 1, Jakarta
+ mailing address: APO AP 96520
+ telephone: [62] (21) 360360
+ FAX: [62] (21) 3862259
+ consulate(s) general: Medan, Surabaya
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to
+ the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of
+ Poland, which is white (top) and red
+
+@Indonesia:Economy
+
+ Overview: Indonesia is a mixed economy with some socialist
+ institutions and central planning but with a recent emphasis on
+ deregulation and private enterprise. Indonesia has extensive natural
+ wealth, yet, with a large and rapidly increasing population, it
+ remains a rather poor country. Real GDP growth in 1985-94 averaged
+ about 6%, quite impressive, but not sufficient to both slash
+ underemployment and absorb the 2.3 million workers annually entering
+ the labor force. Agriculture, including forestry and fishing, is an
+ important sector, accounting for 21% of GDP and over 50% of the labor
+ force. The staple crop is rice. Once the world's largest rice
+ importer, Indonesia is now nearly self-sufficient. Plantation crops -
+ rubber and palm oil - and textiles and plywood are being encouraged
+ for both export and job generation. Industrial output now accounts for
+ almost 40% of GDP and is based on a supply of diverse natural
+ resources, including crude oil, natural gas, timber, metals, and coal.
+ Foreign investment has also boosted manufacturing output and exports
+ in recent years. Indeed, the economy's growth is highly dependent on
+ the continuing expansion of nonoil exports. Japan remains Indonesia's
+ most important customer and supplier of aid. Rapid growth in the money
+ supply in 1989-90 prompted Jakarta to implement a tight monetary
+ policy in 1991, forcing the private sector to go to foreign banks for
+ investment financing. Real interest rates remained above 10% and
+ off-shore commercial debt grew. The growth in off-shore debt prompted
+ Jakarta to limit foreign borrowing beginning in late 1991. Despite the
+ continued problems in moving toward a more open financial system and
+ the persistence of a fairly tight credit situation, GDP growth in
+ 1992-94 has matched the government target of 6%-7% annual growth.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $619.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 6.7% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $3,090 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.3% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 3% official rate; underemployment 40% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $32.8 billion
+ expenditures: $32.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $12.9
+ billion (FY94/95)
+
+ Exports: $41.3 billion (f.o.b, 1994 est.)
+ commodities: manufactures 56.7%, fuels 24.8%, foodstuffs 11.1%, raw
+ materials 7.4% (1994 est.)
+ partners: Japan 30%, US 14%, Singapore 9%, South Korea 6%, Taiwan 4%
+ (1993)
+
+ Imports: $31.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: capital equipment 44.2%, intermed and raw materials
+ 37.0%, consumer goods 11.5%, fuels 7.2% (1994 est.)
+ partners: Japan 22%, US 11%, South Korea 7%, Germany 7%, Singapore 6%,
+ Australia 5%, Taiwan 5% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $87 billion (1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 8.4% (1993 est.); accounts for 40%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 12,100,000 kW
+ production: 44 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 207 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: petroleum and natural gas, textiles, mining, cement,
+ chemical fertilizers, plywood, food, rubber
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 21% of GDP; subsistence food production;
+ small-holder and plantation production for export; main products are
+ rice, cassava, peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra, other
+ tropical products, poultry, beef, pork, eggs
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug
+ trade, but not a major player; government actively eradicating
+ plantings and prosecuting traffickers; growing role as transshipment
+ point for Golden Triangle heroin; increasing indigenous
+ methamphetamine abuse
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.4 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $25.9 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $213 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $175 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Indonesian rupiah (Rp) = 100 sen (sen no longer used)
+
+ Exchange rates: Indonesian rupiahs (Rp) per US$1 - 2,203.6 (January
+ 1995), 2,160.7 (1994), 2,087.1 (1993), 2,029.9 (1992), 1,950.3 (1991),
+ 1,842.8 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Indonesia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 6,964 km
+ narrow gauge: 6,389 km 1.067-m gauge (101 km electrified; 101 km
+ double track); 497 km 0.750-m gauge; 78 km 0.600-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 119,500 km
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+ undifferentiated: provincial 34,180 km; district 73,508 km; state
+ 11,812 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 21,579 km total; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura
+ 820 km, Kalimantan 10,460 km, Celebes 241 km, Irian Jaya 4,587 km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 2,505 km; petroleum products 456 km; natural gas
+ 1,703 km (1989)
+
+ Ports: Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Palembang, Semarang,
+ Surabaya, Ujungpandang
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 438 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,942,527 GRT/2,818,296
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 26, cargo 259, chemical tanker 7, container 11,
+ liquefied gas tanker 6, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 85, passenger
+ 6, passenger-cargo 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger
+ 7, specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 4
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 450
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 35
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 42
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 324
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 4
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 32
+
+@Indonesia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 763,000 telephones (1986); domestic service fair,
+ international service good
+ local: NA
+ intercity: interisland microwave system and HF police net; 1 earth
+ station for a domestic satellite
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) earth
+ stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 618, FM 38, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+ note: radiobroadcast coverage good
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 9
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Indonesia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 55,883,688; males fit for
+ military service 32,952,204; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 2,247,586 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.4 billion, 1.5% of
+ GNP (FY94/95)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+IRAN
+
+@Iran:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian
+ Gulf, between Iraq and Pakistan
+
+ Map references: Middle East
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1.648 million sq km
+ land area: 1.636 million sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska
+
+ Land boundaries: total 5,440 km, Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km,
+ Azerbaijan (north) 432 km, Azerbaijan (northwest) 179 km, Iraq 1,458
+ km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km
+
+ Coastline: 2,440 km
+ note: Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: natural prolongation
+ exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements, or median lines in the
+ Persian Gulf
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in
+ 1990 but are still trying to work out written agreements settling
+ outstanding disputes from their eight-year war concerning border
+ demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and
+ sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; Iran occupies two islands
+ in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE: Tunb as Sughra (Arabic),
+ Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek (Persian) or Lesser Tunb, and Tunb al Kubra
+ (Arabic), Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg (Persian) or Greater Tunb; it
+ jointly administers with the UAE an island in the Persian Gulf claimed
+ by the UAE, Abu Musa (Arabic) or Jazireh-ye Abu Musa (Persian); in
+ 1992 the dispute over Abu Musa and the Tunb islands became more acute
+ when Iran unilaterally tried to control the entry of third country
+ nationals into the UAE portion of Abu Musa island, Tehran subsequently
+ backed off in the face of significant diplomatic support for the UAE
+ in the region, but in 1994 it increased its military presence on the
+ disputed islands; periodic disputes with Afghanistan over Helmand
+ water rights; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined
+
+ Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
+
+ Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts,
+ mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper,
+ iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 8%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 27%
+ forest and woodland: 11%
+ other: 54%
+
+ Irrigated land: 57,500 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle
+ emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents;
+ deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the
+ Persian Gulf; inadequate supplies of potable water
+ natural hazards: periodic droughts, floods; duststorms, sandstorms;
+ earthquakes along the Western border
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous
+ Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed,
+ but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
+ Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
+
+@Iran:People
+
+ Population: 64,625,455 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 45% (female 14,113,933; male 14,995,015)
+ 15-64 years: 51% (female 16,237,810; male 16,803,943)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 1,197,869; male 1,276,885) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.29% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 34.85 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.85 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -5.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 54.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 66.97 years
+ male: 65.77 years
+ female: 68.22 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.93 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Iranian(s)
+ adjective: Iranian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani
+ 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%
+
+ Religions: Shi'a Muslim 95%, Sunni Muslim 4%, Zoroastrian, Jewish,
+ Christian, and Baha'i 1%
+
+ Languages: Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic
+ dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Baloch 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%,
+ other 2%
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991)
+ total population: 66%
+ male: 74%
+ female: 56%
+
+ Labor force: 15.4 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 33%, manufacturing 21%
+ note: shortage of skilled labor (1988 est.)
+
+@Iran:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran
+ conventional short form: Iran
+ local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
+ local short form: Iran
+
+ Digraph: IR
+
+ Type: theocratic republic
+
+ Capital: Tehran
+
+ Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);
+ Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari (West Azerbaijan), Azarbayjan-e Khavari (East
+ Azerbaijan), Bakhtaran, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan,
+ Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Khorasan, Khuzestan,
+ Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran,
+ Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
+ note: there may be a new province named Ardabil formed from a part of
+ Azarbayjan-e Khavari (East Azerbaijan) which may have been renamed
+ Azarbayjan-e Markazi (Central Azerbaijan); the name Bakhtaran may have
+ been changed to Kermanshahan
+
+ Independence: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
+
+ National holiday: Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
+
+ Constitution: 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the
+ presidency and eliminate the prime ministership
+
+ Legal system: the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of
+ government
+
+ Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ supreme leader (rahbar) and functional chief of state: Leader of the
+ Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989)
+ head of government: President Ali Akbar Hashemi-RAFSANJANI (since 3
+ August 1989); election last held June 1993 (next to be held June
+ 1997); results - Ali Akbar Hashemi-RAFSANJANI was elected with 63% of
+ the vote
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; selected by the president with
+ legislative approval
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami): elections
+ last held 8 April 1992 (next to be held April 1996); results - percent
+ of vote by party NA; seats - (270 seats total) number of seats by
+ party NA
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: there are at least 76 licensed parties;
+ the three most important are - Tehran Militant Clergy Association,
+ Mohammad Reza MAHDAVI-KANI; Militant Clerics Association, Mehdi
+ MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar MUSAVI-KHOINIHA; Fedaiyin Islam
+ Organization, Sadeq KHALKHALI
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: groups that generally support the
+ Islamic Republic include Hizballah, Mojahedin of the Islamic
+ Revolution, Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam; armed
+ political groups that have been almost completely repressed by the
+ government include Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), People's
+ Fedayeen, Kurdish Democratic Party; the Society for the Defense of
+ Freedom
+
+ Member of: CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPEC,
+ PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Iran has an Interests Section in the Pakistani
+ Embassy in Washington, DC
+ chancery: Iranian Interests Section, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
+ Washington, DC 20007
+ telephone: [1] (202) 965-4990
+
+ US diplomatic representation: protecting power in Iran is Switzerland
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the
+ national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in red
+ is centered in the white band; Allah Alkbar (God is Great) in white
+ Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green
+ band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band
+
+@Iran:Economy
+
+ Overview: Iran's economy is a mixture of central planning, state
+ ownership of oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture, and
+ small-scale private trading and service ventures. Over the past
+ several years, the government has introduced several measures to
+ liberalize the economy and reduce government intervention, but most of
+ these changes have moved slowly because of political opposition. Iran
+ has faced increasingly severe financial difficulties since mid-1992
+ due to an import surge that began in 1989 and general financial
+ mismanagement. At yearend 1993 the Iranian Government estimated that
+ it owed foreign creditors about $30 billion; an estimated $8 billion
+ of this debt was in arrears. At yearend 1994, Iran rescheduled $12
+ billion in debt. Earnings from oil exports - which provide 90% of
+ Iran's export revenues - are providing less relief to Iran than usual
+ because of reduced oil prices.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $310 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $4,720 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: over 30% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $16 billion (f.o.b., FY92/93 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum 90%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides
+ partners: Japan, Italy, France, Netherlands, Belgium/Luxembourg,
+ Spain, and Germany
+
+ Imports: $18 billion (c.i.f., FY92/93 est.)
+ commodities: machinery, military supplies, metal works, foodstuffs,
+ pharmaceuticals, technical services, refined oil products
+ partners: Germany, Japan, Italy, UK, UAE
+
+ External debt: $30 billion (December 1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 4.6% (1993 est.); accounts for
+ almost 30% of GDP, including petroleum
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 19,080,000 kW
+ production: 50.8 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 745 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other
+ building materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and
+ vegetable oil production), metal fabricating, armaments and military
+ equipment
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 20% of GDP; principal products -
+ wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton, dairy
+ products, wool, caviar; not self-sufficient in food
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy for the domestic and
+ international drug trade; produced 35-70 metric tons in 1993; net
+ opiate importer but also a key transshipment point for Southwest Asian
+ heroin to Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $1 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $1.675 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $976 million
+
+ note: aid fell sharply following the 1979 revolution
+
+ Currency: 10 Iranian rials (IR) = 1 toman; note - domestic figures are
+ generally referred to in terms of the toman
+
+ Exchange rates: Iranian rials (IR) per US$1 - 1,749.04 (January 1995),
+ 1,748.75 (1994), 1,267.77 (1993), 65.552 (1992), 67.505 (1991); black
+ market rate: 3,000 rials per US$1 (December 1994)
+
+ Fiscal year: 21 March - 20 March
+
+@Iran:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 4,850 km; note - 480 km under construction from Bafq to
+ Bandar-e 'Abbas; segment from Bafq to Sirjan has been completed and is
+ operational; section from Sirjan to Bandar-e 'Abbas still under
+ construction
+ broad gauge: 90 km 1.676-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 4,760 km 1.432-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 140,200 km
+ paved: 42,694 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 46,866 km; improved earth 49,440 km;
+ unimproved earth 1,200 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by
+ maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3
+ meters and is in use
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 5,900 km; petroleum products 3,900 km; natural
+ gas 4,550 km
+
+ Ports: Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war),
+ Ahvaz, Bandar Beheshti, Bandar-e 'Abbas, Bandar-e Anzali, Bandar-e
+ Bushehr, Bandar-e Khomeyni, Bandar-e Mah Shahr, Bandar-e Torkeman,
+ Jazireh-ye Khark, Jazireh-ye Lavan, Jazireh-ye Sirri, Khorramshahr
+ (limited operation since November 1992), Now Shahr
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 132 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,816,820 GRT/6,991,693
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 48, cargo 38, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk
+ 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 26, refrigerated cargo 3,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 8, short-sea passenger 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 261
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 28
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 32
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 20
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 46
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 18
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 101
+
+@Iran:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 2,143,000 telephones; 35 telephones/1,000 persons
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay extends throughout country; system
+ centered in Tehran
+ international: 3 INTELSAT (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) earth
+ stations; HF radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey, Pakistan,
+ Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; submarine fiber optic cable
+ to UAE
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 77, FM 3, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 28
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Iran:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Islamic Republic of Iran Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air
+ Defense Force, Revolutionary Guards (includes Basij militia with its
+ ground, air, and naval forces), Law Enforcement Forces
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 14,639,290; males fit for
+ military service 8,703,732; males reach military age (21) annually
+ 615,096 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: according to official Iranian data, Iran spent
+ 1,785 billion rials, including $808 million in hard currency, in 1992
+ and budgeted 2,507 billion rials, including $850 million in hard
+ currency, for 1993
+ note: conversion of rial expenditures into US dollars using the
+ current exchange rate could produce misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+IRAQ
+
+@Iraq:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and
+ Kuwait
+
+ Map references: Middle East
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 437,072 sq km
+ land area: 432,162 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
+
+ Land boundaries: total 3,631 km, Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait
+ 242 km, Saudi Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km
+
+ Coastline: 58 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: not specified
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in
+ 1990 but are still trying to work out written agreements settling
+ outstanding disputes from their eight-year war concerning border
+ demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and
+ sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; in November 1994, Iraq
+ formally accepted the UN-demarcated border with Kuwait which had been
+ spelled out in Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1993),
+ and 883 (1993); this formally ends earlier claims to Kuwait and to
+ Bubiyan and Warbah islands; potential dispute over water development
+ plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
+
+ Climate: mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless
+ summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish
+ borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows which
+ melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central
+ and southern Iraq
+
+ Terrain: mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in
+ south; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 12%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 9%
+ forest and woodland: 3%
+ other: 75%
+
+ Irrigated land: 25,500 sq km (1989 est)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: government water control projects have drained most of
+ the inhabited marsh areas west of Al Qurnah by drying up or diverting
+ the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Shi'a
+ Muslims, who have inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has
+ been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat
+ poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate
+ supplies of potable water; development of Tigris-Euphrates Rivers
+ system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air
+ and water pollution; soil degradation (salinization) and erosion;
+ desertification
+ natural hazards: duststorms, sandstorms, floods
+ international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban;
+ signed, but not ratified - Environmental Modification
+
+@Iraq:People
+
+ Population: 20,643,769 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 48% (female 4,850,028; male 5,009,513)
+ 15-64 years: 49% (female 5,021,710; male 5,125,191)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 338,790; male 298,537) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.72% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 43.6 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.82 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 62.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 66.52 years
+ male: 65.54 years
+ female: 67.56 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.56 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Iraqi(s)
+ adjective: Iraqi
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or
+ other 5%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or
+ other 3%
+
+ Languages: Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian,
+ Armenian
+
+ Literacy: age 15-45 can read and write (1985)
+ total population: 89%
+ male: 90%
+ female: 88%
+
+ Labor force: 4.4 million (1989)
+ by occupation: services 48%, agriculture 30%, industry 22%
+ note: severe labor shortage; expatriate labor force was about
+ 1,600,000 (July 1990); since then, it has declined substantially
+
+@Iraq:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Iraq
+ conventional short form: Iraq
+ local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
+ local short form: Al Iraq
+
+ Digraph: IZ
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Baghdad
+
+ Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (muhafazat, singular -
+ muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf,
+ Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar,
+ Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit
+
+ Independence: 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under
+ British administration)
+
+ National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968)
+
+ Constitution: 22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970 (provisional
+ Constitution); new constitution drafted in 1990 but not adopted
+
+ Legal system: based on Islamic law in special religious courts, civil
+ law system elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President SADDAM Husayn (since 16 July 1979); Vice
+ President Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974); Vice
+ President Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991)
+ head of government: Prime Minister SADDAM Husayn (since NA May 1994);
+ Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mikhail AZIZ (since NA 1979)
+ Revolutionary Command Council: Chairman SADDAM Husayn, Vice Chairman
+ Izzat IBRAHIM al-Duri
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani): elections last held on 1 April
+ 1989 (next to be held NA); results - Sunni Arabs 53%, Shi'a Arabs 30%,
+ Kurds 15%, Christians 2% (est.); seats - (250 total) number of seats
+ by party NA
+ note: in northern Iraq, a "Kurdish Assembly" was elected in May 1992
+ and calls for Kurdish self-determination within a federated Iraq; the
+ assembly is not recognized by the Baghdad government
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Cassation
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Ba'th Party
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: political parties and activity
+ severely restricted; opposition to regime from disaffected members of
+ the Ba'th Party, Army officers, and Shi'a religious and ethnic Kurdish
+ dissidents; the Green Party (government-controlled)
+
+ Member of: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19,
+ G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
+ IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC,
+ PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Iraq has an Interest Section in the Algerian Embassy
+ in Washington, DC
+ chancery: Iraqi Interests Section, 1801 P Street NW, Washington, DC
+ 20036
+ telephone: [1] (202) 483-7500
+ FAX: [1] (202) 462-5066
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); note - operations have been temporarily
+ suspended; a US Interests Section is located in Poland's embassy in
+ Baghdad
+ embassy: Masbah Quarter (opposite the Foreign Ministry Club), Baghdad
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 2447 Alwiyah, Baghdad
+ telephone: [964] (1) 719-6138, 719-6139, 718-1840, 719-3791
+ FAX: Telex 212287
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with
+ three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the
+ white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic
+ script - Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left
+ of the middle star - was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf
+ crisis; similar to the flag of Syria that has two stars but no script
+ and the flag of Yemen that has a plain white band; also similar to the
+ flag of Egypt that has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
+
+@Iraq:Economy
+
+ Overview: The Ba'thist regime engages in extensive central planning
+ and management of industrial production and foreign trade while
+ leaving some small-scale industry and services and most agriculture to
+ private enterprise. The economy has been dominated by the oil sector,
+ which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange
+ earnings. In the 1980s, financial problems caused by massive
+ expenditures in the eight-year war with Iran and damage to oil export
+ facilities by Iran, led the government to implement austerity measures
+ and to borrow heavily and later reschedule foreign debt payments.
+ After the end of hostilities in 1988, oil exports gradually increased
+ with the construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged
+ facilities. Agricultural development remained hampered by labor
+ shortages, salinization, and dislocations caused by previous land
+ reform and collectivization programs. The industrial sector, although
+ accorded high priority by the government, also was under financial
+ constraints. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent
+ international economic embargoes, and military action by an
+ international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically changed
+ the economic picture. Industrial and transportation facilities, which
+ suffered severe damage, have been partially restored. Oil exports
+ remain at less than 5% of the previous level. Shortages of spare parts
+ continue. Living standards deteriorated even further in 1993 and 1994;
+ consumer prices have more than doubled in both 1993 and 1994. The
+ UN-sponsored economic embargo has reduced exports and imports and has
+ contributed to the sharp rise in prices. The Iraqi government has been
+ unwilling to abide by UN resolutions so that the economic embargo can
+ be removed. The government's policies of supporting large military and
+ internal security forces and of allocating resources to key supporters
+ of the regime have exacerbated shortages. In brief, per capita output
+ in 1993-94 is far below the 1989-90 level, but no precise estimate is
+ available.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $NA
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $NA
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $10.4 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
+ commodities: crude oil and refined products, fertilizer, sulfur
+ partners: US, Brazil, Turkey, Japan, Netherlands, Spain (1990)
+
+ Imports: $6.6 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
+ commodities: manufactures, food
+ partners: Germany, US, Turkey, France, UK (1990)
+
+ External debt: $50 billion (1989 est.), excluding debt of about $35
+ billion owed to Gulf Arab states
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%; manufacturing accounts for 10%
+ of GNP (1989)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 7,170,000 kW
+ production: 25.7 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,247 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: petroleum production and refining, chemicals, textiles,
+ construction materials, food processing
+
+ Agriculture: accounted for 11% of GNP and 30% of labor force before
+ the Gulf war; principal products - wheat, barley, rice, vegetables,
+ dates, other fruit, cotton, wool; livestock - cattle, sheep; not
+ self-sufficient in food output
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $3 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $647 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $3.9 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000 fils
+
+ Exchange rates: Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1 - 3.2 (fixed official rate
+ since 1982); black-market rate (March 1995) US$1 = 1200 Iraqi dinars;
+ semi-official rate US$1 = 650 Iraqi dinars
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Iraq:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 2,457 km
+ standard gauge: 2,457 km 1.435-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 45,550 km
+ paved: 38,400 km
+ unpaved: 7,150 km (1989 est.)
+
+ Inland waterways: 1,015 km; Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by
+ maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3
+ meters and is in use; Tigris and Euphrates Rivers have navigable
+ sections for shallow-draft watercraft; Shatt al Basrah canal was
+ navigable by shallow-draft craft before closing in 1991 because of the
+ Persian Gulf war
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 4,350 km; petroleum products 725 km; natural gas
+ 1,360 km
+
+ Ports: Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, and Al Basrah have limited
+ functionality
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 36 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 795,346 GRT/1,431,154 DWT
+
+ ships by type: cargo 14, oil tanker 16, passenger 1, passenger-cargo
+ 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 121
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 21
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 34
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 22
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 16
+
+@Iraq:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 632,000 telephones; reconstitution of damaged
+ telecommunication facilities began after the Gulf war; most damaged
+ facilities have been rebuilt
+ local: NA
+ intercity: the network consists of coaxial cables and microwave radio
+ relay links
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1
+ GORIZONT (Atlantic Ocean) in the Intersputnik system, and 1 ARABSAT
+ earth station; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Jordan,
+ Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; Kuwait line is probably non-operational
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 16, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 13
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Iraq:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Republican Guard and Special Republican Guard, Navy,
+ Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border Guard Force, Internal Security
+ Forces
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,626,610; males fit for
+ military service 2,597,687; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 229,015 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GNP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+IRELAND
+
+@Ireland:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of
+ Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 70,280 sq km
+ land area: 68,890 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia
+
+ Land boundaries: total 360 km, UK 360 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,448 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: not specified
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: Northern Ireland question with the UK; Rockall
+ continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK
+ (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall
+ area)
+
+ Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild
+ winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the
+ time
+
+ Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged
+ hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
+
+ Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, petroleum, barite, copper,
+ gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 14%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 71%
+ forest and woodland: 5%
+ other: 10%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: water pollution, especially of lakes, from
+ agricultural runoff
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Climate Change, Environmental Modification,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
+ ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Desertification,
+ Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
+
+ Note: strategic location on major air and sea routes between North
+ America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within
+ 60 miles of Dublin
+
+@Ireland:People
+
+ Population: 3,550,448 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 24% (female 415,640; male 440,468)
+ 15-64 years: 64% (female 1,125,638; male 1,155,823)
+ 65 years and over: 12% (female 237,098; male 175,781) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.33% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 14.04 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.48 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -2.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 7.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 75.99 years
+ male: 73.15 years
+ female: 79 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.95 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(men), Irish (collective plural)
+ adjective: Irish
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Celtic, English
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%, other
+ 1% (1981)
+
+ Languages: Irish (Gaelic), spoken mainly in areas located along the
+ western seaboard, English is the language generally used
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)
+ total population: 98%
+
+ Labor force: 1.37 million
+ by occupation: services 57.0%, manufacturing and construction 28%,
+ agriculture, forestry, and fishing 13.5%, energy and mining 1.5%
+ (1992)
+
+@Ireland:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Ireland
+
+ Digraph: EI
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Dublin
+
+ Administrative divisions: 26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork,
+ Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim,
+ Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon,
+ Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
+
+ Independence: 6 December 1921 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
+
+ Constitution: 29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebescite
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law, substantially modified by
+ indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme
+ Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November
+ 1990); election last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held November
+ 1997); results - Mary Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%
+ head of government: Prime Minister John BRUTON (since 15 December
+ 1994)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by president with previous nomination of
+ the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas)
+ Senate (Seanad Eireann): elections last held NA February 1992 (next to
+ be held NA February 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA;
+ seats - (60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fail 26, Fine Gael 16, Labor 9,
+ Progressive Democrats 2, Democratic Left 1, independents 6
+ House of Representatives (Dail Eireann): elections last held on 25
+ November 1992 (next to be held by November 1997); results - Fianna
+ Fail 39.1%, Fine Gael 24.5%, Labor Party 19.3%, Progressive Democrats
+ 4.7%, Democratic Left 2.8%, Sinn Fein 1.6%, Workers' Party 0.7%,
+ independents 5.9%; seats - (166 total) Fianna Fail 68, Fine Gael 45,
+ Labor Party 33, Progressive Democrats 10 Democratic Left 4, Greens 1,
+ independents 5
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Democratic Left, Proinsias DE ROSSA;
+ Fianna Fail, Bertie AHERN; Labor Party, Richard SPRING; Fine Gael,
+ John BRUTON; Communist Party of Ireland, Michael O'RIORDAN; Sinn Fein,
+ Gerry ADAMS; Progressive Democrats, Desmond O'MALLEY; The Workers'
+ Party, Marion DONNELLY; Green Alliance, Bronwen MAHER
+ note: Prime Minister BRUTON heads a three-party coalition consisting
+ of the Fine Gael, the Labor Party, and the Democratic Left
+
+ Member of: Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA,
+ FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
+ ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NEA,
+ NSG, OECD, ONUSAL, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
+ UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO,
+ WIPO, WMO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Dermot A. GALLAGHER
+ chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939
+ consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Kennedy SMITH
+ embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [353] (1) 6687122
+ FAX: [353] (1) 6689946
+
+ Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
+ orange; similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and
+ has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also
+ similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green
+ (hoist side), white, and red
+
+@Ireland:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is small and trade dependent. Agriculture, once
+ the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts
+ for 37% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and employs 28% of the labor
+ force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's robust
+ growth, the economy is also benefiting from a rise in consumer
+ spending and recovery in both construction and business investment.
+ Ireland has substantially reduced its external debt since 1987, to 40%
+ of GDP in 1994. Over the same period, inflation has fallen sharply and
+ chronic trade deficits have been transformed into annual surpluses.
+ Unemployment remains a serious problem, however, and job creation is
+ the main focus of government policy. To ease unemployment, Dublin
+ aggressively courts foreign investors and recently created a new
+ industrial development agency to aid small indigenous firms.
+ Government assistance is constrained by Dublin's continuing deficit
+ reduction measures.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $49.8 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $14,060 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 16% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $16 billion
+ expenditures: $16.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1994)
+
+ Exports: $28 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: chemicals, data processing equipment, industrial
+ machinery, live animals, animal products
+ partners: EU 75% (UK 32%, Germany 13%, France 10%), US 9%
+
+ Imports: $26 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: food, animal feed, data processing equipment, petroleum
+ and petroleum products, machinery, textiles, clothing
+ partners: EU 66% (UK 41%, Germany 8%, France 4%), US 15%
+
+ External debt: $20 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 8.5% (1994 est.); accounts for 37%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 3,930,000 kW
+ production: 14.9 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,938 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals,
+ pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and
+ crystal
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP; principal crops - turnips,
+ barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; livestock - meat and dairy
+ products; 85% self-sufficient in food; food shortages include bread
+ grain, fruits, vegetables
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to
+ the UK and Netherlands
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: ODA commitments (1980-89), $90 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Irish pound (#Ir) = 100 pence
+
+ Exchange rates: Irish pounds (#Ir) per US$1 - 0.6420 (January 1995),
+ 0.6676 (1994), 0.6816 (1993), 0.5864 (1992), 0.6190 (1991), 0.6030
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Ireland:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,947 km
+ broad gauge: 1,947 km 1.600-m gauge (36 km electrified; 485 km double
+ track)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 92,327 km
+ paved: 86,787 km (32 km of expressways)
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 5,540 km (1992)
+
+ Inland waterways: limited for commercial traffic
+
+ Pipelines: natural gas 225 km
+
+ Ports: Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Foynes, Galway, Limerick, New
+ Ross, Waterford
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 129,996 GRT/160,419 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 33, chemical tanker 2, container 2, oil
+ tanker 1, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 2
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 44
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 32
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
+
+@Ireland:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 900,000 telephones; modern digital system using
+ cable and microwave radio relay
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 45, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 86
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Ireland:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps), National Police
+ (Garda Siochana)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 926,831; males fit for military
+ service 749,646; males reach military age (17) annually 34,215 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $500 million, 1.3% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ISRAEL
+
+ (also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries) Note: The
+ territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included in
+ the data below. In keeping with the framework established at the
+ Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations are being
+ conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives, Syria, and
+ Jordan to determine the final status of the occupied territories. On
+ 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979
+ Israel-Egypt Peace treaty. Outstanding territorial and other disputes
+ with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty
+ of Peace.
+
+@Israel:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt
+ and Lebanon
+
+ Map references: Middle East
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 20,770 sq km
+ land area: 20,330 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than New Jersey
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,006 km, Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km,
+ Jordan 238 km, Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km
+
+ Coastline: 273 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: separated from Lebanon, Syria, and the West
+ Bank by the 1949 Armistice Line; the Gaza Strip and Jericho area,
+ formerly occupied by Israel, are now administered largely by the
+ Palestinian Authority; other areas of the West Bank outside Jericho
+ are administered jointly by Israel and the Palestinian Authority;
+ Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Israeli troops in southern Lebanon
+ since June 1982
+
+ Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
+
+ Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central
+ mountains; Jordan Rift Valley
+
+ Natural resources: copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand,
+ sulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and crude oil
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 17%
+ permanent crops: 5%
+ meadows and pastures: 40%
+ forest and woodland: 6%
+ other: 32%
+
+ Irrigated land: 2,140 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: limited arable land and natural fresh water resources
+ pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from
+ industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from
+ industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides
+ natural hazards: sandstorms may occur during spring and summer
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
+ Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification,
+ Marine Life Conservation
+
+ Note: there are 199 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites in
+ the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 24 in the
+ Gaza Strip, and 25 in East Jerusalem (August 1994 est.)
+
+@Israel:People
+
+ Population: 5,433,134 (July 1995 est.)
+ note: includes 122,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank, 14,500 in the
+ Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 4,800 in the Gaza Strip, and 149,000
+ in East Jerusalem (August 1994 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 29%
+ 15-64 years: 61%
+ 65 years and over: 10%
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.4% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 20.39 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.38 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 78.14 years
+ male: 76 years
+ female: 80.39 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.81 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Israeli(s)
+ adjective: Israeli
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Jewish 82% (Israel born 50%, Europe/Americas/Oceania
+ born 20%, Africa born 7%, Asia born 5%), non-Jewish 18% (mostly Arab)
+ (1993 est.)
+
+ Religions: Judaism 82%, Islam 14% (mostly Sunni Muslim), Christian 2%,
+ Druze and other 2%
+
+ Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab
+ minority, English most commonly used foreign language
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1992)
+ total population: 95%
+ male: 97%
+ female: 93%
+
+ Labor force: 1.9 million (1992)
+ by occupation: public services 29.3%, industry 22.1%, commerce 13.9%,
+ finance and business 10.4%, personal and other services 7.4%,
+ construction 6.5%, transport, storage, and communications 6.3%,
+ agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.5%, other 0.6% (1992)
+
+@Israel:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: State of Israel
+ conventional short form: Israel
+ local long form: Medinat Yisra'el
+ local short form: Yisra'el
+
+ Digraph: IS
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Jerusalem
+ note: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem its capital in 1950, but the US,
+ like nearly all other countries, does not recognize this status, and
+ maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv
+
+ Administrative divisions: 6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz);
+ Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv
+
+ Independence: 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under
+ British administration)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 14 May 1948 (Israel declared
+ independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the
+ holiday may occur in April or May)
+
+ Constitution: no formal constitution; some of the functions of a
+ constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948),
+ the basic laws of the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli
+ citizenship law
+
+ Legal system: mixture of English common law, British Mandate
+ regulations, and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim
+ legal systems; in December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat
+ that it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Ezer WEIZMAN (since 13 May 1993) election
+ last held 24 March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1999); results -
+ Ezer WEIZMAN elected by Knesset
+ head of government: Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN (since NA July 1992)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; selected from and approved by the Knesset
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ parliament (Knesset): elections last held NA June 1992 (next to be
+ held by NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120
+ total) Labor 44, Likud 32, MERETZ 12, Tzomet 8, National Religious
+ Party 6, SHAS 6, United Torah Jewry 4, Democratic Front for Peace and
+ Equality (Hadash) 3, Moledet 3, Arab Democratic Party 2; note - in
+ 1994 four legislators broke party ranks, resulting in the following
+ new distribution of seats - Labor Party 44, Likud bloc 32, MERETZ 12,
+ National Religious Party 6, SHAS 6, Tzomet 5, United Torah Jewry 4,
+ Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash) 3, Moledet 2, Arab
+ Democratic Party 2, independents 4 (1 in coalition, 3 voting with
+ opposition)
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ members of the government: Labor Party, Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN;
+ MERETZ, Minister of Communications Shulamit ALONI; independent, Gonen
+ SEGEV
+ not in coalition, but voting with the government: Democratic Front for
+ Peace and Equality (Hadash), Hashim MAHAMID; Arab Democratic Party,
+ Abd al Wahab DARAWSHAH
+ opposition parties: Likud Party, Binyamin NETANYAHU; Tzomet, Rafael
+ EITAN; National Religious Party, Zevulun HAMMER; United Torah Jewry,
+ Avraham SHAPIRA; Moledet, Rehavam ZEEVI; Peace Guard (independent),
+ Shaul GUTMAN; SHAS, Arieh DERI
+ note: Israel currently has a coalition government comprising 2 parties
+ and an independent that hold 57 seats of the Knesset's 120 seats
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Gush Emunim, Israeli nationalists
+ advocating Jewish settlement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip; Peace
+ Now supports territorial concessions in the West Bank and is critical
+ of government's Lebanon policy
+
+ Member of: AG (observer), CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), EBRD,
+ ECE, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
+ ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS
+ (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
+ WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Itamar RABINOVICH
+ chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500
+ FAX: [1] (202) 364-5610
+ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles,
+ Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Martin INDYK
+ embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv
+ mailing address: PSC 98, Box 100, Tel Aviv; APO AE 09830
+ telephone: [972] (3) 517-4338
+ FAX: [972] (3) 663-449
+ consulate(s) general: Jerusalem
+
+ Flag: white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as
+ the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal
+ horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag
+
+@Israel:Economy
+
+ Overview: Israel has a market economy with substantial government
+ participation. It depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw
+ materials, and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources,
+ Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and industrial
+ sectors over the past 20 years. Industry employs about 22% of Israeli
+ workers, construction 6.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.5%,
+ and services most of the rest. Israel is largely self-sufficient in
+ food production except for grains. Diamonds, high-technology
+ equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are
+ leading exports. Israel usually posts current account deficits, which
+ are covered by large transfer payments from abroad and by foreign
+ loans. Roughly half of the government's external debt is owed to the
+ United States, which is its major source of economic and military aid.
+ To earn needed foreign exchange, Israel has been targeting
+ high-technology niches in international markets, such as medical
+ scanning equipment. The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former
+ USSR, which topped 450,000 during the period 1990-94, increased
+ unemployment, intensified housing problems, and strained the
+ government budget. At the same time, the immigrants bring to the
+ economy valuable scientific and professional expertise.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $70.1 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 6.8% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $13,880 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.5% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $42.3 billion
+ expenditures: $45.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $11.1
+ billion (FY92/93)
+
+ Exports: $16.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and equipment, cut diamonds, chemicals,
+ textiles and apparel, agricultural products, metals
+ partners: US, EU, Japan
+
+ Imports: $22.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds,
+ oil, other productive inputs, consumer goods
+ partners: EU, US, Japan
+
+ External debt: $25.9 billion (November 1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 8% (1994 est.); accounts for about
+ 30% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 4,140,000 kW
+ production: 23 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 4,290 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: food processing, diamond cutting and polishing, textiles
+ and apparel, chemicals, metal products, military equipment, transport
+ equipment, electrical equipment, miscellaneous machinery, potash
+ mining, high-technology electronics, tourism
+
+ Agriculture: citrus and other fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef,
+ poultry, dairy products
+
+ Illicit drugs: increasingly concerned about cocaine and heroin abuse
+ and trafficking
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $18.2 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $2.8 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot
+
+ Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 3.070 (December
+ 1994), 3.0111 (1994), 2.8301 (1993), 2.4591 (1992), 2.2791 (1991),
+ 2.0162 (1990), 1.9164 (1989)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
+
+@Israel:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 520 km (diesel operated; single track)
+ standard gauge: 520 km 1.435-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 13,461 km
+ paved: 13,461 km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 708 km; petroleum products 290 km; natural gas 89
+ km
+
+ Ports: Ashdod, Ashqelon, Elat, Hadera, Haifa, Tel Aviv-Yafo
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 624,861 GRT/720,765 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 7, container 22, refrigerated cargo 2,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 57
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 31
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+
+@Israel:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 1,800,000 telephones; most highly developed in the
+ Middle East although not the largest
+ local: NA
+ intercity: good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay
+ international: 3 submarine cables; 3 INTELSAT (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1
+ Indian Ocean) earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 45, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 20
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Israel:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Israel Defense Forces (includes ground, naval, and air
+ components), Pioneer Fighting Youth (Nahal), Frontier Guard, Chen
+ (women); note - historically there have been no separate Israeli
+ military services
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,309,502; females age 15-49
+ 1,283,923; males fit for military service 1,072,501; females fit for
+ military service 1,047,575; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 47,950; females reach military age (18) annually 45,839 (1995 est.)
+ note: military service mandatory for men and women
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $6.5 billion, about
+ 10% of GDP (1995)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ITALY
+
+@Italy:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central
+ Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 301,230 sq km
+ land area: 294,020 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Arizona
+ note: includes Sardinia and Sicily
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,899.2 km, Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy
+ See (Vatican City) 3.2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 199 km,
+ Switzerland 740 km
+
+ Coastline: 4,996 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in
+ south
+
+ Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
+
+ Natural resources: mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, dwindling natural
+ gas and crude oil reserves, fish, coal
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 32%
+ permanent crops: 10%
+ meadows and pastures: 17%
+ forest and woodland: 22%
+ other: 19%
+
+ Irrigated land: 31,000 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur
+ dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and
+ agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate
+ industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities
+ natural hazards: regional risks include landslides, mudflows,
+ avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence
+ in Venice
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty,
+ Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
+ Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
+ Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
+ Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur
+ 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
+ Protocol, Desertification
+
+ Note: strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as
+ southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe
+
+@Italy:People
+
+ Population: 58,261,971 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 15% (female 4,352,325; male 4,603,083)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 19,969,086; male 19,874,528)
+ 65 years and over: 17% (female 5,630,747; male 3,832,202) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.21% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 10.89 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.78 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 77.85 years
+ male: 74.67 years
+ female: 81.23 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.41 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Italian(s)
+ adjective: Italian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Italian (includes small clusters of German-,
+ French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and
+ Greek-Italians in the south), Sicilians, Sardinians
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%
+
+ Languages: Italian, German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are
+ predominantly German speaking), French (small French-speaking minority
+ in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the
+ Trieste-Gorizia area)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 97%
+ male: 98%
+ female: 96%
+
+ Labor force: 23.988 million
+ by occupation: services 58%, industry 32.2%, agriculture 9.8% (1988)
+
+@Italy:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Italian Republic
+ conventional short form: Italy
+ local long form: Repubblica Italiana
+ local short form: Italia
+ former: Kingdom of Italy
+
+ Digraph: IT
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Rome
+
+ Administrative divisions: 20 regions (regioni, singular - regione);
+ Abruzzi, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna,
+ Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise,
+ Piemonte, Puglia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino-Alto Adige,
+ Umbria, Valle d'Aosta, Veneto
+
+ Independence: 17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed)
+
+ National holiday: Anniversary of the Republic, 2 June (1946)
+
+ Constitution: 1 January 1948
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system, with ecclesiastical law
+ influence; appeals treated as trials de novo; judicial review under
+ certain conditions in Constitutional Court; has not accepted
+ compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (except in senatorial elections,
+ where minimum age is 25)
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Oscar Luigi SCALFARO (since 28 May 1992)
+ head of government: Prime Minister (referred to in Italy as the
+ President of the Council of Ministers) Lamberto DINI (since 1 February
+ 1995)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; nominated by the President of the
+ Council (i.e., Prime Minister) and approved by the President of the
+ Republic
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlamento)
+ Senate (Senato della Repubblica): elections last held 27-28 March 1994
+ (next must be held by spring 1999, but may be held by end of 1995);
+ results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (326 total, 315
+ elected, 11 appointed senators-for-life) PDS 61, Northern League 60,
+ National Alliance 48, Forza Italia 36, Italian Popular Party 31,
+ Communist Refoundation 18, Greens and The Network 13, Italian
+ Socialists 13, Christian Democratic Center 12, Democratic Alliance 8,
+ Christian Socialists 5, Pact for Italy 4, Radical Party (Pannella
+ List) 1, others 5
+ Chamber of Deputies (Camera dei Deputati): elections last held 27-28
+ March 1994 (next must be held by spring 1999, but may be held by end
+ of 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (630 total)
+ Northern League 117, PDS 114, Forza Italia 113, National Alliance 109,
+ Communist Refoundation 39, Christian Democratic Center 33, Italian
+ Popular Party 33, Greens and The Network 20, Democratic Alliance 18,
+ Italian Socialists 16, Pact for Italy 13, Christian Socialists 5
+
+ Judicial branch: Constitutional Court (Corte Costituzionale)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Forza Italia (FI), Silvio BERLUSCONI;
+ National Alliance, Gianfranco FINI, party secretary; Northern League -
+ Federal Italy (NL), Umberto BOSSI, president; Italian Social Movement,
+ Pino RAUTI; Democratic Party of the Left (PDS, Massimo D'ALEMA,
+ secretary; Communist Refoundation (RC), Fausto BERTINOTTI; Greens,
+ Gianni MATTIOLI; Italian Socialists, Ottaviano DELTURCO; Rete (The
+ Network), Leoluca ORLANDO; Christian Socialists, Ermanno GORRIERI;
+ Pact for Italy, Mario SEGNI; Italian Popular Party (PPI), Rocco
+ BUTTIGLIONE, Gerardo BIANCO; Christian Democratic Center (CCD), Pier
+ Ferdinando CASINI; Union of the Democratic Center (UDC), Raffaele
+ COSTA; Pannella List, Marco PANNELLA
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: the Roman Catholic Church; three
+ major trade union confederations (Confederazione Generale Italiana del
+ Lavoro or CGIL which is PDS-dominated, Confederazione Italiana dei
+ Sindacati Lavoratori or CISL which is centerist, and Unione Italiana
+ del Lavoro or UIL which is center-left); Italian manufacturers and
+ merchants associations (Confindustria, Confcommercio); organized farm
+ groups (Confcoltivatori, Confagricoltura)
+
+ Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CDB
+ (non-regional), CE, CEI, CERN, EBRD, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-
+ 7, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
+ IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
+ IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG,
+ OAS (observer), OECD, ONUSAL, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
+ UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNOMOZ, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU,
+ WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Boris BIANCHERI-CHIAPPORI
+ chancery: 1601 Fuller Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
+ telephone: [1] (202) 328-5500
+ consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los
+ Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco
+ consulate(s): Detroit and New Orleans
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Reginald BARTHOLOMEW
+ embassy: Via Veneto 119/A, 00187-Rome
+ mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100, Rome; APO AE 09624
+ telephone: [39] (6) 46741
+ FAX: [39] (6) 4882672
+ consulate(s) general: Florence, Milan, Naples
+
+ Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
+ red; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and is green
+ (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote
+ d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white,
+ and green
+
+@Italy:Economy
+
+ Overview: Since World War II the Italian economy has changed from one
+ based on agriculture into a ranking industrial economy, with
+ approximately the same total and per capita output as France and the
+ UK. The country is still divided into a developed industrial north,
+ dominated by private companies, and an undeveloped agricultural south,
+ dominated by large public enterprises. Services account for 48% of
+ GDP, industry 35%, agriculture 4%, and public administration 13%. Most
+ raw materials needed by industry and over 75% of energy requirements
+ must be imported. After growing at an average annual rate of 3% in
+ 1983-90, growth slowed to about 1% in 1991 and 1992, fell by 0.7% in
+ 1993, and recovered to 2% in 1994. In the second half of 1992, Rome
+ became unsettled by the prospect of not qualifying to participate in
+ EU plans for economic and monetary union later in the decade; thus it
+ finally began to address its huge fiscal imbalances. Subsequently, the
+ government has adopted fairly stringent budgets, abandoned its highly
+ inflationary wage indexation system, and started to scale back its
+ extremely generous social welfare programs, including pension and
+ health care benefits. Monetary officials were forced to withdraw the
+ lira from the European monetary system in September 1992 when it came
+ under extreme pressure in currency markets. For the 1990s, Italy faces
+ the problems of pushing ahead with fiscal reform, refurbishing a
+ tottering communications system, curbing pollution in major industrial
+ centers, and adjusting to the new competitive forces accompanying the
+ ongoing expansion and economic integration of the European Union.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $998.9 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $17,180 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 12.2% (January 1995)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $339 billion
+ expenditures: $431 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $190.8 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: metals, textiles and clothing, production machinery,
+ motor vehicles, transportation equipment, chemicals, other
+ partners: EU 53.4%, US 7.8%, OPEC 3.8% (1994)
+
+ Imports: $168.7 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
+ commodities: industrial machinery, chemicals, transport equipment,
+ petroleum, metals, food, agricultural products
+ partners: EU 56.3%, OPEC 5.3%, US 4.6% (1994)
+
+ External debt: $67 billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 4.3% (1994 est.); accounts for 35%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 61,630,000 kW
+ production: 209 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 4,033 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing,
+ textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 4% of GDP; self-sufficient in foods
+ other than meat, dairy products, and cereals; principal crops -
+ fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain,
+ olives; fish catch of 525,000 metric tons in 1990
+
+ Illicit drugs: important gateway country for Latin American cocaine
+ and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $25.9 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100 centesimi
+
+ Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1 - 1,609.5 (January 1995),
+ 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991),
+ 1,198.1 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Italy:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 19,503 km
+ standard gauge: 18,230 km 1.435-m gauge (10,499 km electrified; 2,112
+ km privately owned)
+ narrow gauge: 1,273 km 0.950-m to 1.000-m gauge (224 km electrified;
+ 1,273 km privately owned)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 305,388 km
+ paved: 277,388 km (6,940 km of expressways)
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 23,000 km; earth 5,000 km (1992)
+
+ Inland waterways: 2,400 km for various types of commercial traffic,
+ although of limited overall value
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 1,703 km; petroleum products 2,148 km; natural
+ gas 19,400 km
+
+ Ports: Ancona, Augusta, Bari, Cagliari (Sardinia), Catania, Gaeta,
+ Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno, Naples, Oristano (Sardinia), Palermo
+ (Sicily), Piombino, Porto Torres (Sardinia), Ravenna, Savona, Trieste,
+ Venice
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 441 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,767,969 GRT/8,547,221
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 40, cargo 62, chemical tanker 34, combination
+ ore/oil 3, container 18, liquefied gas tanker 37, multifunction
+ large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 136, passenger 7, roll-on/roll-off
+ cargo 54, short-sea passenger 30, specialized tanker 11, vehicle
+ carrier 8
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 138
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 5
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 34
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 26
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 34
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 22
+
+@Italy:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 25,600,000 telephones; modern, well-developed, fast;
+ fully automated telephone, telex, and data services
+ local: NA
+ intercity: high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks
+ international: international service by 21 submarine cables, 3
+ satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT with 3 Atlantic Ocean
+ antennas and 2 Indian Ocean antennas; also participates in INMARSAT
+ and EUTELSAT systems
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 135, FM 28 (repeaters 1,840), shortwave 0
+ radios: 16 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 83 (repeaters 1,000)
+ televisions: 18 million
+
+@Italy:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 14,934,657; males fit for
+ military service 12,962,594; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 382,142 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $21.5 billion, 2% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+JAMAICA
+
+@Jamaica:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 10,990 sq km
+ land area: 10,830 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,022 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
+
+ Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
+
+ Natural resources: bauxite, gypsum, limestone
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 19%
+ permanent crops: 6%
+ meadows and pastures: 18%
+ forest and woodland: 28%
+ other: 29%
+
+ Irrigated land: 350 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial
+ waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in
+ Kingston results from vehicle emissions
+ natural hazards: hurricanes (especially July to November)
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law
+ of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test
+ Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
+
+ Note: strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel,
+ the main sea lanes for Panama Canal
+
+@Jamaica:People
+
+ Population: 2,574,291 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 33% (female 412,565; male 431,043)
+ 15-64 years: 60% (female 786,700; male 770,681)
+ 65 years and over: 7% (female 96,348; male 76,954) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.78% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 22.03 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.62 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -8.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 16.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 74.65 years
+ male: 72.39 years
+ female: 77.01 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.42 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Jamaican(s)
+ adjective: Jamaican
+
+ Ethnic divisions: African 76.3%, Afro-European 15.1%, East Indian and
+ Afro-East Indian 3%, white 3.2%, Chinese and Afro-Chinese 1.2%, other
+ 1.2%
+
+ Religions: Protestant 55.9% (Church of God 18.4%, Baptist 10%,
+ Anglican 7.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.9%, Pentecostal 5.2%, Methodist
+ 3.1%, United Church 2.7%, other 2.5%), Roman Catholic 5%, other,
+ including some spiritual cults 39.1% (1982)
+
+ Languages: English, Creole
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1987)
+ total population: 82%
+ male: 77%
+ female: 86%
+
+ Labor force: 1,062,100
+ by occupation: services 41%, agriculture 22.5%, industry 19%,
+ unemployed 17.5% (1989)
+
+@Jamaica:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Jamaica
+
+ Digraph: JM
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Kingston
+
+ Administrative divisions: 14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston,
+ Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint
+ Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny,
+ Westmoreland
+
+ Independence: 6 August 1962 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day (first Monday in August) (1962)
+
+ Constitution: 6 August 1962
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory
+ ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor General Sir Howard COOKE (since 1 August 1991)
+
+ head of government: Prime Minister P. J. PATTERSON (since 30 March
+ 1992); Deputy Prime Minister Seymour MULLINGS (since NA 1993)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on the advice of
+ the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
+ Senate: consists of a 21-member body appointed by the governor general
+
+ House of Representatives: elections last held 30 March 1993 (next to
+ be held by March 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
+ (60 total) PNP 52, JLP 8
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: People's National Party (PNP) P. J.
+ PATTERSON; Jamaica Labor Party (JLP), Edward SEAGA
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Rastafarians (black
+ religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists); New Beginnings Movement
+ (NBM)
+
+ Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77,
+ GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
+ IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN,
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Leighton BERNAL
+ chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
+ telephone: [1] (202) 452-0660
+ FAX: [1] (202) 452-0081
+ consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador J. Gary COOPER (since October 1994)
+ embassy: Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor,
+ Kingston
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [1] (809) 929-4850 through 4859
+ FAX: [1] (809) 926-6743
+
+ Flag: diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles -
+ green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and fly side)
+
+@Jamaica:Economy
+
+ Overview: Key sectors in this island economy are bauxite (alumina and
+ bauxite account for more than half of exports) and tourism. The
+ government's tight fiscal and monetary policies, which have been
+ partially successful in curbing inflation, have held growth to 1.2% in
+ 1993 and 2.0% in 1994.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $7.8 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $3,050 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 26.7% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 15.7% (1992)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $600 million
+ expenditures: $736 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (FY90/91 est.)
+
+ Exports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum
+ partners: US 47%, UK 11%, Canada 9%, Norway 7%; France 4% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment, construction
+ materials, fuel, food, chemicals
+ partners: US 54%, Japan 4.0%, Mexico 6%, UK 4%, Venezuela 3% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $3.6 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 0.4% (1992); accounts for almost
+ 30% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 730,000 kW
+ production: 2.6 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 988 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: bauxite mining, tourism, textiles, food processing, light
+ manufactures
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 7% of GDP, 22% of work force, and 17%
+ of exports; commercial crops - sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus,
+ potatoes, vegetables; livestock and livestock products include
+ poultry, goats, milk; not self-sufficient in grain, meat, and dairy
+ products
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine from Central and South
+ America to North America and Europe; illicit cultivation of cannabis;
+ government has an active cannabis eradication program
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.2 billion;
+ other countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.6
+ billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Jamaican dollar (J$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Jamaican dollars (J$) per US$1 - 33.195 (December
+ 1994), 33.986 (1994), 24.949 (1993), 22.960 (1992), 12.116 (1991),
+ 7.184 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Jamaica:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 370 km
+ standard gauge: 370 km 1.435-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 18,200 km
+ paved: 12,600 km
+ unpaved: gravel 3,200 km; improved earth 2,400 km
+
+ Pipelines: petroleum products 10 km
+
+ Ports: Alligator Pond, Discovery Bay, Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho
+ Rios, Port Antonio, Longs Wharf, Rocky Point
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,931 GRT/10,545 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 1, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 41
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 31
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
+
+@Jamaica:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 127,000 telephones; fully automatic domestic
+ telephone network
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations; 3 coaxial
+ submarine cables
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 8
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Jamaica:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Jamaica Defense Force (includes Ground Forces, Coast Guard
+ and Air Wing), Jamaica Constabulary Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 670,958; males fit for military
+ service 475,235; males reach military age (18) annually 26,244 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $19.3 million, 1% of
+ GDP (FY91/92)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+JAN MAYEN
+
+ (territory of Norway)
+
+@Jan Mayen:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the
+ Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
+
+ Map references: Arctic Region
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 373 sq km
+ land area: 373 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 124.1 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 10 nm
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 4 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
+
+ Terrain: volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers; Beerenberg is
+ the highest peak, with an elevation of 2,277 meters
+
+ Natural resources: none
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: dominated by the volcano Beerenberg; volcanic
+ activity resumed in 1970
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: barren volcanic island with some moss and grass
+
+@Jan Mayen:People
+
+ Population: no permanent inhabitants; note - there are personnel who
+ man the LORAN C base and the weather and coastal services radio
+ station
+
+@Jan Mayen:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Jan Mayen
+
+ Digraph: JN
+
+ Type: territory of Norway
+
+ Capital: none; administered from Oslo, Norway, through a governor
+ (sysselmann) resident in Longyearbyen (Svalbard)
+
+ Independence: none (territory of Norway)
+
+@Jan Mayen:Economy
+
+ Overview: Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural
+ resources. Economic activity is limited to providing services for
+ employees of Norway's radio and meteorological stations located on the
+ island.
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 15,000 kW
+ production: 40 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)
+
+@Jan Mayen:Transportation
+
+ Highways:
+ total: NA
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Jan Mayen:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+ note: radio and meteorological station
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Jan Mayen:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+JAPAN
+
+@Japan:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean
+ and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean peninsula
+
+ Map references: Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 377,835 sq km
+ land area: 374,744 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than California
+ note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto,
+ Minami-jima, Okinotori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and
+ Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 29,751 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm; 3 nm in the international straits - La Perouse
+ or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western Channels of the Korea
+ or Tsushima Strait
+
+ International disputes: islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and
+ the Habomai group occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now
+ administered by Russia, claimed by Japan; Liancourt Rocks disputed
+ with South Korea; Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands) claimed by China and
+ Taiwan
+
+ Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
+
+ Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous
+
+ Natural resources: negligible mineral resources, fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 13%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 1%
+ forest and woodland: 67%
+ other: 18%
+
+ Irrigated land: 28,680 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution from power plant emissions results in
+ acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water
+ quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan's appetite for fish and
+ tropical timber is contributing to the depletion of these resources in
+ Asia and elsewhere
+ natural hazards: many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500
+ seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis
+ international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
+ Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental
+ Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: strategic location in northeast Asia
+
+@Japan:People
+
+ Population: 125,506,492 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 16% (female 9,955,603; male 10,542,973)
+ 15-64 years: 69% (female 43,377,425; male 43,843,645)
+ 65 years and over: 15% (female 10,514,017; male 7,272,829) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.32% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 10.66 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.46 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 79.44 years
+ male: 76.6 years
+ female: 82.42 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.56 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Japanese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Japanese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Japanese 99.4%, other 0.6% (mostly Korean)
+
+ Religions: observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including
+ 0.7% Christian)
+
+ Languages: Japanese
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.)
+ total population: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 65.87 million (December 1994)
+ by occupation: trade and services 54%, manufacturing, mining, and
+ construction 33%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 7%, government 3%
+ (1988)
+
+@Japan:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Japan
+
+ Digraph: JA
+
+ Type: constitutional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Tokyo
+
+ Administrative divisions: 47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba,
+ Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gumma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido,
+ Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi,
+ Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara,
+ Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane,
+ Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama,
+ Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi
+
+ Independence: 660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu)
+
+ National holiday: Birthday of the Emperor, 23 December (1933)
+
+ Constitution: 3 May 1947
+
+ Legal system: modeled after European civil law system with
+ English-American influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the
+ Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Tomiichi MURAYAMA (since 30 June
+ 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Yohei KONO (since 30 June 1994)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Diet (Kokkai) consists of an upper house
+ or House of Councillors and a lower house or House of Representatives
+ House of Councillors (Sangi-in): half of the members elected every
+ three years to six-year terms; elections last held on 26 July 1992
+ (next set to be held 23 July 1995); results - percent of vote by party
+ NA; seats - (252 total) LDP 106, SDPJ 73, Komeito 24, DSP 12, JCP 11,
+ JNP 4, others 16, independents 6; note - the distribution of seats as
+ of 1 April 1995 is as follows - LDP 94, SDPJ 68, Heisei-kai 47, Shin
+ Ryokufu-kai 16, JCP 11, others 15, vacant 1
+ House of Representatives (Shugi-in): all members elected every four
+ years to four-year terms; elections last held on 18 July 1993 (next to
+ be held by 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (511
+ total) LDP 223, SDPJ 70, Shinseito 55, Komeito 51, JNP 35, JCP 15, DSP
+ 15, Sakigake 13, others 4, independents 30; note - the distribution of
+ seats as of 1 April 1995 is as follows - LDP 207, Shinshinto 173, SDPJ
+ 70, Sakigake 21, JCP 15, others 19, vacant 6
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Yohei
+ KONO, president and Yoshiro MORI, secretary general; Social Democratic
+ Party of Japan (SDPJ), Tomiichi MURAYAMA; Japan Communist Party (JCP),
+ Tetsuzo FUWA, Presidium chairman; Sakigake (Harbinger), Masayoshi
+ TAKEMURA, chairman; Shinshinto (New Frontier Party, NFP), Toshiki
+ KAIFU, chairman and Ichiro OZAWA, secretary general
+ note: Shinshinto was formed in December 1994 by the merger of
+ Shinseito (Japan Renewal Party, JRP), Komeito (Clean Government Party,
+ CGP), Japan New Party (JNP), Democratic Socialist Party (DSP), and
+ several minor groups; Shin Ryokufu-kai is a parliamentary alliance
+ which exists only in the upper house, it includes remnants of
+ Shinseito, JNP, DSP, and a minor labor group; Heisei-kai is a joint
+ bloc of Shinshinto and Komei members; Komei is a group formed from
+ what remains of Komeito in the upper house
+
+ Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC,
+ CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G- 2, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA,
+ IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
+ IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NEA, NSG,
+ OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR,
+ UNOMOZ, UNRWA, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Takakazu KURIYAMA
+ chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 939-6700
+ FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187
+ consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston,
+ Chicago, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City (Missouri), Los
+ Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Portland (Oregon), San
+ Francisco, and Seattle
+ consulate(s): Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Walter F. MONDALE
+ embassy: 10-5, Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku (107), Tokyo
+ mailing address: Unit 45004, Box 258, Tokyo; APO AP 96337-0001
+ telephone: [81] (3) 3224-5000
+ FAX: [81] (3) 3505-1862
+ consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo
+ consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya
+
+ Flag: white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays)
+ in the center
+
+@Japan:Economy
+
+ Overview: Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic,
+ mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense
+ allocation (roughly 1% of GDP) have helped Japan advance with
+ extraordinary rapidity to the rank of second most powerful economy in
+ the world. Industry, the most important sector of the economy, is
+ heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. Usually
+ self-sufficient in rice, Japan must import about 50% of its
+ requirements of other grain and fodder crops. Japan maintains one of
+ the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the
+ global catch. Overall economic growth has been spectacular: a 10%
+ average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s and 1980s. Economic
+ growth came to a halt in 1992-93 largely because of contractionary
+ domestic policies intended to wring speculative excesses from the
+ stock and real estate markets. Growth resumed at a 0.6% pace in 1994
+ largely because of consumer demand. As for foreign trade, the stronger
+ yen and slower global growth are containing export growth.
+ Unemployment and inflation remain remarkably low in comparison with
+ the other industrialized nations. Japan continues to run a huge trade
+ surplus - $121 billion in 1994, roughly the same size as in 1993 -
+ which supports extensive investment in foreign assets. Prime Minister
+ MURAYAMA has yet to formalize his government's plans for
+ administrative and economic reform, including reduction in the trade
+ surplus. As leader of a coalition government, he has softened his own
+ socialist positions. The crowding of the habitable land area and the
+ aging of the population are two major long-run problems.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.5274 trillion
+ (1994 est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 0.6% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $20,200 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.7% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 2.9% (1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $569 billion
+ expenditures: $671 billion, including capital expenditures (public
+ works only) of about $126 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $395.5 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: manufactures 97% (including machinery 46%, motor vehicles
+ 20%, consumer electronics 10%)
+ partners: Southeast Asia 33%, US 29%, Western Europe 18%, China 5%
+
+ Imports: $274.3 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
+ commodities: manufactures 52%, fossil fuels 20%, foodstuffs and raw
+ materials 28%
+ partners: Southeast Asia 25%, US 23%, Western Europe 15%, China 9%
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 1% (1994); accounts for 30% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 205,140,000 kW
+ production: 840 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 6,262 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: steel and non-ferrous metallurgy, heavy electrical
+ equipment, construction and mining equipment, motor vehicles and
+ parts, electronic and telecommunication equipment and components,
+ machine tools and automated production systems, locomotives and
+ railroad rolling stock, shipbuilding, chemicals, textiles, food
+ processing
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for only 2% of GDP; highly subsidized and
+ protected sector, with crop yields among highest in world; principal
+ crops - rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; animal products include
+ pork, poultry, dairy and eggs; about 50% self-sufficient in food
+ production; shortages of wheat, corn, soybeans; world's largest fish
+ catch of 10 million metric tons in 1991
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-94), $132 billion
+ note: ODA outlay of $9.9 billion in 1994 (est.)
+
+ Currency: yen (Y)
+
+ Exchange rates: yen (Y) per US$1 - 99.75 (January 1995), 102.21
+ (1994), 111.20 (1993), 126.65 (1992), 134.71 (1991), 144.79 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Japan:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 27,327 km (5,724 km double track and multitrack sections)
+ standard gauge: 2,012 km 1.435-m gauge (2,012 km electrified)
+ narrow gauge: 25,315 km predominantly 1.067-m gauge (9,038 km
+ electrified) (1987)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1,111,974 km
+ paved: 754,102 km (including 4,869 km of national expressways)
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, or earth 357,872 km (1991)
+
+ Inland waterways: about 1,770 km; seagoing craft ply all coastal
+ inland seas
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 84 km; petroleum products 322 km; natural gas
+ 1,800 km
+
+ Ports: Akita, Amagasaki, Chiba, Hachinohe, Hakodate, Higashi-Harima,
+ Himeji, Hiroshima, Kawasaki, Kinuura, Kobe, Kushiro, Mizushima, Moji,
+ Nagoya, Osaka, Sakai, Sakaide, Shimizu, Tokyo, Tomakomai
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 851 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,195,386
+ GRT/27,292,044 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 210, cargo 63, chemical tanker 7, combination
+ ore/oil 7, container 41, liquefied gas tanker 41, multifunction
+ large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 264, passenger 10, passenger-cargo 5,
+ refrigerated cargo 48, roll-on/roll-off cargo 43, short-sea passenger
+ 30, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 79
+ note: Japan owns an additional 1,537 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
+ totaling 45,490,202 DWT that operate under Panamanian, Liberian,
+ Vanuatu, Bahamian, Singaporian, Cypriot, Philippines, Hong Kong, and
+ Maltese registry
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 175
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 6
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 31
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 36
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 30
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 70
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+
+@Japan:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 64,000,000 telephones; excellent domestic and
+ international service
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 5 INTELSAT (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) earth
+ stations; submarine cables to US (via Guam), Philippines, China, and
+ Russia
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 318, FM 58, shortwave 0
+ radios: 95 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 12,350 (1 kW or greater 196)
+ televisions: 100 million
+
+@Japan:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), Japan Maritime
+ Self-Defense Force (Navy), Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Air Force)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 31,947,532; males fit for
+ military service 27,494,758; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 910,970 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $47.2 billion, 1% of
+ GDP (FY95/96)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+JARVIS ISLAND
+
+ (territory of the US)
+
+@Jarvis Island:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half
+ of the way from Hawaii to the Cook Islands
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 4.5 sq km
+ land area: 4.5 sq km
+ comparative area: about 7.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 8 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
+
+ Terrain: sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
+
+ Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: no natural fresh water resources
+ natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
+ be a maritime hazard
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs;
+ primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,
+ shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats
+
+@Jarvis Island:People
+
+ Population: uninhabited; note - Millersville settlement on western
+ side of island occasionally used as a weather station from 1935 until
+ World War II, when it was abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the
+ International Geophysical Year by scientists who left in 1958; public
+ entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to
+ scientists and educators
+
+@Jarvis Island:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Jarvis Island
+
+ Digraph: DQ
+
+ Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and
+ Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the
+ National Wildlife Refuge System
+
+ Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
+
+@Jarvis Island:Economy
+
+ Overview: no economic activity
+
+@Jarvis Island:Transportation
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat landing
+ area in the middle of the west coast and another near the southwest
+ corner of the island
+
+ Note: there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
+
+@Jarvis Island:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the
+ US Coast Guard
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+JERSEY
+
+ (British crown dependency)
+
+@Jersey:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of
+ France
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 117 sq km
+ land area: 117 sq km
+ comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 70 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: temperate; mild winters and cool summers
+
+ Terrain: gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
+
+ Natural resources: agricultural land
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 57%
+ permanent crops: NA%
+ meadows and pastures: NA%
+ forest and woodland: NA%
+ other: NA%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of
+ population concentrated in Saint Helier
+
+@Jersey:People
+
+ Population: 86,649 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 17% (female 7,029; male 7,450)
+ 15-64 years: 69% (female 30,156; male 29,916)
+ 65 years and over: 14% (female 7,202; male 4,896) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.7% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 12.83 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.97 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 4.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 76.9 years
+ male: 73.81 years
+ female: 80.32 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.44 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Channel Islander(s)
+ adjective: Channel Islander
+
+ Ethnic divisions: UK and Norman-French descent
+
+ Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New
+ Church, Methodist, Presbyterian
+
+ Languages: English (official), French (official), Norman-French
+ dialect spoken in country districts
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+
+@Jersey:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
+ conventional short form: Jersey
+
+ Digraph: JE
+
+ Type: British crown dependency
+
+ Capital: Saint Helier
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
+
+ Independence: none (British crown dependency)
+
+ National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
+
+ Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
+ practice
+
+ Legal system: English law and local statute
+
+ Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
+
+ Executive branch:
+ Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
+ Head of Government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Air
+ Marshal Sir John SUTTON (since NA 1990); Bailiff Sir Peter L. CRILL
+ (since NA)
+ cabinet: committees; appointed by the States
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Assembly of the States: elections last held NA (next to be held NA);
+ results - no percent of vote by party since all are independents;
+ seats - (56 total, 52 elected) 52 independents
+
+ Judicial branch: Royal Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
+
+ Member of: none
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (British crown dependency)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (British crown dependency)
+
+ Flag: white with the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint
+ of Ireland) extending to the corners of the flag
+
+@Jersey:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is based largely on financial services,
+ agriculture, and tourism. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and
+ especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the
+ UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents
+ an important export earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU
+ countries. In 1986 the finance sector overtook tourism as the main
+ contributor to GDP, accounting for 40% of the island's output. In
+ recent years the government has encouraged light industry to locate in
+ Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed
+ alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material
+ and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of
+ Jersey's food needs.
+
+ National product: GDP $NA
+
+ National product real growth rate: 8% (1987 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $NA
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1988 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $308 million
+ expenditures: $284.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1985)
+
+ Exports: $NA
+ commodities: light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs,
+ textiles
+ partners: UK
+
+ Imports: $NA
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
+ foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals
+ partners: UK
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 50,000 kW standby
+ production: power supplied by France
+ consumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)
+
+ Industries: tourism, banking and finance, dairy
+
+ Agriculture: potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; dairy and cattle
+ farming
+
+ Economic aid: none
+
+ Currency: 1 Jersey pound (#J) = 100 pence
+
+ Exchange rates: Jersey pounds (#J) per US$1 - 0.6250 (January 1995),
+ 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603
+ (1990); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Jersey:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: NA
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+
+@Jersey:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 63,700 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 3 submarine cables
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Jersey:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+JOHNSTON ATOLL
+
+ (territory of the US)
+
+@Johnston Atoll:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third
+ of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 2.8 sq km
+ land area: 2.8 sq km
+ comparative area: about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 10 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds
+ with little seasonal temperature variation
+
+ Terrain: mostly flat with a maximum elevation of 4 meters
+
+ Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until about 1890)
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: no natural fresh water resources
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; Johnston Island
+ and Sand Island are natural islands; North Island (Akau) and East
+ Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging; closed
+ to the public; former nuclear weapons test site; site of Johnston
+ Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS); some low-growing
+ vegetation
+
+@Johnston Atoll:People
+
+ Population: 327 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: NA
+
+ Death rate: NA
+
+ Net migration rate: NA
+
+ Infant mortality rate: NA
+
+ Life expectancy at birth: NA
+
+ Total fertility rate: NA
+
+@Johnston Atoll:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Johnston Atoll
+
+ Digraph: JQ
+
+ Type: unincorportated territory of the US administered by the US
+ Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) and managed cooperatively by DNA and the
+ Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part
+ of the National Wildlife Refuge system
+
+ Capital: none
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of the US)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)
+
+ Flag: the flag of the US is used
+
+@Johnston Atoll:Economy
+
+ Overview: Economic activity is limited to providing services to US
+ military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and
+ manufactured goods must be imported.
+
+ Electricity: supplied by the management and operations contractor
+
+@Johnston Atoll:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: NA
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: Johnston Island
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+
+@Johnston Atoll:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; excellent system including 60-channel
+ submarine cable, Autodin/SRT terminal, digital telephone switch,
+ Military Affiliated Radio System (MARS station), and UHF/VHF
+ air-ground radio
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: commercial satellite television system
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Johnston Atoll:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+JORDAN
+
+ (also see separate West Bank entry)
+
+@Jordan:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
+
+ Map references: Middle East
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 89,213 sq km
+ land area: 88,884 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,619 km, Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi
+ Arabia 728 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
+
+ Coastline: 26 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
+
+ Terrain: mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great
+ Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
+
+ Natural resources: phosphates, potash, shale oil
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 4%
+ permanent crops: 0.5%
+ meadows and pastures: 1%
+ forest and woodland: 0.5%
+ other: 94%
+
+ Irrigated land: 570 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation;
+ overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
+ Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
+
+@Jordan:People
+
+ Population: 4,100,709 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 44% (female 884,462; male 930,266)
+ 15-64 years: 53% (female 1,058,060; male 1,119,347)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 53,709; male 54,865) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.69% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 37.32 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 4.02 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -6.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 32.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 72.27 years
+ male: 70.43 years
+ female: 74.21 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 5.25 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Jordanian(s)
+ adjective: Jordanian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
+
+ Religions: Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 8%
+
+ Languages: Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper
+ and middle classes
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991)
+ total population: 83%
+ male: 91%
+ female: 75%
+
+ Labor force: 600,000 (1992)
+ by occupation: industry 11.4%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels
+ 10.5%, construction 10.0%, transport and communications 8.7%,
+ agriculture 7.4%, other services 52.0% (1992)
+
+@Jordan:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
+ conventional short form: Jordan
+ local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah
+ local short form: Al Urdun
+ former: Transjordan
+
+ Digraph: JO
+
+ Type: constitutional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Amman
+
+ Administrative divisions: 8 governorates (muhafazat, singular -
+ muhafazah); Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az
+ Zarqa', Irbid, Ma'an
+
+ Independence: 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under
+ British administration)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
+
+ Constitution: 8 January 1952
+
+ Legal system: based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review
+ of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not
+ accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: King HUSSEIN Bin Talal Al Hashimi (since 11 August
+ 1952)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Zayd BIN SHAKIR (since 8 January
+ 1995)
+ cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Majlis al-'Umma)
+ House of Notables (Majlis al-A'ayan): consists of a 40-member body
+ appointed by the king from designated categories of public figures
+ House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1993 (next to
+ be held NA November 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA;
+ seats - (80 total) Muslim Brotherhood (fundamentalist) 16, Independent
+ Islamic bloc (generally traditionalist) 6, Radical leftist 3,
+ pro-government 55
+ note: the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolved by
+ the King several times since 1974 and in November 1989 the first
+ parliamentary elections in 22 years were held
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Cassation
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Al-'Ahd (Pledge) Party, Sec. Gen. 'Abd
+ al-Hadi al-MAJALI; Al-Ahrar (Liberals) Party, Sec. Gen. Ahmad
+ al-ZU'BI; Al-Hurriyah (Freedom) Party, Sec. Gen. Fawwaz al-ZUBI;
+ Al-Watan (Homeland) Party, leader 'Akif al-FAYIZ; Al-Yaqazah
+ (Awakening) Party, Sec. Gen. 'Abd al-Ra'uf al-RAWABIDAH;
+ Constitutional Jordanian Arab Front Party, leader Milhim al-TALL;
+ Democratic Arab Islamic Movement Party-Du'a', Sec. Gen. Yusuf Abu
+ BAKR; Democratic Arab Unionist Party-Wad, Sec. Gen. Anis al-MU'ASHIR;
+ Islamic Action Front (IAF), Sec. Gen. Ishaq al-FARHAN; Jordanian Arab
+ Democratic Party, Sec. Gen. Mu'nis al-RAZZAZ; Jordanian Arab Masses
+ Party, Sec. Gen. 'Abd al-Khaliq SHATAT; Jordanian Arab Socialist Ba'th
+ Party, Command First Secretary Taysir al-HIMSI; Jordanian Communist
+ Party (JCP), Sec. Gen. Ya'qub ZAYADIN; Jordanian Democratic Popular
+ Unity Party, Sec. Gen. 'Azmi al-KHAWAJA; Jordanian Democratic
+ Progressive Party, Sec. Gen. 'Ali 'AMIR; Jordanian National Alliance
+ Party, Sec. Gen. Mijhim al-KHURAYSHAH; Jordanian People's Democratic
+ Party-Hashd, Sec. Gen. Taysir al-ZIBRI; Jordanian Socialist Democratic
+ Party, Sec. Gen. 'Isa MADANAT; Pan-Arab Action Front Party, Sec. Gen.
+ Muhammad al-ZU'BI; Popular Unity Party-the Unionists, Sec. Gen. Talal
+ al-RAMAHI; Progress and Justice Party, Sec. Gen. 'Ali al-SA'D;
+ Progressive Arab Ba'th Party, Command Secretary Mahmud al-MA'AYITAH;
+ Al-Mustaqbal (Future) Party, Sec. Gen. Sulayman 'ARAR
+
+ Member of: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77,
+ IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
+ IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent),
+ ITU, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIL,
+ UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Fayiz A. TARAWNEH
+ chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664
+ FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Wesley E. EGAN, Jr.
+ embassy: Jabel Amman, Amman
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; APO AE 09892-0200
+ telephone: [962] (6) 820101
+ FAX: [962] (6) 820159
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), white, and green
+ with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a small
+ white seven-pointed star; the seven points on the star represent the
+ seven fundamental laws of the Koran
+
+@Jordan:Economy
+
+ Overview: Jordan benefited from increased Arab aid during the oil boom
+ of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when its annual real GNP growth
+ averaged more than 10%. In the remainder of the 1980s, however,
+ reductions in both Arab aid and worker remittances slowed real
+ economic growth to an average of roughly 2% per year. Imports - mainly
+ oil, capital goods, consumer durables, and food - outstripped exports,
+ with the difference covered by aid, remittances, and borrowing. In
+ mid-1989, the Jordanian Government began debt-rescheduling
+ negotiations and agreed to implement an IMF-supported program designed
+ to gradually reduce the budget deficit and implement badly needed
+ structural reforms. The Persian Gulf crisis that began in August 1990,
+ however, aggravated Jordan's already serious economic problems,
+ forcing the government to shelve the IMF program, stop most debt
+ payments, and suspend rescheduling negotiations. Aid from Gulf Arab
+ states, worker remittances, and trade contracted; and refugees flooded
+ the country, producing serious balance-of-payments problems, stunting
+ GDP growth, and straining government resources. The economy rebounded
+ in 1992, largely due to the influx of capital repatriated by workers
+ returning from the Gulf, but the recovery was uneven throughout 1994.
+ The government is implementing the reform program adopted in 1992 and
+ continues to secure rescheduling and write-offs of its heavy foreign
+ debt. Debt, poverty, and unemployment remain Jordan's biggest on-going
+ problems.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $17 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $4,280 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 16% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $2 billion
+ expenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $630
+ million (1995 est.)
+
+ Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: phosphates, fertilizers, potash, agricultural products,
+ manufactures
+ partners: India, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, EU, Indonesia, UAE
+
+ Imports: $3.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
+ commodities: crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, food, live
+ animals, manufactured goods
+ partners: EU, US, Iraq, Japan, Turkey
+
+ External debt: $6 billion (March 1995 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 3% (1993 est.); accounts for 20% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,050,000 kW
+ production: 4.2 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,072 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: phosphate mining, petroleum refining, cement, potash,
+ light manufacturing
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 8% of GDP; wheat, barley, citrus
+ fruit, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats, poultry; large net
+ importer of food
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.7 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $1.5 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $9.5 billion;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $44 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils
+
+ Exchange rates: Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - 0.6994 (January
+ 1995), 0.5987 (1994), 0.6928 (1993), 0.6797 (1992), 0.6808 (1991),
+ 0.6636 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Jordan:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 789 km
+ narrow gauge: 789 km 1.050-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 7,500 km
+ paved: asphalt 5,500 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 2,000 km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 209 km
+
+ Ports: Al'Aqabah
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 61,678 GRT/113,080 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 1, oil tanker 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 17
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 9
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Jordan:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 81,500 telephones; adequate telephone system
+ local: NA microwave, cable, and radio links
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1
+ ARABSAT earth station; coaxial cable and microwave to Iraq, Saudi
+ Arabia, and Syria; microwave link to Lebanon is inactive; participant
+ in MEDARABTEL, a microwave radio relay network linking Syria, Jordan,
+ Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 7, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 8 and 1 TV receive-only satellite link
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Jordan:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF; includes Royal Jordanian Land
+ Force, Royal Naval Force, and Royal Jordanian Air Force); Ministry of
+ the Interior's Public Security Force (falls under JAF only in wartime
+ or crisis situations)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 981,004; males fit for military
+ service 699,891; males reach military age (18) annually 45,494 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $564.2 million, 9.1%
+ of GDP (1995 est.)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+JUAN DE NOVA ISLAND
+
+ (possession of France)
+
+@Juan De Nova Island:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about
+ one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 4.4 sq km
+ land area: 4.4 sq km
+ comparative area: about 7.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 24.1 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 12 nm
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claimed by Madagascar
+
+ Climate: tropical
+
+ Terrain: NA
+
+ Natural resources: guano deposits and other fertilizers
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 90%
+ other: 10%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: periodic cyclones
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: wildlife sanctuary
+
+@Juan De Nova Island:People
+
+ Population: uninhabited
+
+@Juan De Nova Island:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Juan de Nova Island
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: Ile Juan de Nova
+
+ Digraph: JU
+
+ Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic,
+ resident in Reunion
+
+ Capital: none; administered by France from Reunion
+
+ Independence: none (possession of France)
+
+@Juan De Nova Island:Economy
+
+ Overview: no economic activity
+
+@Juan De Nova Island:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: NA km; short line going to a jetty
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Juan De Nova Island:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of France
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+KAZAKHSTAN
+
+@Kazakhstan:Geography
+
+ Location: Central Asia, northwest of China
+
+ Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian
+ States
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 2,717,300 sq km
+ land area: 2,669,800 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than four times the size of Texas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 12,012 km, China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,051 km,
+ Russia 6,846 km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+ note: Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea (1,015 km) and the Caspian Sea
+ (1,894 km)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined
+
+ Climate: continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid
+
+ Terrain: extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the
+ plains in western Siberia to oasis and desert in Central Asia
+
+ Natural resources: major deposits of petroleum, coal, iron ore,
+ manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc,
+ bauxite, gold, uranium
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 15%
+ permanent crops: NEGL%
+ meadows and pastures: 57%
+ forest and woodland: 4%
+ other: 24%
+
+ Irrigated land: 23,080 sq km (1990)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with
+ its former defense industries and test ranges are found throughout the
+ country and pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial
+ pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers which
+ flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is
+ drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides
+ and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and
+ blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil
+ pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salinization from
+ faulty irrigation practices
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Ship Pollution;
+ signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Kazakhstan:People
+
+ Population: 17,376,615 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 30% (female 2,589,509; male 2,664,952)
+ 15-64 years: 63% (female 5,531,519; male 5,371,563)
+ 65 years and over: 7% (female 820,900; male 398,172) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.62% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 19.26 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.93 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -5.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 40 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 68.25 years
+ male: 63.61 years
+ female: 73.13 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.43 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Kazakhstani(s)
+ adjective: Kazakhstani
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Kazakh (Qazaq) 41.9%, Russian 37%, Ukrainian 5.2%,
+ German 4.7%, Uzbek 2.1%, Tatar 2%, other 7.1% (1991 official data)
+
+ Religions: Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%
+
+ Languages: Kazakh (Qazaqz) official language spoken by over 40% of
+ population, Russian (language of interethnic communication) spoken by
+ two-thirds of population and used in everyday business
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
+ total population: 98%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 96%
+
+ Labor force: 7.356 million
+ by occupation: industry and construction 31%, agriculture and forestry
+ 26%, other 43% (1992)
+
+@Kazakhstan:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan
+ conventional short form: Kazakhstan
+ local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy
+ local short form: none
+ former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
+
+ Digraph: KZ
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Almaty
+
+ Administrative divisions: 19 oblystar (singular - oblys) and 1 city
+ (qalalar, singular - qala)*; Almaty Qalasy*, Almaty Oblysy, Aqmola
+ Oblysy, Aqtobe Oblysy, Atyrau Oblysy, Batys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oral),
+ Kokshetau Oblysy, Mangghystau Oblysy (Aqtau), Ongtustik Qazaqstan
+ Oblysy (Shymkent), Qaraghandy Oblysy, Qostanay Oblysy, Qyzylorda
+ Oblysy, Pavlodar Oblysy, Semey Oblysy, Shyghys Qazaqstan Oblysy
+ (Oskemen; formerly Ust'-Kamenogorsk), Soltustik Qazaqstan Oblysy
+ (Petropavl), Taldyqorghan Oblysy, Torghay Oblysy, Zhambyl Oblysy,
+ Zhezqazghan Oblysy
+ note: names in parentheses are administrative centers when name
+ differs from oblys name
+
+ Independence: 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 16 December (1991)
+
+ Constitution: adopted 28 January 1993
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Nursultan NAZARBAYEV (since NA April 1990);
+ Vice President Yerik ASANBAYEV (since 1 December 1991); election last
+ held 1 December 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Nursultan A.
+ NAZARBAYEV ran unopposed; note - NAZARBAYEV has extended his term to
+ the year 2000 by a nationwide referendum held 30 April 1995
+ head of government: Prime Minister Akezhan KAZHEGELDIN (since 12
+ October 1994); First Deputy Prime Ministers Nigmatzhan ISINGARIN
+ (since 12 October 1994) and Vitalia METTE (since March 1995)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Supreme Council: elections last held 7 March 1994 (next to be held NA
+ 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (177 total)
+ Union Peoples' Unity of Kazakhstan 33, Confederation of Trade Unions
+ of the Republic of Kazakhstan 11, Peoples' Congress of Kazakhstan
+ Party 9, Socialist Party of Kazakhstan 8, Peasant Union of the
+ Republic Kazakhstan 4, Social Movement LAD 4, Organization of Veterans
+ 1, Union of Youth of Kazakhstan 1, Democratic Committee for Human
+ Rights 1, Association of Lawyers of Kazakhstan 1, International Public
+ Committee "Aral-Asia-Kazakhstan" 1, Congress of Entrepreneurs of
+ Kazakhstan 1, Deputies of the 12th Supreme Soviet 40, independents 62
+ note: the Supreme Council disbanded 12 March 1995 following a
+ Constitutional Court ruling that the March 1994 elections were invalid
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: People's Unity Party (PUP; was Union of
+ People's Unity), Kuanysh SULTANOV, chairman; People's Congress of
+ Kazakhstan (PCK), Olzhas SULEYMENOV, chairman; Socialist Party of
+ Kazakhstan (SPK; former Communist Party), Yermukhamet YERTYSHBAYEV,
+ co-chairman; Republican Party (Azat), Kamal ORMANTAYEV, chairman;
+ Democratic Progress (Russian) Party, Alexandra DOKUCHAYEVA, chairman;
+ Confederation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Peasant
+ Union of the Republic Kazakhstan (KPU); Social Movement LAD, V.
+ MIKHAYLOV, chairman; Union of Youth of Kazakhstan; Democratic
+ Committee for Human Rights; Association of Lawyers of Kazakhstan;
+ International Public Committee "Aral-Asia-Kazakhstan"; Congress of
+ Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan; Deputies of the 12th Supreme Soviet;
+ People's Cooperative Party, Umirzak SARSENOV, chairman; Organization
+ of Veterans
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Independent Trade Union Center
+ (Birlesu; an association of independent trade union and business
+ associations), Leonid SOLOMIN, president
+
+ Member of: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
+ IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
+ NACC, OIC (observer), OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
+ WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Tuleutai S. SULEYMENOV
+ chancery: (temporary) 3421 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
+ 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 333-4504 through 4507
+ FAX: [1] (202) 333-4509
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador William H. COURTNEY
+ embassy: 99/97 Furmanova Street, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan 480012
+
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [7] (3272) 63-24-26
+ FAX: [7] (3272) 63-38-83
+
+ Flag: sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sun
+ with 32 rays soaring above a golden steppe eagle in the center; on the
+ hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in yellow
+
+@Kazakhstan:Economy
+
+ Overview: Kazakhstan, the second largest of the former Soviet states
+ in territory, possesses enormous untapped fossil-fuel reserves as well
+ as plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It also has
+ considerable agricultural potential with its vast steppe lands
+ accommodating both livestock and grain production. Kazakhstan's
+ industrial sector rests on the extraction and processing of these
+ natural resources and also on a relatively large machine building
+ sector specializing in construction equipment, tractors, agricultural
+ machinery, and some defense items. The breakup of the USSR and the
+ collapse of demand for Kazakhstan's traditional heavy industry
+ products have resulted in a sharp contraction of the economy since
+ 1991, with the steepest annual decline occurring in 1994. The
+ government has pursued a moderate program of economic reform and
+ privatization which is gradually lifting state controls over economic
+ activity and shifting assets into the private sector. Nevertheless,
+ government control over key sectors of the economy remains strong.
+ Sustained economic hardships and continued pressures from industrial
+ elites will make it difficult for the government to sustain its
+ policies of monetary and fiscal discipline which had brought down
+ inflation by the end of 1994. Continued lack of pipeline
+ transportation for expanded oil exports has closed off a likely source
+ of economic recovery.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $55.2 billion (1994
+ estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -25% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $3,200 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 24% per month (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 1.1% includes only officially registered
+ unemployed; also large numbers of underemployed workers (1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $3.1 billion (1994)
+ commodities: oil, ferrous and nonferrous metals, chemicals, grain,
+ wool, meat, coal
+ partners: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
+
+ Imports: $3.5 billion (1994)
+ commodities: machinery and parts, industrial materials, oil and gas
+ partners: Russia and other former Soviet republics, China
+
+ External debt: less than $1 billion debt to Russia
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -28% (1994)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 17,380,000 kW
+ production: 65.1 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,750 kWh (1994)
+
+ Industries: accounts for 26% of net national product; extractive
+ industries (oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc,
+ copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur), iron and
+ steel, nonferrous metal, tractors and other agricultural machinery,
+ electric motors, construction materials
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 20% of GDP; employs about 26% of the labor
+ force; grain, mostly spring wheat; meat, cotton, wool
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly
+ for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; used as
+ transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe and North
+ America from Southwest Asia
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: approximately $1 billion in foreign loans and credits
+ allocated in 1994; disbursements projected at $700 billion through
+ 1995
+
+ Currency: national currency the tenge introduced on 15 November 1993
+
+ Exchange rates: tenges per US$1 - 54 (yearend 1994)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Kazakhstan:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 14,460 km in common carrier service; does not include
+ industrial lines
+ broad gauge: 14,460 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 189,000 km
+ paved and graveled: 108,100 km
+ unpaved: earth 80,900 km (1990)
+
+ Inland waterways: Syrdariya River, Ertis River
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 2,850 km; refined products 1,500 km; natural gas
+ 3,480 km (1992)
+
+ Ports: Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen
+ (Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 352
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 7
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 23
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 9
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 9
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 25
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 65
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 190
+
+@Kazakhstan:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 2.2 million telephones; telephone service is poor;
+ about 17 telephones/100 persons in urban areas and 7.6 telephones/100
+ persons in rural areas; Almaty has 184,000 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: land line and microwave radio relay
+ international: international traffic with other former USSR republics
+ and China carried by landline and microwave, and with other countries
+ by satellite and through 8 international telecommunications circuits
+ at the Moscow international gateway switch; INTELSAT earth station;
+ new satellite earth station established at Almaty with Turkish
+ financial help (December 1992) with 2500 channel band width
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: 4.088 million (with multiple speakers for program diffusion
+ 6,082,000)
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: Orbita (TV receive only) earth station
+ televisions: 4.75 million
+
+@Kazakhstan:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Republic National Guard, Republic Security Forces
+ (internal and border troops)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,513,089; males fit for
+ military service 3,605,584; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 154,280 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: 69.3 billion rubles, NA% of GDP (forecast for
+ 1993); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using
+ the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+KENYA
+
+@Kenya:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia
+ and Tanzania
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 582,650 sq km
+ land area: 569,250 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
+
+ Land boundaries: total 3,446 km, Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km,
+ Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km
+
+ Coastline: 536 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: administrative boundary with Sudan does not
+ coincide with international boundary; possible claim by Somalia based
+ on unification of ethnic Somalis
+
+ Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
+
+ Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift
+ Valley; fertile plateau in west
+
+ Natural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barytes, rubies,
+ fluorspar, garnets, wildlife
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 3%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 7%
+ forest and woodland: 4%
+ other: 85%
+
+ Irrigated land: 520 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: water pollution from urban and industrial wastes;
+ degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and
+ fertilizers; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
+ Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
+ Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified -
+ Desertification
+
+ Note: the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful
+ agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers on Mt. Kenya;
+ unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of
+ scientific and economic value
+
+@Kenya:People
+
+ Population: 28,817,227 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 48% (female 6,841,235; male 6,957,908)
+ 15-64 years: 50% (female 7,277,061; male 7,085,925)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 359,659; male 295,439) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.99% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 41.66 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 12.04 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -19.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 73.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 52.41 years
+ male: 50.72 years
+ female: 54.16 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 5.76 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Kenyan(s)
+ adjective: Kenyan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba
+ 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, Asian, European, and Arab 1%, other 15%
+
+ Religions: Protestant (including Anglican) 38%, Roman Catholic 28%,
+ indigenous beliefs 26%, other 8%
+
+ Languages: English (official), Swahili (official), numerous indigenous
+ languages
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
+ total population: 71%
+ male: 81%
+ female: 62%
+
+ Labor force:
+ by occupation: agriculture 75%-80% (1993 est.), non-agriculture
+ 20%-25% (1993 est.)
+
+@Kenya:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Kenya
+ conventional short form: Kenya
+ former: British East Africa
+
+ Digraph: KE
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Nairobi
+
+ Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast,
+ Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western
+
+ Independence: 12 December 1963 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 12 December (1963)
+
+ Constitution: 12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued
+ with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, and 1992
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law, tribal law, and Islamic
+ law; judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction, with reservations; constitutional amendment of 1982
+ making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Daniel Toroitich arap
+ MOI (since 14 October 1978); Vice President George SAITOTI (since 10
+ May 1989); election last held on 29 December 1992 (next to be held NA
+ 1997); results - President Daniel T. arap MOI was reelected with 37%
+ of the vote; Kenneth Matiba (FORD-ASILI) 26%; Mwai Kibaki (SP) 19%,
+ Oginga Odinga (FORD-Kenya) 17%
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Bunge): elections last held on 29 December 1992
+ (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
+ (188 total) KANU 100, FORD-Kenya 31, FORD-Asili 31, DP 23, smaller
+ parties 3; president nominates 12 additional members
+ note: first multiparty election since repeal of one-party state law in
+ 1991
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: ruling party is Kenya African National
+ Union (KANU), President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI; opposition parties
+ include Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD-Kenya), Michael
+ WAMALWA; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD-Asili), Kenneth
+ MATIBA; Democratic Party of Kenya (DP), Mwai KIBAKI
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: labor unions; Roman Catholic
+ Church
+
+ Member of: ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
+ UNOMIL, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Benjamin Edgar KIPKORIR
+ chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101
+ FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829
+ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Aurelia BRAZEAL
+ embassy: corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831
+ telephone: [254] (2) 334141
+ FAX: [254] (2) 340838
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the
+ red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed
+ spears is superimposed at the center
+
+@Kenya:Economy
+
+ Overview: Kenya in recent years has had one of the highest natural
+ rates of growth in population, but the statistics have been
+ complicated by the large-scale movement of nomadic groups and of
+ Somalis back and forth across the border. Population growth has been
+ accompanied by deforestation, deterioration in the road system, the
+ water supply, and other parts of the infrastructure. In industry and
+ services, Nairobi's reluctance to embrace IMF-supported reforms had
+ held back investment and growth in 1991-93. Nairobi's push on economic
+ reform in 1994, however, helped support a 3.3% increase in output.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $33.1 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3.3% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,170 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 35% urban (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $2.4 billion
+ expenditures: $2.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $740
+ million (1990 est.)
+
+ Exports: $1.45 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: tea 25%, coffee 18%, petroleum products 11% (1990)
+ partners: EC 47%, Africa 23%, Asia 11%, US 4%, Middle East 3% (1991)
+
+ Imports: $1.85 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 29%, petroleum and
+ petroleum products 15%, iron and steel 7%, raw materials, food and
+ consumer goods (1989)
+ partners: EC 46%, Asia 23%, Middle East 20%, US 5% (1991)
+
+ External debt: $7 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 3.9% (1991 est.); accounts for 14%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 810,000 kW
+ production: 3.3 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 117 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries,
+ textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), processing agricultural products,
+ oil refining, cement, tourism
+
+ Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for 27% of GDP and 65%
+ of exports; cash crops - coffee, tea; food products - corn, wheat,
+ sugarcane, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, beef, pork, poultry,
+ eggs
+
+ Illicit drugs: widespread harvesting of small, wild plots of marijuana
+ and qat; most locally consumed; transit country for Southwest Asian
+ heroin moving to West Africa and onward to Europe and North America;
+ Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $839 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $7.49 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $74 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $83 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1 - 44.478 (January
+ 1995), 56.051 (1994), 58.001 (1993), 32.217 (1992), 27.508 (1991),
+ 22.915 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Kenya:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 2,650 km
+ narrow gauge: 2,650 km 1.000-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 64,590 km
+ paved: 7,000 km
+ unpaved: gravel 4,150 km; improved earth 53,440 km
+
+ Inland waterways: part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of
+ Kenya
+
+ Pipelines: petroleum products 483 km
+
+ Ports: Kisumu, Lamu, Mombasa
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,883 GRT/6,255 DWT
+ ships by type: barge carrier 1, oil tanker 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 246
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 22
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 83
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 14
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 119
+
+@Kenya:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: over 260,000 telephones; in top group of African
+ systems
+ local: NA
+ intercity: consists primarily of microwave radio relay links
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) earth
+ stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 16, FM 4, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 6
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Kenya:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary General Service Unit of
+ the Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 6,358,344; males fit for
+ military service 3,932,506 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $136 million, 1.9% of
+ GDP (FY93/94)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+KINGMAN REEF
+
+ (territory of the US)
+
+@Kingman Reef:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of
+ the way from Hawaii to American Samoa
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1 sq km
+ land area: 1 sq km
+ comparative area: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 3 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds
+
+ Terrain: low and nearly level with a maximum elevation of about 1
+ meter
+
+ Natural resources: none
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of
+ about 1 meter makes this a maritime hazard
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the
+ public
+
+@Kingman Reef:People
+
+ Population: uninhabited
+
+@Kingman Reef:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Kingman Reef
+
+ Digraph: KQ
+
+ Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Navy,
+ however it is awash the majority of the time, so it is not usable and
+ is uninhabited
+
+ Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
+
+@Kingman Reef:Economy
+
+ Overview: no economic activity
+
+@Kingman Reef:Transportation
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
+
+ Airports: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and
+ American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and
+ 1938
+
+@Kingman Reef:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+KIRIBATI
+
+@Kiribati:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, straddling
+ the equator and the International Date Line, about one-half of the way
+ from Hawaii to Australia
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 717 sq km
+ land area: 717 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of
+ Washington, DC
+ note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,
+ Phoenix Islands
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,143 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
+
+ Terrain: mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
+
+ Natural resources: phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 51%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 3%
+ other: 46%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to
+ March; occasional tornadoes
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species,
+ Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified -
+ Climate Change
+
+ Note: 20 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island) in
+ Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the
+ Pacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia and Nauru
+
+@Kiribati:People
+
+ Population: 79,386 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.95% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 31.25 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 12.31 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 98.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 54.16 years
+ male: 52.56 years
+ female: 55.78 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.73 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
+ adjective: I-Kiribati
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Micronesian
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 52.6%, Protestant (Congregational) 40.9%,
+ Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985)
+
+ Languages: English (official), Gilbertese
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence
+ farmers (1985 est.)
+
+@Kiribati:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati
+ conventional short form: Kiribati
+ former: Gilbert Islands
+
+ Digraph: KR
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Tarawa
+
+ Administrative divisions: 3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,
+ Phoenix Islands
+ note: in addition, there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts,
+ Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21
+ island councils (Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru,
+ Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei,
+ Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa,
+ Teraina; note - one council for each of the inhabited islands)
+
+ Independence: 12 July 1979 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
+
+ Constitution: 12 July 1979
+
+ Legal system: NA
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President (Beretitenti)
+ Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994); Vice President
+ (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October 1994);
+ election last held on 30 September 1994 (next to be held by NA 1999)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from an elected
+ parliament
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu): elections last held on 22
+ July 1994 (next to be held by NA 1999); results - percent of vote by
+ party NA; seats - (40 total; 39 elected) Maneaban Te Mauri 13,
+ National Progressive Party 7, independents 19
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party, Teatao
+ TEANNAKI; Christian Democratic Party, Teburoro TITO; New Movement
+ Party, leader NA; Liberal Party, Tewareka TENTOA; Maneaba Party,
+ Roniti TEIWAKI; Maneaban Te Mauri, leader NA
+ note: there is no tradition of formally organized political parties in
+ Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups
+ because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party
+ structures
+
+ Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IFRCS
+ (associate), IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, ITU,
+ SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: Kiribati has no mission in the US
+
+ US diplomatic representation: the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to
+ Kiribati
+
+ Flag: the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a
+ yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal
+ wavy white stripes to represent the ocean
+
+@Kiribati:Economy
+
+ Overview: A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has
+ few national resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were
+ exhausted at the time of independence in 1979. Copra and fish now
+ represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has
+ fluctuated widely in recent years. Real GDP declined about 5% in 1987,
+ as the fish catch fell sharply to only one-fourth the level of 1986
+ and copra production was hampered by repeated rains. Output rebounded
+ strongly in 1988, with real GDP growing by 10%. The upturn in economic
+ growth came from an increase in copra production and a good fish
+ catch. GDP then fell by 2.2% in 1989 and by 2.9% in 1990, but has
+ risen by about 3% annually in 1991-93. Foreign financial aid, largely
+ from the UK and Japan, is a critical supplement to GDP, amounting to
+ 25%-50% of GDP in recent years.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $62 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.9% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $800 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $29.6 million
+ expenditures: $32.8 million, including capital expenditures of $14
+ million (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $4.2 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
+ commodities: copra 50%, seaweed 16%, fish 15%
+ partners: Denmark, Fiji, US
+
+ Imports: $33.1 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous
+ manufactured goods, fuel
+ partners: Australia 40%, Japan 18%, Fiji 17%, NZ 6%, US 4% (1991)
+
+ External debt: $2 million (December 1989 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 0.7% (1992 est.); accounts for less
+ than 4% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 5,000 kW
+ production: 13 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 131 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: fishing, handicrafts
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 23% of GDP (including fishing); copra and
+ fish contribute about 65% to exports; subsistence farming
+ predominates; food crops - taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes,
+ vegetables; not self-sufficient in food
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $273 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3058 (January
+ 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991),
+ 1.2799 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: NA
+
+@Kiribati:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 640 km
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Inland waterways: small network of canals, totaling 5 km, in Line
+ Islands
+
+ Ports: Banaba, Betio, English Harbor, Kanton
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1 passenger-cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,291
+ GRT/1,295 DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 21
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 11
+
+@Kiribati:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 1,400 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Kiribati:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and
+ paramilitary duties; there are small police posts on all islands); no
+ military force is maintained
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+KOREA, NORTH
+
+@Korea, North:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean peninsula
+ bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and Russia
+
+ Map references: Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 120,540 sq km
+ land area: 120,410 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Mississippi
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,673 km, China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km,
+ Russia 19 km
+
+ Coastline: 2,495 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ military boundary line: 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the exclusive
+ economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and
+ aircraft without permission are banned
+
+ International disputes: short section of boundary with China is
+ indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea
+
+ Climate: temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
+
+ Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys;
+ coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
+
+ Natural resources: coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite,
+ iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 18%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 74%
+ other: 7%
+
+ Irrigated land: 14,000 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: localized air pollution attributable to inadequate
+ industrial controls; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable
+ water
+ natural hazards: late spring droughts often followed by severe
+ flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
+ international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection,
+ Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental
+ Protocol, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia;
+ mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely
+ populated
+
+@Korea, North:People
+
+ Population: 23,486,550 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 30% (female 3,402,672; male 3,540,313)
+ 15-64 years: 66% (female 7,840,465; male 7,741,155)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 622,250; male 339,695) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.78% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 23.31 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.47 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 26.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 70.05 years
+ male: 66.96 years
+ female: 73.29 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.34 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Korean(s)
+ adjective: Korean
+
+ Ethnic divisions: racially homogeneous
+
+ Religions: Buddhism and Confucianism, some Christianity and syncretic
+ Chondogyo
+ note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent;
+ government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of
+ religious freedom
+
+ Languages: Korean
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write Korean (1990 est.)
+ total population: 99%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 9.615 million
+ by occupation: agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%
+ note: shortage of skilled and unskilled labor (mid-1987 est.)
+
+@Korea, North:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
+ conventional short form: North Korea
+ local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
+ local short form: none
+ note: the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer to
+ their country
+
+ Abbreviation: DPRK
+
+ Digraph: KN
+
+ Type: Communist state; Stalinist dictatorship
+
+ Capital: P'yongyang
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3
+ special cities* (jikhalsi, singular and plural); Chagang-do (Chagang
+ Province), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo
+ (South Hamgyong Province), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province),
+ Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province), Kaesong-si* (Kaesong City),
+ Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City),
+ P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South
+ P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (P'yongyang City), Yanggang-do
+ (Yanggang Province)
+
+ Independence: 9 September 1948
+ note: 15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and
+ celebrated in North Korea as National Liberation Day
+
+ National holiday: DPRK Foundation Day, 9 September (1948)
+
+ Constitution: adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972,
+ revised again in April 1992
+
+ Legal system: based on German civil law system with Japanese
+ influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of
+ legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: KIM Chong-il, is the son of and designated successor
+ to former President KIM Il-song (who died 8 July 1994); formal
+ succession has not yet taken place (January 1995); election last held
+ 24 May 1990 (next to be held by NA); results - President KIM Il-song
+ was reelected without opposition
+ head of government: Premier KANG Song-san (since December 1992)
+ cabinet: State Administration Council; appointed by the Supreme
+ People's Assembly
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Supreme People's Assembly (Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui): elections last held
+ on 7-9 April 1990 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
+ party NA; seats - (687 total) the KWP approves a single list of
+ candidates who are elected without opposition; minor parties hold a
+ few seats
+
+ Judicial branch: Central Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: major party - Korean Workers' Party
+ (KWP), KIM Chong-il, secretary, Central Committee; Korean Social
+ Democratic Party, KIM Pyong-sik, chairman; Chondoist Chongu Party, YU
+ Mi-yong, chairwoman
+
+ Member of: ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
+ UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none
+
+ Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and
+ blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red
+ band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star
+
+@Korea, North:Economy
+
+ Overview: More than 90% of this command economy is socialized;
+ agricultural land is collectivized; and state-owned industry produces
+ 95% of manufactured goods. State control of economic affairs is
+ unusually tight even for a Communist country because of the small size
+ and homogeneity of the society and the strict rule of KIM Il-song in
+ the past and now his son, KIM Chong-il. Economic growth during the
+ period 1984-88 averaged 2%-3%, but output declined by 3%-5% annually
+ during 1989-92 because of systemic problems and disruptions in
+ socialist-style economic relations with the former USSR and China. In
+ 1992, output dropped sharply, by perhaps 7%-9%, as the economy felt
+ the cumulative effect of the reduction in outside support. The
+ leadership insisted on maintaining its high level of military outlays
+ from a shrinking economic pie. Moreover, a serious drawdown in
+ inventories and critical shortages in the energy sector have led to
+ increasing interruptions in industrial production. Abundant mineral
+ resources and hydropower have formed the basis of industrial
+ development since World War II. Output of the extractive industries
+ includes coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and
+ precious metals. Manufacturing is centered on heavy industry,
+ including military industry, with light industry lagging far behind.
+ Despite the use of improved seed varieties, expansion of irrigation,
+ and the heavy use of fertilizers, North Korea has not yet become
+ self-sufficient in food production. Indeed, a shortage of arable
+ lands, several years of poor harvests, and a cumbersome distribution
+ system have resulted in chronic food shortages. The collapse of
+ Communism in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in 1989-91 has
+ disrupted important technological links. North Korea remains far
+ behind South Korea in economic development and living standards. GDP
+ is stagnant.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $21.3 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 0% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $920 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $19.3 billion
+ expenditures: $19.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $1.02 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural and
+ fishery products, manufactures (including armaments)
+ partners: China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Germany, Hong Kong
+
+ Imports: $1.64 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery and equipment,
+ consumer goods
+ partners: China, Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Singapore
+
+ External debt: $8 billion (1992 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -7% to -9% (1992 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 9,500,000 kW
+ production: 50 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,053 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: machine building, military products, electric power,
+ chemicals, mining, metallurgy, textiles, food processing
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 25% of GDP and 36% of work force;
+ principal crops - rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; livestock
+ and livestock products - cattle, hogs, pork, eggs; not self-sufficient
+ in grain
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Communist countries, $1.4 billion a year in the 1980s, but
+ very little now
+
+ Currency: 1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon
+
+ Exchange rates: North Korean won (Wn) per US$1 - 2.15 (May 1994), 2.13
+ (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990), 2.3 (December
+ 1989)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Korea, North:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 4,915 km
+ standard gauge: 4,250 km 1.435-m gauge (3,397 km electrified; 159 km
+ double track)
+ narrow gauge: 665 km 0.762-m gauge (1989)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 30,000 km
+ paved: 1,861 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 28,139 km (1992)
+
+ Inland waterways: 2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 37 km
+
+ Ports: Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin,
+ Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 87 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 727,631 GRT/1,149,291 DWT
+
+ ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 70, combination bulk 1, oil tanker 3,
+ passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1
+ note: North Korea owns an additional 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
+ totaling approximately 32,405 DWT that operate under Honduran registry
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 49
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 12
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 6
+
+@Korea, North:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: telephone system is believed to be available only to
+ government officials and not to private individuals
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 earth station near P'yongyang, uses an Indian Ocean
+ INTELSAT satellite; other international connections through Moscow and
+ Beijing
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 18, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: 3.5 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 11
+ televisions: 350,000 (1989)
+
+@Korea, North:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil
+ Security Forces
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 6,753,400; males fit for
+ military service 4,094,854; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 193,480 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - about $5 billion,
+ 20%-25% of GDP (1991 est.); note - the officially announced but
+ suspect figure is $2.2 billion (1994), about 12% of total spending
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+KOREA, SOUTH
+
+@Korea, South:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean peninsula
+ bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea, south of North Korea
+
+ Map references: Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 98,480 sq km
+ land area: 98,190 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Indiana
+
+ Land boundaries: total 238 km, North Korea 238 km
+
+ Coastline: 2,413 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: not specified
+ territorial sea: 12 nm; 3 nm in the Korea Strait
+
+ International disputes: Demarcation Line with North Korea; Liancourt
+ Rocks claimed by Japan
+
+ Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter
+
+ Terrain: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and
+ south
+
+ Natural resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead,
+ hydropower
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 21%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 1%
+ forest and woodland: 67%
+ other: 10%
+
+ Irrigated land: 13,530 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution in large cities; water pollution from
+ the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; driftnet fishing
+ natural hazards: occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods;
+ earthquakes in southwest
+ international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
+ Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Whaling; signed, but not ratified -
+ Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
+
+@Korea, South:People
+
+ Population: 45,553,882 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 24% (female 5,280,998; male 5,640,789)
+ 15-64 years: 71% (female 15,877,182; male 16,291,183)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 1,554,512; male 909,218) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.04% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 15.63 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.18 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 20.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 70.89 years
+ male: 67.69 years
+ female: 74.29 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.66 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Korean(s)
+ adjective: Korean
+
+ Ethnic divisions: homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
+
+ Religions: Christianity 48.6%, Buddhism 47.4%, Confucianism 3%,
+ pervasive folk religion (shamanism), Chondogyo (Religion of the
+ Heavenly Way) 0.2%
+
+ Languages: Korean, English widely taught in high school
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 96%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 94%
+
+ Labor force: 20 million
+ by occupation: services and other 52%, mining and manufacturing 27%,
+ agriculture, fishing, forestry 21% (1991)
+
+@Korea, South:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Korea
+ conventional short form: South Korea
+ local long form: Taehan-min'guk
+ local short form: none
+ note: the South Koreans generally use the term "Hanguk" to refer to
+ their country
+
+ Abbreviation: ROK
+
+ Digraph: KS
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Seoul
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 6
+ special cities* (jikhalsi, singular and plural); Cheju-do,
+ Cholla-bukto, Cholla-namdo, Ch'ungch'ong-bukto, Ch'ungch'ong-namdo,
+ Inch'on-jikhalsi*, Kangwon-do, Kwangju-jikhalsi*, Kyonggi-do,
+ Kyongsang-bukto, Kyongsang-namdo, Pusan-jikhalsi*, Soul-t'ukpyolsi*,
+ Taegu-jikhalsi*, Taejon-jikhalsi*
+
+ Independence: 15 August 1948
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 15 August (1948)
+
+ Constitution: 25 February 1988
+
+ Legal system: combines elements of continental European civil law
+ systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
+
+ Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President KIM Yong-sam (since 25 February 1993);
+ election last held on 18 December 1992 (next to be held NA December
+ 1997); results - KIM Yong-sam (DLP) 41.9%, KIM Tae-chung (DP) 33.8%,
+ CHONG Chu-yong (UPP) 16.3%, other 8%
+ head of government: Prime Minister YI Hong-ku (since 17 December
+ 1994); Deputy Prime Minister HONG Chae-yong (since 4 October 1994) and
+ Deputy Prime Minister KIM Tok (since 23 December 1994)
+ cabinet: State Council; appointed by the president on the prime
+ minister's recommendation
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Kukhoe): elections last held on 24 March 1992;
+ results - DLP 38.5%, DP 29.2%, Unification National Party (UNP) 17.3%
+ (name later changed to UPP), other 15%; seats - (299 total) DLP 149,
+ DP 97, UNP 31, other 22; the distribution of seats as of January 1994
+ was DLP 172, DP 96, UPP 11, other 20
+ note: the change in the distribution of seats reflects the fluidity of
+ the current situation where party members are constantly switching
+ from one party to another
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ majority party: Democratic Liberal Party (DLP), KIM Yong-sam,
+ president
+ opposition: Democratic Party (DP), YI Ki-taek, executive chairman;
+ United People's Party (UPP), KIM Tong-kil, chairman; several smaller
+ parties
+ note: the DLP resulted from a merger of the Democratic Justice Party
+ (DJP), Reunification Democratic Party (RDP), and New Democratic
+ Republican Party (NDRP) on 9 February 1990
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Korean National Council of
+ Churches; National Democratic Alliance of Korea; National Federation
+ of Student Associations; National Federation of Farmers' Associations;
+ National Council of Labor Unions; Federation of Korean Trade Unions;
+ Korean Veterans' Association; Federation of Korean Industries; Korean
+ Traders Association
+
+ Member of: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT,
+ IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
+ IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS (observer),
+ UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador PAK Kun-u
+ chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600
+ consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston,
+ Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San
+ Francisco, and Seattle
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador James T. LANEY
+ embassy: 82 Sejong-Ro, Chongro-ku, Seoul
+ mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, Seoul; APO AP
+ 96205-0001
+ telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114
+ FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845
+ consulate(s): Pusan
+
+ Flag: white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center;
+ there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of
+ Changes) in each corner of the white field
+
+@Korea, South:Economy
+
+ Overview: The driving force behind the economy's dynamic growth has
+ been the planned development of an export-oriented economy in a
+ vigorously entrepreneurial society. Real GDP increased more than 10%
+ annually between 1986 and 1991. This growth ultimately led to an
+ overheated situation characterized by a tight labor market, strong
+ inflationary pressures, and a rapidly rising current account deficit.
+ As a result, in 1992, economic policy focused on slowing the growth
+ rate of inflation and reducing the deficit. Annual growth slowed to
+ 5%, still above the rate in most other countries of the world, and
+ recovered to 6.3% in 1993. The economy expanded by 8.3% in 1994,
+ driven by booming exports.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $508.3 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 8.3% (1994)
+
+ National product per capita: $11,270 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.6% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 2% (November 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $63 billion
+ expenditures: $63 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Exports: $96.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: electronic and electrical equipment, machinery, steel,
+ automobiles, ships, textiles, clothing, footwear, fish
+ partners: US 26%, Japan 17%, EU 14%
+
+ Imports: $102.3 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
+ commodities: machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil,
+ steel, transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains
+ partners: Japan 26%, US 24%, EU 15%
+
+ External debt: $44.1 billion (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 12.1% (1994 est.); accounts for
+ about 45% of GNP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 26,940,000 kW
+ production: 137 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,847 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: electronics, automobile production, chemicals,
+ shipbuilding, steel, textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 8% of GDP and employs 21% of work force
+ (including fishing and forestry); principal crops - rice, root crops,
+ barley, vegetables, fruit; livestock and livestock products - cattle,
+ hogs, chickens, milk, eggs; self-sufficient in food, except for wheat;
+ fish catch of 2.9 million metric tons, seventh-largest in world
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.9 billion;
+ non-US countries (1970-89), $3 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 South Korean won (W) = 100 chun (theoretical)
+
+ Exchange rates: South Korean won (W) per US$1 - 790.48 (January 1995),
+ 803.44 (1994), 802.67 (1993), 780.65 (1992), 733.35 (1991), 707.76
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Korea, South:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 6,763 km
+ standard gauge: 6,716 km 1.435-meter gauge (525 km electrified; 847 km
+ double track)
+ narrow gauge: 47 km 0.610-meter gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 63,200 km
+ paved: expressways 1,550 km
+ unpaved: NA
+ undifferentiated: national highway 12,190 km; provincial, local roads
+ 49,460 km (1991)
+
+ Inland waterways: 1,609 km; use restricted to small native craft
+
+ Pipelines: petroleum products 455 km
+
+ Ports: Chinhae, Inch'on, Kunsan, Masan, Mokp'o, Pohang, Pusan, Ulsan,
+ Yosu
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 412 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,129,796 GRT/9,985,197
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 123, cargo 125, chemical tanker 17, combination
+ bulk 1, combination ore/oil 1, container 61, liquefied gas tanker 13,
+ multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 51, refrigerated cargo
+ 9, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 9
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 114
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 22
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 14
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 63
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
+
+@Korea, South:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 13.3 million telephones; excellent domestic and
+ international services
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 3 INTELSAT (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) earth
+ stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 79, FM 46, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 256 (1 kW or greater 57)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Korea, South:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Maritime
+ Police (Coast Guard)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 13,580,832; males fit for
+ military service 8,701,742; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 405,290 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $14 billion, 3.3% of
+ GNP (1995 est.)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+KUWAIT
+
+@Kuwait:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and
+ Saudi Arabia
+
+ Map references: Middle East
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 17,820 sq km
+ land area: 17,820 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey
+
+ Land boundaries: total 464 km, Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
+
+ Coastline: 499 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: in November 1994, Iraq formally accepted the
+ UN-demarcated border with Kuwait which had been spelled out in
+ Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1993), and 883 (1993);
+ this formally ends earlier claims to Kuwait and to Bubiyan and Warbah
+ islands; ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands disputed by
+ Saudi Arabia
+
+ Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
+
+ Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 8%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 92%
+
+ Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's
+ largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of
+ the water; air and water pollution; desertification
+ natural hazards: sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April,
+ they bring inordinate amounts of rain which can damage roads and
+ houses; sandstorms and duststorms occur throughout the year, but are
+ most common between March and August
+ international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Environmental
+ Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
+ Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
+ Endangered Species, Marine Dumping
+
+ Note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
+
+@Kuwait:People
+
+ Population: 1,817,397 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 34% (female 302,908; male 319,659)
+ 15-64 years: 64% (female 467,163; male 697,849)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 13,476; male 16,342) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 7.46% (1995 est.)
+ note: this rate reflects the continued post-Gulf crisis return of
+ nationals and expatriates
+
+ Birth rate: 21.07 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 2.2 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 55.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 11.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 75.64 years
+ male: 73.33 years
+ female: 78.06 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.93 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Kuwaiti(s)
+ adjective: Kuwaiti
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian
+ 4%, other 7%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 85% (Shi'a 30%, Sunni 45%, other 10%), Christian,
+ Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%
+
+ Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1985)
+ total population: 74%
+ male: 78%
+ female: 69%
+
+ Labor force: 566,000 (1986)
+ by occupation: services 45.0%, construction 20.0%, trade 12.0%,
+ manufacturing 8.6%, finance and real estate 2.6%, agriculture 1.9%,
+ power and water 1.7%, mining and quarrying 1.4%
+ note: 70% of labor force non-Kuwaiti (1986)
+
+@Kuwait:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: State of Kuwait
+ conventional short form: Kuwait
+ local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
+ local short form: Al Kuwayt
+
+ Digraph: KU
+
+ Type: nominal constitutional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Kuwait
+
+ Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular -
+ muhafazah); Al 'Ahmadi, Al Jahrah, Al Kuwayt, Hawalli, Al Farwaniyah
+
+ Independence: 19 June 1961 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 25 February (1948)
+
+ Constitution: approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
+
+ Legal system: civil law system with Islamic law significant in
+ personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: adult males who resided in Kuwait before 1920 and their male
+ descendants at age 21
+ note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996,
+ naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but
+ have been naturalized for thirty years will be eligible to vote
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Amir Shaykh JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 31
+ December 1977)
+ head of government: Prime Minister and Crown Prince SAAD al-Abdallah
+ al-Salim Al Sabah (since 8 February 1978); Deputy Prime Minister SABAH
+ al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 17 October 1992)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the Prime Minister and
+ approved by the Amir
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Majlis al-umma): dissolved 3 July 1986; new
+ elections were held on 5 October 1992 with a second election in the
+ 14th and 16th constituencies held February 1993
+
+ Judicial branch: High Court of Appeal
+
+ Political parties and leaders: none
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: small, clandestine leftist and
+ Shi'a fundamentalist groups are active; several groups critical of
+ government policies are publicly active
+
+ Member of: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO,
+ G-77, GATT, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
+ IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO
+ (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
+ UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador MUHAMMAD al-Sabah al-Salim Al SABAH
+ chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702
+ FAX: [1] (202) 966-0517
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan C. CROCKER
+ embassy: Bneid al-Gar (opposite the Kuwait International Hotel),
+ Kuwait City
+ mailing address: P.O. Box 77 SAFAT, 13001 SAFAT, Kuwait; Unit 69000,
+ Kuwait; APO AE 09880-9000
+ telephone: [965] 2424151 through 2424159
+ FAX: [965] 2442855
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with
+ a black trapezoid based on the hoist side
+
+@Kuwait:Economy
+
+ Overview: Kuwait is a small and relatively open economy with proved
+ crude oil reserves of about 94 billion barrels - 10% of world
+ reserves. Kuwait has rebuilt its war-ravaged petroleum sector; its
+ crude oil production reached at least 2.0 million barrels per day by
+ the end of 1993. The government ran a sizable fiscal deficit in 1993.
+ Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP and 90% of export and
+ government revenues. Kuwait lacks water and has practically no arable
+ land, thus preventing development of agriculture. With the exception
+ of fish, it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of
+ potable water must be distilled or imported. Because of its high per
+ capita income, comparable with Western European incomes, Kuwait
+ provides its citizens with extensive health, educational, and
+ retirement benefits. Per capita military expenditures are among the
+ highest in the world. The economy improved moderately in 1994, with
+ the growth in industry and finance, and should see further gains in
+ 1995, especially if oil prices go up. The World Bank has urged Kuwait
+ to push ahead with privatization, including in the oil industry, but
+ the government will move slowly on this front.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $30.7 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 9.3% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $16,900 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1993)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1992 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $9 billion
+ expenditures: $13 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (FY92/93)
+
+ Exports: $10.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: oil
+ partners: France 16%, Italy 15%, Japan 12%, UK 11%
+
+ Imports: $6.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: food, construction materials, vehicles and parts,
+ clothing
+ partners: US 35%, Japan 12%, UK 9%, Canada 9%
+
+ External debt: $7.2 billion (December 1989 est.)
+ note: external debt has grown substantially in 1991 and 1992 to pay
+ for restoration of war damage
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for NA% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 7,070,000 kW
+ production: 11 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 6,007 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing,
+ building materials, salt, construction
+
+ Agriculture: practically none; extensive fishing in territorial waters
+ and Indian Ocean
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: pledged bilateral aid to less developed countries (1979-89),
+ $18.3 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils
+
+ Exchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1 - 0.2991 (January 1995),
+ 0.2976 (1994), 0.3017 (1993), 0.2934 (1992), 0.2843 (1991), 0.2915
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Kuwait:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 4,270 km
+ paved: bituminous 3,370 km
+ unpaved: gravel, sand, earth 900 km (est.)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 877 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 165
+ km
+
+ Ports: Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al
+ Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,202,558 GRT/3,618,527
+ DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 9, container 3, liquefied gas tanker 7, livestock
+ carrier 4, oil tanker 24
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 8
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Kuwait:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; civil network suffered extensive
+ damage as a result of the Gulf war and reconstruction is still under
+ way with some restored international and domestic capabilities
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: earth stations destroyed during Gulf war and not
+ rebuilt yet; temporary mobile satellite antennae provide international
+ telecommunications; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi
+ Arabia; service to Iraq is nonoperational
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 3
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Kuwait:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, National Guard
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 610,205; males fit for military
+ service 363,735; males reach military age (18) annually 16,170 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.4 billion, 13.3%
+ of GDP (1995)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+KYRGYZSTAN
+
+@Kyrgyzstan:Geography
+
+ Location: Central Asia, west of China
+
+ Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian
+ States
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 198,500 sq km
+ land area: 191,300 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than South Dakota
+
+ Land boundaries: total 3,878 km, China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km,
+ Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: territorial dispute with Tajikistan on
+ southwestern boundary in Isfara Valley area
+
+ Climate: dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in
+ southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
+
+ Terrain: peaks of Tien Shan rise to 7,000 meters, and associated
+ valleys and basins encompass entire nation
+
+ Natural resources: abundant hydroelectric potential; significant
+ deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil
+ and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead,
+ and zinc
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 7%
+ permanent crops: NEGL%
+ meadows and pastures: 42%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 51%
+
+ Irrigated land: 10,320 sq km (1990)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: water pollution; many people get their water directly
+ from contaminated streams and wells, as a result, water-borne diseases
+ are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation
+ practices
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Kyrgyzstan:People
+
+ Population: 4,769,877 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 37% (female 868,108; male 888,479)
+ 15-64 years: 57% (female 1,377,221; male 1,345,990)
+ 65 years and over: 6% (female 185,807; male 104,272) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.5% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 25.97 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.32 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -3.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 45.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 68.13 years
+ male: 63.92 years
+ female: 72.56 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.31 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Kyrgyz(s)
+ adjective: Kyrgyz
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Kirghiz 52.4%, Russian 21.5%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian
+ 2.5%, German 2.4%, other 8.3%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 70%, Russian Orthodox NA%
+
+ Languages: Kirghiz (Kyrgyz) - official language, Russian widely used
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
+ total population: 97%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 96%
+
+ Labor force: 1.836 million
+ by occupation: agriculture and forestry 38%, industry and construction
+ 21%, other 41% (1990)
+
+@Kyrgyzstan:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
+ conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
+ local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
+ local short form: none
+ former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
+
+ Digraph: KG
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Bishkek
+
+ Administrative divisions: 6 oblasttar (singular - oblast) and 1 city*
+ (singular - shaar); Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek),
+ Jalal-Abad Oblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty,
+ Ysyk-Kol Oblasty (Karakol)
+ note: names in parentheses are administrative centers when name
+ differs from oblast name
+
+ Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 2 December; Independence Day, 31
+ August (1991)
+
+ Constitution: adopted 5 May 1993
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990);
+ election last held 12 October 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results
+ - Askar AKAYEV won in uncontested election with 95% of vote and with
+ 90% of electorate voting; note - president elected by Supreme Soviet
+ 28 October 1990, then by popular vote 12 October 1991; AKAYEV won 96%
+ of the vote in a referendum on his status as president on 30 January
+ 1994
+ head of government: Prime Minister Apas DJUMAGULOV (since NA December
+ 1993)
+ cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers; subordinate to the president
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral
+ Assembly of Legislatures: elections last held 5 February 1995 (next to
+ be held no later than NA 1998); 35-member house to which 19 members
+ have been elected so far; next round of runoffs scheduled for 19 April
+ 1995
+ Assembly of Representatives: elections last held 5 February 1995 (next
+ to be held no later than NA 1998); 70-member house to which 60 members
+ have been elected so far; next round of runoffs scheduled for 19 April
+ 1995
+ note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995
+ elections
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ishenbai
+ KADYRBEKOV, chairman; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan (DMK), Kazat
+ AKHMATOV, chairman; National Unity, German KUZNETSOV; Communist Party
+ of Kyrgyzstan (PCK), Sherali SYDYKOV, chairman; Democratic Movement of
+ Free Kyrgyzstan (ErK), Topchubek TURGUNALIYEV, chairman; Republican
+ Popular Party of Kyrgyzstan; Agrarian Party of Kyrgyzstan, A. ALIYEV
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: National Unity Democratic
+ Movement; Peasant Party; Council of Free Trade Unions; Union of
+ Entrepreneurs; Agrarian Party
+
+ Member of: AsDB, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
+ IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE,
+ PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Almas CHUKIN
+ chancery: (temporary) Suite 705, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC
+ 20005
+ telephone: [1] (202) 347-3732, 3733, 3718
+ FAX: [1] (202) 347-3718
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Eileen A. MALLOY
+ embassy: Erkindik Prospekt #66, Bishkek 720002
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [7] (3312) 22-29-20, 22-27-77, 22-26-31, 22-24-73
+ FAX: [7] (3312) 22-35-51
+
+ Flag: red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays
+ representing the 40 Kirghiz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run
+ counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun
+ is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized
+ representation of the roof of the traditional Kirghiz yurt
+
+@Kyrgyzstan:Economy
+
+ Overview: Kyrgyzstan is one of the smallest and poorest states of the
+ former Soviet Union. Its economy is heavily agricultural, growing
+ cotton and tobacco on irrigated land in the south and grain in the
+ foothills of the north and raising sheep and goats on mountain
+ pastures. Its small and obsolescent industrial sector, concentrated
+ around Bishkek, has traditionally relied on Russia and other CIS
+ countries for customers and industrial inputs, including most of its
+ fuel. Since 1990, the economy has contracted by almost 50% as
+ subsidies from Moscow vanished and trade links with other former
+ Soviet republics eroded. At the same time, the Kyrgyz government stuck
+ to tight monetary and fiscal policies in 1994 that succeeded in
+ reducing inflation from 23% per month in 1993 to 5.4% per month in
+ 1994. Moreover, Kyrgyzstan has been the most successful of the Central
+ Asian states in reducing state controls over the economy and
+ privatizing state industries. Nevertheless, restructuring proved to be
+ a slow and painful process in 1994 despite relatively large flows of
+ foreign aid and continued progress on economic reform. The decline in
+ output in 1995 may be much smaller, perhaps 5%, compared with an
+ estimated 24% in 1994.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $8.4 billion (1994
+ estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -24% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,790 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.4% per month (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 0.7% includes officially registered unemployed;
+ also large numbers of unregistered unemployed and underemployed
+ workers (1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $116 million to countries outside the FSU (1994)
+ commodities: wool, chemicals, cotton, ferrous and nonferrous metals,
+ shoes, machinery, tobacco
+ partners: Russia 70%, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and others
+
+ Imports: $92.4 million from countries outside the FSU (1994)
+ commodities: grain, lumber, industrial products, ferrous metals, fuel,
+ machinery, textiles, footwear
+ partners: other CIS republics
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -24% (1994 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 3,660,000 kW
+ production: 12.7 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,700 kWh (1994)
+
+ Industries: small machinery, textiles, food-processing industries,
+ cement, shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors,
+ gold, and rare earth metals
+
+ Agriculture: wool, tobacco, cotton, livestock (sheep, goats, cattle),
+ vegetables, meat, grapes, fruits and berries, eggs, milk, potatoes
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly
+ for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; used as
+ transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe and North
+ America from Southwest Asia
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: IMF aid commitments were $80 million in 1993 and $400
+ million in 1994
+
+ Currency: introduced national currency, the som (10 May 1993)
+
+ Exchange rates: soms per US$1 - 10.6 (yearend 1994)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Kyrgyzstan:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 370 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
+ lines
+ broad gauge: 370 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 30,300 km
+ paved and graveled: 22,600 km
+ unpaved: earth 7,700 km (1990)
+
+ Pipelines: natural gas 200 km
+
+ Ports: Ysyk-Kol (Rybach'ye)
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 54
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 4
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 32
+
+@Kyrgyzstan:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 342,000 telephones (1991); 76 telephones/1,000
+ persons (December 1991); poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied
+ applications for household telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: principally by microwave radio relay
+ international: connections with other CIS countries by landline or
+ microwave and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow
+ international gateway switch and by satellite; 1 GORIZONT and 1
+ INTELSAT satellite link through Ankara to 200 other countries
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: 825,000 (radio receiver systems with multiple speakers for
+ program diffusion 748,000)
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA; note - receives Turkish broadcasts
+ televisions: 875,000
+
+@Kyrgyzstan:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border
+ troops), Civil Defense
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,154,683; males fit for
+ military service 934,167; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 44,526 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+LAOS
+
+@Laos:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand
+
+ Map references: Southeast Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 236,800 sq km
+ land area: 230,800 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Utah
+
+ Land boundaries: total 5,083 km, Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China
+ 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: boundary dispute with Thailand
+
+ Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season
+ (December to April)
+
+ Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
+
+ Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 4%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 3%
+ forest and woodland: 58%
+ other: 35%
+
+ Irrigated land: 1,554 sq km (1992 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the
+ population does not have access to potable water
+ natural hazards: floods, droughts, and blight
+ international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Environmental
+ Modification, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Law of the
+ Sea
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Laos:People
+
+ Population: 4,837,237 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 45% (female 1,084,615; male 1,111,928)
+ 15-64 years: 51% (female 1,280,142; male 1,199,149)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 86,390; male 75,013) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.84% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 42.64 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 14.28 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 99.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 52.2 years
+ male: 50.66 years
+ female: 53.81 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 5.98 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
+ adjective: Lao or Laotian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao
+ Soung (highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien) 9%,
+ ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
+
+ Religions: Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40%
+
+ Languages: Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic
+ languages
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1992)
+ total population: 50%
+ male: 65%
+ female: 35%
+
+ Labor force: 1 million-1.5 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 80% (1992 est.)
+
+@Laos:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
+ conventional short form: Laos
+ local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
+ local short form: none
+
+ Digraph: LA
+
+ Type: Communist state
+
+ Capital: Vientiane
+
+ Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural)
+ and 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural); Attapu,
+ Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha,
+ Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan*,
+ Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
+
+ Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of the
+ Lao People's Democratic Republic)
+
+ Constitution: promulgated 14 August 1991
+
+ Legal system: based on traditional customs, French legal norms and
+ procedures, and Socialist practice
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN (since 25 November 1992)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15
+ August 1991)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president, approved by
+ the Assembly
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly: elections last held on 20 December 1992 (next to be
+ held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (85 total)
+ number of seats by party NA
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Lao People's Revolutionary Party
+ (LPRP), KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president; other parties proscribed
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: non-Communist political groups
+ proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
+
+ Member of: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory
+ user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
+ WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador HIEM PHOMMACHANH
+ chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416, 6417
+ FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Victor L. TOMSETH
+ embassy: Rue Bartholonie, Vientiane
+ mailing address: B. P. 114, Vientiane; American Embassy, Box V, APO AP
+ 96546
+ telephone: [856] (21) 212581, 212582, 212585
+ FAX: [856] (21) 212584
+
+ Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and
+ red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
+
+@Laos:Economy
+
+ Overview: The government of Laos - one of the few remaining official
+ Communist states - has been decentralizing control and encouraging
+ private enterprise since 1986. The results, starting from an extremely
+ low base, have been striking - growth has averaged 7.5% annually since
+ 1988. Even so, Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive
+ infrastructure. It has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and
+ limited external and internal telecommunications. Electricity is
+ available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts
+ for half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The predominant
+ crop is rice. In non-drought years, Laos is self-sufficient overall in
+ food, but each year flood, pests, and localized drought cause
+ shortages in various parts of the country. For the foreseeable future
+ the economy will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other
+ international sources; aid from the former USSR and Eastern Europe has
+ been cut sharply. As in many developing countries, deforestation and
+ soil erosion will hamper efforts to maintain the high rate of GDP
+ growth.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 8.4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $850 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 21% (1992 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA
+
+ Exports: $277 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: electricity, wood products, coffee, tin, garments
+ partners: Thailand 57%, Germany 10%, France 10%, Japan 5% (1991)
+
+ Imports: $528 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufactures
+ partners: Thailand 55%, Japan 16%, China 8%, Italy 4% (1991)
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 7.5% (1992 est.); accounts for 18%
+ of GDP (1992 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 260,000 kW
+ production: 870 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 44 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power,
+ agricultural processing, construction
+
+ Agriculture: principal crops - rice (80% of cultivated land), sweet
+ potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton; livestock -
+ buffaloes, hogs, cattle, poultry
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, opium poppy for the
+ international drug trade, fourth largest opium producer (85 metric
+ tons in 1994); heroin producer; increasingly used as transshipment
+ point for heroin produced in Burma
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $276 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $605 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $995 million;
+ international assistance in loans and grant aid (1993/94) $217.7
+ million
+
+ Currency: 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at
+
+ Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1 - 717 (1994 est.), 720 (July
+ 1993). 710 (May 1992), 710 (December 1991), 700 (September 1990), 576
+ (1989)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
+
+@Laos:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 14,130 km
+ paved: 2,260 km
+ unpaved: 11,870 km (1992 est.)
+
+ Inland waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries;
+ 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing
+ less than 0.5 m
+
+ Pipelines: petroleum products 136 km
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 52
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 25
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 17
+
+@Laos:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 7,390 telephones (1986); service to general public
+ very poor; radio communications network provides generally erratic
+ service to government users
+ local: 16 telephone lines per 1,000 people
+ intercity: radio communications
+ international: 1 earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 2
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Laos:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine naval and militia
+ elements), Air Force, National Police Department
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,051,105; males fit for
+ military service 567,017; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 51,437 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $105 million, 8.1% of
+ GDP (FY92/93)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+LATVIA
+
+@Latvia:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia
+ and Lithuania
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 64,100 sq km
+ land area: 64,100 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,078 km, Belarus 141 km, Estonia 267 km,
+ Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km
+
+ Coastline: 531 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+
+ International disputes: the Abrene section of border ceded by the
+ Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944
+
+ Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters
+
+ Terrain: low plain
+
+ Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 27%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 13%
+ forest and woodland: 39%
+ other: 21%
+
+ Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1990)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air and water pollution because of a lack of waste
+ conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted;
+ contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum
+ products at military bases
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Hazardous Wastes,
+ Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate
+ Change
+
+@Latvia:People
+
+ Population: 2,762,899 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 22% (female 294,521; male 304,830)
+ 15-64 years: 65% (female 933,003; male 870,128)
+ 65 years and over: 13% (female 247,476; male 112,941) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.5% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 13.71 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 12.49 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 3.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 21 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 69.65 years
+ male: 64.6 years
+ female: 74.95 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.97 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Latvian(s)
+ adjective: Latvian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Byelorussian 4.5%,
+ Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%, other 4.2%
+
+ Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
+
+ Languages: Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
+ total population: 100%
+ male: 100%
+ female: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 1.407 million
+ by occupation: industry and construction 41%, agriculture and forestry
+ 16%, other 43% (1990)
+
+@Latvia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Latvia
+ conventional short form: Latvia
+ local long form: Latvijas Republika
+ local short form: Latvija
+ former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
+
+ Digraph: LG
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Riga
+
+ Administrative divisions: 26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7
+ municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons,
+ Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles
+ Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons,
+ Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*, Liepajas
+ Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons,
+ Preiju Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus
+ Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons,
+ Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
+
+ Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918)
+
+ Constitution: newly elected Parliament in 1993 restored the 1933
+ constitution
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993);
+ Parliament (Saeima) elected President ULMANIS in the third round of
+ balloting on 7 July 1993
+ head of government: Prime Minister Maris GAILIS (since September 1994)
+
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the Supreme Council
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Parliament (Saeima): elections last held 5-6 June 1993 (next to be
+ held NA October 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
+ (100 total) LC 36, LNNK 15, Concord for Latvia 13, LZS 12, Equal
+ Rights 7, LKDS 6, TUB 6, DCP 5
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Latvian Way Union (LC), Valdis BIRKAVS;
+ Latvian Farmers Union (LZS), Alvars BERKIS; Latvian National
+ Independence Movement (LNNK), Andrejs KRASTINS, Aristids LAMBERGS,
+ cochairmen; Concord for Latvia, Janis JURKANS; Equal Rights, Sergejs
+ DIMANIS; Christian Democrat Union (LKDS), Peteris CIMDINS, Andris
+ SAULITIS, Janis RUSKO; Fatherland and Freedom (TUB), Maris GRINBLATS,
+ Roberts MILBERGS, Oigerts DZENTIS; Democratic Center (DCP), Ints
+ CALITIS; Popular Front of Latvia (LTF), Uldis AUGSTKALNS
+
+ Member of: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
+ IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL,
+ IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
+ UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS
+ chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
+ telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214
+ FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Ints M, SILINS
+ embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, Riga 226050
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [371] (2) 213-962
+ FAX: [371] 882-0047 (cellular)
+
+ Flag: two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom), white (middle,
+ narrower than other two bands)
+
+@Latvia:Economy
+
+ Overview: Latvia is rapidly becoming a dynamic market economy, rivaled
+ only by Estonia among the former Soviet states in the speed of its
+ transformation. However, the transition has been painful; in 1994 the
+ IMF reported a 2% growth in GDP, following steep declines in 1992-93.
+ The government's tough monetary policies and reform program have kept
+ inflation at less than 2% a month, supported a dynamic private sector
+ now accounting for more than half of GDP, and spurred the growth of
+ trade ties with the West. Much of agriculture is already privatized
+ and the government plans to step up the pace of privatization of state
+ enterprises. Latvia thus is in the midst of recovery, helped by the
+ country's strategic location on the Baltic Sea, its well-educated
+ population, and its diverse - albeit largely obsolete - industrial
+ structure.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (1994
+ estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $4,480 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.9% (monthly average 1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 6.5% (December 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $1 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: oil products, timber, ferrous metals, dairy products,
+ furniture, textiles
+ partners: Russia, Germany, Sweden, Belarus
+
+ Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
+ commodities: fuels, cars, ferrous metals, chemicals
+ partners: Russia, Germany, Sweden, Ukraine
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -9.5% (1994 est.); accounts for 27%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 2,080,000 kW
+ production: 5.5 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,864 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: highly diversified; dependent on imports for energy, raw
+ materials, and intermediate products; produces buses, vans, street and
+ railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers,
+ washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed
+ foods, textiles
+
+ Agriculture: principally dairy farming and livestock feeding; products
+ - meat, milk, eggs, grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; fishing
+ and fish packing
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and
+ Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; limited producer
+ of illicit opium; mostly for domestic consumption; also produces
+ illicit amphetamines for export
+
+ Economic aid: $NA
+
+ Currency: 1 lat = 100 cents; introduced NA March 1993
+
+ Exchange rates: lats per US$1 - 0.55 (December 1994), 0.5917 (January
+ 1994), 1.32 (March 1993)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Latvia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 2,400 km
+ broad gauge: 2,400 km 1.520-m gauge (270 km electrified)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 59,500 km
+ paved and graveled: 33,000 km
+ unpaved: earth 26,500 km (1990)
+
+ Inland waterways: 300 km perennially navigable
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560
+ km (1992)
+
+ Ports: Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 85 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 774,182 GRT/1,010,517 DWT
+
+ ships by type: cargo 17, oil tanker 37, refrigerated cargo 24,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 7
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 50
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 27
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 10
+
+@Latvia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 660,000 telephones; 240 telephones/1,000 persons
+ (1993); Latvia is better provided with telephone service than most of
+ the other former Soviet republics; an NMT-450 analog cellular
+ telephone network covers 75% of Latvia's population
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: international traffic carried by leased connection to
+ the Moscow international gateway switch and through the new Ericsson
+ AXE local/transit digital telephone exchange in Riga and through the
+ Finnish cellular net; electronic mail capability by Sprint data
+ network
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Latvia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Security
+ Forces (internal and border troops), Border Guard, Home Guard
+ (Zemessardze)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 658,193; males fit for military
+ service 517,896; males reach military age (18) annually 18,736 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: 176 million rubles, 3% to 5% of GDP (1994); note
+ - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the
+ prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+LEBANON
+
+ Note--Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political
+ institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since the end of
+ the devastating 16-year civil war which began in 1975. Under the Ta'if
+ accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have
+ established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving
+ Muslims a greater say in the political process. Since December 1990,
+ the Lebanese have formed three cabinets and conducted the first
+ legislative election in 20 years. Most of the militias have been
+ weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has seized vast
+ quantities of weapons used by the militias during the war and extended
+ central government authority over about one-half of the country.
+ Hizballah, the radical Sh'ia party, retains most of its weapons.
+ Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel maintains troops
+ in southern Lebanon and continues to support a proxy militia, The Army
+ of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow stretch of territory contiguous
+ to its border. The ASL's enclave encompasses this self-declared
+ security zone and about 20 kilometers north to the strategic town of
+ Jazzine. As of December 1993, Syria maintained about 30,000-35,000
+ troops in Lebanon. These troops are based mainly in Beirut, North
+ Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by
+ the Arab League early in Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if accord.
+ Citing the continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and
+ failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the
+ constitutional reforms in the Ta'if accord, Damascus has so far
+ refused to withdraw its troops from Beirut.
+
+@Lebanon:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel
+ and Syria
+
+ Map references: Middle East
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 10,400 sq km
+ land area: 10,230 sq km
+ comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Connecticut
+
+ Land boundaries: total 454 km, Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
+
+ Coastline: 225 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: separated from Israel by the 1949 Armistice
+ Line; Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982; Syrian
+ troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976
+
+ Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry
+ summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
+
+ Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separates
+ Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains
+
+ Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a
+ water-deficit region
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 21%
+ permanent crops: 9%
+ meadows and pastures: 1%
+ forest and woodland: 8%
+ other: 61%
+
+ Irrigated land: 860 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air
+ pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of
+ industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil
+ spills
+ natural hazards: duststorms, sandstorms
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified -
+ Desertification, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine
+ Life Conservation
+
+ Note: Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an
+ international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate,
+ protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion,
+ clan, and ethnicity
+
+@Lebanon:People
+
+ Population: 3,695,921 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 36% (female 657,403; male 682,757)
+ 15-64 years: 58% (female 1,131,450; male 1,016,859)
+ 65 years and over: 6% (female 111,585; male 95,867) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.15% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 27.9 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.44 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 38 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 69.69 years
+ male: 67.22 years
+ female: 72.28 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.31 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Lebanese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
+
+ Religions: Islam 70% (5 legally recognized Islamic groups - Alawite or
+ Nusayri, Druze, Isma'ilite, Shi'a, Sunni), Christian 30% (11 legally
+ recognized Christian groups - 4 Orthodox Christian, 6 Catholic, 1
+ Protestant), Judaism NEGL%
+
+ Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Armenian, English
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 80%
+ male: 88%
+ female: 73%
+
+ Labor force: 650,000
+ by occupation: industry, commerce, and services 79%, agriculture 11%,
+ government 10% (1985)
+
+@Lebanon:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Lebanon
+ conventional short form: Lebanon
+ local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
+ local short form: none
+
+ Digraph: LE
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Beirut
+
+ Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular -
+ muhafazah); Al Biqa, 'Al Janub, Ash Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal Lubnan
+
+ Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under
+ French administration)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
+
+ Constitution: 23 May 1926, amended a number of times
+
+ Legal system: mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and
+ civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted
+ compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for
+ women at age 21 with elementary education
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Ilyas HARAWI (since 24 November 1989); note
+ - by custom, the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister
+ is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of the legislature is a Shi'a
+ Muslim
+ head of government: Prime Minister Rafiq HARIRI (since 22 October
+ 1992)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; chosen by the president in consultation with the
+ members of the National Assembly
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly: (Arabic - Majlis Alnuwab, French - Assemblee
+ Nationale) Lebanon's first legislative election in 20 years was held
+ in the summer of 1992; the National Assembly is composed of 128
+ deputies, one-half Christian and one-half Muslim; its mandate expires
+ in 1996
+
+ Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and
+ commercial cases and one court for criminal cases)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: political party activity is organized
+ along largely sectarian lines; numerous political groupings exist,
+ consisting of individual political figures and followers motivated by
+ religious, clan, and economic considerations
+
+ Member of: ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77,
+ IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
+ IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Riyad TABBARAH
+ chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300
+ FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324
+ consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: (vacant)
+ embassy: Antelias, Beirut
+ address: P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut; PSC 815, Box 2, Beirut; FPO AE
+ 09836-0002
+ telephone: [961] (1) 402200, 403300, 416502, 426183, 417774
+ FAX: [961] (1) 407112
+
+ Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and
+ red with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band
+
+@Lebanon:Economy
+
+ Overview: The 1975-1991 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic
+ infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended
+ Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. A
+ tentative peace has enabled the central government to begin restoring
+ control in Beirut, collect taxes, and regain access to key port and
+ government facilities. The battered economy has also been propped up
+ by a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and
+ medium-scale manufacturers. Family remittances, banking transactions,
+ manufactured and farm exports, the narcotics trade, and international
+ emergency aid are the main sources of foreign exchange. In the
+ relatively settled year of 1991, industrial production, agricultural
+ output, and exports showed substantial gains. The further rebuilding
+ of the war-ravaged country was delayed in 1992 because of an upturn in
+ political wrangling. In October 1992, Rafiq HARIRI was appointed Prime
+ Minister. HARIRI, a wealthy entrepreneur, announced ambitious plans
+ for Lebanon's reconstruction which involve a substantial influx of
+ foreign aid and investment. Progress on restoring basic services is
+ limited. Since Prime Minister HARIRI's appointment, the most
+ significant improvement lies in the stabilization of the Lebanese
+ pound, which had gained over 30% in value by yearend 1993. The years
+ 1993 and 1994 were marked by efforts of the new administration to
+ encourage domestic and foreign investment and to obtain additional
+ international assistance. The construction sector led the 8.5% advance
+ in real GDP in 1994.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $15.8 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 8.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $4,360 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 35% (1993 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.4 billion
+ expenditures: $3.2 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $925 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: agricultural products, chemicals, textiles, precious and
+ semiprecious metals and jewelry, metals and metal products
+ partners: Saudi Arabia 21%, Switzerland 9.5%, Jordan 6%, Kuwait 12%,
+ US 5%
+
+ Imports: $4.1 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: consumer goods, machinery and transport equipment,
+ petroleum products
+ partners: Italy 14%, France 12%, US 6%, Turkey 5%, Saudi Arabia 3%
+
+ External debt: $765 million (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 25% (1993 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,220,000 kW
+ production: 2.5 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 676 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: banking, food processing, textiles, cement, oil refining,
+ chemicals, jewelry, some metal fabricating
+
+ Agriculture: principal products - citrus fruits, vegetables, potatoes,
+ olives, tobacco, hemp (hashish), sheep, goats; not self-sufficient in
+ grain
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of hashish and heroin for the
+ international drug trade; hashish production is shipped to Western
+ Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America; increasingly a
+ key locus of cocaine processing and trafficking; a Lebanese/Syrian
+ 1994 eradication campaign eliminated the opium crop and caused a 50%
+ decrease in the cannabis crop
+
+ Economic aid: the government estimates that it has received $1.7
+ billion in aid and has an additional $725 million in commitments to
+ support its $3 billion National Emergency Recovery Program
+
+ Currency: 1 Lebanese pound (#L) = 100 piasters
+
+ Exchange rates: Lebanese pounds (#L) per US$1 - 1,644.6 (January
+ 1995), 1,680.1 (1994), 1,741.4 (1993), 1,712.8 (1992), 928.23 (1991),
+ 695.09 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Lebanon:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 222 km
+ standard gauge: 222 km 1.435-m
+ note: system in disrepair, considered inoperable
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 7,300 km
+ paved: 6,200 km
+ unpaved: gravel 450 km; improved earth 650 km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 72 km (none in operation)
+
+ Ports: Al Batrun, Al Mina, An Naqurah, Antilyas, Az Zahrani, Beirut,
+ Jubayl, Juniyah, Shikka Jadidah, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 260,383 GRT/381,937 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 41, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk
+ 1, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, livestock carrier 6,
+ refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, specialized tanker 1,
+ vehicle carrier 2
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 9
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Lebanon:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 325,000 telephones; 95 telephones/1,000 persons;
+ telecommunications system severely damaged by civil war; rebuilding
+ still underway
+ local: NA
+ intercity: primarily microwave radio relay and cable
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean) earth
+ stations (erratic operations); coaxial cable to Syria; microwave radio
+ relay to Syria but inoperable beyond Syria to Jordan; 3 submarine
+ coaxial cables
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0; note - numerous AM and FM
+ stations are operated sporadically by various factions
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 13
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Lebanon:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army, Navy, and Air
+ Force)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 857,698; males fit for military
+ service 533,640 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $278 million, 5.5% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+LESOTHO
+
+@Lesotho:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 30,350 sq km
+ land area: 30,350 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
+
+ Land boundaries: total 909 km, South Africa 909 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
+
+ Terrain: mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
+
+ Natural resources: water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds
+ and other minerals
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 10%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 66%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 24%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: population pressure forcing settlement in marginal
+ areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, soil exhaustion;
+ desertification; Highlands Water Project will control, store, and
+ redirect water to South Africa
+ natural hazards: periodic droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Marine Life
+ Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not
+ ratified - Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of
+ the Sea, Marine Dumping
+
+ Note: landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
+
+@Lesotho:People
+
+ Population: 1,992,960 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 41% (female 407,213; male 416,709)
+ 15-64 years: 54% (female 558,106; male 520,961)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 51,809; male 38,162) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.44% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 33.39 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.96 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 67.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 62.56 years
+ male: 60.74 years
+ female: 64.43 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.41 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
+ adjective: Basotho
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans 1,600, Asians 800
+
+ Religions: Christian 80%, rest indigenous beliefs
+
+ Languages: Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1966)
+ total population: 59%
+ male: 44%
+ female: 68%
+
+ Labor force: 689,000 economically active
+ by occupation: 86.2% of resident population engaged in subsistence
+ agriculture; roughly 60% of the active male wage earners work in South
+ Africa
+
+@Lesotho:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
+ conventional short form: Lesotho
+ former: Basutoland
+
+ Digraph: LT
+
+ Type: constitutional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Maseru
+
+ Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe,
+ Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing,
+ Thaba-Tseka
+
+ Independence: 4 October 1966 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
+
+ Constitution: 2 April 1993
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law;
+ judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal;
+ has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: King MOSHOESHOE II (since February 1995)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Ntsu MOKHEHLE (since 2 April 1993)
+ cabinet: Cabinet
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consisting of the Assembly or
+ lower house whose members are chosen by popular election and the
+ Senate or upper house whose members consist of the 22 principal chiefs
+ and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party; election last held
+ in March 1993 (first since 1971); all 65 seats in the Assembly were
+ won by the BCP
+
+ Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal, Magistrate's Court,
+ customary or traditional court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Basotho National Party (BNP), Evaristus
+ SEKHONYANA; Basotho Congress Party (BCP), Ntsu MOKHEHLE; National
+ Independent Party (NIP), A. C. MANYELI; Marematlou Freedom Party
+ (MFP), Vincent MALEBO; United Democratic Party, Charles MOFELI;
+ Communist Party of Lesotho (CPL), Jacob M. KENA
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
+ ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user),
+ INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
+ UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Mokhali A.
+ LITHEBE (since 2 July 1994)
+ chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536
+ FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Myrick BISMARCK
+ embassy: address NA, Maseru
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho
+ telephone: [266] 312666
+ FAX: [266] 310116
+
+ Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper
+ half is white bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with
+ crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a
+ green triangle in the corner
+
+@Lesotho:Economy
+
+ Overview: Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho has no important
+ natural resources other than water. Its economy is based on
+ agriculture, light manufacturing, and remittances from laborers
+ employed in South Africa (these remittances supplement domestic income
+ by as much as 45%). The great majority of households gain their
+ livelihoods from subsistence farming and migrant labor; a large
+ portion of the adult male work force is employed in South African
+ mines. Manufacturing depends largely on farm products to support the
+ milling, canning, leather, and jute industries; other industries
+ include textile, clothing, and construction. Although drought has
+ decreased agricultural activity over the past few years, improvement
+ of a major hydropower facility will permit the sale of water to South
+ Africa and allow Lesotho's economy to continue its moderate growth.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.6 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 6% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,340 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13.9% (1993)
+
+ Unemployment rate: substantial unemployment and underemployment
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $438 million
+ expenditures: $430 million, including capital expenditures of $155
+ million (FY93/94 est.)
+
+ Exports: $109 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: wool, mohair, wheat, cattle, peas, beans, corn, hides,
+ skins, baskets
+ partners: South Africa 42%, EC 28%, North and South America 25% (1991)
+
+ Imports: $964 million (c.i.f., 1992)
+ commodities: mainly corn, building materials, clothing, vehicles,
+ machinery, medicines, petroleum
+ partners: South Africa 94%, Asia 3%, EC 1% (1991)
+
+ External debt: $512 million (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 10%; accounts for 17% of GDP (1993
+ est.)
+
+ Electricity: power supplied by South Africa
+
+ Industries: food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts, tourism
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 50% of GDP (1993 est.); exceedingly
+ primitive, mostly subsistence farming and livestock; principal crops
+ corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $268 million; US
+ (1992), $10.3 million; US (1993 est.), $10.1 million; Western (non-US)
+ countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $819 million;
+ OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $4 million; Communist countries
+ (1970-89), $14 million
+
+ Currency: 1 loti (L) = 100 lisente
+
+ Exchange rates: maloti (M) per US$1 - 3.5389 (January 1995), 3.5490
+ (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990);
+ note - the Basotho loti is at par with the South African rand
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Lesotho:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 2.6 km; note - owned by, operated by, and included in the
+ statistics of South Africa
+ narrow gauge: 2.6 km 1.067-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 7,215 km
+ paved: 572 km
+ unpaved: gravel, stabilized earth 2,337 km; improved earth 1,806 km;
+ unimproved earth 2,500 km (1988)
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 29
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 23
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
+
+@Lesotho:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 5,920 telephones; rudimentary system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: consists of a few land lines, a small microwave radio relay
+ system, and a minor radio communication system
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Lesotho:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and Air Wing),
+ Lesotho Mounted Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 453,844; males fit for military
+ service 244,767 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $25 million, NA% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+LIBERIA
+
+@Liberia:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
+ Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 111,370 sq km
+ land area: 96,320 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,585 km, Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km,
+ Sierra Leone 306 km
+
+ Coastline: 579 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 200 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to
+ cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
+
+ Terrain: mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling
+ plateau and low mountains in northeast
+
+ Natural resources: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 1%
+ permanent crops: 3%
+ meadows and pastures: 2%
+ forest and woodland: 39%
+ other: 55%
+
+ Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: tropical rain forest subject to deforestation; soil
+ erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of rivers from the dumping of
+ iron ore tailings and of coastal waters from oil residue and raw
+ sewage
+ natural hazards: dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara
+ (December to March)
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear Test
+ Ban, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94; signed,
+ but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental
+ Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
+
+@Liberia:People
+
+ Population: 3,073,245 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 44% (female 674,155; male 680,952)
+ 15-64 years: 52% (female 768,147; male 844,326)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 55,575; male 50,090) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.32% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 43.08 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 12.05 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ note: if the Ghanaian-led peace negotiations, under way in 1995, are
+ successful, many Liberian refugees may return from exile
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 110.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 58.17 years
+ male: 55.67 years
+ female: 60.75 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.3 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Liberian(s)
+ adjective: Liberian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle,
+ Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai,
+ and Bella), Americo-Liberians 5% (descendants of former slaves)
+
+ Religions: traditional 70%, Muslim 20%, Christian 10%
+
+ Languages: English 20% (official), Niger-Congo language group about 20
+ local languages come from this group
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 40%
+ male: 50%
+ female: 29%
+
+ Labor force: 510,000 including 220,000 in the monetary economy
+ by occupation: agriculture 70.5%, services 10.8%, industry and
+ commerce 4.5%, other 14.2%
+ note: non-African foreigners hold about 95% of the top-level
+ management and engineering jobs
+
+@Liberia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
+ conventional short form: Liberia
+
+ Digraph: LI
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Monrovia
+
+ Administrative divisions: 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa, Grand
+ Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland,
+ Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe
+
+ Independence: 26 July 1847
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
+
+ Constitution: 6 January 1986
+
+ Legal system: dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American
+ common law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten
+ tribal practices for indigenous sector
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: Chairman of the Council of
+ State David KPOMAKPOR (since March 1994); election last held on 15
+ October 1985; results - Gen. Dr. Samuel Kanyon DOE (NDPL) 50.9%,
+ Jackson DOE (LAP) 26.4%, other 22.7%
+ note: constitutional government ended in September 1990 when President
+ Samuel Kanyon DOE was killed by rebel forces; civil war ensued and in
+ July 1993 the Cotonou Peace Treaty was negotiated by the major warring
+ factions under UN auspices; a transitional coalition government under
+ David KROMAKPOR was formed in March 1994 but has been largely
+ ineffective and unable to implement the provisions of the peace
+ treaty; Ghanaian-led negotiations are now underway to seat a new
+ interim government that would oversee elections proposed for late 1995
+
+ cabinet: Cabinet; selected by the leaders of the major factions in the
+ civil war
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral Transitional Legislative Assembly, the
+ members of which are appointed by the leaders of the major factions in
+ the civil war
+ note: the former bicameral legislature no longer exists and there is
+ no assurance that it will be reconstituted very soon
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party of Liberia
+ (NDPL), Augustus CAINE, chairman; Liberian Action Party (LAP),
+ Emmanuel KOROMAH, chairman; Unity Party (UP), Joseph KOFA, chairman;
+ United People's Party (UPP), Gabriel Baccus MATTHEWS, chairman;
+ National Patriotic Party (NPP), Charles TAYLOR, chairman; Liberian
+ Peoples Party (LPP), Dusty WOLOKOLLIE, chairman
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
+ UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Konah K. BLACKETT
+ chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
+ telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d' Affaires William P. TWADDELL
+ embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, Monrovia
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 100098, Mamba Point, Monrovia
+ telephone: [231] 222991 through 222994
+ FAX: [231] 223710
+
+ Flag: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating
+ with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the
+ upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag
+
+@Liberia:Economy
+
+ Overview: Civil war since 1990 has destroyed much of Liberia's
+ economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia.
+ Businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and expertise with
+ them. Many will not return. Richly endowed with water, mineral
+ resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia
+ had been a producer and exporter of basic products, while local
+ manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope.
+ Political instability threatens prospects for economic reconstruction
+ and repatriation of some 750,000 Liberian refugees who have fled to
+ neighboring countries. The political impasse between the interim
+ government and rebel leader Charles TAYLOR has prevented restoration
+ of normal economic life, including the re-establishment of a strong
+ central government with effective economic development programs. The
+ economy deteriorated further in 1994.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.3 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $770 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $242.1 million
+ expenditures: $435.4 million, including capital expenditures of $29.5
+ million (1989 est.)
+
+ Exports: $505 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.)
+ commodities: iron ore 61%, rubber 20%, timber 11%, coffee
+ partners: US, EC, Netherlands
+
+ Imports: $394 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.)
+ commodities: mineral fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation
+ equipment, rice and other foodstuffs
+ partners: US, EC, Japan, China, Netherlands, ECOWAS
+
+ External debt: $2.1 billion (September 1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA% (1993-94); much industrial
+ damage caused by factional warfare
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 330,000 kW
+ production: 440 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 143 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: rubber processing, food processing, construction
+ materials, furniture, palm oil processing, mining (iron ore, diamonds)
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 40% of GDP (including fishing and
+ forestry); principal products - rubber, timber, coffee, cocoa, rice,
+ cassava, palm oil, sugarcane, bananas, sheep, goats; not
+ self-sufficient in food, imports 25% of rice consumption
+
+ Illicit drugs: increasingly a transshipment point for heroin and
+ cocaine
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $665 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $870 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $25 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $77 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1 - 1.00 (officially
+ fixed rate since 1940); unofficial parallel exchange rate of US$1 -
+ L$7 (January 1992), unofficial rate floats against the US dollar
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Liberia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 490 km (single track); note - three rail systems owned and
+ operated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction with
+ Liberian Government; one of these, the Lamco Railroad, closed in 1989
+ after iron ore production ceased; the other two have been shut down by
+ the civil war
+ standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 10,087 km
+ paved: 603 km
+ unpaved: gravel 5,171 km (includes 2,323 km of private roads of rubber
+ and timber firms, open to the public); earth 4,313 km
+
+ Ports: Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1,549 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 56,709,634
+ GRT/97,038,680 DWT
+ ships by type: barge carrier 3, bulk 392, cargo 121, chemical tanker
+ 114, combination bulk 33, combination ore/oil 57, container 124,
+ liquefied gas tanker 75, oil tanker 459, passenger 32, passenger-cargo
+ 1, refrigerated cargo 58, roll-on/roll-off cargo 18, short-sea
+ passenger 1, specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 54
+ note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 53 countries; the 10
+ major fleet flags are: United States 232 ships, Japan 190, Norway 166,
+ Greece 125, Germany 125, United Kingdom 102, Hong Kong 95, China 45,
+ Russia 41, and the Netherlands 34
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 59
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 43
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 11
+
+@Liberia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; telephone and telegraph service via
+ radio relay network; main center is Monrovia; most telecommunications
+ services inoperable due to insurgency movement
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 5
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Liberia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: NA; the ultimate structure of the Liberian military force
+ will depend on who is the victor in the ongoing civil war
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 732,063; males fit for military
+ service 390,849 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $30 million, 2% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+LIBYA
+
+@Libya:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
+ Egypt and Tunisia
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1,759,540 sq km
+ land area: 1,759,540 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska
+
+ Land boundaries: total 4,383 km, Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt
+ 1,150 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,770 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+ Gulf of Sidra closing line: 32 degrees 30 minutes north
+
+ International disputes: the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled
+ in February 1994 that the 100,000 sq km Aozou Strip between Chad and
+ Libya belongs to Chad, and that Libya must withdraw from it by 31 May
+ 1994; Libya has withdrawn some its forces in response to the ICJ
+ ruling, but still maintains an airfield in the disputed area; maritime
+ boundary dispute with Tunisia; claims part of northern Niger and part
+ of southeastern Algeria
+
+ Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
+
+ Terrain: mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus,
+ depressions
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 2%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 8%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 90%
+
+ Irrigated land: 2,420 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: desertification; very limited natural fresh water
+ resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water
+ development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from
+ large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities
+ natural hazards: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind
+ lasting one to four days in spring and fall; duststorms, sandstorms
+ international agreements: party to - Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
+ Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea
+
+@Libya:People
+
+ Population: 5,248,401 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 48% (female 1,226,851; male 1,269,813)
+ 15-64 years: 49% (female 1,261,424; male 1,331,093)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 76,017; male 83,203) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.7% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 44.89 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.91 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 61.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 64.29 years
+ male: 62.12 years
+ female: 66.57 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.32 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Libyan(s)
+ adjective: Libyan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians,
+ Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians
+
+ Religions: Sunni Muslim 97%
+
+ Languages: Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the
+ major cities
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1984)
+ total population: 60%
+ male: 77%
+ female: 42%
+
+ Labor force: 1 million (includes about 280,000 resident foreigners)
+ by occupation: industry 31%, services 27%, government 24%, agriculture
+ 18%
+
+@Libya:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
+ conventional short form: Libya
+ local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al
+ Ishirakiyah
+ local short form: none
+
+ Digraph: LY
+
+ Type: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the
+ populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship
+
+ Capital: Tripoli
+
+ Administrative divisions: 25 municipalities (baladiyah, singular -
+ baladiyat); Ajdabiya, Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al
+ Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az
+ Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha,
+ Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan
+
+ Independence: 24 December 1951 (from Italy)
+
+ National holiday: Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
+
+ Constitution: 11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977
+
+ Legal system: based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law;
+ separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial
+ review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Mu'ammar Abu Minyar
+ al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969)
+ head of government: Chairman of the General People's Committee
+ (Premier) Abd al Majid al-Qa'ud (since 29 January 1994)
+ cabinet: General People's Committee; established by the General
+ People's Congress
+ note: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of peoples'
+ committees
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ General People's Congress: national elections are indirect through a
+ hierarchy of peoples' committees
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: none
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: various Arab nationalist movements
+ with almost negligible memberships may be functioning clandestinely,
+ as well as some Islamic elements
+
+ Member of: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO,
+ G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
+ IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC,
+ UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none
+
+ Flag: plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state
+ religion)
+
+@Libya:Economy
+
+ Overview: The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon
+ revenues from the oil sector, which contributes practically all export
+ earnings and about one-third of GDP. In 1990 per capita GDP was the
+ highest in Africa at $5,410, but GDP growth rates have slowed and
+ fluctuated sharply in response to changes in the world oil market.
+ Import restrictions and inefficient resource allocations have led to
+ periodic shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs. Windfall revenues
+ from the hike in world oil prices in late 1990 improved the foreign
+ payments position and resulted in a current account surplus through
+ 1992. The nonoil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account
+ for about 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly
+ agricultural products to include petrochemicals, iron, steel, and
+ aluminum. Although agriculture accounts for only 5% of GDP, it employs
+ 18% of the labor force. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely
+ limit farm output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food
+ requirements. The UN sanctions imposed in April 1992 have not yet had
+ a major impact on the economy because Libya's oil revenues generate
+ sufficient foreign exchange which sustains imports of food, consumer
+ goods, and equipment for the oil industry and ongoing development
+ projects.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $32.9 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -0.9% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $6,510 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $8.1 billion
+ expenditures: $9.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.1
+ billion (1989 est.)
+
+ Exports: $7.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas
+ partners: Italy, Germany, Spain, France, UK, Turkey, Greece, Egypt
+
+ Imports: $6.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods
+ partners: Italy, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Turkey, Tunisia, Eastern
+ Europe
+
+ External debt: $3.5 billion excluding military debt (1991 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 10.5% (1990)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 4,600,000 kW
+ production: 16.1 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,078 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
+
+ Agriculture: 5% of GDP; cash crops - wheat, barley, olives, dates,
+ citrus fruits, peanuts; 75% of food is imported
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-87), $242 million
+ note: no longer a recipient
+
+ Currency: 1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams
+
+ Exchange rates: Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1 - 0.3555 (January 1995),
+ 0.3596 (1994), 0.3250 (1993), 0.3013 (1992), 0.2684 (1991), 0.2699
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Libya:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ note: Libya has had no railroad in operation since 1965, all previous
+ systems having been dismantled; current plans are to construct a
+ 1.435-m standard gauge line from the Tunisian frontier to Tripoli and
+ Misratah, then inland to Sabha, center of a mineral-rich area, but
+ there has been no progress; other plans made jointly with Egypt would
+ establish a rail line from As Sallum, Egypt, to Tobruk with completion
+ set for mid-1994; no progress has been reported
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 19,300 km
+ paved: bituminous 10,800 km
+ unpaved: gravel, earth 8,500 km
+
+ Inland waterways: none
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 4,383 km; petroleum products 443 km (includes
+ liquified petroleum gas 256 km); natural gas 1,947 km
+
+ Ports: Al Khums, Banghazi, Darnah, Marsa al Burayqah, Misratah, Ra's
+ Lanuf, Tobruk, Tripoli, Zuwarah
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 686,136 GRT/1,208,194 DWT
+
+ ships by type: cargo 10, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 2,
+ oil tanker 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, short-sea passenger 4
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 146
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 24
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 21
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 4
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 17
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 44
+
+@Libya:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 370,000 telephones; modern telecommunications system
+
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, tropospheric scatter,
+ and 14 domestic satellites
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
+ satellite earth stations; submarine cables to France and Italy;
+ microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to
+ Greece; planned ARABSAT and Intersputnik satellite earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 12
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Libya:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Armed Peoples of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriyah (includes Army,
+ Navy, and Air and Air Defense Command), Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,131,175; males fit for
+ military service 672,571; males reach military age (17) annually
+ 54,676 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.4 billion, 6.1% of
+ GDP (1994 est.)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+LIECHTENSTEIN
+
+@Liechtenstein:Geography
+
+ Location: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 160 sq km
+ land area: 160 sq km
+ comparative area: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: total 78 km, Austria 37 km, Switzerland 41 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: claims 1,600 square kilometers of Czech
+ territory confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech
+ Republic insists that restitution does not go back before February
+ 1948, when the Communists seized power
+
+ Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain;
+ cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
+
+ Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
+
+ Natural resources: hydroelectric potential
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 25%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 38%
+ forest and woodland: 19%
+ other: 18%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
+ Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change, Endangered
+ Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed,
+ but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Law of the
+ Sea
+
+ Note: landlocked; variety of microclimatic variations based on
+ elevation
+
+@Liechtenstein:People
+
+ Population: 30,654 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 19% (female 2,897; male 2,974)
+ 15-64 years: 71% (female 10,853; male 10,777)
+ 65 years and over: 10% (female 1,930; male 1,223) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.2% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 12.95 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 5.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 77.52 years
+ male: 73.86 years
+ female: 81.17 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.47 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
+ adjective: Liechtenstein
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Alemannic 95%, Italian and other 5%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 87.3%, Protestant 8.3%, unknown 1.6%, other
+ 2.8% (1988)
+
+ Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect
+
+ Literacy: age 10 and over can read and write (1981)
+ total population: 100%
+ male: 100%
+ female: 100%
+
+ Labor force: 19,905 of which 11,933 are foreigners; 6,885 commute from
+ Austria and Switzerland to work each day
+ by occupation: industry, trade, and building 53.2%, services 45%,
+ agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 1.8% (1990)
+
+@Liechtenstein:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
+ conventional short form: Liechtenstein
+ local long form: Furstentum Liechtenstein
+ local short form: Liechtenstein
+
+ Digraph: LS
+
+ Type: hereditary constitutional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Vaduz
+
+ Administrative divisions: 11 communes (gemeinden, singular -
+ gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan,
+ Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
+
+ Independence: 23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein
+ established)
+
+ National holiday: Assumption Day, 15 August
+
+ Constitution: 5 October 1921
+
+ Legal system: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989; assumed
+ executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und
+ zu Liechtenstein (born 11 June 1968)
+ head of government: Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993); Deputy Head
+ of Government Dr. Thomas BUECHEL (since 15 December 1993)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; elected by the Diet; confirmed by the sovereign
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Diet (Landtag): elections last held on 24 October 1993 (next to be
+ held by March 1997); results - VU 50.1%, FBP 41.3%, FL 8.5%; seats -
+ (25 total) VU 13, FBP 11, FL 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for criminal
+ cases, Superior Court (Obergericht) for civil cases
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union (VU), Dr. Oswald
+ KRANTZ; Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP), Otmar HASLER; The Free List
+ (FL)
+
+ Member of: CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, GATT, IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, INTELSAT,
+ INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: in routine diplomatic matters,
+ Liechtenstein is represented in the US by the Swiss Embassy
+
+ US diplomatic representation: the US has no diplomatic or consular
+ mission in Liechtenstein, but the US Consul General at Zurich
+ (Switzerland) has consular accreditation at Vaduz
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold
+ crown on the hoist side of the blue band
+
+@Liechtenstein:Economy
+
+ Overview: Despite its small size and limited natural resources,
+ Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized,
+ free-enterprise economy with a vital service sector and living
+ standards on par with its large European neighbors. Low business taxes
+ - the maximum tax rate is 20% - and easy incorporation rules have
+ induced about 25,000 holding or so-called letter box companies to
+ establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state
+ revenues. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland
+ and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. Liechtenstein plans
+ to join the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a
+ bridge between EFTA and EU) in 1995.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $630 million (1990
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $22,300 (1990 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.4% (1990)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 1.5% (1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $259 million
+ expenditures: $292 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1990 est.)
+
+ Exports: $NA
+ commodities: small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps,
+ hardware, pottery
+ partners: EC countries 42.7%, EFTA countries 20.9% (Switzerland
+ 15.4%), other 36.4% (1990)
+
+ Imports: $NA
+ commodities: machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor
+ vehicles
+ partners: NA
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 23,000 kW
+ production: 150 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 5,230 kWh (1992)
+
+ Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics,
+ pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism
+
+ Agriculture: livestock, vegetables, corn, wheat, potatoes, grapes
+
+ Economic aid: none
+
+ Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes,
+ rappen, or centesimi
+
+ Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 -
+ 1.2880 (January 1995), 1.3677 (1994), 1.4776 (1993), 1.4062 (1992),
+ 1.4340 (1991), 1.3892 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Liechtenstein:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 18.5 km; note - owned, operated, and included in statistics of
+ Austrian Federal Railways
+ standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 322.93 km
+ paved: 322.93 km
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports: none
+
+@Liechtenstein:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 25,400 telephones; limited, but sufficient automatic
+ telephone system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and radio relay
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+ note: linked to Swiss networks
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+ note: linked to Swiss networks
+
+@Liechtenstein:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is responsibility of Switzerland
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+LITHUANIA
+
+@Lithuania:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and
+ Russia
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 65,200 sq km
+ land area: 65,200 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,273 km, Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland
+ 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km
+
+ Coastline: 108 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: dispute with Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) over
+ the position of the Nemunas (Nemen) River border presently located on
+ the Lithuanian bank and not in midriver as by international standards
+
+ Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters and summers
+
+ Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
+
+ Natural resources: peat
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 49.1%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 22.2%
+ forest and woodland: 16.3%
+ other: 12.4%
+
+ Irrigated land: 430 sq km (1990)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum
+ products and chemicals at military bases
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
+ Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate
+ Change
+
+@Lithuania:People
+
+ Population: 3,876,396 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 23% (female 426,616; male 444,556)
+ 15-64 years: 65% (female 1,299,052; male 1,227,420)
+ 65 years and over: 12% (female 313,217; male 165,535) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.71% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 14.46 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 10.95 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 16.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 71.37 years
+ male: 66.68 years
+ female: 76.3 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Lithuanian(s)
+ adjective: Lithuanian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Lithuanian 80.1%, Russian 8.6%, Polish 7.7%,
+ Byelorussian 1.5%, other 2.1%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic, Lutheran, other
+
+ Languages: Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
+ total population: 98%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 98%
+
+ Labor force: 1.836 million
+ by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry
+ 18%, other 40% (1990)
+
+@Lithuania:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
+ conventional short form: Lithuania
+ local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
+ local short form: Lietuva
+ former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
+
+ Digraph: LH
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Vilnius
+
+ Administrative divisions: 44 regions (rajonai, singular - rajonas) and
+ 11 municipalities*: Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*,
+ Anyksciu Rajonas, Birsionas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*, Ignalinos
+ Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko Rajonas,
+ Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Marijampoles Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas,
+ Kedainiu Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas,
+ Kretingos Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*,
+ Mazeikiu Rajonas, Moletu Rajonas, Neringa* Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*,
+ Panevezio Rajonas, Panevezys*, Pasvalio Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas,
+ Prienu Rajonas, Radviliskio Rajonas, Raseiniu Rajonas, Rokiskio
+ Rajonas, Sakiu Rajonas, Salcininky Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu
+ Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Siltues Rajonas, Sirvinty Rajonas, Skuodo
+ Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas, Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traky
+ Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas, Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas,
+ Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas
+
+ Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 16 February (1918)
+
+ Constitution: adopted 25 October 1992
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of
+ legislative acts
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 25
+ November 1992; elected acting president by Parliament 25 November 1992
+ and elected by direct vote 15 February 1993); election last held 14
+ February 1993 (next to be held NA 1997); results - Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS
+ was elected; note - on 25 November 1992 BRAZAUSKAS was elected
+ chairman of Parliament and, as such, acting president of the Republic;
+ he was confirmed in office by direct balloting 15 February 1993
+ head of government: Premier Adolfas SLEZEVICIUS (since 10 March 1993)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on the
+ nomination of the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Seimas (parliament): elections last held 26 October and 25 November
+ 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - LDDP 51%; seats - (141
+ total) LDDP 73, Conservative Party 30, LKDP 17, LTS 8, Farmers' Union
+ 4, LLS 4, Center Union 2, others 3
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Court of Appeals
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party (LKDP),
+ Povilas KATILIUS, chairman; Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania
+ (LDDP), Adolfas SLEZEVICIUS, chairman; Lithuanian Nationalist Union
+ (LTS), Rimantas SMETONA, chairman; Lithuanian Social Democratic Party
+ (LSDP), Aloyzas SAKALAS, chairman; Farmers' Union, Jonas CIULEVICIUS,
+ chairman; Center Union, Romualdas OZOLAS, chairman; Conservative
+ Party, Vytautas LANDSBERGIS, chairman; Lithuanian Polish Union (LLS),
+ Rytardas MACIKIANEC, chairman
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Homeland Union; Lithuanian Future
+ Forum; Farmers Union
+
+ Member of: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC,
+ IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO
+ (correspondent), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
+ WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Alfonsas EIDINTAS
+ chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
+ telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860, 2639
+ FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador James W. SWIHART, Jr.
+ embassy: Akmenu 6, Vilnius 2600
+ mailing address: APO AE 09723
+ telephone: [370] (2) 223-031
+ FAX: [370] (2) 222-779
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
+
+@Lithuania:Economy
+
+ Overview: Since independence in September 1991, Lithuania has made
+ steady progress in developing a market economy. Almost 50% of state
+ property has been privatized and trade is diversifying with a gradual
+ shift away from the former Soviet Union to Western markets. In
+ addition, the Lithuanian government has adhered to a disciplined
+ budgetary and financial policy which has brought inflation down from a
+ monthly average of around 14% in first half 1993 to an average of 3.1%
+ in 1994. Nevertheless, the process has been painful with industrial
+ output in 1993 less than half the 1991 level. The economy appeared to
+ have bottomed out in 1994, and Vilnius's policies have laid the
+ groundwork for vigorous recovery over the next few years. Recovery
+ will build on Lithuanian's strategic location with its ice-free port
+ at Klaipeda and its rail and highway hub in Vilnius connecting it with
+ Eastern Europe, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, and on its agriculture
+ potential, highly skilled labor force, and diversified industrial
+ sector. Lacking important natural resources, it will remain dependent
+ on imports of fuels and raw materials.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $13.5 billion (1994
+ estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -0.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $3,500 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.1% (monthly average 1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 4.5% (January 1995)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $258.5 million
+ expenditures: $270.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $2.2 billion (1994)
+ commodities: electronics 18%, petroleum products 5%, food 10%,
+ chemicals 6% (1989)
+ partners: Russia, Ukraine, Germany
+
+ Imports: $2.7 billion (1994)
+ commodities: oil 24%, machinery 14%, chemicals 8%, grain NA% (1989)
+ partners: Russia, Germany, Belarus
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -52% (1992); accounts for 35% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 6,190,000 kW
+ production: 18.9 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 4,608 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: industry's share in the economy has been declining
+ substantially over the past year, due to the economic crisis and the
+ growth of services in the economy; among branches which are still
+ important: metal-cutting machine tools 6.6%, electric motors 4.6%,
+ television sets 6.2%, refrigerators and freezers 5.4%; other branches:
+ petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making,
+ textiles, food processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery,
+ optical equipment, electronic components, computers, and amber
+
+ Agriculture: employs around 18% of labor force; accounts for 25% of
+ GDP; sugar, grain, potatoes, sugar beets, vegetables, meat, milk,
+ dairy products, eggs, fish; most developed are the livestock and dairy
+ branches, which depend on imported grain; net exporter of meat, milk,
+ and eggs
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and
+ Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; limited producer
+ of illicit opium; mostly for domestic consumption
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1992), $10 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-86), $NA million; Communist countries (1971-86), $NA million
+
+ Currency: introduced the convertible litas in June 1993
+
+ Exchange rates: litai per US$1 - 4 (fixed rate 1 May 1994)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Lithuania:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 2,010 km
+ broad gauge: 2,010 km 1.524-m gauge (120 km electrified) (1990)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 44,200 km
+ paved: 35,500 km
+ unpaved: earth 8,700 km (1990)
+
+ Inland waterways: 600 km perennially navigable
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992)
+
+ Ports: Kaunas, Klaipeda
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 275,893 GRT/321,440 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 28, combination bulk 11, railcar carrier
+ 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 96
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 14
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 63
+
+@Lithuania:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 900,000 telephones; 240 telephones/1,000 persons;
+ telecommunications system ranks among the most modern of the former
+ Soviet republics
+ local: NA
+ intercity: land lines and microwave radio relay
+ international: international connections no longer depend on the
+ Moscow gateway switch, but are established by satellite through Oslo
+ from Vilnius and through Copenhagen from Kaunas; 1 EUTELSAT and 1
+ INTELSAT earth station; an NMT-450 analog cellular network operates in
+ Vilnius and other cities and is linked internationally through
+ Copenhagen by EUTELSAT; international electronic mail is available;
+ land lines or microwave to former USSR republics
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 26, shortwave 1, longwave 1
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 3
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Lithuania:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, Security
+ Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard (Skat)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 949,663; males fit for military
+ service 750,386; males reach military age (18) annually 27,630 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $30 million, 2% of
+ GDP (1994); note - for 1995 defense expenditures were $54 million at
+ exchange rate conversion
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+LUXEMBOURG
+
+@Luxembourg:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Europe, between France and Germany
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 2,586 sq km
+ land area: 2,586 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
+
+ Land boundaries: total 359 km, Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany
+ 138 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
+
+ Terrain: mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys;
+ uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to
+ Moselle floodplain in the southeast
+
+ Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited)
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 24%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 20%
+ forest and woodland: 21%
+ other: 34%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; air and water pollution in urban areas
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
+ Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
+ Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83;
+ signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification,
+ Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Luxembourg:People
+
+ Population: 404,660 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 18% (female 35,372; male 36,645)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 136,960; male 137,792)
+ 65 years and over: 14% (female 35,774; male 22,117) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.57% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 12.61 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.42 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 2.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 76.95 years
+ male: 73.31 years
+ female: 80.75 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Luxembourger(s)
+ adjective: Luxembourg
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Celtic base (with French and German blend),
+ Portuguese, Italian, and European (guest and worker residents)
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%
+
+ Languages: Luxembourgisch, German, French, English
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
+ total population: 100%
+ male: 100%
+ female: 100%
+
+ Labor force: 177,300 (one-third of labor force is foreign workers,
+ mostly from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany)
+ by occupation: services 65%, industry 31.6%, agriculture 3.4% (1988)
+
+@Luxembourg:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
+ conventional short form: Luxembourg
+ local long form: Grand-Duche de Luxembourg
+ local short form: Luxembourg
+
+ Digraph: LU
+
+ Type: constitutional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Luxembourg
+
+ Administrative divisions: 3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher,
+ Luxembourg
+
+ Independence: 1839
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 23 June (1921) (public celebration of
+ the Grand Duke's birthday)
+
+ Constitution: 17 October 1868, occasional revisions
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Grand Duke JEAN (since 12 November 1964); Heir
+ Apparent Prince HENRI (son of Grand Duke JEAN, born 16 April 1955)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNKER (since 1 January
+ 1994); Vice Prime Minister Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July 1984)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the sovereign
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Deputes): elections last held on 12
+ June 1994 (next to be held by June 1999); results - percent of vote by
+ party NA; seats - (60 total) CSV 21, LSAP 17, DP 12, Action Committee
+ for Democracy and Pension Rights 5, Greens 5
+ note: the Council of State (Conseil d'Etat) is an advisory body whose
+ views are considered by the Chamber of Deputies
+
+ Judicial branch: Superior Court of Justice (Cour Superieure de
+ Justice)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Christian Social People's Party (CSV),
+ Erna HENNICOT-SCHOEPGES; Socialist Workers Party (LSAP), Ben FAYOT;
+ Democratic Party (DP), Henri GRETHEN; Action Committee for Democracy
+ and Pension Rights, Roby MEHLEN; other minor parties
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: group of steel companies
+ representing iron and steel industry; Centrale Paysanne representing
+ agricultural producers; Christian and Socialist labor unions;
+ Federation of Industrialists; Artisans and Shopkeepers Federation
+
+ Member of: ACCT, Australia Group, Benelux, CCC, CE, EBRD, EC, ECE,
+ EIB, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
+ IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, MTCR,
+ NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
+ WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Alphonse BERNS
+ chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171
+ FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270
+ consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Clay CONSTANTINOU
+ embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, 2535 Luxembourg City
+ mailing address: PSC 11, Luxembourg City; APO AE 09132-5380
+ telephone: [352] 46 01 23
+ FAX: [352] 46 14 01
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light
+ blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue
+ and is shorter; design was based on the flag of France
+
+@Luxembourg:Economy
+
+ Overview: The stable, prosperous economy features moderate growth, low
+ inflation, and negligible unemployment. Agriculture is based on small
+ but highly productive family-owned farms. The industrial sector, until
+ recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified,
+ particularly toward high-technology firms. During the past decade,
+ growth in the financial sector has more than compensated for the
+ decline in steel. Services, especially banking, account for a growing
+ proportion of the economy. Luxembourg participates in an economic
+ union with Belgium on trade and most financial matters, is also
+ closely connected economically to the Netherlands, and as a member of
+ the 15-member European Union enjoys the advantages of the open
+ European market.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $9.2 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.6% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $22,830 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1992)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 2.4% (1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $4 billion
+ expenditures: $4.05 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $6.4 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
+ commodities: finished steel products, chemicals, rubber products,
+ glass, aluminum, other industrial products
+ partners: EC 76%, US 5%
+
+ Imports: $8.3 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
+ commodities: minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
+ partners: Belgium 37%, Germany 31%, France 12%, US 2%
+
+ External debt: $800 million (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -0.5% (1990); accounts for 25% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,238,750 kW
+ production: 1.374 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,395 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal
+ products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for less than 3% of GDP (including forestry);
+ principal products - barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine
+ grapes; cattle raising widespread
+
+ Economic aid: none
+
+ Currency: 1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1 - 31.549 (January
+ 1995), 33,456 (1994), 34.597 (1993), 32.150 (1992), 34.148 (1991),
+ 33.418 (1990); note - the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian
+ franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Luxembourg:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 271 km
+ standard gauge: 271 km 1.435-m gauge (243 km electrified; 178 km
+ double track) (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 5,108 km
+ paved: 5,062 km (95 km of limited access divided highway)
+ unpaved: 46 km (1992)
+
+ Inland waterways: 37 km; Moselle River
+
+ Pipelines: petroleum products 48 km
+
+ Ports: Mertert
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 45 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,129,466 GRT/1,790,988
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 2, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 6,
+ container 2, liquefied gas tanker 8, oil tanker 7, passenger 2,
+ refrigerated cargo 6, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 2
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+
+@Luxembourg:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 230,000 telephones; highly developed, completely
+ automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables; nationwide
+ mobile phone system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: buried cable
+ international: 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 3 and 1 direct-broadcast satellite link
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Luxembourg:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, National Gendarmerie
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 103,990; males fit for military
+ service 85,912; males reach military age (19) annually 2,190 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $129 million, 1.2% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MACAU
+
+ (overseas territory of Portugal)
+
+@Macau:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
+
+ Map references: Southeast Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 16 sq km
+ land area: 16 sq km
+ comparative area: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: total 0.34 km, China 0.34 km
+
+ Coastline: 40 km
+
+ Maritime claims: not specified
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
+
+ Terrain: generally flat
+
+ Natural resources: negligible
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Ozone Layer Protection (extended
+ from Portugal)
+
+ Note: essentially urban; one causeway and one bridge connect the two
+ islands to the peninsula on mainland
+
+@Macau:People
+
+ Population: 490,901 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 24% (female 56,991; male 60,944)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 167,366; male 165,168)
+ 65 years and over: 8% (female 23,537; male 16,895) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.25% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 14.5 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 4.21 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 2.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 5.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 79.86 years
+ male: 77.41 years
+ female: 82.43 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Macanese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Macau
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2%
+
+ Religions: Buddhist 45%, Roman Catholic 7%, Protestant 1%, none 45.8%,
+ other 1.2% (1981)
+
+ Languages: Portuguese (official), Cantonese is the language of
+ commerce
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
+ total population: 90%
+ male: 93%
+ female: 86%
+
+ Labor force: 180,000 (1986)
+ by occupation: NA
+
+@Macau:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Macau
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: Ilha de Macau
+
+ Digraph: MC
+
+ Type: overseas territory of Portugal scheduled to revert to China in
+ 1999
+
+ Capital: Macau
+
+ Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos, singular -
+ concelho); Ilhas, Macau
+
+ Independence: none (territory of Portugal; Portugal signed an
+ agreement with China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to China on 20
+ December 1999; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect
+ Macau's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 year
+ after transition)
+
+ National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
+
+ Constitution: 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; basic law
+ drafted primarily by Beijing awaiting final approval
+
+ Legal system: Portuguese civil law system
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President (of Portugal) Mario Alberto SOARES (since 9
+ March 1986)
+ head of government: Governor Gen. Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA (since 20
+ March 1991)
+ cabinet: Consultative Council; consists of five members appointed by
+ the governor, two nominated by the governor, five members elected for
+ a four-year term (2 represent administrative bodies, 1 represents
+ moral, cultural, and welfare interests, and 2 economic interests), and
+ three statuatory members
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Legislative Assembly: elections last held on 10 March 1991 (next to be
+ held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (23 total, 8
+ elected by universal suffrage, 8 by indirect suffrage, and 7 appointed
+ by the governor) number of seats by party NA
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Association to Defend the Interests of
+ Macau; Macau Democratic Center; Group to Study the Development of
+ Macau; Macau Independent Group
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: wealthy Macanese and Chinese
+ representing local interests, wealthy pro-Communist merchants
+ representing China's interests; in January 1967 the Macau Government
+ acceded to Chinese demands that gave China veto power over
+ administration
+
+ Member of: CCC, ESCAP (associate), GATT, IMO (associate), INTERPOL
+ (subbureau), WTO (associate)
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (Chinese territory under
+ Portuguese administration)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: the US has no offices in Macau, and US
+ interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong
+
+ Flag: the flag of Portugal is used
+
+@Macau:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is based largely on tourism (including gambling)
+ and textile and fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to diversify have
+ spawned other small industries - toys, artificial flowers, and
+ electronics. The tourist sector has accounted for roughly 25% of GDP,
+ and the clothing industry has provided about two-thirds of export
+ earnings; the gambling industry represented well over 40% of GDP in
+ 1992. Macau depends on China for most of its food, fresh water, and
+ energy imports. Japan and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw
+ materials and capital goods.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $4.8 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $10,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.7% (1992 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 2% (1992 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $305 million
+ expenditures: $298 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1989 est.)
+
+ Exports: $1.8 billion (1992 est.)
+ commodities: textiles, clothing, toys
+ partners: US 35%, Hong Kong 12.5%, Germany 12%, China 9.9%, France 8%
+ (1992 est.)
+
+ Imports: $2 billion (1992 est.)
+ commodities: raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods
+ partners: Hong Kong 33%, China 20%, Japan 18% (1992 est.)
+
+ External debt: $91 million (1985)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 258,000 kW
+ production: 950 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,093 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: clothing, textiles, toys, plastic products, furniture,
+ tourism
+
+ Agriculture: rice, vegetables; food shortages - rice, vegetables,
+ meat; depends mostly on imports for food requirements
+
+ Economic aid: none
+
+ Currency: 1 pataca (P) = 100 avos
+
+ Exchange rates: patacas (P) per US$1 - 8.034 (1991-94), 8.024 (1990),
+ 8.030 (1989); note - linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of
+ 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Macau:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 42 km
+ paved: 42 km
+
+ Ports: Macau
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports: none usable, 1 under construction; 1 seaplane station
+
+@Macau:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 52,000 telephones; fairly modern communication
+ facilities maintained for domestic and international services
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: high-frequency radio communication facility; access to
+ international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and
+ China; 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 0
+ radios: 115,000
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0; note - TV programs received from Hong Kong
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Macau:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: NA
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 141,160; males fit for military
+ service 78,578 (1995 est.)
+
+ Note: defense is responsibility of Portugal
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MACEDONIA, THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF
+
+@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
+
+ Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 25,333 sq km
+ land area: 24,856 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Vermont
+
+ Land boundaries: total 748 km, Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece
+ 228 km, Serbia and Montenegro 221 km (all with Serbia)
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: dispute with Greece over name, symbols, and
+ certain constitutional provisions
+
+ Climate: hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with
+ heavy snowfall
+
+ Terrain: mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys;
+ there are three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country
+ bisected by the Vardar River
+
+ Natural resources: chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel,
+ low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulphur, timber
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 5%
+ permanent crops: 5%
+ meadows and pastures: 20%
+ forest and woodland: 30%
+ other: 40%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants
+ natural hazards: high seismic risks
+ international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
+ Protection
+
+ Note: landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and
+ Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
+
+@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:People
+
+ Population: 2,159,503 (July 1995 est.)
+ note: the Macedonian government census of July 1994 put the population
+ at 1.94 million, but ethnic allocations were likely undercounted
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 25% (female 257,876; male 277,314)
+ 15-64 years: 67% (female 711,810; male 733,903)
+ 65 years and over: 8% (female 97,475; male 81,125) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.9% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 15.82 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.7 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 24.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 74 years
+ male: 71.87 years
+ female: 76.3 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.02 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Macedonian(s)
+ adjective: Macedonian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Macedonian 65%, Albanian 22%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%,
+ Gypsies 3%, other 4%
+
+ Religions: Eastern Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%
+
+ Languages: Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian
+ 3%, other 3%
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: 591,773 (June 1994)
+ by occupation: manufacturing and mining 40% (1992)
+
+@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
+ conventional short form: none
+ local long form: Republika Makedonija
+ local short form: Makedonija
+
+ Abbreviation: F.Y.R.O.M.
+
+ Digraph: MK
+
+ Type: emerging democracy
+
+ Capital: Skopje
+
+ Administrative divisions: 34 counties (opstinas, singular - opstina)
+ Berovo, Bitola, Brod, Debar, Delcevo, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Kavadarci,
+ Kicevo, Kocani, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Murgasevo,
+ Negotino, Ohrid, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Resen, Skopje-Centar,
+ Skopje-Cair, Skopje-Karpos, Skopje-Kisela Voda, Skopje-Gazi Baba,
+ Stip, Struga, Strumica, Sveti Nikole, Tetovo, Titov Veles, Valandovo,
+ Vinica
+
+ Independence: 17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
+
+ National holiday: 8 September
+
+ Constitution: adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of
+ legislative acts
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Kiro GLIGOROV (since 27 January 1991);
+ election last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held NA 1997); results
+ - Kiro GLIGOROV was elected by the Assembly in 1991; reelected by
+ popular vote in 1994
+ head of government: Prime Minister Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 4
+ September 1992)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; elected by the majority vote of all the
+ deputies in the Sobranje
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Assembly (Sobranje): elections last held 16 and 30 October 1994 (next
+ to be held November 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;
+ seats - (120 total) seats by party NA
+
+ Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, Judicial Court of the Republic
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia
+ (SDSM; former Communist Party), Branko CRVENKOVSKI, president; Party
+ for Democratic Prosperity (PDP); note - two factions competing for
+ party name; one faction is led by Abdurahman HALITI and the other
+ faction is led by Arber XHAFFERI; National Democratic Party (NDP),
+ Ilijas HALINI, president; Alliance of Reform Forces of Macedonia -
+ Liberal Party (SRSM-LP), Stojan ANDOV, president; Socialist Party of
+ Macedonia (SPM), Kiro POPOVSKI, president; Internal Macedonian
+ Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National
+ Unity (VMRO-DPMNE), Ljupco GEORGIEVSKI, president; Party of Yugoslavs
+ in Macedonia (SJM), Milan DURCINOV, president; Democratic Party (DP),
+ Petar GOSEV, president
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Movement for All Macedonian Action
+ (MAAK); Democratic Party of Serbs; Democratic Party of Turks; Party
+ for Democratic Action (Slavic Muslim)
+
+ Member of: CCC, CE (guest), CEI, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
+ IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC,
+ ITU, OSCE (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: the US recognized The Former Yugoslav
+ Republic of Macedonia on 8 February 1994
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Victor D. COMRAS
+ liaison office: ul. 27 Mart No. 5, 9100 Skopje
+ mailing address: USLO Skopje, Department of State, Washington, DC
+ 20521-7120 (pouch)
+ telephone: [389] (91) 116-180
+ FAX: [389] (91) 117-103
+
+ Flag: 16-point gold sun (Vergina, Sun) centered on a red field
+
+@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:Economy
+
+ Overview: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, although the
+ poorest republic in the former Yugoslav federation, can meet basic
+ food and energy needs through its own agricultural and coal resources.
+ Its economic decline will continue unless ties are reforged or
+ enlarged with its neighbors Serbia and Montenegro, Albania, Greece,
+ and Bulgaria. The economy depends on outside sources for all of its
+ oil and gas and most of its modern machinery and parts. An important
+ supplement of GDP is the remittances from thousands of Macedonians
+ working in Germany and other West European nations. Continued
+ political turmoil, both internally and in the region as a whole,
+ prevents any swift readjustments of trade patterns and economic
+ programs. The country's industrial output and GDP are expected to
+ decline further in 1995. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's
+ geographical isolation, technological backwardness, and potential
+ political instability place it far down the list of countries of
+ interest to Western investors. Resolution of the dispute with Greece
+ and an internal commitment to economic reform would encourage foreign
+ investment over the long run. In the immediate future, the worst
+ scenario for the economy would be the spread of fighting across its
+ borders.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.9 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -15% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $900 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 54% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 30% (1993 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $1.06 billion (1993)
+ commodities: manufactured goods 40%, machinery and transport equipment
+ 14%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 23%, raw materials 7.6%, food
+ (rice) and live animals 5.7%, beverages and tobacco 4.5%, chemicals
+ 4.7% (1990)
+ partners: principally Serbia and Montenegro and the other former
+ Yugoslav republics, Germany, Greece, Albania
+
+ Imports: $1.2 billion (1993)
+ commodities: fuels and lubricants 19%, manufactured goods 18%,
+ machinery and transport equipment 15%, food and live animals 14%,
+ chemicals 11.4%, raw materials 10%, miscellaneous manufactured
+ articles 8.0%, beverages and tobacco 3.5% (1990)
+ partners: other former Yugoslav republics, Greece, Albania, Germany,
+ Bulgaria
+
+ External debt: $840 million (1992)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -14% (1993)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,600,000 kW
+ production: NA kWh
+ consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: low levels of technology predominate, such as, oil
+ refining by distillation only; produces basic liquid fuels, coal,
+ metallic chromium, lead, zinc, and ferronickel; light industry
+ produces basic textiles, wood products, and tobacco
+
+ Agriculture: meets the basic needs for food; principal crops are rice,
+ tobacco, wheat, corn, and millet; also grown are cotton, sesame,
+ mulberry leaves, citrus fruit, and vegetables; agricultural production
+ is highly labor intensive
+
+ Illicit drugs: limited illicit opium cultivation; transshipment point
+ for Southwest Asian heroin
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US $10 million (for humanitarian and technical assistance)
+ EC promised a 100 ECU million economic aid package (1993)
+
+ Currency: the denar, which was adopted by the Macedonian legislature
+ 26 April 1992, was initially issued in the form of a coupon pegged to
+ the German mark; subsequently repegged to a basket of seven currencies
+
+ Exchange rates: denar per US$1 - 39 (November 1994), 865 (October
+ 1992)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 922 km
+ standard gauge: 922 km 1.435-m gauge (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 10,591 km
+ paved: 5,091 km
+ unpaved: gravel 1,404 km; earth 4,096 km (1991)
+
+ Inland waterways: none, lake transport only
+
+ Pipelines: none
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 16
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 11
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+
+@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 125,000 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: no satellite links
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 2, shortwave 0
+ radios: 370,000
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 5 (relays 2)
+ televisions: 325,000
+
+@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Police Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 585,403; males fit for military
+ service 474,467; males reach military age (19) annually 19,693 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: 7 billion denars, NA% of GNP (1993 est.); note -
+ conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the prevailing
+ exchange rate could produce misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MADAGASCAR
+
+@Madagascar:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
+ Mozambique
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 587,040 sq km
+ land area: 581,540 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 4,828 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claims Bassas da India, Europa Island,
+ Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all
+ administered by France)
+
+ Climate: tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
+
+ Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
+
+ Natural resources: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz,
+ tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 4%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 58%
+ forest and woodland: 26%
+ other: 11%
+
+ Irrigated land: 9,000 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: soil erosion results from deforestation and
+ overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw
+ sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna
+ unique to the island are endangered
+ natural hazards: periodic cyclones
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine Life
+ Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified -
+ Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along
+ Mozambique Channel
+
+@Madagascar:People
+
+ Population: 13,862,325 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 47% (female 3,231,647; male 3,265,715)
+ 15-64 years: 50% (female 3,511,699; male 3,413,564)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 225,205; male 214,495) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.18% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 44.82 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 12.99 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 86.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 54.45 years
+ male: 52.47 years
+ female: 56.48 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.62 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Malagasy
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo),
+ Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry -
+ Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian,
+ Creole, Comoran
+
+ Religions: indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
+
+ Languages: French (official), Malagasy (official)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 80%
+ male: 88%
+ female: 73%
+
+ Labor force:
+ total workers: 4.9 million
+ workers not receiving money wages: 4.7 million (96% of total labor
+ force); note - 4.3 million workers are in subsistence agriculture
+ wage earners: 175,000 (3.6% of total work force)
+ wage earners by occupation: agriculture 45,500, domestic service
+ 29,750, industry 26,250, commerce 24,500, construction 19,250, service
+ 15,750, transportation 10,500, other 3,500 (1985 est.)
+
+@Madagascar:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
+ conventional short form: Madagascar
+ local long form: Republique de Madagascar
+ local short form: Madagascar
+ former: Malagasy Republic
+
+ Digraph: MA
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Antananarivo
+
+ Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Antananarivo, Antsiranana,
+ Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliary
+
+ Independence: 26 June 1960 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
+
+ Constitution: 19 August 1992 by national referendum
+
+ Legal system: based on French civil law system and traditional
+ Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Albert ZAFY (since 9 March 1993); election
+ last held on 10 February 1993 (next to be held 1998); results - Albert
+ ZAFY (UNDD), 67%; Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA), 33%
+ head of government: Prime Minister Francisque RAVONY (since 9 August
+ 1993)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
+ Senate (Senat): two-thirds of upper house seats are to be filled from
+ popularly elected regional assemblies; the remaining third is to be
+ filled by presidential appointment; decentralization and formation of
+ regional assemblies is not expected before 1997
+ National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held on 16
+ June 1993 (next to be held June 1997); results - percent of vote by
+ party NA; seats - (138 total) CFV coalition 76, PMDM/MFM 16, CSCD 11,
+ Famima 10, RPSD 7, various pro-Ratsiraka groups 10, others 8
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), High Constitutional
+ Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Committee of Living Forces (CFV), an
+ alliance of National Union for Development and Democracy (UNDD),
+ Support Group for Democracy and Development in Madagascar (CSDDM),
+ Action and Reflection Group for the Development of Madagascar (GRAD),
+ Congress Party for Madagascar Independence - Renewal
+ (AKFM-Fanavaozana), and some 12 other parties, trade unions, and
+ religious groups; Militant Party for the Development of Madagascar
+ (PMDM/MFM), formerly the Movement for Proletarian Power, Manandafy
+ RAKOTONIRINA; Confederation of Civil Societies for Development (CSCD),
+ Guy Willy RAZANAMASY; Association of United Malagasys (Famima); Rally
+ for Social Democracy (RPSD), Pierre TSIRANANA
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: National Council of Christian
+ Churches (FFKM); Federalist Movement
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
+ UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Pierrot Jocelyn RAJAONARIVELO
+ chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis P. BARRETT
+ embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
+ mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo
+ telephone: [261] (2) 212-57, 200-89, 207-18
+ FAX: [261] (2) 345-39
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a
+ vertical white band of the same width on hoist side
+
+@Madagascar:Economy
+
+ Overview: Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world,
+ suffering from chronic malnutrition, underfunded health and education
+ facilities, a 3% annual population growth rate, and severe loss of
+ forest cover, accompanied by erosion. Agriculture, including fishing
+ and forestry, is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for over 30%
+ of GDP and contributing more than 70% of total export earnings.
+ Industry is largely confined to the processing of agricultural
+ products and textile manufacturing; in 1991 it accounted for only 13%
+ of GDP. In 1986 the government introduced a five-year development plan
+ that stressed self-sufficiency in food (mainly rice) by 1990,
+ increased production for exports, and reduced energy imports.
+ Subsequently, growth in output has been held back because of
+ protracted antigovernment strikes and demonstrations for political
+ reform. Since 1993, corruption and political instability have caused
+ the economy and infrastructure to decay further. Since April 1994, the
+ government commitment to economic reforms has been erratic. Enormous
+ obstacles stand in the way of Madagascar's realizing its considerable
+ growth potential.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $10.6 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.8% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $790 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $250 million
+ expenditures: $265 million, including capital expenditures of $180
+ million (1991 est.)
+
+ Exports: $240 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves 11%, shellfish, sugar,
+ petroleum products
+ partners: France, US, Germany, Japan, Russia
+
+ Imports: $510 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%,
+ petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13%
+ partners: France, Germany, Japan, UK, Italy, Netherlands
+
+ External debt: $4.3 billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 3.8% (1993 est.); accounts for 13%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 220,000 kW
+ production: 560 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 40 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: agricultural processing (meat canneries, soap factories,
+ breweries, tanneries, sugar refining plants), light consumer goods
+ industries (textiles, glassware), cement, automobile assembly plant,
+ paper, petroleum
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 31% of GDP; cash crops - coffee, vanilla,
+ sugarcane, cloves, cocoa; food crops - rice, cassava, beans, bananas,
+ peanuts; cattle raising widespread; almost self-sufficient in rice
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild
+ varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $136 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $3.125 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $491 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1 - 3,718.0 (November
+ 1994), 1,913.8 (1993), 1,864.0 (1992), 1,835.4 (1991), 1,454.6
+ (December 1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Madagascar:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,020 km
+ narrow gauge: 1,020 km 1.000-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 40,000 km
+ paved: 4,694 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 811 km; other earth
+ 34,495 km (est.)
+
+ Inland waterways: of local importance only; isolated streams and small
+ portions of Canal des Pangalanes
+
+ Ports: Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Port Saint-Louis, Toamasina, Toliaria
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,261 GRT/28,193 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil
+ tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 138
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 21
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 42
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 64
+
+@Madagascar:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; above average system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and
+ tropospheric scatter links
+ international: submarine cable to Bahrain; 1 earth station for Indian
+ Ocean INTELSAT
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1 (repeaters 36)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Madagascar:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention Forces,
+ Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces - includes Navy and Air Force),
+ Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 3,027,156; males fit for
+ military service 1,800,127; males reach military age (20) annually
+ 130,071 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $35 million, 1.3% of
+ GDP (1991)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MALAWI
+
+@Malawi:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, east of Zambia
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 118,480 sq km
+ land area: 94,080 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Pennsylvania
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,881 km, Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km,
+ Zambia 837 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in
+ Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
+
+ Climate: tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to
+ November)
+
+ Terrain: narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills,
+ some mountains
+
+ Natural resources: limestone, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal,
+ and bauxite
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 25%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 20%
+ forest and woodland: 50%
+ other: 5%
+
+ Irrigated land: 200 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from
+ agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning
+ grounds endangers fish population
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
+ Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection;
+ signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Malawi:People
+
+ Population: 9,808,384 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 48% (female 2,361,309; male 2,384,679)
+ 15-64 years: 49% (female 2,479,108; male 2,335,729)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 139,632; male 107,927) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.63% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 49.81 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 23.53 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ note: the return of refugees to Mozambique is much reduced compared
+ with 1994
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 140.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 39.01 years
+ male: 38.28 years
+ female: 39.76 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 7.36 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Malawian(s)
+ adjective: Malawian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuko, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga,
+ Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European
+
+ Religions: Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%, traditional
+ indigenous beliefs
+
+ Languages: English (official), Chichewa (official), other languages
+ important regionally
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1987)
+ total population: 48%
+ male: 65%
+ female: 34%
+
+ Labor force: 428,000 wage earners
+ by occupation: agriculture 43%, manufacturing 16%, personal services
+ 15%, commerce 9%, construction 7%, miscellaneous services 4%, other
+ permanently employed 6% (1986)
+
+@Malawi:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
+ conventional short form: Malawi
+ former: Nyasaland
+
+ Digraph: MI
+
+ Type: multiparty democracy following a referendum on 14 June 1993;
+ formerly a one-party republic
+
+ Capital: Lilongwe
+
+ Administrative divisions: 24 districts; Blantyre, Chikwawa,
+ Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Lilongwe, Machinga
+ (Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nkhata
+ Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
+
+ Independence: 6 July 1964 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1964)
+
+ Constitution: 6 July 1966; republished as amended January 1974
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; judicial
+ review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has not
+ accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Bakili MULUZI (since
+ 21 May 1994), leader of the United Democratic Front
+ cabinet: Cabinet; named by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly: elections last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held
+ 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (177 total) UDF
+ 84, AFORD 33, MCP 55, others 5
+
+ Judicial branch: High Court, Supreme Court of Appeal
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ ruling party: United Democratic Front (UDF), Bakili MULUZI
+ opposition groups: Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Gwanda CHAKUAMBA
+ Phiri, secretary general (top party position); Alliance for Democracy
+ (AFORD), Chakufwa CHIHANA; Socialist League of Malawi (Lesoma), Kapote
+ MWAKUSULA, secretary general; Malawi Democratic Union (MDU), Harry
+ BWANAUSI; Congress for the Second Republic (CSR), Kanyama CHIUME;
+ Malawi Socialist Labor Party (MSLP), Stanford SAMBANEMANJA
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
+ ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
+ ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, SADC, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
+ UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Patrick
+ NYASULU (since 14 October 1994)
+ chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 797-1007
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Peter R. CHAVEAS
+ embassy: address NA, in new capital city development area in Lilongwe
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
+ telephone: [265] 783 166
+ FAX: [265] 780 471
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with
+ a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band; similar to the
+ flag of Afghanistan, which is longer and has the national coat of arms
+ superimposed on the hoist side of the black and red bands
+
+@Malawi:Economy
+
+ Overview: Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed
+ countries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 90%
+ of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for 40%
+ of GDP and 90% of export revenues. After two years of weak
+ performance, economic growth improved significantly in 1988-91 as a
+ result of good weather and a broadly based economic adjustment effort
+ by the government. Drought cut overall output sharply in 1992, but the
+ lost ground was recovered in 1993. The economy depends on substantial
+ inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and
+ individual donor nations. The new government faces strong challenges,
+ e.g., to spur exports, to improve educational and health facilities,
+ and to deal with environmental problems of deforestation and erosion.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $7.3 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 9.3% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $750 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $416 million
+ expenditures: $498 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $311 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: tobacco, tea, sugar, coffee, peanuts, wood products
+ partners: US, UK, Zambia, South Africa, Germany
+
+ Imports: $308 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer
+ goods, transportation equipment
+ partners: South Africa, Japan, US, UK, Zimbabwe
+
+ External debt: $1.8 billion (December 1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 3.5% accounts for about 15% of GDP
+ (1992 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 190,000 kW
+ production: 820 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 77 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: agricultural processing (tea, tobacco, sugar), sawmilling,
+ cement, consumer goods
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP; cash crops - tobacco, sugarcane,
+ cotton, tea, and corn; subsistence crops - potatoes, cassava, sorghum,
+ pulses; livestock - cattle, goats
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $215 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $2.15 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Malawian kwacha (MK) = 100 tambala
+
+ Exchange rates: Malawian kwacha (MK) per US$1 - 7.8358 (August 1994),
+ 4.4028 (1993), 3.6033 (1992), 2.8033 (1991), 2.7289 (1990), 2.7595
+ (1989)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Malawi:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 789 km
+ narrow gauge: 789 km 1.067-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 13,135 km
+ paved: 2,364 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 251 km; earth,
+ improved earth 10,520 km
+
+ Inland waterways: Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi); Shire River, 144 km
+
+ Ports: Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkotakota
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 47
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 25
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 15
+
+@Malawi:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 42,250 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: fair system of open-wire lines, radio relay links, and
+ radio communications stations
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean ) earth
+ stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Malawi:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment), Police
+ (includes paramilitary Mobile Force Unit), paramilitary Malawi Young
+ Pioneers
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,069,302; males fit for
+ military service 1,056,372 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $13 million, 0.7% of
+ GDP (FY93/94)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MALAYSIA
+
+@Malaysia:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Asia, peninsula and northern one-third of the
+ island of Borneo bordering the Java Sea and the South China Sea, south
+ of Vietnam
+
+ Map references: Southeast Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 329,750 sq km
+ land area: 328,550 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,669 km, Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km,
+ Thailand 506 km
+
+ Coastline: 4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607
+ km)
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation; specified
+ boundary in the South China Sea
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly
+ Islands with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei;
+ State of Sabah claimed by the Philippines; Brunei may wish to purchase
+ the Malaysian salient that divides Brunei into two parts; two islands
+ in dispute with Singapore; two islands in dispute with Indonesia
+
+ Climate: tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast
+ (October to February) monsoons
+
+ Terrain: coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
+
+ Natural resources: tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural
+ gas, bauxite
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 3%
+ permanent crops: 10%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 63%
+ other: 24%
+
+ Irrigated land: 3,420 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions;
+ water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation
+ natural hazards: flooding
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation,
+ Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed,
+ but not ratified - Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South
+ China Sea
+
+@Malaysia:People
+
+ Population: 19,723,587 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 37% (female 3,559,434; male 3,690,310)
+ 15-64 years: 59% (female 5,871,131; male 5,844,568)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 423,539; male 334,605) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.24% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 27.95 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.56 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 69.48 years
+ male: 66.55 years
+ female: 72.56 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.47 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Malaysian(s)
+ adjective: Malaysian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Malay and other indigenous 59%, Chinese 32%, Indian
+ 9%
+
+ Religions:
+ Peninsular Malaysia: Muslim (Malays), Buddhist (Chinese), Hindu
+ (Indians)
+ Sabah: Muslim 38%, Christian 17%, other 45%
+ Sarawak: tribal religion 35%, Buddhist and Confucianist 24%, Muslim
+ 20%, Christian 16%, other 5%
+
+ Languages:
+ Peninsular Malaysia: Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects,
+ Tamil
+ Sabah: English, Malay, numerous tribal dialects, Chinese (Mandarin and
+ Hakka dialects predominate)
+ Sarawak: English, Malay, Mandarin, numerous tribal languages *** No
+ data for this item ***
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 78%
+ male: 86%
+ female: 70%
+
+ Labor force: 7.627 million (1993)
+
+@Malaysia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Malaysia
+ former: Malayan Union
+
+ Digraph: MY
+
+ Type: constitutional monarchy
+ note: Federation of Malaysia formed 9 July 1963; nominally headed by
+ the paramount ruler (king) and a bicameral Parliament; Peninsular
+ Malaysian states - hereditary rulers in all but Melaka, where
+ governors are appointed by Malaysian Pulau Pinang Government; powers
+ of state governments are limited by federal Constitution; Sabah -
+ self-governing state, holds 20 seats in House of Representatives, with
+ foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers
+ delegated to federal government; Sarawak - self-governing state, holds
+ 27 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense,
+ internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government
+
+ Capital: Kuala Lumpur
+
+ Administrative divisions: 13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri)
+ and 2 federal territories* (wilayah-wilayah persekutuan, singular -
+ wilayah persekutuan); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri
+ Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak,
+ Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan*
+
+ Independence: 31 August 1957 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 31 August (1957)
+
+ Constitution: 31 August 1957, amended 16 September 1963
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of
+ legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of
+ the federation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Paramount Ruler JA'AFAR ibni Abdul Rahman (since 26
+ April 1994); Deputy Paramount Ruler SALAHUDDIN ibni Hisammuddin Alam
+ Shah (since 26 April 1994)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since 16
+ July 1981); Deputy Prime Minister ANWAR bin Ibrahim (since 1 December
+ 1993)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the Paramount Ruler from members of
+ parliament
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlimen)
+ Senate (Dewan Negara): consists of 58 members, 32 appointed by the
+ paramount ruler and 26 elected by the state legislatures (2 from each
+ state) for six-year terms; elections last held NA (next to be held
+ NA); results - NA
+ House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat): consists of 180 members,
+ elected for five-year terms; elections last held 21 October 1990 (next
+ to be held by December 1995); results - National Front 52%, other 48%;
+ seats - (180 total) National Front 127, DAP 20, PAS 7, independents 4,
+ other 22; note - within the National Front, UMNO won 71 seats and MCA
+ won 18 seats
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ Peninsular Malaysia: National Front, a confederation of 13 political
+ parties dominated by United Malays National Organization Baru (UMNO
+ Baru), MAHATHIR bin Mohamad; Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), LING
+ Liong Sik; Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, LIM Keng Yaik; Malaysian Indian
+ Congress (MIC), S. Samy VELLU
+ Sabah: National Front, SALLEH Said Keruak, Sabah Chief Minister,
+ Sakaran DANDAI, head of Sabah State; United Sabah National Organizaton
+ (USNO), leader NA
+ Sarawak: coalition Sarawak National Front composed of the Party Pesaka
+ Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), Datuk Patinggi Amar Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud;
+ Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Datuk Amar James WONG Soon Kai;
+ Sarawak National Party (SNAP), Datuk Amar James WONG; Parti Bansa
+ Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), Datuk Leo MOGGIE; major opposition parties are
+ Democratic Action Party (DAP), LIM Kit Siang and Pan-Malaysian Islamic
+ Party (PAS), Fadzil NOOR
+
+ Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-77,
+ GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
+ IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM,
+ OIC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMIL, UNOMOZ,
+ UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Abdul MAJID bin Mohamed
+ chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 328-2700
+ FAX: [1] (202) 483-7661
+ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador John S. WOLF
+ embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
+ mailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur; APO AP
+ 96535-8152
+ telephone: [60] (3) 2489011
+ FAX: [60] (3) 2422207
+
+ Flag: fourteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with
+ white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side
+ corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow fourteen-pointed star;
+ the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design
+ was based on the flag of the US
+
+@Malaysia:Economy
+
+ Overview: The Malaysian economy, a mixture of private enterprise and a
+ soundly managed public sector, has posted a remarkable record of 9%
+ average annual growth in 1988-94. The official growth target for 1995
+ is 8.5%. This growth has resulted in a substantial reduction in
+ poverty and a marked rise in real wages. Manufactured goods exports
+ expanded rapidly, and foreign investors continued to commit large sums
+ in the economy. The government is aware of the inflationary potential
+ of this rapid development and is closely monitoring fiscal and
+ monetary policies.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $166.8 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 8.7% (1994)
+
+ National product per capita: $8,650 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 2.9% (1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $18.7 billion
+ expenditures: $19.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $4.8
+ billion (1994)
+
+ Exports: $56.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: electronic equipment, petroleum and petroleum products,
+ palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber, textiles
+ partners: Singapore 22%, US 20%, Japan 13%, UK 4%, Germany 4%,
+ Thailand 4% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $55.2 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
+ commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, food, petroleum
+ products
+ partners: Japan 27%, US 17%, Singapore 15%, Taiwan 5%, Germany 4%, UK
+ 3%, South Korea 3% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $35.5 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 12% (1994); accounts for 38% of GDP
+ (1993 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 6,700,000 kW
+ production: 31 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,528 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries:
+ Peninsular Malaysia: rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing,
+ light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and smelting,
+ logging and processing timber
+ Sabah: logging, petroleum production
+ Sarawak: agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining,
+ logging
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 16% of GDP (1993 est.)
+ Peninsular Malaysia: natural rubber, palm oil, rice
+ Sabah: mainly subsistence, but also rubber, timber, coconut, rice
+ Sarawak: rubber, timber, pepper; deficit of rice in all areas
+
+ Illicit drugs: transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to the
+ US, Western Europe, and the Third World despite severe penalties for
+ drug trafficking; increasing indigenous abuse of methamphetamine
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-84), $170 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $4.7 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $42 million
+
+ Currency: 1 ringgit (M$) = 100 sen
+
+ Exchange rates: ringgits (M$) per US$1 - 2.5542 (January 1995), 2.6242
+ (1994), 2.5741 (1993), 2.5474 (1992), 2.7501 (1991), 1.7048 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Malaysia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,801 km (Peninsular Malaysia 1,665 km; Sabah 136 km; Sarawak 0
+ km)
+ narrow gauge: 1,801 km 1.000-m gauge (Peninsular Malaysia 1,665 km;
+ Sabah 136 km)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 29,028 km (Peninsular Malaysia 23,602 km, Sabah 3,782 km,
+ Sarawak 1,644 km)
+ paved: NA (Peninsular Malaysia 19,354 km mostly bituminous treated)
+ unpaved: NA (Peninsular Malaysia 4,248 km)
+
+ Inland waterways:
+ Peninsular Malaysia: 3,209 km
+ Sabah: 1,569 km
+ Sarawak: 2,518 km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 1,307 km; natural gas 379 km
+
+ Ports: Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching, Kudat, Lahad Datu, Labuan,
+ Lumut, Miri, Pasir Gudang, Penang, Port Dickson, Port Kelang,
+ Sandakan, Sibu, Tanjong Berhala, Tanjong Kidurong, Tawau
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 213 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,410,823 GRT/3,635,966
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 34, cargo 73, chemical tanker 11, container 27,
+ liquefied gas tanker 9, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 50,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 3
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 115
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 82
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
+
+@Malaysia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 994,860 telephones (1984); international service
+ good
+ local: NA
+ intercity: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia
+ mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio
+ relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; 2 domestic
+ satellite links
+ international: submarine cables extend to India and Sarawak; SEACOM
+ submarine cable links to Hong Kong and Singapore; satellite earth
+ stations - 2 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 28, FM 3, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 33
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Malaysia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air
+ Force, Royal Malaysian Police Force, Marine Police, Sarawak Border
+ Scouts
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 5,041,003; males fit for
+ military service 3,058,445; males reach military age (21) annually
+ 183,760 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.1 billion, 2.9% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MALDIVES
+
+@Maldives:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean,
+ south-southwest of India
+
+ Map references: Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 300 sq km
+ land area: 300 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 644 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 35-310 nm as defined by geographic
+ coordinates; segment of zone coincides with maritime boundary with
+ India
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to
+ March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
+
+ Terrain: flat with elevations only as high as 2.5 meters
+
+ Natural resources: fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 10%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 3%
+ forest and woodland: 3%
+ other: 84%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water
+ supplies
+ natural hazards: low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea
+ level rise
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified -
+ Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls; archipelago of
+ strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
+
+@Maldives:People
+
+ Population: 261,310 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 47% (female 60,038; male 63,042)
+ 15-64 years: 50% (female 63,526; male 67,020)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 3,537; male 4,147) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.58% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 42.8 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 50 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 65.49 years
+ male: 63.99 years
+ female: 67.07 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.17 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Maldivian(s)
+ adjective: Maldivian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, African
+
+ Religions: Sunni Muslim
+
+ Languages: Divehi (dialect of Sinhala; script derived from Arabic),
+ English spoken by most government officials
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1985)
+ total population: 91%
+ male: 91%
+ female: 92%
+
+ Labor force: 66,000 (est.)
+ by occupation: fishing industry 25%
+
+@Maldives:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
+ conventional short form: Maldives
+
+ Digraph: MV
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Male
+
+ Administrative divisions: 19 districts (atolls); Aliff, Baa, Daalu,
+ Faafu, Gaafu Aliff, Gaafu Daalu, Haa Aliff, Haa Daalu, Kaafu, Laamu,
+ Laviyani, Meemu, Naviyani, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Waavu
+
+ Independence: 26 July 1965 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
+
+ Constitution: 4 June 1968
+
+ Legal system: based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common
+ law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM
+ (since 11 November 1978); election last held 1 October 1993 (next to
+ be held 1998); results - President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM was reelected
+ with 92.76% of the vote
+ cabinet: Ministry of Atolls; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Citizens' Council (Majlis): elections last held 2 December 1994 (next
+ to be held NA December 1999); results - percent of vote NA; seats -
+ (48 total, 40 elected, 8 appointed by the president) independents 40
+
+ Judicial branch: High Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: although political parties are not
+ banned, none exist; country governed by the Didi clan for the past
+ eight centuries
+
+ Member of: AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB,
+ IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
+ NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: Maldives has no embassy in the US,
+ but does have a UN mission in New York; Permanent Representative to
+ the UN Ahmed ZAKI
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to
+ Maldives and makes periodic visits there
+ consular agency: Midhath Hilmy, Male
+ telephone: 322581
+
+ Flag: red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a
+ vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the
+ hoist side of the flag
+
+@Maldives:Economy
+
+ Overview: Fishing is the largest industry, employing 25% of the work
+ force and accounting for over 60% of exports. Over 90% of government
+ tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. During
+ the 1980s tourism became one of the most important and highest growth
+ sectors of the economy. In 1993, tourism accounted for 17% of GDP and
+ more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. The
+ Maldivian government initiated an economic reform program in 1989
+ initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the
+ private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to allow
+ more foreign investment. Agriculture and manufacturing continue to
+ play a minor role in the economy, constrained by the limited
+ availability of cultivatable land and the shortage of domestic labor.
+ Most staple foods must be imported. In 1993, industry which consisted
+ mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts accounted
+ for about 6% of GDP.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $360 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5.4% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,500 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1993)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NEGL%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $95 million (excluding foreign transfers)
+ expenditures: $143 million, including capital expenditures of $71
+ million (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $38.5 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: fish, clothing
+ partners: US, UK, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Germany
+
+ Imports: $177.8 million (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum
+ products
+ partners: Singapore, Germany, Sri Lanka, India, Japan
+
+ External debt: $130 million (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 24% (1990); accounts for 6% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 5,000 kW
+ production: 30 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 123 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: fishing and fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat
+ building, some coconut processing, garments, woven mats, coir (rope),
+ handicrafts
+
+ Agriculture: fishing, coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $28 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $125 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $14 million
+
+ Currency: 1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laari
+
+ Exchange rates: rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1 - 11.770 (January 1995), 11.586
+ (1994), 10.957 (1993), 10.569 (1992), 10.253 (1991), 9.509 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Maldives:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: NA
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA (Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city)
+
+ Ports: Gan, Male
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 50,384 GRT/77,771 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 14, container 1, oil tanker 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 2
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+
+@Maldives:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 2,804 telephones; minimal domestic and international
+ facilities
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Maldives:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: National Security Service (paramilitary police force)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 57,172; males fit for military
+ service 31,911 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MALI
+
+@Mali:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1.24 million sq km
+ land area: 1.22 million sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 7,243 km, Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina 1,000 km,
+ Guinea 858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821
+ km, Senegal 419 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: the disputed international boundary between
+ Burkina and Mali was submitted to the International Court of Justice
+ (ICJ) in October 1983 and the ICJ issued its final ruling in December
+ 1986, which both sides agreed to accept; Burkina and Mali are
+ proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with
+ Niger
+
+ Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy,
+ humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February
+
+ Terrain: mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand;
+ savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast
+
+ Natural resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium,
+ bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but
+ not exploited
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 2%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 25%
+ forest and woodland: 7%
+ other: 66%
+
+ Irrigated land: 50 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification;
+ inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching
+ natural hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry
+ seasons; recurring droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Desertification,
+ Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands;
+ signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Nuclear Test Ban
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Mali:People
+
+ Population: 9,375,132 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 48% (female 2,240,565; male 2,242,373)
+ 15-64 years: 49% (female 2,416,952; male 2,165,043)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 162,234; male 147,965) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.89% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 51.88 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 19.93 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 104.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 46.37 years
+ male: 44.7 years
+ female: 48.09 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 7.33 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Malian(s)
+ adjective: Malian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Sarakole), Peul 17%,
+ Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%
+
+ Languages: French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
+
+ Literacy: age 6 and over can read and write (1988)
+ total population: 19%
+ male: 27%
+ female: 12%
+
+ Labor force: 2.666 million (1986 est.)
+ by occupation: agriculture 80%, services 19%, industry and commerce 1%
+ (1981)
+
+@Mali:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Mali
+ conventional short form: Mali
+ local long form: Republique de Mali
+ local short form: Mali
+ former: French Sudan
+
+ Digraph: ML
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Bamako
+
+ Administrative divisions: 8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao,
+ Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou
+
+ Independence: 22 September 1960 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 22
+ September (1960)
+
+ Constitution: adopted 12 January 1992
+
+ Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
+ judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was
+ formally established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992);
+ election last held in April 1992 (next to be held April 1997); Alpha
+ KONARE was elected in runoff race against Montaga TALL
+ head of government: Prime Minister Ibrahima Boubacar KEITA (since
+ March 1994)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly: elections last held on 8 March 1992 (next to be
+ held February 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
+ (116 total) Adema 76, CNID 9, US/RAD 8, Popular Movement for the
+ Development of the Republic of West Africa 6, RDP 4, UDD 4, RDT 3,
+ UFDP 3, PDP 2, UMDD 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Association for Democracy (Adema),
+ Ibrahim Baubacar KEITA; National Congress for Democratic Initiative
+ (CNID), Mountaga TALL; Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally
+ (US/RDA), Mamadou Madeira KEITA; Popular Movement for the Development
+ of the Republic of West Africa; Rally for Democracy and Progress
+ (RDP), Almamy SYLLA; Union for Democracy and Development (UDD), Moussa
+ Balla COULIBALY; Rally for Democracy and Labor (RDT); Union of
+ Democratic Forces for Progress (UFDP), Dembo DIALLO; Party for
+ Democracy and Progress (PDP), Idrissa TRAORE; Malian Union for
+ Democracy and Development (UMDD)
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77,
+ GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
+ IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahim Siragatou CISSE
+ chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: (vacant) (Ambassador William H. DAMERON III retired
+ March 1995)
+ embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako
+ mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako
+ telephone: [223] 22 54 70
+ FAX: [223] 22 37 12
+
+ Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and
+ red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
+
+@Mali:Economy
+
+ Overview: Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65%
+ of its land area desert or semidesert. Economic activity is largely
+ confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the
+ population is nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in
+ agriculture and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on
+ processing farm commodities. The economy is beginning to turn around
+ after contracting through 1992-93, largely because of enhanced exports
+ and import substitute production in the wake of the 50% devaluation of
+ January 1994. Post-devaluation inflation appears to have peaked at 35%
+ in 1994 and the government appears to be keeping on track with its IMF
+ structural adjustment program.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $5.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $600 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $376 million
+ expenditures: $697 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $415 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: cotton, livestock, gold
+ partners: mostly franc zone and Western Europe
+
+ Imports: $842 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, construction
+ materials, petroleum, textiles
+ partners: mostly franc zone and Western Europe
+
+ External debt: $2.6 billion (1991 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -1.4% (1992 est.); accounts for
+ 13.0% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 90,000 kW
+ production: 310 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 33 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: minor local consumer goods production and food processing,
+ construction, phosphate and gold mining
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 50% of GDP; mostly subsistence farming;
+ cotton and livestock products account for over 70% of exports; other
+ crops - millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; livestock - cattle,
+ sheep, goats
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $349 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $3.02 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $92 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $190 million
+
+ Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1
+ - 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
+ 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)
+ note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
+ 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
+ 1948
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Mali:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 642 km; note - linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes
+ narrow gauge: 642 km 1.000-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 15,700 km
+ paved: 1,670 km
+ unpaved: gravel, improved earth 3,670 km; unimproved earth 10,360 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 1,815 km navigable
+
+ Ports: Koulikoro
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 33
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 10
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 12
+
+@Mali:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 11,000 telephones; domestic system poor but
+ improving; provides only minimal service
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay, wire, and radio communications
+ stations; expansion of microwave radio relay in progress
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) earth
+ stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 2
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Mali:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National
+ Guard, National Police (Surete Nationale)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,861,977; males fit for
+ military service 1,062,916 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $66 million, 2.2% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MALTA
+
+@Malta:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of
+ Sicily (Italy)
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 320 sq km
+ land area: 320 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 140 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: Malta and Tunisia are discussing the
+ commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their
+ countries, particularly for oil exploration
+
+ Climate: Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers
+
+ Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal
+ cliffs
+
+ Natural resources: limestone, salt
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 38%
+ permanent crops: 3%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 59%
+
+ Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing
+ reliance on desalination
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered
+ Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
+ Biodiversity, Desertification
+
+ Note: the country comprises an archipelago, with only the 3 largest
+ islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays
+ provide good harbors
+
+@Malta:People
+
+ Population: 369,609 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 22% (female 39,199; male 41,581)
+ 15-64 years: 67% (female 123,665; male 124,167)
+ 65 years and over: 11% (female 23,597; male 17,400) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.75% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 13.22 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.43 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 1.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 77.02 years
+ male: 74.75 years
+ female: 79.48 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Maltese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Arab, Sicilian, Norman, Spanish, Italian, English
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 98%
+
+ Languages: Maltese (official), English (official)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1985)
+ total population: 84%
+ male: 86%
+ female: 82%
+
+ Labor force: 127,200
+ by occupation: government (excluding job corps) 37%, services 26%,
+ manufacturing 22%, training programs 9%, construction 4%, agriculture
+ 2% (1990)
+
+@Malta:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Malta
+ conventional short form: Malta
+
+ Digraph: MT
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Valletta
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (administration directly from Valletta)
+
+ Independence: 21 September 1964 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
+
+ Constitution: 1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December
+ 1974
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law and Roman civil law; has
+ accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994)
+ head of government: Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dr. Edward
+ (Eddie) FENECH ADAMI (since 12 May 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Dr.
+ Guido DE MARCO (since 14 May 1987)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on advice of the prime
+ minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ House of Representatives: elections last held 22 February 1992 (next
+ to be held by February 1997); results - NP 51.8%, MLP 46.5%; seats -
+ (usually 65 total) MLP 36, NP 29; note - additional seats are given to
+ the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative
+ majority; current total: 69 (MLP 33, NP 36 after adjustment)
+
+ Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, Court of Appeal
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Nationalist Party (NP), Edward FENECH
+ ADAMI; Malta Labor Party (MLP), Alfred SANT
+
+ Member of: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
+ ICRM, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user),
+ INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Albert Borg Olivier DE PUGET
+ chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612
+ FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470
+ consulate(s): New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph R. PAOLINO, Jr.
+ embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,
+ Malta
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta
+ telephone: [356] 235960
+ FAX: [356] 243229
+
+ Flag: two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the
+ upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged
+ in red
+
+@Malta:Economy
+
+ Overview: Significant resources are limestone, a favorable geographic
+ location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20%
+ of its food needs, has limited freshwater supplies, and has no
+ domestic energy sources. Consequently, the economy is highly dependent
+ on foreign trade and services. Manufacturing and tourism are the
+ largest contributors to the economy. Manufacturing accounts for about
+ 24% of GDP, with the electronics and textile industries major
+ contributors and with the state-owned Malta drydocks employing about
+ 4,300 people. In 1994, over 1,000,000 tourists visited the island. Per
+ capita GDP of $10,760 places Malta in the range of the less affluent
+ EU countries.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.9 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4.4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $10,760 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 4.5% (March 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.4 billion
+ expenditures: $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $215
+ million (FY94/95 est.)
+
+ Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment, clothing and footware,
+ printed matter
+ partners: Italy 32%, Germany 16%, UK 8%
+
+ Imports: $2.1 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: food, petroleum, machinery and semimanufactured goods
+ partners: Italy 27%, Germany 14%, UK 13%, US 9%
+
+ External debt: $603 million (1992)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 5.4% (1992); accounts for 27% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 250,000 kW
+ production: 1.1 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,749 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tourism, electronics, ship repairyard, construction, food
+ manufacturing, textiles, footwear, clothing, beverages, tobacco
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 3% of GDP and 2% of the work force (1992);
+ overall, 20% self-sufficient; main products - potatoes, cauliflower,
+ grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers,
+ hogs, poultry, eggs; generally adequate supplies of vegetables,
+ poultry, milk, pork products; seasonal or periodic shortages in grain,
+ animal fodder, fruits, other basic foodstuffs
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to
+ Western Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $172 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $336 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $76 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-88), $48 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Maltese liri (LM) per US$1 - 0.3656 (January 1995),
+ 0.3776 (1994), 0.3821 (1993), 0.3178 (1992), 0.3226 (1991), 0.3172
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Malta:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1,291 km
+ paved: asphalt 1,179 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 77 km; earth 35 km
+
+ Ports: Marsaxlokk, Valletta
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 964 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,518,359
+ GRT/26,604,739 DWT
+ ships by type: barge carrier 3, bulk 272, cargo 300, chemical tanker
+ 30, combination bulk 26, combination ore/oil 16, container 33,
+ liquefied gas tanker 3, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker
+ 191, passenger 7, passenger-cargo 3, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated
+ cargo 14, roll-on/roll-off cargo 26, short-sea passenger 20,
+ specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 11
+ note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 49 countries; the 10
+ major fleet flags are: Greece 351 ships, Russia 66, Croatia 63,
+ Switzerland 31, Montenegro 29, Italy 27, Germany 23, Monaco 20, UK 20,
+ and Georgia 10
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+
+@Malta:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 153,000 telephones; automatic system satisfies
+ normal requirements
+ local: NA
+ intercity: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
+ international: 1 submarine cable and 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth
+ station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 2
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Malta:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Armed Forces, Maltese Police Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 98,525; males fit for military
+ service 78,305 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $21.4 million, about
+ 0.9% of GDP (FY92/93)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MAN, ISLE OF
+
+ (British crown dependency)
+
+@Man, Isle Of:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great
+ Britain and Ireland
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 588 sq km
+ land area: 588 sq km
+ comparative area: nearly 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 113 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: cool summers and mild winters; humid; overcast about half the
+ time
+
+ Terrain: hills in north and south bisected by central valley
+
+ Natural resources: lead, iron ore
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: NA%
+ permanent crops: NA%
+ meadows and pastures: NA%
+ forest and woodland: NA%
+ other: NA% (extensive arable land and forests)
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest, and is
+ a bird sanctuary
+
+@Man, Isle Of:People
+
+ Population: 72,751 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 18% (female 6,462; male 6,833)
+ 15-64 years: 64% (female 23,219; male 23,348)
+ 65 years and over: 18% (female 7,759; male 5,130) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.99% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 13.73 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 12.36 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 8.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 76.53 years
+ male: 73.78 years
+ female: 79.48 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Manxman, Manxwoman
+ adjective: Manx
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Briton
+
+ Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian,
+ Society of Friends
+
+ Languages: English, Manx Gaelic
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: 25,864 (1981)
+ by occupation: NA
+
+@Man, Isle Of:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Isle of Man
+
+ Digraph: IM
+
+ Type: British crown dependency
+
+ Capital: Douglas
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
+
+ Independence: none (British crown dependency)
+
+ National holiday: Tynwald Day, 5 July
+
+ Constitution: 1961, Isle of Man Constitution Act
+
+ Legal system: English law and local statute
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
+ 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Air Marshal Sir Laurence
+ JONES (since NA 1990)
+ head of government: President of the Legislative Council Sir Charles
+ KERRUISH (since NA 1990)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Tynwald
+ Legislative Council: consists of a 10-member body composed of the Lord
+ Bishop of Sodor and Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others
+ named by the House of Keys
+ House of Keys: elections last held NA 1991 (next to be held NA 1996);
+ results - percent of vote NA; seats - (24 total) independents 24
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Tynwald
+
+ Political parties and leaders: there is no party system and members
+ sit as independents
+
+ Member of: none
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (British crown dependency)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (British crown dependency)
+
+ Flag: red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in the
+ center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee;
+ in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the
+ flag, a two-sided emblem is used
+
+@Man, Isle Of:Economy
+
+ Overview: Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors
+ of the economy. The government's policy of offering incentives to
+ high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on the
+ island has paid off in expanding employment opportunities in
+ high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the
+ mainstays of the economy, have declined in their shares of GDP.
+ Banking now contributes about 45% to GDP. Trade is mostly with the UK.
+ The Isle of Man enjoys free access to European Union markets.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $780 million (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $10,800 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1992 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 1% (1992 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $130.4 million
+ expenditures: $114.4 million, including capital expenditures of $18.1
+ million (1985 est.)
+
+ Exports: $NA
+ commodities: tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb
+ partners: UK
+
+ Imports: $NA
+ commodities: timber, fertilizers, fish
+ partners: UK
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 61,000 kW
+ production: 190 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,965 kWh (1992)
+
+ Industries: financial services, light manufacturing, tourism
+
+ Agriculture: cereals and vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
+
+ Economic aid: $NA
+
+ Currency: 1 Manx pound (#M) = 100 pence
+
+ Exchange rates: Manx pounds (#M) per US$1 - 0.6350 (January 1995),
+ 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603
+ (1990); the Manx pound is at par with the British pound
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Man, Isle Of:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 60 km (36 km electrified)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 640 km
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: Castletown, Douglas, Peel, Ramsey
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 68 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,810,355 GRT/3,183,773
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 10, chemical tanker 4, container 9,
+ liquefied gas tanker 8, oil tanker 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 9,
+ vehicle carrier 2
+ note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 9 ships, Switzerland 2,
+ Denmark 1, Netherlands 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+
+@Man, Isle Of:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 24,435 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 4
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Man, Isle Of:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MARSHALL ISLANDS
+
+@Marshall Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific
+ Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 181.3 sq km
+ land area: 181.3 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
+ note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Eniwetak, and Kwajalein
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 370.4 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claims US territory of Wake Island
+
+ Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid; islands border
+ typhoon belt
+
+ Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands
+
+ Natural resources: phosphate deposits, marine products, deep seabed
+ minerals
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 60%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 40%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water
+ natural hazards: occasional typhoons
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law
+ of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
+
+ Note: two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands;
+ Bikini and Eniwetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the
+ famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US missile test
+ range
+
+@Marshall Islands:People
+
+ Population: 56,157 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 51% (female 13,950; male 14,547)
+ 15-64 years: 47% (female 12,801; male 13,470)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 740; male 649) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.86% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 46.03 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.48 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 48 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 63.49 years
+ male: 61.94 years
+ female: 65.11 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.89 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Marshallese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Micronesian
+
+ Religions: Christian (mostly Protestant)
+
+ Languages: English (universally spoken and is the official language),
+ two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family,
+ Japanese
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
+ total population: 93%
+ male: 100%
+ female: 88%
+
+ Labor force: 4,800 (1986)
+ by occupation: NA
+
+@Marshall Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
+ conventional short form: Marshall Islands
+ former: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific
+ Islands)
+
+ Digraph: RM
+
+ Type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the
+ Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986
+
+ Capital: Majuro
+
+ Administrative divisions: none
+
+ Independence: 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN
+ trusteeship)
+
+ National holiday: Proclamation of the Republic of the Marshall
+ Islands, 1 May (1979)
+
+ Constitution: 1 May 1979
+
+ Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the
+ legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Amata KABUA (since
+ 1979); election last held 6 January 1992 (next to be held NA); results
+ - President Amata KABUA was reelected
+ cabinet: Cabinet; president selects from the parliament
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Parliament (Nitijela): elections last held 18 November 1991 (next to
+ be held November 1995); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (33
+ total) independents 33
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: no formal parties; President KABUA is
+ chief political (and traditional) leader
+
+ Member of: AsDB, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Wilfred I. KENDALL
+ chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414
+ FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236
+ consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Los Angeles
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador David C. FIELDS
+ embassy: address NA, Majuro
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall
+ Islands 96960-1379
+ telephone: [692] 247-4011
+ FAX: [692] 247-4012
+
+ Flag: blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner
+ - orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four large rays
+ and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes
+
+@Marshall Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: Agriculture and tourism are the mainstays of the economy.
+ Agricultural production is concentrated on small farms, and the most
+ important commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and
+ breadfruit. A few cattle ranches supply the domestic meat market.
+ Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, fish processing, and
+ copra. The tourist industry is the primary source of foreign exchange
+ and employs about 10% of the labor force. The islands have few natural
+ resources, and imports far exceed exports. The US Government provides
+ about 70% of the budget.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $75 million (1992
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 6% (1992)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,500 (1992 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1992 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 16% (1991 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $106 million
+ expenditures: $128.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1993)
+
+ Exports: $3.9 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
+ commodities: coconut oil, fish, live animals, trichus shells
+ partners: US, Japan, Australia
+
+ Imports: $62.9 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, beverages and
+ tobacco, fuels
+ partners: US, Japan, Australia
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 42,000 kW
+ production: 80 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,840 kWh (1990)
+
+ Industries: copra, fish, tourism; craft items from shell, wood, and
+ pearls; offshore banking (embryonic)
+
+ Agriculture: coconuts, cacao, taro, breadfruit, fruits, pigs, chickens
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US
+ is to provide approximately $40 million in aid annually
+
+ Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: US currency is used
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
+
+@Marshall Islands:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: NA
+ note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise
+ stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks
+
+ Ports: Majuro
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,205,275 GRT/4,263,247
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk carrier 23, cargo 1, combination ore/oil 1, oil
+ tanker 12
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 16
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
+
+@Marshall Islands:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 570 telephones (Majuro) and 186 telephones (Ebeye);
+ telex services
+ local: NA
+ intercity: islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly for
+ government purposes)
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth stations; US
+ Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Marshall Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: no regular military forces; Police
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MARTINIQUE
+
+ (overseas department of France)
+
+@Martinique:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad
+ and Tobago
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1,100 sq km
+ land area: 1,060 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than six times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 290 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to
+ October)
+
+ Terrain: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
+
+ Natural resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 10%
+ permanent crops: 8%
+ meadows and pastures: 30%
+ forest and woodland: 26%
+ other: 26%
+
+ Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an
+ average of one major natural disaster every five years)
+ international agreements: NA
+
+@Martinique:People
+
+ Population: 394,787 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 23% (female 44,960; male 46,512)
+ 15-64 years: 67% (female 134,439; male 130,642)
+ 65 years and over: 10% (female 22,058; male 16,176) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.1% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 16.92 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.82 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 78.67 years
+ male: 75.94 years
+ female: 81.53 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Martiniquais (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Martiniquais
+
+ Ethnic divisions: African and African-Caucasian-Indian mixture 90%,
+ Caucasian 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
+
+ Languages: French, Creole patois
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
+ total population: 93%
+ male: 92%
+ female: 93%
+
+ Labor force: 100,000
+ by occupation: service industry 31.7%, construction and public works
+ 29.4%, agriculture 13.1%, industry 7.3%, fisheries 2.2%, other 16.3%
+
+@Martinique:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Department of Martinique
+ conventional short form: Martinique
+ local long form: Departement de la Martinique
+ local short form: Martinique
+
+ Digraph: MB
+
+ Type: overseas department of France
+
+ Capital: Fort-de-France
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
+
+ Independence: none (overseas department of France)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
+
+ Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
+
+ Legal system: French legal system
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
+ head of government: Prefect Michel MORIN (since NA); President of the
+ General Council Claude LISE (since 22 March 1992); President of the
+ Regional Council Emile CAPGRAS (since 22 March 1992)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and a unicameral
+ Regional Assembly
+ General Council: elections last held 25 September and 8 October 1988
+ (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
+ (44 total) number of seats by party NA; note - a leftist coalition
+ obtained a one-seat margin
+ Regional Assembly: elections last held on 22 March 1992 (next to be
+ held by March 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
+ (41 total) RPR-UDF 16, MIM 9, PPM 9, PCM 5, independents 2
+ French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held
+ NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) UDF 1,
+ PPM 1
+ French National Assembly: elections last held NA June 1993 (next to be
+ held NA June 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (4
+ total) RPR 3, FSM 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR), Stephen
+ BAGOE; Union for a Martinique of Progress (UMP); Martinique
+ Progressive Party (PPM), Aime CESAIRE; Socialist Federation of
+ Martinique (FSM), Michel YOYO; Martinique Communist Party (PCM);
+ Martinique Patriots (PM); Union for French Democracy (UDF), Jean
+ MARAN; Martinique Independence Movement (MIM), Alfred MARIE-JEANNE;
+ Republican Party (PR), Jean BAILLY
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Proletarian Action Group (GAP);
+ Alhed Marie-Jeanne Socialist Revolution Group (GRS); Caribbean
+ Revolutionary Alliance (ARC); Central Union for Martinique Workers
+ (CSTM), Marc PULVAR; Frantz Fanon Circle; League of Workers and
+ Peasants; Parti Martiniquais Socialiste (PMS); Association for the
+ Protection of Martinique's Heritage (ecologist)
+
+ Member of: FZ, WCL, WFTU
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas department of France)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: the post closed in August 1993 (overseas
+ department of France)
+
+ Flag: the flag of France is used
+
+@Martinique:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and
+ light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 10% of GDP and the
+ small industrial sector for 10%. Sugar production has declined, with
+ most of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana
+ exports are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat,
+ vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a
+ chronic trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from
+ France. Tourism has become more important than agricultural exports as
+ a source of foreign exchange. The majority of the work force is
+ employed in the service sector and in administration. Banana workers
+ launched protests late in 1992 because of falling banana prices and
+ fears of greater competition in the European market from other
+ producers.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.9 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $10,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1990)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 32.1% (1990)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $610 million
+ expenditures: $1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1991)
+
+ Exports: $247 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples
+ partners: France 57%, Guadeloupe 31%, French Guiana (1991)
+
+ Imports: $1.75 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
+ commodities: petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction
+ materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
+ partners: France 62%, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, US (1991)
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 113,100 kW
+ production: 700 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,677 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism
+
+ Agriculture: including fishing and forestry, accounts for about 10% of
+ GDP; principal crops - pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers,
+ vegetables, sugarcane for rum; dependent on imported food,
+ particularly meat and vegetables
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for
+ the US and Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $10.1 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.2943 (January 1995),
+ 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Martinique:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1,680 km
+ paved: 1,300 km
+ unpaved: gravel, earth 380 km
+
+ Ports: Fort-de-France, La Trinite
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 2
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Martinique:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 68,900 telephones; domestic facilities are adequate
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: interisland microwave radio relay links to Guadeloupe,
+ Dominica, and Saint Lucia; 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 10
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Martinique:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of France
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MAURITANIA
+
+@Mauritania:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
+ Senegal and Western Sahara
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1,030,700 sq km
+ land area: 1,030,400 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than three times the size of New
+ Mexico
+
+ Land boundaries: total 5,074 km, Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km,
+ Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km
+
+ Coastline: 754 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: boundary with Senegal in dispute
+
+ Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
+
+ Terrain: mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
+
+ Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 1%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 38%
+ forest and woodland: 5%
+ other: 56%
+
+ Irrigated land: 120 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion
+ aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very
+ limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal which is
+ the only perennial river
+ natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows
+ primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban,
+ Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
+ Biodiversity, Desertification, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: most of the population concentrated along the Senegal River in
+ the southern part of the country
+
+@Mauritania:People
+
+ Population: 2,263,202 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 48% (female 544,674; male 551,099)
+ 15-64 years: 49% (female 574,282; male 542,762)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 28,955; male 21,430) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.17% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 47.32 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 15.66 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 83.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 48.54 years
+ male: 45.66 years
+ female: 51.54 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.92 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Mauritanian(s)
+ adjective: Mauritanian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 100%
+
+ Languages: Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof
+ (official)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1988)
+ total population: 35%
+ male: 46%
+ female: 25%
+
+ Labor force: 465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980)
+ by occupation: agriculture 47%, services 29%, industry and commerce
+ 14%, government 10%
+
+@Mauritania:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
+ conventional short form: Mauritania
+ local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
+ local short form: Muritaniyah
+
+ Digraph: MR
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Nouakchott
+
+ Administrative divisions: 12 regions (regions, singular - region);
+ Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech
+ Chargui, Hodh el Gharbi, Inchiri, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza
+ note: there may be a new capital district of Nouakchott
+
+ Independence: 28 November 1960 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
+
+ Constitution: 12 July 1991
+
+ Legal system: three-tier system: Islamic (Shari'a) courts, special
+ courts, state security courts (in the process of being eliminated)
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Col. Maaouya Ould
+ Sid'Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984); election last held NA January
+ 1992 (next to be held NA January 1998); results - President Col.
+ Maaouya Ould Sid 'Ahmed TAYA elected
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral legislature
+ Senate (Majlis al-Shuyukh): elections last held 15 April 1994 (nex to
+ be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats (56
+ total, with 17 up for election every two years) PRDS 16, UFD/NE 1
+ National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani): elections last held 6 and 13
+ March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - percent of vote
+ by party NA; seats - (79 total) UFD/NE 67, PMR 1, RDU 1, independents
+ 10
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: legalized by constitution passed 12
+ July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based; emerging
+ parties include Democratic and Social Republican Party (PRDS), led by
+ President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed TAYA; Union of Democratic
+ Forces-New Era (UFD/NE), headed by Ahmed Ould DADDAH; Assembly for
+ Democracy and Unity (RDU), Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA; Popular Social and
+ Democratic Union (UPSD), Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH; Mauritanian Party
+ for Renewal (PMR), Hameida BOUCHRAYA; National Avant-Garde Party
+ (PAN), Khattry Ould JIDDOU; Mauritanian Party of the Democratic Center
+ (PCDM), Bamba Ould SIDI BADI
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Mauritanian Workers Union (UTM)
+
+ Member of: ABEDA, ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU,
+ CAEU, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
+ IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
+ NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Ismail Ould IYAHI (since 22 September
+ 1994)
+ chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Dorothy Myers SAMPAS
+ embassy: address NA, Nouakchott
+ mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott
+ telephone: [222] (2) 526-60, 526-63
+ FAX: [222] (2) 515-92
+
+ Flag: green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal
+ crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star,
+ and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
+
+@Mauritania:Economy
+
+ Overview: A majority of the population still depends on agriculture
+ and livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the nomads and
+ many subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent
+ droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits of
+ iron ore, which account for almost 50% of total exports. The decline
+ in world demand for this ore, however, has led to cutbacks in
+ production. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing
+ areas in the world, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this
+ key source of revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened near
+ Nouakchott in 1986. In recent years, drought and economic
+ mismanagement have resulted in a substantial buildup of foreign debt.
+ The government has begun the second stage of an economic reform
+ program in consultation with the World Bank, the IMF, and major donor
+ countries. Short-term growth prospects are gloomy because of the heavy
+ debt service burden, rapid population growth, and vulnerability to
+ climatic conditions.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,110 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1993)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 20% (1991 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $280 million
+ expenditures: $346 million, including capital expenditures of $61
+ million (1989 est.)
+
+ Exports: $401 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: iron ore, fish and fish products
+ partners: Japan 27%, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg
+
+ Imports: $378 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital
+ goods
+ partners: Algeria 15%, China 6%, US 3%, France, Germany, Spain, Italy
+
+ External debt: $1.9 billion (1992 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for almost 30% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 110,000 kW
+ production: 135 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 61 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 25% of GDP (including fishing); largely
+ subsistence farming and nomadic cattle and sheep herding except in
+ Senegal river valley; crops - dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; fish
+ products number-one export; large food deficit in years of drought
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $168 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $1.3 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $490 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $277 million; Arab Development Bank
+ (1991), $20 million
+
+ Currency: 1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums
+
+ Exchange rates: ouguiyas (UM) per US$1 - 125.910 (January 1995),
+ 123.575 (1994), 120.806 (1993),87.027 (1992), 81.946 (1991), 80.609
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Mauritania:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 690 km (single track); note - owned and operated by government
+ mining company
+ standard gauge: 690 km 1.435-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 7,525 km
+ paved: 1,685 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, otherwise improved 1,040 km;
+ unimproved earth 4,800 km (roads, trails, tracks)
+
+ Inland waterways: mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River
+
+ Ports: Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 28
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 6
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 10
+
+@Mauritania:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; poor system of cable and open-wire
+ lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radio communications
+ stations (improvements being made)
+ local: NA
+ intercity: mostly cable and open wire lines
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 ARABSAT earth
+ stations, with six planned
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Mauritania:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard,
+ National Police, Presidential Guard
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 483,916; males fit for military
+ service 236,323
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $36 million, 2.7% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MAURITIUS
+
+@Mauritius:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
+ Madagascar
+
+ Map references: World
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1,860 sq km
+ land area: 1,850 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than 10.5 times the size of
+ Washington, DC
+ note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint
+ Brandon), and Rodrigues
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 177 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claims UK-administered Chagos Archipelago,
+ which includes the island of Diego Garcia in UK-administered British
+ Indian Ocean Territory; claims French-administered Tromelin Island
+
+ Climate: tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter
+ (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
+
+ Terrain: small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains
+ encircling central plateau
+
+ Natural resources: arable land, fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 54%
+ permanent crops: 4%
+ meadows and pastures: 4%
+ forest and woodland: 31%
+ other: 7%
+
+ Irrigated land: 170 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: water pollution
+ natural hazards: cyclones (November to April); almost completely
+ surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law
+ of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
+ Protection
+
+@Mauritius:People
+
+ Population: 1,127,068 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 28% (female 152,892; male 158,891)
+ 15-64 years: 66% (female 376,049; male 372,910)
+ 65 years and over: 6% (female 39,088; male 27,238) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.89% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 18.91 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.38 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -3.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 17.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 70.84 years
+ male: 66.9 years
+ female: 74.95 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Mauritian(s)
+ adjective: Mauritian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%,
+ Franco-Mauritian 2%
+
+ Religions: Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant
+ 2.3%), Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1%
+
+ Languages: English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka,
+ Bojpoori
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 80%
+ male: 85%
+ female: 75%
+
+ Labor force: 335,000
+ by occupation: government services 29%, agriculture and fishing 27%,
+ manufacturing 22%, other 22%
+
+@Mauritius:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
+ conventional short form: Mauritius
+
+ Digraph: MP
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Port Louis
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega
+ Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka,
+ Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart,
+ Rodrigues*, Savanne
+
+ Independence: 12 March 1968 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
+
+ Constitution: 12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
+
+ Legal system: based on French civil law system with elements of
+ English common law in certain areas
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992); Vice
+ President Rabindranath GHURBURRON (since 1 July 1992)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 12 June
+ 1982); Deputy Prime Minister Prem NABABSING (since 26 September 1990)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on
+ recommendation of the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Legislative Assembly: elections last held on 15 September 1991 (next
+ to be held by 15 September 1996); results - MSM/MMM 53%, MLP/PMSD 38%;
+ seats - (66 total) MSM/MMM alliance 59 (MSM 29, MMM 26, OPR 2, MTD 2),
+ MLP/PMSD 4 (MLP 3, PMSD 1); note - the Supreme Court denied the
+ assignment of 3 seats to the MSM
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ government coalition: Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), A. JUGNAUTH;
+ Mauritian Militant Resurgence (RMM), Prem NABABSING (less 10
+ legislators under the leadership of Paul BERENGER, now voting with the
+ opposition); Mauritian Social Democratic Party (PMSD), X. DUVAL;
+ Organization of the People of Rodrigues (OPR), Louis Serge CLAIR;
+ Democratic Labor Movement (MTD), Anil BAICHOO
+ opposition: Mauritian Labor Party (MLP), Navin RAMGOOLMAN;
+ MMM-Berenger Faction, Paul BERENGER; Socialist Workers Front, Sylvio
+ MICHEL
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: various labor unions
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN,
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Anund Priyay NEEWOOR
+ chancery: Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492
+ FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie M. ALEXANDER
+ embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [230] 208-9763 through 9767
+ FAX: [230] 208-9534
+
+ Flag: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and
+ green
+
+@Mauritius:Economy
+
+ Overview: Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a
+ low income, agriculturally based economy to middle income diversified
+ economy with growing industrial and tourist sectors. For most of the
+ period annual growth has been of the order of 5% to 6%. This
+ remarkable achievement has been reflected in increased life
+ expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much improved
+ infrastructure. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land
+ area and accounts for 40% of export earnings. The government's
+ development strategy centers on industrialization (with a view to
+ modernization and to exports), agricultural diversification, and
+ tourism. Economic performance in 1991-93 continued strong with solid
+ real growth and low unemployment.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $9.3 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4.7% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $8,600 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.4% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 2.4% (1991 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $653 million
+ expenditures: $567 million, including capital expenditures of $143
+ million (FY92/93 est.)
+
+ Exports: $1.32 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: textiles 44%, sugar 40%, light manufactures 10%
+ partners: EC and US have preferential treatment, EC 77%, US 15%
+
+ Imports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: manufactured goods 50%, capital equipment 17%, foodstuffs
+ 13%, petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7%
+ partners: EC, US, South Africa, Japan
+
+ External debt: $996.8 million (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 5.8% (1992); accounts for 25% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 340,000 kW
+ production: 920 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 777 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, wearing
+ apparel, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical
+ machinery, tourism
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP; about 90% of cultivated land in
+ sugarcane; other products - tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses,
+ cattle, goats, fish; net food importer, especially rice and fish
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug
+ trade; heroin consumption and transshipment are growing problems
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $76 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries (1970-89), $709 million; Communist
+ countries (1970-89), $54 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1 - 17.755 (January
+ 1995), 17.960 (1994), 17.648 (1993), 15.563 (1992), 15.652 (1991),
+ 14.839 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Mauritius:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1,800 km
+ paved: 1,640 km
+ unpaved: earth 160 km
+
+ Ports: Port Louis
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 191,703 GRT/297,347 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 8, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 1,
+ passenger-cargo 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 5
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Mauritius:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: over 48,000 telephones; small system with good
+ service
+ local: NA
+ intercity: utilizes primarily microwave radio relay
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station; new microwave
+ link to Reunion; high-frequency radio links to several countries
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 4
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Mauritius:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: National Police Force (includes the paramilitary Special
+ Mobile Force or SMF, Special Support Units or SSU, and National Coast
+ Guard)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 321,947; males fit for military
+ service 163,904 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $11.2 million, 0.4%
+ of GDP (FY92/93)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MAYOTTE
+
+ (territorial collectivity of France)
+
+@Mayotte:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about
+ one-half of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 375 sq km
+ land area: 375 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 185.2 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claimed by Comoros
+
+ Climate: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during
+ northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to
+ November)
+
+ Terrain: generally undulating with ancient volcanic peaks, deep
+ ravines
+
+ Natural resources: negligible
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: NA%
+ permanent crops: NA%
+ meadows and pastures: NA%
+ forest and woodland: NA%
+ other: NA%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: cyclones during rainy season
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: part of Comoro Archipelago
+
+@Mayotte:People
+
+ Population: 97,088 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 49% (female 23,910; male 24,120)
+ 15-64 years: 48% (female 22,824; male 23,935)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 1,165; male 1,134) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.8% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 48.44 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 10.46 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 77.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 58.27 years
+ male: 56.04 years
+ female: 60.57 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.71 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Mahorais (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Mahoran
+
+ Ethnic divisions: NA
+
+ Religions: Muslim 99%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)
+
+ Languages: Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+
+@Mayotte:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
+ conventional short form: Mayotte
+
+ Digraph: MF
+
+ Type: territorial collectivity of France
+
+ Capital: Mamoutzou
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France)
+
+ Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
+
+ Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
+
+ Legal system: French law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
+ head of government: Prefect Jean-Jacques DERACQ (since NA); President
+ of the General Council Younoussa BAMANA (since NA 1976)
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ General Council (Conseil General): elections last held NA March 1994
+ (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
+ (19 total) MPM 12, RPR 4, independents 3
+ French Senate: elections last held on 24 September 1989 (next to be
+ held NA September 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
+ - (1 total) MPM 1
+ French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993
+ (next to be held NA 1998); results - UDF-CDS 54.3%, RPR 44.3%; seats -
+ (1 total) UDF-CDS 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Mahoran Popular Movement (MPM),
+ Younoussa BAMANA; Party for the Mahoran Democratic Rally (PRDM),
+ Daroueche MAOULIDA; Mahoran Rally for the Republic (RPR), Mansour
+ KAMARDINE; Union for French Democracy (UDF), Maoulida AHMED; Center of
+ Social Democrats (CDS),
+
+ Member of: FZ
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (territorial collectivity of
+ France)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (territorial collectivity of
+ France)
+
+ Flag: the flag of France is used
+
+@Mayotte:Economy
+
+ Overview: Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural
+ sector, including fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is not
+ self-sufficient and must import a large portion of its food
+ requirements, mainly from France. The economy and future development
+ of the island are heavily dependent on French financial assistance.
+ Mayotte's remote location is an obstacle to the development of
+ tourism.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $54 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $600 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $37.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1985 est.)
+
+ Exports: $4 million (f.o.b., 1984)
+ commodities: ylang-ylang, vanilla
+ partners: France 79%, Comoros 10%, Reunion 9%
+
+ Imports: $21.8 million (f.o.b., 1984)
+ commodities: building materials, transportation equipment, rice,
+ clothing, flour
+ partners: France 57%, Kenya 16%, South Africa 11%, Pakistan 8%
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: NA kW
+ production: NA kWh
+ consumption per capita: NA kWh
+
+ Industries: newly created lobster and shrimp industry
+
+ Agriculture: most important sector; provides all export earnings;
+ crops - vanilla, ylang-ylang, coffee, copra; imports major share of
+ food needs
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $402 million
+
+ Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.2943 (January 1995),
+ 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Mayotte:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 42 km
+ paved: bituminous 18 km
+ unpaved: 24 km
+
+ Ports: Dzaoudzi
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Mayotte:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 450 telephones; small system administered by French
+ Department of Posts and Telecommunications
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: radio relay and high-frequency radio communications for
+ links to Comoros and international communications
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Mayotte:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of France
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MEXICO
+
+@Mexico:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of
+ Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific
+ Ocean, between Guatamala and the US
+
+ Map references: North America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1,972,550 sq km
+ land area: 1,923,040 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Texas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 4,538 km, Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US
+ 3,326 km
+
+ Coastline: 9,330 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claims Clipperton Island (French possession)
+
+ Climate: varies from tropical to desert
+
+ Terrain: high, rugged mountains, low coastal plains, high plateaus,
+ and desert
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc,
+ natural gas, timber
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 12%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 39%
+ forest and woodland: 24%
+ other: 24%
+
+ Irrigated land: 51,500 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted in
+ north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast;
+ raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in urban areas;
+ deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification; serious air
+ pollution in the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico
+ border
+ natural hazards: tsunamis along the Pacific coast, destructive
+ earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Gulf and
+ Caribbean coasts
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
+ Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
+ Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified -
+ Desertification
+
+ Note: strategic location on southern border of US
+
+@Mexico:People
+
+ Population: 93,985,848 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 37% (female 17,028,091; male 17,631,110)
+ 15-64 years: 59% (female 28,429,663; male 26,866,886)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 2,184,998; male 1,845,100) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.9% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 26.64 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 4.64 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -3.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 26 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 73.34 years
+ male: 69.74 years
+ female: 77.11 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.09 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Mexican(s)
+ adjective: Mexican
+
+ Ethnic divisions: mestizo (Indian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or
+ predominantly Amerindian 30%, Caucasian or predominantly Caucasian 9%,
+ other 1%
+
+ Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%
+
+ Languages: Spanish, various Mayan dialects
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 88%
+ male: 90%
+ female: 85%
+
+ Labor force: 26.2 million (1990)
+ by occupation: services 31.7%, agriculture, forestry, hunting, and
+ fishing 28%, commerce 14.6%, manufacturing 11.1%, construction 8.4%,
+ transportation 4.7%, mining and quarrying 1.5%
+
+@Mexico:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: United Mexican States
+ conventional short form: Mexico
+ local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos
+ local short form: Mexico
+
+ Digraph: MX
+
+ Type: federal republic operating under a centralized government
+
+ Capital: Mexico
+
+ Administrative divisions: 31 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1
+ federal district* (distrito federal); Aguascalientes, Baja California,
+ Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila de
+ Zaragoza, Colima, Distrito Federal*, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero,
+ Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo
+ Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro de Arteaga, Quintana Roo, San Luis
+ Potosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala,
+ Veracruz-Llave, Yucatan, Zacatecas
+
+ Independence: 16 September 1810 (from Spain)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1810)
+
+ Constitution: 5 February 1917
+
+ Legal system: mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law
+ system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not enforced)
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce
+ de Leon (since 1 December 1994); election last held on 21 August 1994
+ (next to be held NA); results - Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (PRI)
+ 50.18%, Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano (PRD) 17.08%, Diego FERNANDEZ de
+ Cevallos (PAN) 26.69%; other 6.049%
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso de la Union)
+
+ Senate (Camara de Senadores): elections last held on 21 August 1994
+ (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats in
+ full Senate - (128 total; Senate expanded from 64 seats at the last
+ election) PRI 93, PRD 25, PAN 10
+ Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): elections last held on 24
+ August 1994 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party
+ NA; seats - (500 total) PRI 300, PAN 119, PRD 71, PFCRN 10
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: (recognized parties) Institutional
+ Revolutionary Party (PRI), Maria de los Angeles MORENO; National
+ Action Party (PAN), Carlos CASTILLO; Popular Socialist Party (PPS),
+ Indalecio SAYAGO Herrera; Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD),
+ Porfirio MUNOZ Ledo; Cardenist Front for the National Reconstruction
+ Party (PFCRN), Rafael AGUILAR Talamantes; Authentic Party of the
+ Mexican Revolution (PARM), Rosa Maria MARTINEZ Denagri; Democratic
+ Forum Party (PFD), Pablo Emilio MADERO; Mexican Green Ecologist Party
+ (PVEM), Jorge GONZALEZ Torres
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Roman Catholic Church;
+ Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM); Confederation of Industrial
+ Chambers (CONCAMIN); Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce
+ (CONCANACO); National Peasant Confederation (CNC); Revolutionary
+ Workers Party (PRT); Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and
+ Peasants (CROC); Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers (CROM);
+ Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic (COPARMEX);
+ National Chamber of Transformation Industries (CANACINTRA);
+ Coordinator for Foreign Trade Business Organizations (COECE);
+ Federation of Unions Providing Goods and Services (FESEBES)
+
+ Member of: AG (observer), APEC, BCIE, CARICOM (observer), CCC, CDB,
+ CG, EBRD, ECLAC, FAO, G- 6, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, GATT, IADB, IAEA,
+ IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES,
+ LAIA, NAM (observer), OAS, OECD, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Jesus SILVA HERZOG Flores
+ chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
+ telephone: [1] (202) 728-1600
+ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, El Paso,
+ Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Antonio, San
+ Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
+ consulate(s): Albuquerque, Austin, Boston, Brownsville (Texas),
+ Calexico (California), Corpus Christi, Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Eagle
+ Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), Loredo, McAllen (Texas), Midland
+ (Texas), Nogales (Arizona), Oxnard (California), Philadelphia,
+ Phoenix, Sacramento, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, San
+ Jose, Santa Ana, Seattle
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador James R. JONES
+ embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico,
+ Distrito Federal
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 3087, Laredo, TX 78044-3087
+ telephone: [52] (5) 211-0042
+ FAX: [52] (5) 511-9980, 208-3373
+ consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana
+ consulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nuevo Laredo
+
+ Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
+ red; the coat of arms (an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in
+ its beak) is centered in the white band
+
+@Mexico:Economy
+
+ Overview: Mexico, under the guidance of new President Ernesto ZEDILLO,
+ entered 1995 in the midst of a severe financial crisis. Mexico's
+ membership in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the
+ United States and Canada, its solid record of economic reforms, and
+ its strong growth in the second and third quarters of 1994 - at an
+ annual rate of 3.8% and 4.5% respectively - seemed to augur bright
+ prospects for 1995. However, an overvalued exchange rate and widening
+ current account deficits created an imbalance that ultimately proved
+ unsustainable. To finance the trade gap, Mexico City had become
+ increasingly reliant on volatile portfolio investment. A series of
+ political shocks in 1994 - an uprising in the southern state of
+ Chiapas, the assassination of a presidential candidate, several high
+ profile kidnappings, the killing of a second high-level political
+ figure, and renewed threats from the Chiapas rebels - combined with
+ rising international interest rates and concerns of a devaluation to
+ undermine investor confidence and prompt massive outflows of capital.
+ The dwindling of foreign exchange reserves, which the central bank had
+ been using to defend the currency, forced the new administration to
+ change the exchange rate policy and allow the currency to float freely
+ in the last days of 1994. The adjustment roiled Mexican financial
+ markets, leading to a 30% to 40% weakening of the peso relative to the
+ dollar. ZEDILLO announced an emergency economic program that included
+ federal budget cuts and plans for more privatizations, but it failed
+ to restore investor confidence quickly. While the devaluation is
+ likely to help Mexican exporters, whose products are now cheaper, it
+ also raises the specter of an inflationary spiral if domestic
+ producers increase their prices and workers demand wage hikes.
+ Although strong economic fundamentals bode well for Mexico's
+ longer-term outlook, prospects for solid growth and low inflation have
+ deteriorated considerably, at least through 1995.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $728.7 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $7,900 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.1% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 9.8% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $96.99 billion (1994 est.)
+ expenditures: $96.51 billion (1994 est.), including capital
+ expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $60.8 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.), includes in-bond
+ industries
+ commodities: crude oil, oil products, coffee, silver, engines, motor
+ vehicles, cotton, consumer electronics
+ partners: US 82%, Japan 1.4%, EC 5% (1993 est.)
+
+ Imports: $79.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.), includes in-bond
+ industries
+ commodities: metal-working machines, steel mill products, agricultural
+ machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts
+ for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts
+ partners: US 74%, Japan 4.7%, EC 11% (1993 est.)
+
+ External debt: $128 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 4.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 28,780,000 kW
+ production: 122 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,239 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel,
+ petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer
+ durables, tourism
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 7% of GDP; large number of small farms at
+ subsistence level; major food crops - corn, wheat, rice, beans; cash
+ crops - cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis
+ continues in spite of government eradication program; major supplier
+ of heroin and marijuana to the US market; continues as the primary
+ transshipment country for US-bound cocaine and marijuana from South
+ America; increasingly involved in the production and distribution of
+ methamphetamine
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.1 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $7.7 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $110 million
+
+ Currency: 1 New Mexican peso (Mex$) = 100 centavos
+
+ Exchange rates: market rate of Mexican pesos (Mex$) per US$1 - 6.736
+ (average in March 1995), 5.5133 (January 1995), 3.3751 (1994), 3.1156
+ (1993), 3,094.9 (1992), 3,018.4 (1991), 2,812.6 (1990)
+ note: the new peso replaced the old peso on 1 January 1993; 1 new peso
+ = 1,000 old pesos
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Mexico:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 24,500 km
+ standard gauge: 24,410 km 1.435-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 93 km 0.914-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 242,300 km
+ paved: 84,800 km (including 3,166 km of expressways)
+ unpaved: gravel and earth 157,500 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 2,900 km navigable rivers and coastal canals
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 28,200 km; petroleum products 10,150 km; natural
+ gas 13,254 km; petrochemical 1,400 km
+
+ Ports: Acapulco, Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada, Guaymas, La Paz,
+ Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Progreso, Salina Cruz, Tampico,
+ Topolobampo, Tuxpan, Veracruz
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 59 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 949,271 GRT/1,340,595 DWT
+
+ ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 2, chemical tanker 4, container 7,
+ liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 30, refrigerated cargo 2,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 4
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 2,055
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 9
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 82
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 75
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1,262
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 60
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 539
+
+@Mexico:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 6,410,000 telephones; highly developed system with
+ extensive microwave radio relay links; privatized in December 1990
+ local: adequate phone service for business and government, but, at a
+ density of less than 7 telephones/100 persons, the population is
+ poorly served
+ intercity: includes 120 domestic satellite terminals and an extensive
+ network of microwave radio relay links
+ international: 5 INTELSAT (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) earth
+ stations; connected into Central America Microwave System; launched
+ Solidarity I satellite in November 1993
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 679, FM 0, shortwave 22
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 238
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Mexico:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: National Defense (includes Army and Air Force), Navy
+ (includes Marines)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 23,354,445; males fit for
+ military service 17,029,788; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 1,054,513 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF
+
+@Micronesia, Federated States Of:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about
+ three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 702 sq km
+ land area: 702 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than four times the size of
+ Washington, DC
+ note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk), Yap, and Kosrae
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 6,112 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the
+ eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with
+ occasional severe damage
+
+ Terrain: islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to
+ low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Truk
+
+ Natural resources: forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: NA%
+ permanent crops: NA%
+ meadows and pastures: NA%
+ forest and woodland: NA%
+ other: NA%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law
+ of the Sea
+
+ Note: four major island groups totaling 607 islands
+
+@Micronesia, Federated States Of:People
+
+ Population: 122,950 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.35% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 28.12 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.3 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 36.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 67.81 years
+ male: 65.84 years
+ female: 69.81 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.98 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Micronesian(s)
+ adjective: Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other and none 3%
+
+ Languages: English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian,
+ Yapese, Kosrean
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
+ total population: 89%
+ male: 91%
+ female: 88%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: two-thirds are government employees
+ note: 45,000 people are between the ages of 15 and 65
+
+@Micronesia, Federated States Of:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia
+ conventional short form: none
+ former: Kosrae, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of
+ the Pacific Islands)
+
+ Abbreviation: FSM
+
+ Digraph: FM
+
+ Type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the
+ Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986
+
+ Capital: Kolonia (on the island of Pohnpei)
+ note: a new capital is being built about 10 km southwest in the
+ Palikir valley
+
+ Administrative divisions: 4 states; Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk (Truk), Yap
+
+ Independence: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN
+ Trusteeship)
+
+ National holiday: Proclamation of the Federated States of Micronesia,
+ 10 May (1979)
+
+ Constitution: 10 May 1979
+
+ Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the
+ legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Bailey OLTER (since
+ 21 May 1991); Vice President Jacob NENA (since 21 May 1991); election
+ last held 11 May 1991 (next to be held 7 March 1995); results - Bailey
+ OLTER elected president; Jacob NENA elected vice-president
+ cabinet: Cabinet
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Congress: elections last held 5 March 1991 (next to be held 7 March
+ 1995); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (14 total) independents
+ 14
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: no formal parties
+
+ Member of: AsDB, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC,
+ SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse B. MAREHALAU
+ chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
+ telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383
+ FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391
+ consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador March Fong EU
+ embassy: address NA, Kolonia
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of
+ Micronesia 96941
+ telephone: [691] 320-2187
+ FAX: [691] 320-2186
+
+ Flag: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the
+ stars are arranged in a diamond pattern
+
+@Micronesia, Federated States Of:Economy
+
+ Overview: Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming
+ and fishing. The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting,
+ except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a tourist industry
+ exists, but the remoteness of the location and a lack of adequate
+ facilities hinder development. Financial assistance from the US is the
+ primary source of revenue, with the US pledged to spend $1 billion in
+ the islands in the 1990s. Geographical isolation and a poorly
+ developed infrastructure are major impediments to long-term growth.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $160 million (1990
+ est.)
+ note: GDP was supplemented by approximately $100 million in grant aid
+ in 1990
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4% (1994)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,500 (1990 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: 27% (1989)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $45 million
+ expenditures: $31 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (FY94/95 est.)
+
+ Exports: $3.2 million (f.o.b., 1990)
+ commodities: fish, copra, bananas, black pepper
+ partners: Japan, US
+
+ Imports: $91.2 million (c.i.f., 1990)
+ commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment,
+ beverages
+ partners: US, Japan, Australia
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 18,000 kW
+ production: 40 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 380 kWh (1990)
+
+ Industries: tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items from
+ shell, wood, and pearls
+
+ Agriculture: mainly a subsistence economy; black pepper; tropical
+ fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava, sweet potatoes, pigs,
+ chickens
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US will
+ provide $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001
+
+ Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: US currency is used
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
+
+@Micronesia, Federated States Of:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 226 km
+ paved: 39 km (on major islands)
+ unpaved: stone, coral, laterite 187 km
+
+ Ports: Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 6
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+
+@Micronesia, Federated States Of:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 960 telephones on Kolonia and Truk
+ local: NA
+ intercity: islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly for
+ government purposes
+ international: 4 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 1
+ radios: 16,000
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 6
+ televisions: 1,125 (1987 est.)
+
+@Micronesia, Federated States Of:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MIDWAY ISLANDS
+
+ (territory of the US)
+
+@Midway Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third
+ of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 5.2 sq km
+ land area: 5.2 sq km
+ comparative area: about 9 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
+
+ note: includes Eastern Island and Sand Island
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 15 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds
+
+ Terrain: low, nearly level
+
+ Natural resources: fish, wildlife
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: a coral atoll; closed to the public
+
+@Midway Islands:People
+
+ Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are 453 US
+ military personnel (July 1995 est.)
+
+@Midway Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Midway Islands
+
+ Digraph: MQ
+
+ Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Navy,
+ under Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this
+ facility has been operationally closed since 10 September 1993 and is
+ currently being transferred from Pacific Fleet to Naval Facilities
+ Engineering Command via a Memorandum of Understanding
+
+ Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
+
+ Flag: the US flag is used
+
+@Midway Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is based on providing support services for US
+ naval operations located on the islands. All food and manufactured
+ goods must be imported.
+
+ Electricity: supplied by US Military
+
+@Midway Islands:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 32 km
+ paved: NA
+
+ Pipelines: 7.8 km
+
+ Ports: Sand Island
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 3
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Midway Islands:Communications
+
+ Telephone system:
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Midway Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MOLDOVA
+
+@Moldova:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
+
+ Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - European States
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 33,700 sq km
+ land area: 33,700 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Hawaii
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,389 km, Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: certain territory of Moldova and Ukraine -
+ including Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina - are considered by
+ Bucharest as historically a part of Romania; this territory was
+ incorporated into the former Soviet Union following the
+ Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1940
+
+ Climate: moderate winters, warm summers
+
+ Terrain: rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
+
+ Natural resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 50%
+ permanent crops: 13%
+ meadows and pastures: 9%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 28%
+
+ Irrigated land: 2,920 sq km (1990)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned
+ pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater;
+ extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Moldova:People
+
+ Population: 4,489,657 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 27% (female 588,155; male 609,372)
+ 15-64 years: 64% (female 1,487,170; male 1,386,293)
+ 65 years and over: 9% (female 258,958; male 159,709) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.36% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 15.93 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 10.05 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -2.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 29.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 68.22 years
+ male: 64.81 years
+ female: 71.8 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.16 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Moldovan(s)
+ adjective: Moldovan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Moldavian/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian
+ 13%, Gagauz 3.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, other 1.7% (1989 figures)
+
+ note: internal disputes with ethnic Russians and Ukrainians in the
+ Dniester region and Gagauz Turks in the south
+
+ Religions: Eastern Orthodox 98.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist (only about
+ 1,000 members) (1991)
+ note: the large majority of churchgoers are ethnic Moldavian
+
+ Languages: Moldovan (official; virtually the same as the Romanian
+ language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
+ total population: 96%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 94%
+
+ Labor force: 2.03 million (January 1994)
+ by occupation: agriculture 34.4%, industry 20.1%, other 45.5% (1985
+ figures)
+
+@Moldova:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
+ conventional short form: Moldova
+ local long form: Republica Moldova
+ local short form: none
+ former: Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia
+
+ Digraph: MD
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Chisinau
+
+ Administrative divisions: previously divided into 40 rayons; new
+ districts possible under new constitution in 1994
+
+ Independence: 27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 27 August 1991
+
+ Constitution: new constitution adopted NA July 1994; replaces old
+ Soviet constitution of 1979
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of
+ legislative acts; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but
+ accepts many UN and OSCE documents
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Mircea SNEGUR (since 3 September 1990);
+ election last held 8 December 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results
+ - Mircea SNEGUR ran unopposed and won 98.17% of vote; note - President
+ SNEGUR was named executive president by the Supreme Soviet on 3
+ September 1990 and was confirmed by popular election on 8 December
+ 1991
+ head of government: Prime Minister Andrei SANGHELI (since 1 July 1992;
+ reappointed 5 April 1994 after elections for new legislature); First
+ Deputy Prime Minister Ion GUTU (since NA)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on
+ recommendation of the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Parliament: elections last held 27 February 1994 (next to be held NA
+ 1999); results - percent by party NA; seats - (104 total)
+ Agrarian-Democratic Party 56, Socialist/Yedinstvo Bloc 28, Peasants
+ and Intellectual Bloc 11, Christian Democratic Popular Front 9
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Popular Front
+ (formerly Moldovan Popular Front), Iurie ROSCA, chairman; Yedinstvo
+ Intermovement, Vladimir SOLONARI, chairman; Social Democratic Party,
+ Oazu NANTOI, chairman, two other chairmen; Agrarian-Democratic Party,
+ Dumitru MOTPAN, chairman; Democratic Party, Gheorghe GHIMPU, chairman;
+ Democratic Labor Party, Alexandru ARSENI, chairman; Reform Party,
+ Anatol SELARU; Republican Party, Victor PUSCAS; Socialist Party,
+ Valeriu SENIC, cochairman; Communist Party, Vladimir VORONIN,
+ cochairman; Peasants and Intellectuals Bloc
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: United Council of Labor
+ Collectives (UCLC), Igor SMIRNOV, chairman; Congress of Intellectuals,
+ Alexandru MOSANU; The Ecology Movement of Moldova (EMM), G. MALARCHUK,
+ chairman; The Christian Democratic League of Women of Moldova (CDLWM),
+ L. LARI, chairman; National Christian Party of Moldova (NCPM), D.
+ TODIKE, M. BARAGA, V. NIKU, leaders; The Peoples Movement Gagauz
+ Khalky (GKh), S. GULGAR, leader; The Democratic Party of Gagauzia
+ (DPG), G. SAVOSTIN, chairman; The Alliance of Working People of
+ Moldova (AWPM), G. POLOGOV, president; Christian Alliance for Greater
+ Romania; Stefan the Great Movement; Liberal Convention of Moldova;
+ Association of Victims of Repression; Christian Democratic Youth
+ League
+
+ Member of: BSEC, CE (guest), CIS, EBRD, ECE, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, ILO,
+ IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU,
+ NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Nicolae TAU
+ chancery: Suites 329, 333, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
+ telephone: [1] (202) 783-3012
+ FAX: [1] (202) 783-3342
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Mary C. PENDLETON
+ embassy: Strada Alexei Mateevich #103, Chisinau
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [373] (2) 23-37-72
+ FAX: [373] (2) 23-30-44
+
+ Flag: same color scheme as Romania - 3 equal vertical bands of blue
+ (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman
+ eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a
+ yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons
+ and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield
+ divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star,
+ rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow
+
+@Moldova:Economy
+
+ Overview: Moldova enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has
+ no major mineral deposits. As a result, Moldova's economy is primarily
+ based on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco.
+ Moldova must import all of its supplies of oil, coal, and natural gas,
+ and energy shortages have contributed to sharp production declines
+ since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Moldovan government
+ is making steady progress on an ambitious economic reform agenda, and
+ the IMF has called Moldova a model for the region. As part of its
+ reform efforts, Chisinau has introduced a stable currency, freed all
+ prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises and
+ backed their steady privatization, removed export controls, and freed
+ interest rates. Chisinau appears strongly committed to continuing
+ these reforms in 1995. Meanwhile, privatization of medium and large
+ enterprises got underway in mid-1994 and is expected to pick up speed
+ in 1995. To improve its precarious energy situation, Chisinau reached
+ an agreement with Moscow in December 1994 on gas deliveries for 1995.
+ Gazprom, Russia's national gas company, has agreed to reduce prices
+ for natural gas deliveries to Moldova from the world market price of
+ $80/thousand cubic meters (tcm) to $58/tcm in return for part
+ ownership of the Moldovan pipeline system.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $11.9 billion (1994
+ estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -30% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,670 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.6% per month (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 1% (includes only officially registered unemployed;
+ large numbers of underemployed workers)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ note: budget deficit for 1993 approximately 6% of GDP
+
+ Exports: $144 million to outside the FSU countries (1994); over 70% of
+ exports go to FSU countries
+ commodities: foodstuffs, wine, tobacco, textiles and footwear,
+ machinery, chemicals (1991)
+ partners: Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Romania, Germany
+
+ Imports: $174 million from outside the FSU countries (1994); over 70%
+ of imports are from FSU countries
+ commodities: oil, gas, coal, steel, machinery, foodstuffs,
+ automobiles, and other consumer durables
+ partners: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Romania, Germany
+
+ External debt: $300 million (as of 11 December 1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -30% (1994 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 3,000,000 kW
+ production: 8.2 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,830 kWh (1994)
+
+ Industries: key products are canned food, agricultural machinery,
+ foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines,
+ hosiery, refined sugar, vegetable oil, shoes, textiles
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 40% of GDP; Moldova's principal
+ economic activity; products are vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar
+ beets, sunflower seed, meat, milk, tobacco
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis; mostly
+ for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western
+ Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: joint EC-US loan (1993), $127 million; IMF STF credit
+ (1993), $64 million; IMF stand-by loan (1993), $72 million; US
+ commitments (1992-93), $61 million in humanitarian aid, $11 million in
+ technical assistance; World Bank loan (1993), $60 million; Russia
+ (1993), 50 billion ruble credit; Romania (1993), 20 billion lei credit
+
+ Currency: the leu (plural lei) was introduced in late 1993
+
+ Exchange rates: lei per US$1 - 4.277 (22 December 1994)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Moldova:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,150 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
+ lines
+ broad gauge: 1,150 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 20,000 km
+ paved or graveled: 13,900 km
+ unpaved: earth 6,100 km (1990)
+
+ Pipelines: natural gas 310 km (1992)
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 26
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 8
+
+@Moldova:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 577,000 telephones; 134 telephones/1,000 persons;
+ telecommunication system not well developed; 215,000 unsatisfied
+ requests for telephone service (1991)
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: international connections to the other former Soviet
+ republics by land line and microwave radio relay through Ukraine, and
+ to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow international
+ gateway switch; 1 EUTELSAT and 1 INTELSAT earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Moldova:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Republic Security
+ Forces (internal and border troops)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,116,912; males fit for
+ military service 881,642; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 35,447 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, 2% of GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MONACO
+
+@Monaco:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, on the
+ southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1.9 sq km
+ land area: 1.9 sq km
+ comparative area: about three times the size of The Mall in
+ Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: total 4.4 km, France 4.4 km
+
+ Coastline: 4.1 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
+
+ Terrain: hilly, rugged, rocky
+
+ Natural resources: none
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Law of
+ the Sea
+
+ Note: second smallest independent state in world (after Holy See);
+ almost entirely urban
+
+@Monaco:People
+
+ Population: 31,515 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 17% (female 2,691; male 2,740)
+ 15-64 years: 63% (female 10,233; male 9,645)
+ 65 years and over: 20% (female 3,939; male 2,267) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.7% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 10.66 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 12.12 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 8.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 77.9 years
+ male: 74.18 years
+ female: 81.8 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Monacan(s) or Monegasque(s)
+ adjective: Monacan or Monegasque
+
+ Ethnic divisions: French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
+
+ Languages: French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+
+@Monaco:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
+ conventional short form: Monaco
+ local long form: Principaute de Monaco
+ local short form: Monaco
+
+ Digraph: MN
+
+ Type: constitutional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Monaco
+
+ Administrative divisions: 4 quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier);
+ Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo
+
+ Independence: 1419 (rule by the House of Grimaldi)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 19 November
+
+ Constitution: 17 December 1962
+
+ Legal system: based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 25 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Prince RAINIER III (since NA November 1949); Heir
+ Apparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre (born 14 March 1958)
+ head of government: Minister of State Paul DIJOUD (since NA)
+ cabinet: Council of Government; under the authority of the Prince
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Council (Conseil National): elections last held 24 and 31
+ January 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party
+ NA; seats - (18 total) Campora List 15, Medecin List 2, independent 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal (Tribunal Supreme)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National and Democratic Union (UND);
+ Campora List, Anne-Marie CAMPORA; Medecin List, Jean-Louis MEDECIN
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ECE, IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFRCS, IMO, INMARSAT,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ honorary consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New
+ Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
+ honorary consulate(s): Dallas, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, and
+ Washington, DC
+
+ US diplomatic representation: no mission in Monaco, but the US Consul
+ General in Marseille, France, is accredited to Monaco
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to
+ the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is
+ white (top) and red
+
+@Monaco:Economy
+
+ Overview: Monaco, situated on the French Mediterranean coast, is a
+ popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant
+ climate. The Principality has successfully sought to diversify into
+ services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The
+ state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax
+ haven both for individuals who have established residence and for
+ foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. About 50%
+ of Monaco's annual revenue comes from value-added taxes on hotels,
+ banks, and the industrial sector; about 25% of revenue comes from
+ tourism. Living standards are high, that is, roughly comparable to
+ those in prosperous French metropolitan suburbs.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $558 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $18,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: NEGL%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $424 million
+ expenditures: $376 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1991 est.)
+
+ Exports: $NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and
+ rebates Monacan trade duties; also participates in EU market system
+ through customs union with France
+
+ Imports: $NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and
+ rebates Monacan trade duties; also participates in EU market system
+ through customs union with France
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 10,000 kW standby; power imported from France
+ production: NA kWh
+ consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993)
+
+ Agriculture: none
+
+ Economic aid: $NA
+
+ Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9243 (January 1995),
+ 5.520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Monaco:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1.7 km
+ standard gauge: 1.7 km 1.435-m gauge
+
+ Highways: none; city streets
+
+ Ports: Monaco
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports: linked to airport in Nice, France, by helicopter service
+
+@Monaco:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 38,200 telephones; automatic telephone system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: no satellite links; served by cable into the French
+ communications system
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 5
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Monaco:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of France
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MONGOLIA
+
+@Mongolia:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern Asia, north of China
+
+ Map references: Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1.565 million sq km
+ land area: 1.565 million sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska
+
+ Land boundaries: total 8,114 km, China 4,673 km, Russia 3,441 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature
+ ranges)
+
+ Terrain: vast semidesert and desert plains; mountains in west and
+ southwest; Gobi Desert in southeast
+
+ Natural resources: oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten,
+ phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, wolfram, fluorspar, gold
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 1%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 79%
+ forest and woodland: 10%
+ other: 10%
+
+ Irrigated land: 770 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; policies of the
+ former communist regime promoting rapid urbanization and industrial
+ growth have raised concerns about their negative effects on the
+ environment; the burning of soft coal and the concentration of
+ factories in Ulaanbaatar have severely polluted the air;
+ deforestation, overgrazing, the converting of virgin land to
+ agricultural production have increased soil erosion from wind and
+ rain; desertification
+ natural hazards: duststorms can occur in the spring
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified
+ - Desertification, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
+
+@Mongolia:People
+
+ Population: 2,493,615 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 40% (female 495,919; male 511,464)
+ 15-64 years: 56% (female 693,037; male 693,776)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 54,991; male 44,428) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.58% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 32.65 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.82 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 41.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 66.54 years
+ male: 64.28 years
+ female: 68.92 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.26 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Mongolian(s)
+ adjective: Mongolian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Mongol 90%, Kazakh 4%, Chinese 2%, Russian 2%, other
+ 2%
+
+ Religions: predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, Muslim 4%
+ note: previously limited religious activity because of Communist
+ regime
+
+ Languages: Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian, Chinese
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: primarily herding/agricultural
+ note: over half the adult population is in the labor force, including
+ a large percentage of women; shortage of skilled labor
+
+@Mongolia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Mongolia
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: Mongol Uls
+ former: Outer Mongolia
+
+ Digraph: MG
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Ulaanbaatar
+
+ Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and
+ 3 municipalities* (hotuud, singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor,
+ Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan*, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan,
+ Erdenet*, Govi-Altay, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Ovorhangay,
+ Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs
+
+ Independence: 13 March 1921 (from China)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 11 July (1921)
+
+ Constitution: adopted 13 January 1992
+
+ Legal system: blend of Russian, Chinese, and Turkish systems of law;
+ no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts;
+ has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (since 3 September
+ 1990); election last held 6 June 1993 (next to be held NA 1997);
+ results - Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (MNDP and MSDP) elected directly with
+ 57.8% of the vote; other candidate Lodongiyn TUDEV (MPRP)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Putsagiyn JASRAY (since 3 August
+ 1992); Deputy Prime Ministers Lhamsuren ENEBISH and Choijilsurengiyn
+ PUREVDORJ (since NA)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the Great Hural
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ State Great Hural: elections held for the first time 28 June 1992
+ (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
+ (76 total) MPRP 71, United Party of Mongolia 4, MSDP 1
+ note: the People's Small Hural no longer exists
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court serves as appeals court for people's
+ and provincial courts, but to date rarely overturns verdicts of lower
+ courts
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party
+ (MPRP), Budragchagiin DASH-YONDON, secretary general; Mongolian
+ National Democratic Party (MNDP), D. GANBOLD, chairman; Mongolian
+ Social Democratic Party (MSDP), B. BATBAYAR, chairman; United Party of
+ Mongolia, leader NA
+ note: opposition parties were legalized in May 1990
+
+ Member of: AsDB, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
+ IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL,
+ IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
+ WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Luvsandorj DAWAAGIW
+ chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
+ telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117
+ FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Donald C. JOHNSON
+ embassy: address NA, Ulaanbaatar
+ mailing address: c/o American Embassy Beijing, Micro Region 11, Big
+ Ring Road; PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002
+ telephone: [976] (1) 329095, 329606
+ FAX: [976] (1) 320776
+
+ Flag: three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red,
+ centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem
+ ("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric
+ representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang
+ symbol)
+
+@Mongolia:Economy
+
+ Overview: Mongolia's severe climate, scattered population, and wide
+ expanses of unproductive land have constrained economic development.
+ Economic activity traditionally has been based on agriculture and the
+ breeding of livestock. In past years extensive mineral resources had
+ been developed with Soviet support; total Soviet assistance at its
+ height amounted to 30% of GDP. The mining and processing of coal,
+ copper, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a large part
+ of industrial production. Timber and fishing are also important
+ sectors. The Mongolian leadership has been gradually making the
+ transition from Soviet-style central planning to a market economy
+ through privatization and price reform, and is soliciting support from
+ international financial agencies and foreign investors. The economy,
+ however, has still not recovered from the loss of Soviet aid, and the
+ country continues to suffer substantial economic hardships, with
+ one-fourth of the population below the poverty line.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $4.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,800 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 70% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 15% (1991 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)
+ note: deficit of $67 million
+
+ Exports: $360 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool,
+ hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals
+ partners: former CMEA countries 62%, China 17%, EC 8% (1992)
+
+ Imports: $361 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial
+ consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea
+ partners: USSR 75%, Austria 5%, China 5% (1991)
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -15% (1992 est.); accounts for
+ about 42% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 900,000 kW
+ production: 3.1 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,267 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: copper, processing of animal products, building materials,
+ food and beverage, mining (particularly coal)
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 35% of GDP and provides livelihood for
+ about 50% of the population; livestock raising predominates (primarily
+ sheep and goats, but also cattle, camels, and horses); crops - wheat,
+ barley, potatoes, forage
+
+ Economic aid: NA
+
+ Currency: 1 tughrik (Tug) = 100 mongos
+
+ Exchange rates: tughriks (Tug) per US$1 - 415.34 (January 1995),
+ 412.72 (1994), 42.56 (1992), 9.52 (1991), 5.63 (1990)
+ note: the exchange rate 40 tughriks = 1US$ was introduced June 1991
+ and was in force to the end of 1992; beginning 27 May 1993 the
+ exchange rate is the midpoint of the average buying and selling rates
+ that are freely determined on the basis of market transactions between
+ commercial banks and the nonbank public
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Mongolia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,750 km
+ broad gauge: 1,750 km 1.524-m gauge (1988)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 46,700 km
+ paved: 1,000 km
+ unpaved: 45,700 km (1988)
+
+ Inland waterways: 397 km of principal routes (1988)
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 34
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 10
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 5
+
+@Mongolia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 63,000 telephones (1989)
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: at least 1 satellite earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: 220,000
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1 (provincial repeaters - 18)
+ televisions: 120,000
+
+@Mongolia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Mongolian People's Army (includes Internal Security Forces
+ and Frontier Guards), Air Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 605,633; males fit for military
+ service 394,433; males reach military age (18) annually 25,862 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $22.8 million, 1% of
+ GDP (1992)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MONTSERRAT
+
+ (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+@Montserrat:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto
+ Rico
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 100 sq km
+ land area: 100 sq km
+ comparative area: about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 40 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
+
+ Terrain: volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal
+ lowland
+
+ Natural resources: negligible
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 20%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 10%
+ forest and woodland: 40%
+ other: 30%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared
+ for cultivation
+ natural hazards: severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic
+ eruptions (there are seven active volcanoes on the island)
+ international agreements: NA
+
+@Montserrat:People
+
+ Population: 12,738 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.3% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 15.5 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.81 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -2.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 11.69 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 75.69 years
+ male: 73.93 years
+ female: 77.49 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.99 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Montserratian(s)
+ adjective: Montserratian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: black, Europeans
+
+ Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal,
+ Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations
+
+ Languages: English
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970)
+ total population: 97%
+ male: 97%
+ female: 97%
+
+ Labor force: 5,100
+ by occupation: community, social, and personal services 40.5%,
+ construction 13.5%, trade, restaurants, and hotels 12.3%,
+ manufacturing 10.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 8.8%, other
+ 14.4% (1983 est.)
+
+@Montserrat:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Montserrat
+
+ Digraph: MH
+
+ Type: dependent territory of the UK
+
+ Capital: Plymouth
+
+ Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges,
+ Saint Peter's
+
+ Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second
+ Saturday of June)
+
+ Constitution: present constitution came into force 19 December 1989
+
+ Legal system: English common law and statute law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor Frank SAVAGE (since NA February 1993)
+ head of government: Chief Minister Reuben T. MEADE (since NA October
+ 1991)
+ cabinet: Executive Council; consists of the governor, the chief
+ minister, three other ministries, the attorney-general, and the
+ finance secretary
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Legislative Council: elections last held 8 October 1991; results -
+ percent of vote by party NA; seats - (11 total, 7 elected) NPP 4, NDP
+ 1, PLM 1, independent 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party (NPP) Reuben
+ T. MEADE; People's Liberation Movement (PLM), Noel TUITT; National
+ Development Party (NDP), Bertrand OSBORNE
+
+ Member of: CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, INTERPOL
+ (subbureau), OECS, WCL
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
+ and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the
+ flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp
+ with her arm around a black cross
+
+@Montserrat:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is small and open with economic activity
+ centered on tourism and construction. Tourism is the most important
+ sector and accounts for roughly one-fifth of GDP. Agriculture accounts
+ for about 4% of GDP and industry 10%. The economy is heavily dependent
+ on imports, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices.
+ Exports consist mainly of electronic parts sold to the US.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $55.6 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 1% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $4,380 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (1992)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $12.1 million
+ expenditures: $14.3 million, including capital expenditures of $3.2
+ million (1988 est.)
+
+ Exports: $2.8 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: electronic parts, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers,
+ live plants, cattle
+ partners: NA
+
+ Imports: $80.6 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs,
+ manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
+ partners: NA
+
+ External debt: $2.05 million (1987)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 8.1% (1986); accounts for 10% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 5,271 kW
+ production: 17 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,106 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tourism; light manufacturing - rum, textiles, electronic
+ appliances
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP; small-scale farming; food crops -
+ tomatoes, onions, peppers; not self-sufficient in food, especially
+ livestock products
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $90 million
+
+ Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed
+ rate since 1976)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Montserrat:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 280 km
+ paved: 200 km
+ unpaved: gravel, earth 80 km
+
+ Ports: Plymouth
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Montserrat:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 3,000 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Montserrat:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Police Force
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MOROCCO
+
+@Morocco:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the
+ Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 446,550 sq km
+ land area: 446,300 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than California
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,002 km, Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443
+ km
+
+ Coastline: 1,835 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claims and administers Western Sahara, but
+ sovereignty is unresolved; the UN is attempting to hold a referendum;
+ the UN-administered cease-fire has been currently in effect since
+ September 1991; Spain controls five places of sovereignty (plazas de
+ soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves of
+ Ceuta and Melilla which Morocco contests as well as the islands of
+ Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas
+
+ Climate: Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
+
+ Terrain: northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas
+ of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains
+
+ Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish,
+ salt
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 18%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 28%
+ forest and woodland: 12%
+ other: 41%
+
+ Irrigated land: 12,650 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: land degradation/desertification (soil erosion
+ resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of
+ vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of
+ reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters
+ natural hazards: northern mountains geologically unstable and subject
+ to earthquakes; periodic droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine
+ Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not
+ ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
+ Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
+
+ Note: strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
+
+@Morocco:People
+
+ Population: 29,168,848 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 38% (female 5,486,176; male 5,659,410)
+ 15-64 years: 58% (female 8,456,525; male 8,327,560)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 641,236; male 597,941) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.09% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 27.93 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.97 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -1.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 45.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 68.98 years
+ male: 67.03 years
+ female: 71.02 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.69 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Moroccan(s)
+ adjective: Moroccan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
+
+ Languages: Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the
+ language of business, government, and diplomacy
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 50%
+ male: 61%
+ female: 38%
+
+ Labor force: 7.4 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 50%, services 26%, industry 15%, other 9%
+ (1985)
+
+@Morocco:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
+ conventional short form: Morocco
+ local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
+ local short form: Al Maghrib
+
+ Digraph: MO
+
+ Type: constitutional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Rabat
+
+ Administrative divisions: 36 provinces and 5 wilayas*; Agadir, Al
+ Hoceima, Assa-Zag, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane,
+ Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Sraghna, Er Rachidia,
+ Essaouira, Es Smara, Fes*, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra,
+ Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech*,
+ Meknes*, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi
+ Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan,
+ Tiznit
+
+ Independence: 2 March 1956 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of King
+ Hassan II's accession to the throne)
+
+ Constitution: 10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992
+
+ Legal system: based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law
+ system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber
+ of Supreme Court
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: King HASSAN II (since 3 March 1961)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Abdellatif FILALI (since 29 May
+ 1994)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the King
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Chamber of Representatives (Majlis Nawab): two-thirds elected by
+ direct, universal suffrage and one-third by an electoral college of
+ government, professional, and labor representatives; direct, popular
+ elections last held 15 June 1993 (next to be held NA 1999); results -
+ percent of vote by party NA; seats (333 total, 222 directly elected)
+ USFP 48, IP 43, MP 33, RNI 28, UC 27, PND 14, MNP 14, PPS 6, PDI 3,
+ SAP 2, PA 2, OADP 2; indirect, special interest elections last held 17
+ September 1993 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by
+ party NA; seats - (333 total, 111 indirectly elected) UC 27, MP 18,
+ RNI 13, MNP 11, PND 10, IP 7, Party of Shura and Istiqlal 6, USFP 4,
+ PPS 4, CDT 4, UTM 3, UGTM 2, SAP 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ opposition: Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), Mohammad
+ al-YAZGHI; Istiqlal Party (IP), M'Hamed BOUCETTA; Party of Progress
+ and Socialism (PPS), Ali YATA; Organization of Democratic and Popular
+ Action (OADP), leader NA
+ pro-government: Constitutional Union (UC), Maati BOUABID; Popular
+ Movement (MP), Mohamed LAENSER; National Democratic Party (PND),
+ Mohamed Arsalane EL-JADIDI; National Popular Movement (MNP), Mahjoubi
+ AHARDANE
+ independents: National Rally of Independents (RNI), Ahmed OSMAN;
+ Democracy and Istiqlal Party (PDI), leader NA; Action Party (PA),
+ Abdullah SENHAJI; Non-Obedience Candidates (SAP), leader NA
+ labor unions and community organizations (indirect elections) only):
+ Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT), Nabir AMAOUI; General Union
+ of Moroccan Workers (UGTM), Abderrazzak AFILAL; Moroccan Union of
+ Workers (UTM), leader NA; Party of Shura and Istiqlal, leader NA
+
+ Member of: ABEDA, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC,
+ EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
+ IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM
+ (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed BENAISSA
+ chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
+ telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 through 7982
+ FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Marc C. GINSBERG
+ embassy: 2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat
+ mailing address: PSC 74, Box 003, APO AE 09718
+ telephone: [212] (7) 76 22 65
+ FAX: [212] (7) 76 56 61
+ consulate(s) general: Casablanca
+
+ Flag: red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as
+ Solomon's seal in the center of the flag; green is the traditional
+ color of Islam
+
+@Morocco:Economy
+
+ Overview: Morocco faces the typical problems of developing countries -
+ restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private
+ activity and foreign trade, and keeping inflation within bounds. Since
+ the early 1980s the government has pursued an economic program toward
+ these objectives with the support of the IMF, the World Bank, and the
+ Paris Club of creditors. The economy has substantial assets to draw
+ on: the world's largest phosphate reserves, diverse agricultural and
+ fishing resources, a sizable tourist industry, a growing manufacturing
+ sector, and remittances from Moroccans working abroad. A severe
+ drought in 1992-93 depressed economic activity and held down exports.
+ Real GDP contracted by 4.4% in 1992 and 1.1% in 1993. Despite these
+ setbacks, initiatives to relax capital controls, strengthen the
+ banking sector, and privatize state enterprises went forward in
+ 1993-94. Favorable rainfall in 1994 boosted agricultural production by
+ 40%. Servicing the large debt, high unemployment, and vulnerability to
+ external economic forces remain long-term problems for Morocco.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $87.5 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 8% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $3,060 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.4% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 16% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $8.1 billion
+ expenditures: $8.9 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $4.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: food and beverages 30%, semiprocessed goods 23%, consumer
+ goods 21%, phosphates 17%
+ partners: EU 70%, Japan 5%, US 4%, Libya 3%, India 2% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $7.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: capital goods 24%, semiprocessed goods 22%, raw materials
+ 16%, fuel and lubricants 16%, food and beverages 13%, consumer goods
+ 9%
+ partners: EC 59%, US 8%, Saudi Arabia 5%, UAE 3%, Russia 2% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $20.5 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 0.1% accounts for 28% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 2,620,000 kW
+ production: 9.9 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 361 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing,
+ leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GDP, 50% of employment, and 30% of
+ export value; not self-sufficient in food; cereal farming and
+ livestock raising predominate; barley, wheat, citrus fruit, wine,
+ vegetables, olives
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of hashish; trafficking on the
+ increase for both domestic and international drug markets; shipments
+ of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for
+ cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.3 billion; US
+ commitments, including Ex-Im (1992), $123.6 million; Western (non-US)
+ countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $7.5 billion;
+ OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $4.8 billion; Communist countries
+ (1970-89), $2.5 billion
+ note: $2.8 billion debt canceled by Saudi Arabia (1991); IMF standby
+ agreement worth $13 million; World Bank, $450 million (1991)
+
+ Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 2.892 (January 1995),
+ 9.203 (1994), 9.299 (1993), 8.538 (1992), 8.707 (1991), 8.242 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Morocco:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,893 km
+ standard gauge: 1,893 km 1.435-m gauge (974 km electrified; 246 km
+ double track)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 59,474 km
+ paved: 29,440 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, improved earth, unimproved earth
+ 30,034 km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 362 km; petroleum products (abandoned) 491 km;
+ natural gas 241 km
+
+ Ports: Agadir, Al Jadida, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra,
+ Mohammedia, Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta
+ and Melilla
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 38 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 183,951 GRT/273,057 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 9, container 2, oil tanker 4,
+ refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 74
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 11
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 13
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 10
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 24
+
+@Morocco:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 280,000 telephones; 10.5 telephones/1,000 persons
+ local: NA
+ intercity: good system composed of wire lines, cables, and microwave
+ radio relay links; principal centers are Casablanca and Rabat;
+ secondary centers are Fes, Marrakech, Oujda, Tangier, and Tetouan
+ international: 5 submarine cables; 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) and 1
+ ARABSAT earth station; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and
+ Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria;
+ microwave radio relay network linking Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Libya,
+ Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 20, FM 7, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 26 (repeaters 26)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Morocco:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Royal Moroccan Army, Royal Moroccan Navy, Royal Moroccan Air
+ Force, Royal Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 7,307,076; males fit for
+ military service 4,637,453; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 323,921 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.3 billion, 3.8% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+MOZAMBIQUE
+
+@Mozambique:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between
+ South Africa and Tanzania
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 801,590 sq km
+ land area: 784,090 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of California
+
+ Land boundaries: total 4,571 km, Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km,
+ Swaziland 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km
+
+ Coastline: 2,470 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical to subtropical
+
+ Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in
+ northwest, mountains in west
+
+ Natural resources: coal, titanium
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 4%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 56%
+ forest and woodland: 20%
+ other: 20%
+
+ Irrigated land: 1,150 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: civil strife and recurrent drought in the hinterlands
+ have resulted in increased migration to urban and coastal areas with
+ adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of
+ surface and coastal waters
+ natural hazards: severe droughts and floods occur in central and
+ southern provinces; devastating cyclones
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Ozone Layer
+ Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Law of the Sea
+
+@Mozambique:People
+
+ Population: 18,115,250 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 45% (female 4,069,117; male 4,078,429)
+ 15-64 years: 53% (female 4,882,292; male 4,630,193)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 260,057; male 195,162) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.87% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 44.6 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 15.94 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ note: by the end of 1994, an estimated 1.6 million Mozambican
+ refugees, who fled to Malawi, Zimbabwa, and South Africa in earlier
+ years from the civil war, had returned; an estimated 100,000 refugees
+ remain to be repatriated from those countries
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 126 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 48.95 years
+ male: 47.04 years
+ female: 50.92 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.19 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Mozambican(s)
+ adjective: Mozambican
+
+ Ethnic divisions: indigenous tribal groups, Europeans about 10,000,
+ Euro-Africans 35,000, Indians 15,000
+
+ Religions: indigenous beliefs 60%, Christian 30%, Muslim 10%
+
+ Languages: Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 33%
+ male: 45%
+ female: 21%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: 90% engaged in agriculture
+
+@Mozambique:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
+ conventional short form: Mozambique
+ local long form: Republica Popular de Mocambique
+ local short form: Mocambique
+
+ Digraph: MZ
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Maputo
+
+ Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (provincias, singular -
+ provincia); Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Nampula,
+ Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
+
+ Independence: 25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
+
+ Constitution: 30 November 1990
+
+ Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6 November
+ 1986)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Pascoal MOCUMBI (since December
+ 1994)
+ cabinet: Cabinet
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica): draft electoral
+ law provides for periodic, direct presidential and Assembly elections
+ note: as called for in the 1992 peace accords, presidential and
+ legislative elections took place during 27-29 October 1994; fourteen
+ parties, including the Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO)
+ participated; Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO was elected president and his
+ FRELIMO party gathered a slim majority in the 250 seat legislature
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Front for the Liberation of Mozambique
+ (FRELIMO), Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO, chairman; the ruling party since
+ independence, FRELIMO was the only legal party before 30 November 1990
+ when the new Constitution went into effect establishing a multiparty
+ system
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
+ INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Hipolito Pereira Zozimo PATRICIO
+ chancery: Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
+ telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146
+ FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis Coleman JETT
+ embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda, 193 Maputo
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo
+ telephone: [258] (1) 492797
+ FAX: [258] (1) 490114
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow
+ with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band
+ is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed
+ star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open
+ white book
+
+@Mozambique:Economy
+
+ Overview: One of Africa's poorest countries, Mozambique has failed to
+ exploit the economic potential of its sizable agricultural,
+ hydropower, and transportation resources. Indeed, national output,
+ consumption, and investment declined throughout the first half of the
+ 1980s because of internal disorders, lack of government administrative
+ control, and a growing foreign debt. A sharp increase in foreign aid,
+ attracted by an economic reform policy, resulted in successive years
+ of economic growth in the late 1980s, but aid has declined steadily
+ since 1989. Agricultural output is at only 75% of its 1981 level, and
+ grain has to be imported. Industry operates at only 20%-40% of
+ capacity. The economy depends heavily on foreign assistance to keep
+ afloat. Peace accords signed in October 1992 improved chances of
+ foreign investment, aided IMF-supported economic reforms, and
+ supported continued economic recovery. Elections held in 1994 diverted
+ government attention from the economy, resulting in slippage and
+ delays in the economic reform program. Nonetheless, growth in 1994 was
+ solid and can continue into the late 1990s given continued foreign
+ help in meeting debt obligations.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $10.6 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5.8% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $610 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 50% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 50% (1989 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $252 million
+ expenditures: $607 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $150 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: shrimp 40%, cashews, cotton, sugar, copra, citrus
+ partners: Spain, South Africa, US, Portugal, Japan
+
+ Imports: $1.14 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: food, clothing, farm equipment, petroleum
+ partners: South Africa, UK, France, Japan, Portugal
+
+ External debt: $5 billion (1992 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1989 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 2,360,000 kW
+ production: 1.7 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 58 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints),
+ petroleum products, textiles, nonmetallic mineral products (cement,
+ glass, asbestos), tobacco
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 50% of GDP and about 90% of exports; cash
+ crops - cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, shrimp; other crops -
+ cassava, corn, rice, tropical fruits; not self-sufficient in food
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $350 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $4.4 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $37 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $890 million
+
+ Currency: 1 metical (Mt) = 100 centavos
+
+ Exchange rates: meticais (Mt) per US$1 - 5,220.63 (1st quarter 1994),
+ 3,874.24 (1993), 2,550.40 (1992), 1,763.99 (1991), 1,053.09 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Mozambique:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 3,288 km
+ narrow gauge: 3,140 km 1.067-m gauge; 148 km 0.762-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 26,498 km
+ paved: 4,593 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 829 km; unimproved
+ earth 21,076 km
+
+ Inland waterways: about 3,750 km of navigable routes
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil (not operating) 306 km; petroleum products 289 km
+
+ Ports: Beira, Inhambane, Maputo, Nacala, Pemba
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,533 GRT/8,024 DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 192
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 112
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 15
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 44
+
+ Note:
+ note: highway traffic impeded by land mines not removed at end of
+ civil war
+
+@Mozambique:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephone density; fair system of troposcatter,
+ open-wire lines, and radio relay
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatter
+ international: 5 INTELSAT (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean) earth
+ stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 29, FM 4, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Mozambique:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Naval Command, Air and Air Defense Forces, Militia;
+ note - by late 1994, the army and former RENAMO rebels had
+ demobilized; under UN supervision and training, recruits from both the
+ army and rebel forces joined an integrated force that is still forming
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,061,109; males fit for
+ military service 2,331,793 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $110 million, 7.3% of
+ GDP (1993)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+NAMIBIA
+
+@Namibia:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
+ Angola and South Africa
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 825,418 sq km
+ land area: 825,418 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Alaska
+
+ Land boundaries: total 3,824 km, Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km,
+ South Africa 855 km, Zambia 233 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,572 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: short section of boundary with Botswana is
+ indefinite; quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in
+ disagreement; dispute with Botswana over uninhabited Kasikili (
+ Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River remained unresolved in
+ mid-February 1995 and the parties agreed to refer the matter to the
+ International Court of Justice;
+
+ Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
+
+ Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari
+ Desert in east
+
+ Natural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin,
+ lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected
+ deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 1%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 64%
+ forest and woodland: 22%
+ other: 13%
+
+ Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources;
+ desertification
+ natural hazards: prolonged periods of drought
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the
+ Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change
+
+@Namibia:People
+
+ Population: 1,651,545 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 47% (female 384,885; male 394,216)
+ 15-64 years: 50% (female 414,283; male 405,938)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 26,783; male 25,440) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.44% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 43.04 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.61 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 59.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 62.1 years
+ male: 59.37 years
+ female: 64.9 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.34 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Namibian(s)
+ adjective: Namibian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: black 86%, white 6.6%, mixed 7.4%
+ note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to
+ the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups include (with approximate
+ share of total population): Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian
+ 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
+
+ Religions: 80%-90% Christian (50% Lutheran; at least 30% other
+ Christian denominations)
+
+ Languages: English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of
+ the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%,
+ indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1960)
+ total population: 38%
+ male: 45%
+ female: 31%
+
+ Labor force: 500,000
+ by occupation: agriculture 60%, industry and commerce 19%, services
+ 8%, government 7%, mining 6% (1981 est.)
+
+@Namibia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
+ conventional short form: Namibia
+
+ Digraph: WA
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Windhoek
+
+ Administrative divisions: 13 districts; Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas,
+ Kunene, Caprivi (Liambezi), Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati,
+ Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa
+
+ Independence: 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
+
+ Constitution: ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990
+
+ Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21
+ March 1990); election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held
+ NA); results - Sam NUJOMA elected president by popular vote
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from the National
+ Assembly
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral legislature
+ National Council: elections last held 30 November-3 December 1992
+ (next to be held by December 1998); results - percent of vote by party
+ NA; seats - (26 total) SWAPO 19, DTA 6, UDF 1
+ National Assembly: elections last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be
+ held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total)
+ SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: South West Africa People's Organization
+ (SWAPO), Sam NUJOMA; DTA of Namibia (formerly Democratic Turnhalle
+ Alliance) (DTA), Mishake MUYONGO; United Democratic Front (UDF),
+ Justus GAROEB; Federal Convention of Namibia (FCN), Kephics CONRUDIE;
+ Monitor Action Group (MAG), Kosie PRETORIUS; Workers Revolutionary
+ Party (WRP); Southwest African National Union (SWANU), Hitjevi VEII;
+ Democratic Coalition of Namibia (DCN), Moses KATJIUONGA
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: NA
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU,
+ SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Tuliameni KALOMOH
+ chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
+ telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540
+ FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Marshall F. McCALLIE
+ embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Windhoek
+ mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
+ telephone: [264] (61) 221601
+ FAX: [264] (61) 229792
+
+ Flag: a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst fills the upper
+ left section, and an equal green triangle (solid) fills the lower
+ right section; the triangles are separated by a red stripe that is
+ contrasted by two narrow white-edge borders
+
+@Namibia:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is heavily dependent on the mining industry to
+ extract and process minerals for export. Mining accounts for almost
+ 25% of GDP. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals
+ in Africa and the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. Alluvial
+ diamond deposits are among the richest in the world, making Namibia a
+ primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces large
+ quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. More than half
+ the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence
+ agriculture) for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of its food.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $5.8 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5.8% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $3,600 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 35% in urban areas (1993 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $941 million
+ expenditures: $1.05 billion, including capital expenditures of $157
+ million (FY93/94)
+
+ Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle,
+ processed fish, karakul skins
+ partners: Switzerland, South Africa, Germany, Japan
+
+ Imports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and
+ equipment
+ partners: South Africa, Germany, US, Switzerland
+
+ External debt: about $385 million (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -14% (1993); accounts for 30% of
+ GDP, including mining
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 406,000 kW
+ production: 1.29 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 658 kWh (1991)
+
+ Industries: meat packing, fish processing, dairy products, mining
+ (copper, lead, zinc, diamond, uranium)
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP; livestock raising major source
+ of cash income; crops - millet, sorghum, peanuts; fish catch potential
+ of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-87), $47.2 million
+
+ Currency: 1 South African rand (R) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: South African rand (R) per US$1 - 3.539 (January
+ 1995), 3.5489 (1994), 3.2678 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7653 (1991),
+ 2.5863 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Namibia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 2,341 km (single track)
+ narrow gauge: 2,341 km 1.067-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 54,500 km
+ paved: 4,080 km
+ unpaved: gravel 2,540 km; earth 47,880 km (roads and tracks)
+
+ Ports: Luderitz, Walvis Bay
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 135
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 20
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 23
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 70
+
+@Namibia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 62,800 telephones; telephone density - 38/1,000
+ persons
+ local: good urban services
+ intercity: fair rural service; microwave radio relay links major
+ towns; connections to other populated places are by open wire
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 40, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 3
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Namibia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: National Defense Force (Army), Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 348,380; males fit for military
+ service 206,684 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $54 million, 2% of
+ GDP (FY93/94)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+NAURU
+
+@Nauru:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the
+ Marshall Islands
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 21 sq km
+ land area: 21 sq km
+ comparative area: about one-tenth the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 30 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; monsoonal; rainy season (November to February)
+
+ Terrain: sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs
+ with phosphate plateau in center
+
+ Natural resources: phosphates
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage
+ tanks collect rainwater; phosphate mining threatens limited remaining
+ land resources
+ natural hazards: periodic droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Marine Dumping; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the
+ Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and
+ Makatea in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator
+
+@Nauru:People
+
+ Population: 10,149 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.33% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 18.03 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.1 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 40.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 66.68 years
+ male: 64.3 years
+ female: 69.18 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Nauruan(s)
+ adjective: Nauruan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%,
+ European 8%
+
+ Religions: Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic)
+
+ Languages: Nauruan (official; a distinct Pacific Island language),
+ English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and
+ commercial purposes
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force:
+ by occupation: NA
+
+@Nauru:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
+ conventional short form: Nauru
+ former: Pleasant Island
+
+ Digraph: NR
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
+
+ Administrative divisions: 14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare,
+ Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren
+
+ Independence: 31 January 1968 (from the Australia, New Zealand, and
+ UK-administered UN trusteeship)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
+
+ Constitution: 29 January 1968
+
+ Legal system: own Acts of Parliament and British common law
+
+ Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Bernard DOWIYOGO
+ (since 12 December 1989); election last held 19 November 1992 (next to
+ be held NA November 1995); results - Bernard DOWIYOGO elected by
+ Parliament
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from the parliament
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Parliament: elections last held on 14 November 1992 (next to be held
+ NA November 1995); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (18 total)
+ independents 18
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: none
+
+ Member of: AsDB, C (special), ESCAP, ICAO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory
+ user), INTERPOL, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UPU
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ consulate(s): Agana (Guam)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited
+ to Nauru
+
+ Flag: blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center
+ and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side;
+ the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator
+ (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes
+ of Nauru
+
+@Nauru:Economy
+
+ Overview: Revenues come from the export of phosphates, the reserves of
+ which are expected to be exhausted by the year 2000. Phosphates have
+ given Nauruans one of the highest per capita incomes in the Third
+ World. Few other resources exist, so most necessities must be
+ imported, including fresh water from Australia. The rehabilitation of
+ mined land and the replacement of income from phosphates are serious
+ long-term problems. Substantial amounts of phosphate income are
+ invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $100 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $10,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: 0%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $69.7 million
+ expenditures: $51.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1986 est.)
+
+ Exports: $93 million (f.o.b., 1984)
+ commodities: phosphates
+ partners: Australia, NZ
+
+ Imports: $73 million (c.i.f., 1984)
+ commodities: food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery
+ partners: Australia, UK, NZ, Japan
+
+ External debt: $33.3 million
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 14,000 kW
+ production: 30 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,036 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: phosphate mining, financial services, coconut products
+
+ Agriculture: coconuts; other agricultural activity negligible; almost
+ completely dependent on imports for food and water
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries (1970-89), $2 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3058 (January
+ 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2834 (1991),
+ 1.2799 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Nauru:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 3.9 km; note - used to haul phosphates from the center of the
+ island to processing facilities on the southwest coast
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 27 km
+ paved: 21 km
+ unpaved: improved earth 6 km
+
+ Ports: Nauru
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+
+@Nauru:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 1,600 telephones; adequate local and international
+ radio communications provided via Australian facilities
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: 4,000
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Nauru:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: no regular armed forces; Directorate of the Nauru Police
+ Force
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA; note - no formal defense structure
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+NAVASSA ISLAND
+
+ (territory of the US)
+
+@Navassa Island:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, about one-fourth of
+ the way from Haiti to Jamaica
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 5.2 sq km
+ land area: 5.2 sq km
+ comparative area: about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 8 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claimed by Haiti
+
+ Climate: marine, tropical
+
+ Terrain: raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating;
+ ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 meters high)
+
+ Natural resources: guano
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 10%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 90%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at
+ Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock, but enough grassland to
+ support goat herds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus
+
+@Navassa Island:People
+
+ Population: uninhabited; note - transient Haitian fishermen and others
+ camp on the island
+
+@Navassa Island:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Navassa Island
+
+ Digraph: BQ
+
+ Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Coast
+ Guard
+
+ Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
+
+@Navassa Island:Economy
+
+ Overview: no economic activity
+
+@Navassa Island:Transportation
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
+
+@Navassa Island:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+NEPAL
+
+@Nepal:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
+
+ Map references: Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 140,800 sq km
+ land area: 136,800 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Arkansas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,926 km, China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to
+ subtropical summers and mild winters in south
+
+ Terrain: Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central
+ hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
+
+ Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydroelectric potential,
+ scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 17%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 13%
+ forest and woodland: 33%
+ other: 37%
+
+ Irrigated land: 9,430 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: the almost total dependence on wood for fuel and
+ cutting down trees to expand agricultural land without replanting has
+ resulted in widespread deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
+ (use of contaminated water presents human health risks)
+ natural hazards: severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought,
+ and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the
+ summer monsoons
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical
+ Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea, Marine
+ Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
+
+ Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains
+ eight of world's 10 highest peaks
+
+@Nepal:People
+
+ Population: 21,560,869 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 43% (female 4,479,950; male 4,692,575)
+ 15-64 years: 55% (female 5,778,107; male 5,994,147)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 305,502; male 310,588) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.44% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 37.31 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 12.9 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 81.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 53.09 years
+ male: 52.86 years
+ female: 53.34 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 5.15 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Nepalese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs,
+ Bhotias, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas
+
+ Religions: Hindu 90%, Buddhist 5%, Muslim 3%, other 2% (1981)
+ note: only official Hindu state in world, although no sharp
+ distinction between many Hindu and Buddhist groups
+
+ Languages: Nepali (official), 20 languages divided into numerous
+ dialects
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 26%
+ male: 38%
+ female: 13%
+
+ Labor force: 8.5 million (1991 est.)
+ by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry 2%
+ note: severe lack of skilled labor
+
+@Nepal:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepal
+ conventional short form: Nepal
+
+ Digraph: NP
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy as of 12 May 1991
+
+ Capital: Kathmandu
+
+ Administrative divisions: 14 zones (anchal, singular and plural);
+ Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi,
+ Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti
+
+ Independence: 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)
+
+ National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December (1945)
+
+ Constitution: 9 November 1990
+
+ Legal system: based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law;
+ has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ head of government: Prime Minister Man Mohan ADHIKARI (since 30
+ November 1994)
+ chief of state: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (since 31 January
+ 1972, crowned King 24 February 1985); Heir Apparent Crown Prince
+ DIPENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, son of the King (born 21 June 1971)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the king on recommendation of the prime
+ minister
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
+ National Council: consists of a 60-member body, 50 appointed by House
+ of Representatives and 10 by the King
+ House of Representatives: elections last held on 15 November 1994
+ (next to be held NA); results - NCP 33%, CPN/UML 31%, NDP 18%, Terai
+ Rights Sadbhavana Party 3%, NWPP 1%; seats - (205 total) CPN/UML 88,
+ NCP 83, NDP 20, NWPP 4, Terai Rights Sadbhavana Party 3, independents
+ 7; note - the new Constitution of 9 November 1990 gave Nepal a
+ multiparty democracy system for the first time in 32 years
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist
+ and Leninist (CPN/UML), Prime Minister Man Mohan ADHIKARI, Deputy
+ Prime Minister Madhav Kumar NEPAL; Nepali Congress Party (NCP),
+ president Krishna Prasad BHATTARAI, former Prime Minister Girija
+ Prasad KOIRALA, Leader of the Opposition Sher Bahadur DEUBA; National
+ Democratic Party (NDP), Surya Bahadur THAPA; Terai Rights Sadbhavana
+ (Goodwill) Party, Gajendra Narayan SINGH; United People's Front (UPF),
+ Niranjan Govinda BAIDYA; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP),
+ Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE; Communist Party of Nepal
+ (Democratic-Manandhar), B. B. MANANDHAR
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: numerous small, left-leaning
+ student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese
+ antimonarchist groups
+
+ Member of: AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
+ IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO
+ (correspondent), ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
+ UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Pradeep
+ KHATIWADA
+ chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Sandra L. VOGELGESANG
+ embassy: Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [977] (1) 411179
+ FAX: [977] (1) 419963
+
+ Flag: red with a blue border around the unique shape of two
+ overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white
+ stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed
+ sun
+
+@Nepal:Economy
+
+ Overview: Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in
+ the world. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a
+ livelihood for over 90% of the population and accounting for half of
+ GDP. Industrial activity is limited, mainly involving the processing
+ of agricultural produce (jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain).
+ Production of textiles and carpets has expanded recently and accounted
+ for 85% of foreign exchange earnings in FY93/94. Apart from
+ agricultural land and forests, exploitable natural resources are mica,
+ hydropower, and tourism. Agricultural production in the late 1980s
+ grew by about 5%, as compared with annual population growth of 2.6%.
+ More than 40% of the population is undernourished. Since May 1991, the
+ government has been encouraging trade and foreign investment, e.g., by
+ eliminating business licenses and registration requirements in order
+ to simplify domestic and foreign investment. The government also has
+ been cutting public expenditures by reducing subsidies, privatizing
+ state industries, and laying off civil servants. Prospects for foreign
+ trade and investment in the 1990s remain poor, however, because of the
+ small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its
+ remoteness, and susceptibility to natural disaster. The international
+ community provides funding for 70% of Nepal's developmental budget and
+ for 30% of total budgetary expenditures. The government, realizing
+ that attempts to reverse three years of liberalization would
+ jeopardize this vital support, almost certainly will move ahead with
+ its reform program in 1995-96.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $22.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,060 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.6% (June 1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%; note - there is substantial underemployment
+ (1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $455 million
+ expenditures: $854 million, including capital expenditures of $427
+ million (FY93/94 est.)
+
+ Exports: $593 million (f.o.b., 1993) but does not include unrecorded
+ border trade with India
+ commodities: carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain
+ partners: India, US, Germany, UK
+
+ Imports: $899 million (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: petroleum products 20%, fertilizer 11%, machinery 10%
+ partners: India, Singapore, Japan, Germany
+
+ External debt: $2 billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: NA
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 280,000 kW
+ production: 920 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 41 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarette,
+ textile, carpet, cement, and brick production; tourism
+
+ Agriculture: rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops, milk, buffalo
+ meat; not self-sufficient in food, particularly in drought years
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and
+ international drug markets; transit point for heroin from Southeast
+ Asia to the West
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $304 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1980-89), $2.23 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $30 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $286 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Nepalese rupee (NR) = 100 paisa
+
+ Exchange rates: Nepalese rupees (NRs) per US$1 - 49.884 (January
+ 1995), 49.398 (1994), 48.607 (1993), 42.742 (1992), 37.255 (1991),
+ 29.370 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 16 July - 15 July
+
+@Nepal:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 101 km; note - all in Terai close to Indian border
+ narrow gauge: 101 km 0.762-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 7,400 km
+ paved: 3,000 km
+ unpaved: 4,400 km
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 44
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 28
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 10
+
+@Nepal:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 50,000 telephones (1990); poor telephone and
+ telegraph service; fair radio communication service
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: international radio communication service is fair; 1
+ INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 88, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Nepal:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army Air Service,
+ Nepalese Police Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 5,163,703; males fit for
+ military service 2,682,284; males reach military age (17) annually
+ 247,978 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $36 million, 1.2% of
+ GDP (FY92/93)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+NETHERLANDS
+
+@Netherlands:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and
+ Germany
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 37,330 sq km
+ land area: 33,920 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,027 km, Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
+
+ Coastline: 451 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
+
+ Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some
+ hills in southeast
+
+ Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, fertile soil
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 26%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 32%
+ forest and woodland: 9%
+ other: 32%
+
+ Irrigated land: 5,500 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic
+ compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air
+ pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain
+ natural hazards: the extensive system of dikes and dams, protects
+ nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
+ Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
+ Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
+ Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,
+ Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
+ Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
+ ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Desertification,
+ Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or
+ Meuse, and Schelde)
+
+@Netherlands:People
+
+ Population: 15,452,903 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 18% (female 1,382,057; male 1,445,451)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 5,184,224; male 5,369,018)
+ 65 years and over: 14% (female 1,238,336; male 833,817) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.52% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 12.42 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.48 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 1.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 77.95 years
+ male: 74.9 years
+ female: 81.17 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.56 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
+ adjective: Dutch
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Dutch 96%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 4% (1988)
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 34%, Protestant 25%, Muslim 3%, other 2%,
+ unaffiliated 36% (1991)
+
+ Languages: Dutch
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.)
+ total population: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 6.4 million (1993)
+ by occupation: services 71.4%, manufacturing and construction 24.6%,
+ agriculture 4.0% (1992)
+
+@Netherlands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands
+ conventional short form: Netherlands
+ local long form: Koninkrijk de Nederlanden
+ local short form: Nederland
+
+ Digraph: NL
+
+ Type: constitutional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government
+
+ Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (provincien, singular -
+ provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen,
+ Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland,
+ Zuid-Holland
+
+ Dependent areas: Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
+
+ Independence: 1579 (from Spain)
+
+ National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)
+
+ Constitution: 17 February 1983
+
+ Legal system: civil law system incorporating French penal theory;
+ judicial review in the Supreme Court of legislation of lower order
+ rather than Acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April
+ 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER, Prince of Orange, son of Queen
+ Beatrix (born 27 April 1967)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Willem (Wim) KOK (since 22 August
+ 1994); Vice Prime Minister Hans DIJKSTAL and Hans VAN MIERLO (since 22
+ August 1994)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral legislature (Staten Generaal)
+ First Chamber (Eerste Kamer): members indirectly elected by the
+ country's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms; elections last
+ held 9 June l991 (next to be held 9 June 1995); results - percent of
+ vote by party NA; seats - (75 total) number of seats by party NA
+ Second Chamber (Tweede Kamer): members directly elected for four-year
+ terms; elections last held on 3 May 1994 (next to be held in May
+ 1999); results - PvdA 24.3%, CDA 22.3%, VVD 20.4%, D'66 16.5%, other
+ 16.5%; seats - (150 total) PvdA 37, CDA 34, VVD 31, D'66 24, other 24
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (De Hoge Raad)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Hans
+ HELGERS; Labor (PvdA), Wim KOK; Liberal (VVD - People's Party for
+ Freedom and Democracy), Frits BOLKESTEIN; Democrats '66 (D'66), Hans
+ van MIERLO; a host of minor parties
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: large multinational firms;
+ Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist
+ and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation of
+ Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; the nondenominational
+ Federation of Netherlands Enterprises; and Interchurch Peace Council
+ (IKV)
+
+ Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS,
+ CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, G-10, GATT,
+ IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
+ ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR,
+ NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA,
+ UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOMOZ, UNOMUR,
+ UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Adriaan JACOBOVITS DE SZEGED
+ chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300
+ FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430
+ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Kirk Terry DORNBUSH
+ embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ The Hague
+ mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, the Hague; APO AE 09715
+ telephone: [31] (70) 310-9209
+ FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688
+ consulate(s) general: Amsterdam
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue;
+ similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is
+ longer
+
+@Netherlands:Economy
+
+ Overview: This highly developed and affluent economy is based on
+ private enterprise. The government makes its presence felt, however,
+ through many regulations, permit requirements, and welfare programs
+ affecting most aspects of economic activity. The trade and financial
+ services sector contributes over 50% of GDP. Industrial activity
+ provides about 25% of GDP and is led by the food-processing,
+ oil-refining, and metalworking industries. The highly mechanized
+ agricultural sector employs only 4% of the labor force, but provides
+ large surpluses for export and the domestic food-processing industry.
+ Indeed the Netherlands ranks third worldwide in value of agricultural
+ exports, behind the US and France. High unemployment and a sizable
+ budget deficit are currently the most serious economic problems. Many
+ of the economic issues of the 1990s will reflect the course of
+ European economic integration.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $275.8 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $17,940 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (December 1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 8.8% (December 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $109.9 billion
+ expenditures: $122.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $153 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: metal products, chemicals, processed food and tobacco,
+ agricultural products
+ partners: EC 77% (Germany 27%, Belgium-Luxembourg 15%, UK 10%),
+ Central and Eastern Europe 10%, US 4% (1991)
+
+ Imports: $137 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: raw materials and semifinished products, consumer goods,
+ transportation equipment, crude oil, food products
+ partners: EC 64% (Germany 26%, Belgium-Luxembourg 14%, UK 8%), US 8%
+ (1991)
+
+ External debt: $0
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -1.5% (1993 est.); accounts for 25%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 17,520,000 kW
+ production: 72.4 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 5,100 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical
+ machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, fishing, construction,
+ microelectronics
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 4.6% of GDP; animal production predominates;
+ crops - grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; shortages
+ of grain, fats, and oils
+
+ Illicit drugs: important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish
+ entering Europe; European producer of illicit amphetamines and other
+ synthetic drugs
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $19.4 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per US$1
+ - 1.7178 (January 1995), 1.8200 (1994), 1.8573 (1993), 1.7585 (1992),
+ 1.8697 (1991), 1.8209 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Netherlands:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 2,757 km
+ standard gauge: 2,757 km km 1.435-m gauge (1,991 km electrified; 1,800
+ km double track) (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 104,831 km
+ paved: 92,251 km (2,118 km of expressway)
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 12,580 km (1992)
+
+ Inland waterways: 6,340 km, of which 35% is usable by craft of 1,000
+ metric ton capacity or larger
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; natural gas
+ 10,230 km
+
+ Ports: Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem,
+ Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 343 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,629,578 GRT/3,337,307
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 195, chemical tanker 21, combination bulk
+ 3, container 33, liquefied gas tanker 12, livestock carrier 1,
+ multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 37, railcar carrier 1,
+ refrigerated cargo 18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14, short-sea passenger
+ 3, specialized tanker 2
+ note: many Dutch-owned ships are also registered on the Netherlands
+ Antilles register
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 29
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 8
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+
+@Netherlands:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 9,418,000 telephones; highly developed, well
+ maintained, and integrated; extensive redundant system of
+ multiconductor cables, supplemented by microwave radio relay links
+ local: nationwide mobile phone system
+ intercity: microwave radio relay
+ international: 5 submarine cables; 3 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 2
+ Atlantic Ocean) and 1 EUTELSAT earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 3 (relays 3), FM 12 (repeaters 39), shortwave 0
+
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 8 (repeaters 7)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Netherlands:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes
+ Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force,
+ Royal Constabulary
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,177,555; males fit for
+ military service 3,656,529; males reach military age (20) annually
+ 94,771 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $7.1 billion, 2.2% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
+
+ (part of the Dutch realm)
+
+@Netherlands Antilles:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - one
+ includes Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela and the other is east
+ of the Virgin Islands
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 960 sq km
+ land area: 960 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+ note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint
+ Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 364 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds
+
+ Terrain: generally hilly, volcanic interiors
+
+ Natural resources: phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 8%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 92%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane
+ belt, so rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are
+ subject to hurricanes from July to October
+ international agreements: party to - Whaling (extended from
+ Netherlands)
+
+@Netherlands Antilles:People
+
+ Population: 203,505 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 26% (female 25,349; male 26,577)
+ 15-64 years: 67% (female 69,273; male 67,485)
+ 65 years and over: 7% (female 8,599; male 6,222) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.06% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 16.23 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.26 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 76.94 years
+ male: 74.67 years
+ female: 79.33 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Netherlands Antillean(s)
+ adjective: Netherlands Antillean
+
+ Ethnic divisions: mixed African 85%, Carib Indian, European, Latin,
+ Oriental
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist
+
+ Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento a
+ Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect predominates, English widely
+ spoken, Spanish
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
+ total population: 98%
+ male: 98%
+ female: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 89,000
+ by occupation: government 65%, industry and commerce 28% (1983)
+
+@Netherlands Antilles:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: Nederlandse Antillen
+
+ Digraph: NT
+
+ Type: part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs
+ granted in 1954
+
+ Capital: Willemstad
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (part of the Dutch realm)
+
+ Independence: none (part of the Dutch realm)
+
+ National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)
+
+ Constitution: 29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the
+ Netherlands, as amended
+
+ Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English
+ common law influence
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April
+ 1980), represented by Governor General Jaime SALEH (since NA October
+ 1989)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Miguel POURIER (since 25 February
+ 1994)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed with the advice and approval
+ of the unicameral legislature
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Staten: elections last held on 25 February 1994 (next to be held March
+ 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (23 total) PAR
+ 8, PNP 3, SPA 2, PDB 2, UPB 1, MAN 2, DP 1, WIPM 1, DP-St.E 1, DP-St.M
+ 1, Nos Patria 1
+ note: the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition
+ of several parties
+
+ Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice
+
+ Political parties and leaders: political parties are indigenous to
+ each island
+ Bonaire: Patriotic Union of Bonaire (UPB), Rudy ELLIS; Democratic
+ Party of Bonaire (PDB), Franklin CRESTIAN
+ Curacao: Antillean Restructuring Party (PAR), Miguel POURIER; National
+ People's Party (PNP), Maria LIBERIA-PETERS; New Antilles Movement
+ (MAN), Domenico Felip Don MARTINA; Workers' Liberation Front (FOL),
+ Wilson (Papa) GODETT; Socialist Independent (SI), George HUECK and
+ Nelson MONTE; Democratic Party of Curacao (DP), Augustin DIAZ; Nos
+ Patria, Chin BEHILIA
+ Saba: Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM Saba), Will JOHNSON;
+ Saba Democratic Labor Movement, Vernon HASSELL; Saba Unity Party,
+ Carmen SIMMONDS
+ Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius (DP-St.E), K. Van
+ PUTTEN; Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM); St. Eustatius
+ Alliance (SEA), Ralph BERKEL
+ Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten (DP-St.M), Claude
+ WATHEY; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten (SPA), Vance JAMES
+
+ Member of: CARICOM (observer), ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, INTERPOL,
+ IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO, WTO (associate)
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing part of the
+ Netherlands)
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Consul General Bernard J. WOERZ
+ consulate(s) general: Saint Anna Boulevard 19, Willemstad, Curacao
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
+ telephone: [599] (9) 61-3066
+ FAX: [599] (9) 61-6489
+
+ Flag: white with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed
+ on a vertical red band also centered; five white five-pointed stars
+ are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the
+ five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba,
+ Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
+
+@Netherlands Antilles:Economy
+
+ Overview: Tourism and offshore finance are the mainstays of the
+ economy. The islands enjoy a high per capita income and a
+ well-developed infrastructure as compared with other countries in the
+ region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with
+ Venezuela and the US being the major suppliers. Poor soils and
+ inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.85 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 1.8% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $10,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 13.4% (1993 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $209 million
+ expenditures: $232 million, including capital expenditures of $8
+ million (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $240 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: petroleum products 98%
+ partners: US 39%, Brazil 9%, Colombia 6%
+
+ Imports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: crude petroleum 64%, food, manufactures
+ partners: Venezuela 26%, US 18%, Colombia 6%, Netherlands 6%, Japan 5%
+
+ External debt: $672 million (December 1991)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 200,000 kW
+ production: 810 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 4,054 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tourism (Curacao and Sint Maarten), petroleum refining
+ (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire),
+ light manufacturing (Curacao)
+
+ Agriculture: chief products - aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables,
+ tropical fruit
+
+ Illicit drugs: money-laundering center; transshipment point for South
+ American cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $513 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin (NAf.) =
+ 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, or florins
+ (NAf.) per US$1 - 1.79 (fixed rate since 1989; 1.80 fixed rate
+ 1971-88)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Netherlands Antilles:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 950 km
+ paved: 300 km
+ unpaved: gravel, earth 650 km
+
+ Ports: Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 110 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,044,553 GRT/1,343,842
+ DWT
+ ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 2, cargo 36, chemical tanker 6,
+ combination ore/oil 1, liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction
+ large-load carrier 20, oil tanker 2, passenger 4, refrigerated cargo
+ 27, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 5
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+
+@Netherlands Antilles:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; generally adequate facilities
+ local: NA
+ intercity: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
+ international: 2 submarine cables; 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth
+ stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 4, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Netherlands Antilles:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands Air
+ Force, National Guard, Police Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 56,058; males fit for military
+ service 31,558; males reach military age (20) annually 1,734 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Note: defense is responsibility of the Netherlands
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+NEW CALEDONIA
+
+ (overseas territory of France)
+
+@New Caledonia:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of
+ Australia
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 19,060 sq km
+ land area: 18,760 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 2,254 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
+
+ Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains
+
+ Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver,
+ gold, lead, copper
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 14%
+ forest and woodland: 51%
+ other: 35%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: typhoons most frequent from November to March
+ international agreements: NA
+
+@New Caledonia:People
+
+ Population: 184,552 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 31% (female 27,712; male 28,677)
+ 15-64 years: 64% (female 58,462; male 60,169)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 4,997; male 4,535) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.75% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 22.04 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 4.9 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 14.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 74.02 years
+ male: 70.73 years
+ female: 77.48 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.57 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: New Caledonian(s)
+ adjective: New Caledonian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%,
+ Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
+
+ Languages: French, 28 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1976)
+ total population: 91%
+ male: 92%
+ female: 90%
+
+ Labor force: 50,469 foreign workers for plantations and mines from
+ Wallis and Futuna, Vanuatu, and French Polynesia (1980 est.)
+ by occupation: NA
+
+@New Caledonia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
+ conventional short form: New Caledonia
+ local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances
+ local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
+
+ Digraph: NC
+
+ Type: overseas territory of France since 1956
+
+ Capital: Noumea
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there
+ are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
+ Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and
+ Sud
+
+ Independence: none (overseas territory of France; a referendum on
+ independence will be held in 1998)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
+
+ Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
+
+ Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to
+ the islands; formerly under French law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
+ head of government: High Commissioner and President of the Council of
+ Government Didier CULTIAUX (since NA July 1994; appointed by the
+ French Ministry of the Interior); President of the Territorial
+ Congress Simon LOUECKHOTE (since 26 June 1989)
+ cabinet: Consultative Committee
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Territorial Assembly: elections last held 11 June 1989 (next to be
+ held July 1995); results - RPCR 44.5%, FLNKS 28.5%, FN 7%, CD 5%, UO
+ 4%, other 11%; seats - (54 total) RPCR 27, FLNKS 19, FN 3, other 5;
+ note - election boycotted by FULK
+ French Senate: elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held
+ September 2001); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1
+ total) RPCR 1
+ French National Assembly: elections last held 21 March 1993 (next to
+ be held 21 and 28 March 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;
+ seats - (2 total) RPCR 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
+
+ Political parties and leaders: white-dominated Rassemblement pour la
+ Caledonie dans la Republique (RPCR), conservative, Jacques LAFLEUR,
+ president - affiliated to France's Rassemblement pour la Republique
+ (RPR; also called South Province Party); Melanesian proindependence
+ Kanaka Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), Paul NEAOUTYINE;
+ Melanesian moderate Kanak Socialist Liberation (LKS), Nidoish
+ NAISSELINE; National Front (FN), extreme right, Guy GEORGE; Caledonie
+ Demain (CD), right-wing, Bernard MARANT; Union Oceanienne (UO),
+ conservative, Michel HEMA; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak (FULK),
+ proindependence, Clarence UREGEI; Union Caledonian (UC), Francois
+ BURCK, president; "1999" (new party calling for an autonomous state),
+ Philippe PENTECOST
+
+ Member of: ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas territory of France)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (overseas territory of France)
+
+ Flag: the flag of France is used
+
+@New Caledonia:Economy
+
+ Overview: New Caledonia has more than 25% of the world's known nickel
+ resources. In recent years the economy has suffered because of
+ depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of
+ export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for
+ cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1991
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.4% (1988)
+
+ National product per capita: $6,000 (1991 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (1990)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 16% (1989)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $224 million
+ expenditures: $211 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1985 est.)
+
+ Exports: $671 million (f.o.b., 1989)
+ commodities: nickel metal 87%, nickel ore
+ partners: France 32%, Japan 23.5%, US 3.6%
+
+ Imports: $764 million (c.i.f., 1989)
+ commodities: foods, fuels, minerals, machines, electrical equipment
+ partners: France 44.0%, US 10%, Australia 9%
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 250,000 kW
+ production: 1.2 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 6,178 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: nickel mining and smelting
+
+ Agriculture: large areas devoted to cattle grazing; coffee, corn,
+ wheat, vegetables; 60% self-sufficient in beef
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit cannabis cultivation is becoming a principal
+ source of income for some families
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $4.185 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1
+ - 96.25 (January 1995), 100.93 (1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992),
+ 102.57 (1991), 99.00 (1990); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the
+ French franc
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@New Caledonia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 6,340 km
+ paved: 634 km
+ unpaved: 5,706 km (1987)
+
+ Ports: Mueo, Noumea, Thio
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1 roll-on/roll-off ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,079
+ GRT/724 DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 36
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 19
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 13
+
+@New Caledonia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 32,578 telephones (1987)
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) satellite link
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 7
+ televisions: NA
+
+@New Caledonia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: French Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie);
+ Police Force
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of France
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+NEW ZEALAND
+
+@New Zealand:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of
+ Australia
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 268,680 sq km
+ land area: 268,670 sq km
+ comparative area: about the size of Colorado
+ note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands,
+ Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 15,134 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross
+ Dependency)
+
+ Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts
+
+ Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
+
+ Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber,
+ hydropower, gold, limestone
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 2%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 53%
+ forest and woodland: 38%
+ other: 7%
+
+ Irrigated land: 2,800 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna
+ hard-hit by species introduced from outside
+ natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe
+ international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
+ Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
+ Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
+ Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands,
+ Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea, Marine Life
+ Conservation
+
+ Note: about 80% of the population lives in cities
+
+@New Zealand:People
+
+ Population: 3,407,277 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 23% (female 381,027; male 401,285)
+ 15-64 years: 65% (female 1,109,402; male 1,111,079)
+ 65 years and over: 12% (female 234,339; male 170,145) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.52% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 15.14 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.03 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -1.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 8.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 76.65 years
+ male: 73.08 years
+ female: 80.42 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.99 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: New Zealander(s)
+ adjective: New Zealand
+
+ Ethnic divisions: European 88%, Maori 8.9%, Pacific Islander 2.9%,
+ other 0.2%
+
+ Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%,
+ Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33%
+ (1986)
+
+ Languages: English (official), Maori
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
+ total population: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 1,603,500 (June 1991)
+ by occupation: services 66.6%, industry 22.6%, agriculture 10.8%
+ (1992)
+
+@New Zealand:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: New Zealand
+
+ Abbreviation: NZ
+
+ Digraph: NZ
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Wellington
+
+ Administrative divisions: 93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town
+ districts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce, Buller,
+ Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke, Egmont,
+ Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin, Golden Bay,
+ Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*, Hawke's Bay,
+ Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt,
+ Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake, Mackenzie,
+ Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo, Marlborough,
+ Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki, Oroua,
+ Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea, Piako,
+ Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*, Runanga,
+ Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island, Stratford,
+ Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga,
+ Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo,
+ Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West, Waimea,
+ Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa, Wairoa,
+ Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**, Westland,
+ Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodville
+ note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 regions
+ (Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay,
+ Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,
+ Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington, West Coast) that are
+ subdivided into 57 districts and 16 cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*,
+ Banks Peninsula, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke's Bay, Central
+ Otago, Christchurch*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far North, Franklin, Gisborne,
+ Gore, Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt*,
+ Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast, Kawerau, Mackenzie,
+ Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata Piako, Napier*,
+ Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*, Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston
+ North*, Papakura*, Porirua*, Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei, Rodney,
+ Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn, Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato,
+ South Wairarapa, Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames
+ Coromandel, Timaru, Upper Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa,
+ Wairoa, Waitakere*, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui, Wellington*, Western
+ Bay of Plenty, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)
+
+ Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
+
+ Independence: 26 September 1907 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi
+ established British sovereignty)
+
+ Constitution: no formal, written constitution; consists of various
+ documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand
+ Parliaments; Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1
+ January 1987, but has not been enacted
+
+ Legal system: based on English law, with special land legislation and
+ land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
+ reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor General Dame Catherine TIZARD (since 12
+ December 1990)
+ head of government: Prime Minister James BOLGER (since 29 October
+ 1990); Deputy Prime Minister Donald McKINNON (since 2 November 1990)
+ cabinet: Executive Council; appointed by the governor general on
+ recommendation of the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ House of Representatives: (commonly called Parliament) elections last
+ held 6 November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - NP
+ 35.2%, NZLP 34.7%, Alliance 18.3%, New Zealand First 8.3%; seats - (99
+ total) NP 50, NZLP 45, Alliance 2, New Zealand First Party 2
+
+ Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National Party (NP, government), James
+ BOLGER; New Zealand Labor Party (NZLP, opposition), Helen CLARK;
+ Alliance, Sandra LEE; Democratic Party, Dick RYAN; New Zealand Liberal
+ Party, Hanmish MACINTYRE and Gilbert MYLES; Green Party, no official
+ leader; Mana Motuhake, Martin RATA; Socialist Unity Party (SUP,
+ pro-Soviet), Kenneth DOUGLAS; New Zealand First, Winston PETERS
+ note: the New Labor, Democratic, and Mana Motuhake parties formed a
+ coalition called the Alliance Party, Sandra LEE, president, in
+ September 1991; the Green Party joined the coalition in May 1992
+
+ Member of: ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August
+ 1986), APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO,
+ GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
+ IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
+ MTCR, NAM (guest), OECD, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAVEM II,
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
+ WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Lionel John WOOD
+ chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800
+ consulate(s) general: Apia (Western Samoa), Los Angeles
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN
+ embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP
+ 96531-1001
+ telephone: [64] (4) 472-2068
+ FAX: [64] (4) 472-3537
+ consulate(s) general: Auckland
+
+ Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
+ with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer
+ half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation
+
+@New Zealand:Economy
+
+ Overview: Since 1984 the government has been reorienting an agrarian
+ economy dependent on a guaranteed British market to a more
+ industrialized, open free market economy that can compete on the
+ global scene. The government has hoped that dynamic growth would boost
+ real incomes, broaden and deepen the technological capabilities of the
+ industrial sector, reduce inflationary pressures, and permit the
+ expansion of welfare benefits. The initial results were mixed:
+ inflation is down from double-digit levels, but growth was sluggish in
+ 1988-91. In 1992-93, growth picked up to 3% annually, a sign that the
+ new economic approach was beginning to pay off. Business confidence
+ strengthened in 1994, and export demand picked up in the Asia-Pacific
+ region, resulting in 6.2% growth. Inflation remains among the lowest
+ in the industrial world.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $56.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 6.2% (1994)
+
+ National product per capita: $16,640 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (FY93/94)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 7.5% (December 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $18.94 billion
+ expenditures: $18.82 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (FY94/95)
+ note: surplus $120 million (FY94/95)
+
+ Exports: $11.2 billion (1994)
+ commodities: wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fish, cheese, chemicals,
+ forestry products, fruits and vegetables, manufactures
+ partners: Australia 20%, Japan 15%, US 12%, UK 6%
+
+ Imports: $10.4 billion (1994)
+ commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft,
+ petroleum, consumer goods
+ partners: Australia 21%, US 18%, Japan 16%, UK 6%
+
+ External debt: $38.5 billion (September 1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 1.9% (1990); accounts for about 20%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 7,520,000 kW
+ production: 30.5 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 8,401 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles,
+ machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism,
+ mining
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 9% of GDP and about 11% of the work
+ force; livestock predominates - wool, meat, dairy products all export
+ earners; crops - wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables;
+ surplus producer of farm products; fish catch reached a record 503,000
+ metric tons in 1988
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $526 million
+
+ Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5601 (January
+ 1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991),
+ 1.6750 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@New Zealand:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 4,716 km
+ narrow gauge: 4,716 km 1.067-m gauge (113 km electrified; 274 km
+ double track)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 92,648 km
+ paved: 49,547 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 43,101 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 1,609 km; of little importance to transportation
+
+ Pipelines: petroleum products 160 km; natural gas 1,000 km; condensate
+ (liquified petroleum gas - LPG) 150 km
+
+ Ports: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga, Wellington
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 165,504 GRT/218,699 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 3,
+ railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 102
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 28
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 41
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 21
+
+@New Zealand:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 2,110,000 telephones; excellent international and
+ domestic systems
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: submarine cables extend to Australia and Fiji; 2
+ INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 64, FM 2, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 14
+ televisions: NA
+
+@New Zealand:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand
+ Air Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 883,668; males fit for military
+ service 742,871; males reach military age (20) annually 27,162 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $792 million, 2% of
+ GDP (FY90/91)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+NICARAGUA
+
+@Nicaragua:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the
+ North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 129,494 sq km
+ land area: 120,254 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than New York State
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,231 km, Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
+
+ Coastline: 910 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 25-nm security zone
+ continental shelf: natural prolongation
+ territorial sea: 200 nm
+
+ International disputes: territorial disputes with Colombia over the
+ Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; with
+ respect to the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de Fonseca, the
+ International Court of Justice (ICJ) referred the disputants to an
+ earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite
+ resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would be
+ required
+
+ Climate: tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
+
+ Terrain: extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior
+ mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
+
+ Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber,
+ fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 9%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 43%
+ forest and woodland: 35%
+ other: 12%
+
+ Irrigated land: 850 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
+ natural hazards: destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and
+ occasionally severe hurricanes
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear Test
+ Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
+
+@Nicaragua:People
+
+ Population: 4,206,353 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 44% (female 921,356; male 930,594)
+ 15-64 years: 53% (female 1,146,485; male 1,097,811)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 62,607; male 47,500) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.61% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 33.73 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.45 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -1.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 50.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 64.54 years
+ male: 61.67 years
+ female: 67.53 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.17 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Nicaraguan(s)
+ adjective: Nicaraguan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Caucasian) 69%, white
+ 17%, black 9%, Indian 5%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%
+
+ Languages: Spanish (official)
+ note: English- and Indian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1971)
+ total population: 57%
+ male: 57%
+ female: 57%
+
+ Labor force: 1.086 million
+ by occupation: services 43%, agriculture 44%, industry 13% (1986)
+
+@Nicaragua:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua
+ conventional short form: Nicaragua
+ local long form: Republica de Nicaragua
+ local short form: Nicaragua
+
+ Digraph: NU
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Managua
+
+ Administrative divisions: 16 departments (departamentos, singular -
+ departamento); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada,
+ Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio
+ San Juan, Rivas, Zelaya
+
+ Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
+
+ Constitution: 9 January 1987
+
+ Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court may review
+ administrative acts
+
+ Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Violeta Barrios de
+ CHAMORRO (since 25 April 1990); Vice President Virgilio GODOY Reyes
+ (since 25 April 1990); election last held 25 February 1990 (next to be
+ held November 1996); results - Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (UNO)
+ 54.7%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 40.8%, other 4.5%
+ cabinet: Cabinet
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional): elections last held 25 February
+ 1990 (next to be held November 1996); results - UNO 53.9%, FSLN 40.8%,
+ PSC 1.6%, MUR 1.0%; seats - (92 total) UNO 41, FSLN 39, "Centrist"
+ (Dissident UNO) 12
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ far right: Liberal Constitutionalist Party* (PLC), Arnold ALEMAN;
+ Conservative Popular Alliance Party (APC), Myriam ARGUELLO; Central
+ American Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca ROJAS Echaverry; Independent
+ Liberal Party for National Unity (PLUIN), Alfonso MOCADO Guillen;
+ Conservative Party of Nicaragua (PCN - formed in 1992 by the merger of
+ the Conservative Social Party (PSC) with the Democratic Conservative
+ Party (PCD) and PCL, the Conservative party of Labor), Fernando
+ AGUERO; National Justice Party (PJN), Jorge DIAZ Cruz; National
+ Conservative Party* (PNC), Adolfo CALERO
+ center right: Neoliberal Party* (PALI), Adolfo GARCIA Esquivel;
+ National Action Party* (PAN), Delvis MONTIEL; Independent Liberal
+ Party* (PLI), Wilfredo NAVARRO
+ center left: Christian Democratic Union (UDC), Luis Humberto GUZMAN;
+ Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN), Roberto URROZ; Social Democratic
+ Party (PSD), Adolfo JARQUIN; Movement of Revolutionary Unity (MUR),
+ Pablo HERNANDEZ; Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS), Sergio RAMIREZ;
+ Democratic Action Movement (MAD), Eden PASTORA; Communist Party of
+ Nicaragua* (PCdeN), Eli ALTIMIRANO Perez
+ far left: Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel ORTEGA;
+ Revolutionary Workers' Party (PRT), Bonifacio MIRANDA; Popular Action
+ Movement-Marxist-Leninist (MAP-ML), Isidro TELLEZ; Nicaraguan
+ Socialist Party (PSN), Gustavo TABLADA; Unidad Nicaraguense de
+ Obreros, Campesinos, y Profesionales (UNOCP), Rosalio GONZALEZ Urbina
+ note: parties marked with an asterisk belong to the National
+ Opposition Union (UNO), an alliance of moderate parties, which,
+ however, does not always follow a unified political agenda
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: National Workers Front (FNT) is a
+ Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions: Sandinista Workers'
+ Central (CST); Farm Workers Association (ATC); Health Workers
+ Federation (FETASALUD); National Union of Employees (UNE); National
+ Association of Educators of Nicaragua (ANDEN); Union of Journalists of
+ Nicaragua (UPN); Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional
+ Associations (CONAPRO); and the National Union of Farmers and Ranchers
+ (UNAG); Permanent Congress of Workers (CPT) is an umbrella group of
+ four non-Sandinista labor unions: Confederation of Labor Unification
+ (CUS); Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN-A); Independent
+ General Confederation of Labor (CGT-I); and Labor Action and Unity
+ Central (CAUS); Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN) is an independent
+ labor union; Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) is a
+ confederation of business groups
+
+ Member of: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
+ IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN,
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto Genaro MAYORGA Cortes
+ chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
+ telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570
+ consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New
+ York, San Francisco
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador John F. MAISTO
+ embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur., Managua
+ mailing address: APO AA 34021
+ telephone: [505] (2) 666010, 666013, 666015 through 18, 666026,
+ 666027, 666032 through 34
+ FAX: [505] (2) 666046
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with
+ the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms
+ features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on
+ the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El
+ Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words
+ REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white
+ band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars
+ arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
+
+@Nicaragua:Economy
+
+ Overview: Since March 1991, when President CHAMORRO began an ambitious
+ economic stabilization program, Nicaragua has had considerable success
+ in reducing inflation and obtaining substantial economic aid from
+ abroad. Annual inflation fell from more than 750% in 1991 to less than
+ 5% in 1992. Inflation rose again to an estimated 20% in 1993, although
+ this increase was due almost entirely to a large currency devaluation
+ in January. As of early 1994, the government was close to finalizing
+ an enhanced structural adjustment facility with the IMF, after the
+ previous standby facility expired in early 1993. Despite these
+ successes, achieving overall economic growth in an economy scarred by
+ misguided economic values and civil war during the 1980s has proved
+ elusive. Economic growth was flat in 1992 and slightly negative in
+ 1993. Nicaragua's per capita foreign debt is one of the highest in the
+ world; nonetheless, as of late 1993, Nicaragua was current on its
+ post-1988 debt as well as on payments to the international financial
+ institutions. Definition of property rights remains a problem;
+ ownership disputes over large tracts of land, businesses, and homes
+ confiscated by the previous government have yet to be resolved. A rise
+ in exports of coffee and other products led growth in 1994.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $6.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3.2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,570 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 19.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 21.8%; underemployment 50% (1993)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $375 million (1992)
+ expenditures: $410 million (1992), including capital expenditures of
+ $115 million (1991 est.)
+
+ Exports: $329 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: meat, coffee, cotton, sugar, seafood, gold, bananas
+ partners: US, Central America, Canada, Germany
+
+ Imports: $786 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: consumer goods, machinery and equipment, petroleum
+ products
+ partners: Central America, US, Venezuela, Japan
+
+ External debt: $11 billion (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -0.8% (1993 est.); accounts for 26%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 460,000 kW
+ production: 1.6 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 376 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: food processing, chemicals, metal products, textiles,
+ clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear
+
+ Agriculture: crops account for about 15% of GDP; export crops -
+ coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton; food crops - rice, corn, cassava,
+ citrus fruit, beans; also produces a variety of animal products -
+ beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products; normally self-sufficient in
+ food
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-92), $620 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $1.381 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 gold cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos
+
+ Exchange rates: gold cordobas (C$) per US$1 - 7.08 (December 1994),
+ 6.72 (1994), 5.62 (1993), 5.00 (1992); note - gold cordoba replaced
+ cordoba as Nicaragua's currency in 1991 (exchange rate of old cordoba
+ had reached per US$1 - 25,000,000 by March 1992)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Nicaragua:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 376 km; note - majority of system is nonoperational
+ standard gauge: 3 km 1.435-m gauge line at Puerto Cabezas; note - does
+ not connect with mainline
+ narrow gauge: 373 km 1.067-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 15,286 km
+ paved: 1,598 km
+ unpaved: 13,688 km
+ note: there is a 368.5 km portion of the Pan-American Highway which is
+ not in the total
+
+ Inland waterways: 2,220 km, including 2 large lakes
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 56 km
+
+ Ports: Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino,
+ Rama, San Juan del Sur
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 198
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 149
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 39
+
+@Nicaragua:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 60,000 telephones; low-capacity radio relay and wire
+ system being expanded; connection into Central American Microwave
+ System
+ local: NA
+ intercity: wire and radio relay
+ international: 1 Intersputnik and 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth
+ station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 45, FM 0, shortwave 3
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 7
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Nicaragua:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force
+ note: total strength of all branches - 14,500
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 982,345; males fit for military
+ service 604,721; males reach military age (18) annually 47,064 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $32 million, 1.7% of
+ GDP (1994), 8.1% of government budget
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+NIGER
+
+@Niger:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1.267 million sq km
+ land area: 1,266,700 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 5,697 km, Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina
+ 628 km, Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in northern
+ Niger; demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack
+ of which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and
+ awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; Burkina
+ and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the
+ tripoint with Niger
+
+ Climate: desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
+
+ Terrain: predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling
+ plains in south; hills in north
+
+ Natural resources: uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 3%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 7%
+ forest and woodland: 2%
+ other: 88%
+
+ Irrigated land: 320 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation;
+ desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus,
+ and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
+ natural hazards: recurring droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Environmental
+ Modification, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands;
+ signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Desertification, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Niger:People
+
+ Population: 9,280,208 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 49% (female 2,275,338; male 2,275,999)
+ 15-64 years: 49% (female 2,314,857; male 2,188,938)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 107,432; male 117,644) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.4% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 54.8 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 20.8 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 109.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 45.07 years
+ male: 43.42 years
+ female: 46.77 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 7.35 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Nigerien(s)
+ adjective: Nigerien
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri
+ Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 4,000
+ French expatriates
+
+ Religions: Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians
+
+ Languages: French (official), Hausa, Djerma
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1988)
+ total population: 11%
+ male: 17%
+ female: 5%
+
+ Labor force: 2.5 million wage earners (1982)
+ by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government
+ 4%
+
+@Niger:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Niger
+ conventional short form: Niger
+ local long form: Republique du Niger
+ local short form: Niger
+
+ Digraph: NG
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Niamey
+
+ Administrative divisions: 7 departments (departements, singular -
+ departement); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey, Tahoua, Zinder
+
+ Independence: 3 August 1960 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
+
+ Constitution: approved by national referendum 16 December 1992;
+ promulgated January 1993
+
+ Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; has
+ not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Mahamane OUSMANE (since 16 April 1993);
+ election last held 17 March 1993 (next to be held NA February 1998)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Hama AMADOU (since 21 February
+ 1995)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on recommendation of the
+ prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly: elected by proportional representation for 5 year
+ terms; elections last held 12 January 1995 (next to be held NA);
+ results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (83 total) MNSD-NASSARA
+ 29, CDS 24, PNDS 12, ANDP-Z 9, UDFP 3, UDPS 2, PADN 2, PPN-RDA 1, UPDP
+ 1
+
+ Judicial branch: State Court (Cour d'Etat), Court of Appeal (Cour
+ d'Apel)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National Movement of the Development
+ Society (MNSD-NASSARA), Mamadou TANDJA, chairman; Democratic and
+ Social Convention (CDS), Jacoub SANOUSSI; Nigerien Party for Democracy
+ and Socialism (PNDS), Mahamadou ISSOUFOU; Nigerien Alliance for
+ Democracy and Progress-Zamanlahia (ANDP-Z), Moumouni Adamou
+ DJERMAKOYE; Union of Popular Forces for Democracy and Progress-Sawaba
+ (UDFP), Djibo BAKARY, chairman; Union for Democracy and Social
+ Progress (UDPS), Akoli DAOUEL; Niger Social Democrat Party (PADN),
+ Malam Adji WAZIRI; Niger Progressive Party-African Democratic Rally
+ (PPN-RDA), Dori ABDOULAI, chairman; Union of Patriots, Democrats, and
+ Progressives (UPDP), Professor Andre SALIFOU, chairman
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ,
+ G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
+ IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
+ UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Adamou SEYDOU
+ chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador John S. DAVISON
+ embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
+ mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey
+ telephone: [227] 72 26 61 through 72 26 64
+ FAX: [227] 73 31 67
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green
+ with a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white
+ band; similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel
+ centered in the white band
+
+@Niger:Economy
+
+ Overview: Niger is one of the world's poorest countries, with GDP
+ growth lagging behind the rapid growth of population. The economy is
+ centered on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, and reexport
+ trade, and increasingly less on uranium, its major export throughout
+ the 1970s and 1980s. Uranium revenues dropped by almost 50% between
+ 1983 and 1990 with the end of the uranium boom. Terms of trade with
+ Nigeria, Niger's largest regional trade partner, have improved
+ dramatically since the 50% devaluation of the African franc in January
+ 1994; this devaluation boosted exports of livestock, peas, onions, and
+ the products of Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies
+ on bilateral and multilateral aid for operating expenses and public
+ investment and is strongly induced to adhere to structural adjustment
+ programs designed by the IMF and the World Bank.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $4.6 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 1.4% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $550 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $188 million
+ expenditures: $400 million, including capital expenditures of $125
+ million (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $246 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: uranium ore 67%, livestock products 20%, cowpeas, onions
+ partners: France 77%, Nigeria 8%, Cote d'Ivoire, Italy
+
+ Imports: $286 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: consumer goods, primary materials, machinery, vehicles
+ and parts, petroleum, cereals
+ partners: France 23%, Cote d'Ivoire, Germany, Italy, Japan
+
+ External debt: $1.2 billion (December 1991 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -2.7% (1992 est.); accounts for 15%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 60,000 kW
+ production: 200 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 42 kWh (1992)
+
+ Industries: cement, brick, textiles, food processing, chemicals,
+ slaughterhouses, and a few other small light industries; uranium
+ mining began in 1971
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for roughly 40% of GDP and 90% of labor force;
+ cash crops - cowpeas, cotton, peanuts; food crops - millet, sorghum,
+ cassava, rice; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats; self-sufficient in
+ food except in drought years
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $380 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $3.165 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $504 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $61 million
+
+ Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1
+ - 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
+ 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)
+ note: the official rate is pegged to the French franc, and beginning
+ 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French
+ franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
+
+@Niger:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 39,970 km
+ paved: bituminous 3,170 km
+ unpaved: gravel, laterite 10,330 km; earth 3,470 km; tracks 23,000 km
+
+ Inland waterways: Niger River is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya
+ on the Benin frontier from mid-December through March
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 29
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 16
+
+@Niger:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 14,260 telephones; small system of wire,
+ radiocommunications, and radio relay links concentrated in
+ southwestern area
+ local: NA
+ intercity: wire, radiocommunications, and radio relay; 3 domestic
+ satellite links, with 1 planned
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) earth
+ stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 15, FM 5, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 18
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Niger:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Republican Guard,
+ National Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,908,767; males fit for
+ military service 1,029,384; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 94,506 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $32 million, 1.3% of
+ GDP (FY92/93)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+NIGERIA
+
+@Nigeria:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
+ Benin and Cameroon
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 923,770 sq km
+ land area: 910,770 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of California
+
+ Land boundaries: total 4,047 km, Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad
+ 87 km, Niger 1,497 km
+
+ Coastline: 853 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 30 nm
+
+ International disputes: demarcation of international boundaries in
+ Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is
+ completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and
+ Nigeria; dispute with Cameroon over land and maritime boundaries in
+ the vicinity of the Bakasi Peninsula has been referred to the
+ International Court of Justice
+
+ Climate: varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in
+ north
+
+ Terrain: southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus;
+ mountains in southeast, plains in north
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal,
+ limestone, lead, zinc, natural gas
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 31%
+ permanent crops: 3%
+ meadows and pastures: 23%
+ forest and woodland: 15%
+ other: 28%
+
+ Irrigated land: 8,650 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: soil degradation; rapid deforestation;
+ desertification; recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal
+ agricultural activities
+ natural hazards: periodic droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
+ Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
+
+@Nigeria:People
+
+ Population: 101,232,251 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 45% (female 22,643,026; male 22,850,322)
+ 15-64 years: 52% (female 25,842,286; male 26,978,906)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 1,438,392; male 1,479,319) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.16% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 43.26 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 12.01 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 72.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 55.98 years
+ male: 54.69 years
+ female: 57.3 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.31 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Nigerian(s)
+ adjective: Nigerian
+
+ Ethnic divisions:
+ north: Hausa and Fulani
+ southwest: Yoruba
+ southeast: Ibos non-Africans 27,000
+ note: Hausa and Fulani, Yoruba, and Ibos together make up 65% of
+ population
+
+ Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
+
+ Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 51%
+ male: 62%
+ female: 40%
+
+ Labor force: 42.844 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 54%, industry, commerce, and services 19%,
+ government 15%
+
+@Nigeria:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria
+ conventional short form: Nigeria
+
+ Digraph: NI
+
+ Type: military government since 31 December 1983; plans to institute a
+ constitutional conference to prepare for a new transition to civilian
+ rule after plans for a transition in 1993 were negated by General
+ BABANGIDA
+
+ Capital: Abuja
+ note: on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially moved from Lagos
+ to Abuja; many government offices remain in Lagos pending completion
+ of facilities in Abuja
+
+ Administrative divisions: 30 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Abuja
+ Capital Territory*, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno,
+ Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina,
+ Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau,
+ Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe
+
+ Independence: 1 October 1960 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960)
+
+ Constitution: 1979 constitution still in force; plan for 1989
+ constitution to take effect in 1993 was not implemented
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and tribal law
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: Chairman of the Provisional
+ Ruling Council and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces and Defense
+ Minister Gen. Sani ABACHA (since 17 November 1993); Vice-Chairman of
+ the Provisional Ruling Council Oladipo DIYA (since 17 November 1993)
+ cabinet: Federal Executive Council
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly
+ Senate: suspended after coup of 17 November 1993
+ House of Representatives: suspended after coup of 17 November 1993
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeal
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ note: two political party system suspended after the coup of 17
+ November 1993
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24,
+ G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
+ IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU,
+ OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
+ UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Zubair Mahmud KAZAURE
+ chancery: 1333 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
+ telephone: [1] (202) 986-8400
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Walter C. CARRINGTON
+ embassy: 2 Eleke Crescent, Lagos
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagos
+ telephone: [234] (1) 261-0097
+ FAX: [234] (1) 261-0257
+ branch office: Abuja
+ consulate(s) general: Kaduna
+
+ Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
+ green
+
+@Nigeria:Economy
+
+ Overview: The oil-rich Nigerian economy continues to be hobbled by
+ political instability and poor macroeconomic management. Nigeria's
+ unpopular military rulers show no sign of wanting to restore
+ democratic civilian rule in the near future and appear divided on how
+ to redress fundamental economic imbalances that cause troublesome
+ inflation and the steady depreciation of the naira. The government's
+ domestic and international arrears continue to limit economic growth -
+ even in the oil sector - and prevent an agreement with the IMF and
+ bilateral creditors on debt relief. The inefficient (largely
+ subsistence) agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid
+ population growth, and Nigeria, once a large net exporter of food, now
+ must import food.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $122.6 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -0.8% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,250 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 53% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 28% (1992 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $9 billion
+ expenditures: $10.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $11.9 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: oil 95%, cocoa, rubber
+ partners: US 54%, EC 23%
+
+ Imports: $8.3 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
+ commodities: machinery and equipment, manufactured goods, food and
+ animals
+ partners: EC 64%, US 10%, Japan 7%
+
+ External debt: $29.5 billion (1992)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 7.7% (1991); accounts for 43% of
+ GDP, including petroleum
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 4,570,000 kW
+ production: 11.3 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 109 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: crude oil and mining - coal, tin, columbite; primary
+ processing industries - palm oil, peanut, cotton, rubber, wood, hides
+ and skins; manufacturing industries - textiles, cement, building
+ materials, food products, footwear, chemical, printing, ceramics,
+ steel
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 35% of GDP and half of labor force; cash
+ crops - cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, rubber; food crops - corn, rice,
+ sorghum, millet, cassava, yams; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats,
+ pigs; fishing and forestry resources extensively exploited
+
+ Illicit drugs: passenger and cargo air hub for West Africa;
+ facilitates movement of heroin en route from Southeast and Southwest
+ Asia to Western Europe and North America; increasingly a transit route
+ for cocaine from South America intended for West European, East Asian,
+ and North American markets
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $705 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $3 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $2.2 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 naira (N) = 100 kobo
+
+ Exchange rates: naira (N) per US$1 - 21.996 (January 1995), 21.996
+ (1994), 22.065 (1993), 17.298 (1992), 9.909 (1991), 8.038 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Nigeria:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 3,567 km
+ narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge
+ standard gauge: 62 km 1.435-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 107,990 km
+ paved: mostly bituminous-surface treatment 30,019 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, improved earth 25,411 km; unimproved
+ earth 52,560 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 8,575 km consisting of Niger and Benue Rivers and
+ smaller rivers and creeks
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 2,042 km; petroleum products 3,000 km; natural
+ gas 500 km
+
+ Ports: Calabar, Lagos, Onne, Port Harcourt, Sapele, Warri
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 404,064 GRT/661,850 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 14, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas
+ tanker 1, oil tanker 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 80
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 6
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 25
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 21
+
+@Nigeria:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; above-average system limited by poor
+ maintenance; major expansion in progress
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and 20 domestic
+ satellite earth stations carry intercity traffic
+ international: 3 INTELSAT earth stations (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1
+ Indian Ocean) and 1 coaxial submarine cable carry international
+ traffic
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 35, FM 17, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 28
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Nigeria:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Police Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 23,167,009; males fit for
+ military service 13,246,223; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 1,024,059 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $172 million, about
+ 1% of GDP (1992)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+NIUE
+
+ (free association with New Zealand)
+
+@Niue:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 260 sq km
+ land area: 260 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 64 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
+
+ Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
+
+ Natural resources: fish, arable land
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 61%
+ permanent crops: 4%
+ meadows and pastures: 4%
+ forest and woodland: 19%
+ other: 12%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: traditional methods of burning brush and trees to
+ clear land for agriculture have threatened soil supplies which
+ naturally are not very abundant
+ natural hazards: typhoons
+ international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: one of world's largest coral islands
+
+@Niue:People
+
+ Population: 1,837 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: -3.66% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: NA
+
+ Death rate: NA
+
+ Net migration rate: NA
+
+ Infant mortality rate: NA
+
+ Life expectancy at birth: NA
+
+ Total fertility rate: NA
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Niuean(s)
+ adjective: Niuean
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and
+ Tongans)
+
+ Religions: Ekalesia Nieue (Niuean Church) 75% - a Protestant church
+ closely related to the London Missionary Society, Morman 10%, other
+ 15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day
+ Adventist)
+
+ Languages: Polynesian closely related to Tongan and Samoan, English
+
+ Labor force: 1,000 (1981 est.)
+ by occupation: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only
+ in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
+
+@Niue:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Niue
+
+ Digraph: NE
+
+ Type: self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand;
+ Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains
+ responsibility for external affairs
+
+ Capital: Alofi
+
+ Administrative divisions: none
+
+ Independence: 19 October 1974 (became a self-governing territory in
+ free association with New Zealand on 19 October 1974)
+
+ National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi
+ established British sovereignty)
+
+ Constitution: 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
+
+ Legal system: English common law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by New Zealand Representative Kurt MEYER (since NA)
+ head of government: Premier Frank F. LUI (since 12 March 1993; Acting
+ Premier since December 1992)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; consists of the premier and three other ministers
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Legislative Assembly: elections last held 6 March 1993 (next to be
+ held NA 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (20 total, 6
+ elected)
+
+ Judicial branch: Appeal Court of New Zealand, High Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Niue Peoples Party (NPP), Young VIVIAN
+
+ Member of: ESCAP (associate), INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), SPARTECA,
+ SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing territory in
+ free association with New Zealand)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing territory in free
+ association with New Zealand)
+
+ Flag: yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant;
+ the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large one
+ on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold
+ red cross
+
+@Niue:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is heavily dependent on aid from New Zealand.
+ Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, with the shortfall
+ made up by grants from New Zealand - the grants are used to pay wages
+ to public employees. The agricultural sector consists mainly of
+ subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export.
+ Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion
+ fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps
+ to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in
+ recent years has suffered a serious loss of population because of
+ migration of Niueans to New Zealand.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.4 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $1,200 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1992)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $5.5 million
+ expenditures: $6.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1985 est.)
+
+ Exports: $117,500 (f.o.b., 1989)
+ commodities: canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit
+ products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
+ partners: NZ 89%, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia
+
+ Imports: $4.1 million (c.i.f., 1989)
+ commodities: food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels,
+ lubricants, chemicals, drugs
+ partners: NZ 59%, Fiji 20%, Japan 13%, Western Samoa, Australia, US
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,500 kW
+ production: 2.7 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,490 kWh (1992)
+
+ Industries: tourism, handicrafts, food processing
+
+ Agriculture: coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes; subsistence crops
+ - taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef
+ cattle
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $62 million
+
+ Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5601 (January
+ 1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991),
+ 1.6750 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Niue:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 229 km
+ unpaved: all-weather 123 km; plantation access 106 km
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+
+@Niue:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 383 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: single-line telephone system connects all villages on
+ island
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1,000, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1987 est.)
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Niue:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Police Force
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+NORFOLK ISLAND
+
+ (territory of Australia)
+
+@Norfolk Island:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of
+ Australia
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 34.6 sq km
+ land area: 34.6 sq km
+ comparative area: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 32 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation
+
+ Terrain: volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
+
+ Natural resources: fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 25%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 75%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: typhoons (especially May to July)
+ international agreements: NA
+
+@Norfolk Island:People
+
+ Population: 2,756 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.69% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: NA
+
+ Death rate: NA
+
+ Net migration rate: NA
+
+ Infant mortality rate: NA
+
+ Life expectancy at birth: NA
+
+ Total fertility rate: NA
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Norfolk Islander(s)
+ adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
+
+ Ethnic divisions: descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New
+ Zealander
+
+ Religions: Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in
+ Australia 16.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown 16.9%,
+ other 2.4% (1986)
+
+ Languages: English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century
+ English and ancient Tahitian
+
+ Labor force: NA
+
+@Norfolk Island:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
+ conventional short form: Norfolk Island
+
+ Digraph: NF
+
+ Type: territory of Australia
+
+ Capital: Kingston (administrative center); Burnt Pine (commercial
+ center)
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
+
+ Independence: none (territory of Australia)
+
+ National holiday: Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)
+
+ Constitution: Norfolk Island Act of 1979
+
+ Legal system: wide legislative and executive responsibility under the
+ Norfolk Island Act of 1979; Supreme Court
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Administrator Alan Gardner KERR (since NA April 1992),
+ who is appointed by the Governor General of Australia
+ head of government: Assembly President David Ernest BUFFETT (since NA
+ May 1992)
+ cabinet: Executive Council
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Legislative Assembly: elections last held 20 May 1992 (next to be held
+ NA May 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total)
+ independents 9
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: NA
+
+ Member of: none
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
+
+ Flag: three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green
+ with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly
+ wider white band
+
+@Norfolk Island:Economy
+
+ Overview: The primary economic activity is tourism, which has brought
+ a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific
+ islands. The number of visitors has increased steadily over the years
+ and reached 29,000 in FY88/89. Revenues from tourism have given the
+ island a favorable balance of trade and helped the agricultural sector
+ to become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and
+ eggs.
+
+ National product: GDP $NA
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $NA
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $4.2 million, including capital expenditures of $400,000
+ (1989 est.)
+
+ Exports: $1.7 million (f.o.b., FY85/86)
+ commodities: postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and
+ Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados
+ partners: Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe
+
+ Imports: $15.6 million (c.i.f., FY85/86)
+ commodities: NA
+ partners: Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 7,000 kW
+ production: 8 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,160 kWh (1990)
+
+ Industries: tourism
+
+ Agriculture: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals,
+ vegetables, fruit, cattle, poultry
+
+ Economic aid: none
+
+ Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3058 (January
+ 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991),
+ 1.2799 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Norfolk Island:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 80 km
+ paved: 53 km
+ unpaved: earth, coral 27 km
+
+ Ports: none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+
+@Norfolk Island:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 987 telephones (1983)
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: radio link service with Sydney
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: 1,000 (1987 est.)
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Norfolk Island:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
+
+ (commonwealth in political union with the US)
+
+@Northern Mariana Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about
+ three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 477 sq km
+ land area: 477 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+ note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,482 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little
+ seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy
+ season July to October
+
+ Terrain: southern islands are limestone with level terraces and
+ fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic; highest elevation
+ is 471 m (Mt. Okso' Takpochao on Saipan)
+
+ Natural resources: arable land, fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 5% on Saipan
+ permanent crops: NA%
+ meadows and pastures: 19%
+ forest and woodland: NA%
+ other: NA%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: contamination of groundwater on Saipan by raw sewage
+ contributes to disease
+ natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons
+ (especially August to November)
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
+
+@Northern Mariana Islands:People
+
+ Population: 51,033 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.04% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 33.05 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 4.61 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 37.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 67.43 years
+ male: 65.53 years
+ female: 69.48 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.69 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: NA
+ adjective: NA
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians,
+ Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean
+
+ Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional
+ beliefs and taboos may still be found)
+
+ Languages: English, Chamorro, Carolinian
+ note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
+ total population: 97%
+ male: 97%
+ female: 96%
+
+ Labor force: 7,476 total indigenous labor force, 2,699 unemployed;
+ 21,188 foreign workers (1990)
+ by occupation: NA
+
+@Northern Mariana Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
+ conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands
+
+ Digraph: CQ
+
+ Type: commonwealth in political union with the US; self-governing with
+ locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature;
+ federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of
+ the Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs
+
+ Capital: Saipan
+
+ Administrative divisions: none
+
+ Independence: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
+
+ National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
+
+ Constitution: Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986 and the
+ Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
+
+ Legal system: based on US system except for customs, wages,
+ immigration laws, and taxation
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US
+ citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January
+ 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
+ head of government: Governor Froilan C. TENORIO (since January 1994);
+ Lieutenant Governor Jesus C. BORJA (since January 1994); election last
+ held in NA November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997); results -
+ Froilan C. TENORIO (Democrat) was elected governor with 56% of the
+ vote
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Legislature
+ Senate: elections last held NA November 1993 (next to be held NA
+ November 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9
+ total) Republicans retained a majority of the seats
+ House of Representatives: elections last held NA November 1993 (next
+ to be held NA November 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA;
+ seats - (18 total) Republicans retained a majority of the seats
+ US House of Representatives: the Commonwealth does not have a
+ nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it has an elected official
+ "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats - (1 total)
+ Juan N. BABAUTA (Republican)
+
+ Judicial branch: Commonwealth Supreme Court, Superior Court, Federal
+ District Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Republican Party, Benigno R. FITIAL,
+ Leader; Democratic Party, Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO, Chairman
+
+ Member of: ESCAP (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), SPC
+
+ Flag: blue with a white five-pointed star superimposed on the gray
+ silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in
+ building) in the center
+
+@Northern Mariana Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance
+ from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated
+ government revenues have grown. An agreement for the years 1986 to
+ 1992 entitled the islands to $228 million for capital development,
+ government operations, and special programs. A rapidly growing major
+ source of income is the tourist industry, which now employs about 50%
+ of the work force. Japanese tourists predominate. The agricultural
+ sector is of minor importance and is made up of cattle ranches and
+ small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons.
+ Industry is small scale, mostly handicrafts, light manufacturing, and
+ garment production.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $524 million (1994
+ est.)
+ note: GDP numbers reflect US spending
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $10,500 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $190.4 million
+ expenditures: $190.4 million, including capital expenditures of $19.1
+ million (FY94/95)
+
+ Exports: $263.4 million (f.o.b. 1991 est.)
+ commodities: garments
+ partners: NA
+
+ Imports: $392.4 million (c.i.f. 1991 est.)
+ commodities: food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum
+ products
+ partners: US, Japan
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 105,000 kW
+ production: NA kWh
+ consumption per capita: NA kWh
+
+ Industries: tourism, construction, light industry, handicrafts
+
+ Agriculture: coconuts, fruits, cattle, vegetables; food is a major
+ import
+
+ Economic aid: none
+
+ Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: US currency is used
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
+
+@Northern Mariana Islands:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 381.5 km
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+ undifferentiated: primary 134.5 km; secondary 55 km; local 192 km
+ (1991)
+
+ Inland waterways: none
+
+ Ports: Saipan, Tinian
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 8
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+
+@Northern Mariana Islands:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1984)
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1; note - there are 2 cable TV stations
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Northern Mariana Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+NORWAY
+
+@Norway:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North
+ Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 324,220 sq km
+ land area: 307,860 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,515 km, Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km,
+ Russia 167 km
+
+ Coastline: 21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands 2,413
+ km, long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 16,093
+ km)
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 10 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 4 nm
+
+ International disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud
+ Land); maritime boundary dispute with Russia over portion of Barents
+ Sea
+
+ Climate: temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current;
+ colder interior; rainy year-round on west coast
+
+ Terrain: glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken
+ by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented
+ by fjords; arctic tundra in north
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, copper, natural gas, pyrites, nickel,
+ iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 3%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 27%
+ other: 70%
+
+ Irrigated land: 950 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and
+ adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from
+ vehicle emissions
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
+ Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
+ Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
+ Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,
+ Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
+ Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air
+ Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber
+ 94
+
+ Note: about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much
+ indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air
+ routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines in
+ world; Norway and Turkey only NATO members having a land boundary with
+ Russia
+
+@Norway:People
+
+ Population: 4,330,951 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 19% (female 390,344; male 444,570)
+ 15-64 years: 65% (female 1,375,493; male 1,424,027)
+ 65 years and over: 16% (female 408,675; male 287,842) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.37% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 12.86 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 10.35 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 1.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 77.61 years
+ male: 74.26 years
+ female: 81.15 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.76 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Norwegian(s)
+ adjective: Norwegian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Germanic (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic), Lapps (Sami)
+ 20,000
+
+ Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 87.8% (state church), other Protestant
+ and Roman Catholic 3.8%, none 3.2%, unknown 5.2% (1980)
+
+ Languages: Norwegian (official)
+ note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.)
+ total population: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 2.13 million
+ by occupation: services 71%, industry 23%, agriculture, forestry, and
+ fishing 6% (1992)
+
+@Norway:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway
+ conventional short form: Norway
+ local long form: Kongeriket Norge
+ local short form: Norge
+
+ Digraph: NO
+
+ Type: constitutional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Oslo
+
+ Administrative divisions: 19 provinces (fylker, singular - fylke);
+ Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og
+ Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland,
+ Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold
+
+ Dependent areas: Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
+
+ Independence: 26 October 1905 (from Sweden)
+
+ National holiday: Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)
+
+ Constitution: 17 May 1814, modified in 1884
+
+ Legal system: mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common
+ law traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature
+ when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent
+ Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS (born 20 July 1973)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND (since 3
+ November 1990)
+ cabinet: State Council; appointed by the king in accordance with the
+ will of the Storting
+
+ Legislative branch: modified unicameral Parliament (Storting) which,
+ for certain purposes, divides itself into two chambers
+ Storting: elections last held 13 September 1993 (next to be held
+ September 1997); results - Labor 37.1%, Center Party 18.5%,
+ Conservatives 15.6%, Christian People's 8.4%, Socialist Left 7.9%,
+ Progress 6%, Left Party 3.6%, Red Electoral Alliance 1.2%; seats -
+ (165 total) Labor 67, Center Party 32, Consevatives 18, Christian
+ People's 13, Socialist Left 13, Progress 10, Left Party 1, Red
+ Electoral Alliance 1, unawarded 10
+ note: for certain purposes, the Storting divides itself into two
+ chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership to an upper house or
+ Lagting
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hoyesterett)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Labor Party, Thorbjorn JAGLUND;
+ Conservative Party, Jan PETERSEN; Center Party, Anne ENGER LAHNSTEIN;
+ Christian People's Party, Kjell Magne BONDEVIK; Socialist Left,
+ Kjellbjorg LUNDE; Norwegian Communist, Kare Andre NILSEN; Progress
+ Party, Carl I. HAGEN; Liberal, Odd Einar DORUM; Left Party; Red
+ Electoral Alliance, Erling FOLKVORD
+
+ Member of: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN,
+ EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
+ ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
+ INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA,
+ NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
+ UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU,
+ WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Kjeld VIBE
+ chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000
+ FAX: [1] (202) 337-0870
+ consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and
+ San Francisco
+ consulate(s): Miami
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas A. LOFTUS
+ embassy: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo
+ mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
+ telephone: [47] 22 44 85 50
+ FAX: [47] 22 44 33 63
+
+ Flag: red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the
+ edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the
+ hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
+
+@Norway:Economy
+
+ Overview: Norway has a mixed economy involving a combination of free
+ market activity and government intervention. The government controls
+ key areas, such as the vital petroleum sector (through large-scale
+ state enterprises) and extensively subsidizes agriculture, fishing,
+ and areas with sparse resources. Norway also maintains an extensive
+ welfare system that helps propel public sector expenditures to
+ slightly more than 50% of the GDP and results in one of the highest
+ average tax burdens in the world (54%). A small country with a high
+ dependence on international trade, Norway is basically an exporter of
+ raw materials and semiprocessed goods, with an abundance of small- and
+ medium-sized firms, and is ranked among the major shipping nations.
+ The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum,
+ hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on
+ its oil sector to keep its economy afloat. Norway imports more than
+ half its food needs. Although one of the government's main priorities
+ is to reduce this dependency, this situation is not likely to improve
+ for years to come. The government also hopes to reduce unemployment
+ and strengthen and diversify the economy through tax reform and a
+ series of expansionary budgets. The budget deficit is expected to hit
+ a record 8% of GDP because of welfare spending and bail-outs of the
+ banking system. Unemployment is currently running at 8.4% - including
+ those in job programs - because of the weakness of the economy outside
+ the oil sector. Economic growth, only 1.6% in 1993, moved up to 5.5%
+ in 1994. Oslo opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in
+ November 1994.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $95.7 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $22,170 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 8.4% (including people in job-training programs;
+ 1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $50.9 billion
+ expenditures: $55.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $36.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 40%, metals and products
+ 10.6%, fish and fish products 6.9%, chemicals 6.4%, natural gas 6.0%,
+ ships 5.4%
+ partners: EC 66.3%, Nordic countries 16.3%, developing countries 8.4%,
+ US 6.0%, Japan 1.8% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $29.3 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
+ commodities: machinery and equipment 38.9%, chemicals and other
+ industrial inputs 26.6%, manufactured consumer goods 17.8%, foodstuffs
+ 6.4%
+ partners: EC 48.6%, Nordic countries 25.1%, developing countries 9.6%,
+ US 8.1%, Japan 8.0% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 4.6% (1994); accounts for 14% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 27,280,000 kW
+ production: 118 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 23,735 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and
+ paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 3% of GDP and about 6% of labor force; among
+ world's top 10 fishing nations; livestock output exceeds value of
+ crops; fish catch of 1.76 million metric tons in 1989
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for drugs shipped via the CIS and
+ Baltic states for the European market
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $4.4 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere
+
+ Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.7014 (January
+ 1995), 7.0469 (1994), 7.0941 (1993), 6.2145 (1992), 6.4829 (1991),
+ 6.2597 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Norway:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 4,026 km
+ standard gauge: 4,026 km 1.435-m gauge (2,422 km electrified; 96 km
+ double track) (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 88,922 km
+ paved: 61,356 km (75 km of expressway)
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 27,566 km (1990)
+
+ Inland waterways: 1,577 km along west coast; 2.4 m draft vessels
+ maximum
+
+ Pipelines: refined products 53 km
+
+ Ports: Bergen, Drammen, Flora, Hammerfest, Harstad, Haugesund,
+ Kristiansand, Larvik, Narvik, Oslo, Porsgrunn, Stavanger, Tromso,
+ Trondheim
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 764 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,793,968
+ GRT/35,409,472 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 159, cargo 92, chemical tanker 85, combination
+ bulk 8, combination ore/oil 28, container 17, liquefied gas tanker 81,
+ oil tanker 162, passenger 13, passenger-cargo 2, railcar carrier 1,
+ refrigerated cargo 13, roll-on/roll-off cargo 54, short-sea passenger
+ 21, vehicle carrier 28
+ note: the government has created a captive register, the Norwegian
+ International Ship Register (NIS), as a subset of the Norwegian
+ register; ships on the NIS enjoy many benefits of flags of convenience
+ and do not have to be crewed by Norwegians
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 104
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 10
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 62
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
+
+@Norway:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 3,102,000 telephones; high-quality domestic and
+ international telephone, telegraph, and telex services
+ local: NA
+ intercity: domestic earth stations
+ international: 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 4 coaxial submarine
+ cables; EUTELSAT, INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean), and MARISAT earth
+ stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 46, FM 493 (350 private and 143 government),
+ shortwave 0
+ radios: 3.3 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 54 (repeaters 2,100)
+ televisions: 1.5 million
+
+@Norway:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy, Royal Norwegian Air
+ Force, Home Guard
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,116,130; males fit for
+ military service 928,774; males reach military age (20) annually
+ 29,123 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.4 billion, 3.2% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+OMAN
+
+@Oman:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and
+ Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates
+
+ Map references: Middle East
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 212,460 sq km
+ land area: 212,460 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Kansas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,374 km, Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km,
+ Yemen 288 km
+
+ Coastline: 2,092 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: no defined boundary with most of UAE;
+ Administrative Line with UAE in far north
+
+ Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong
+ southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
+
+ Terrain: vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and
+ south
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble,
+ limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: less than 2%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 5%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 93%
+
+ Irrigated land: 410 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills;
+ very limited natural fresh water resources
+ natural hazards: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and
+ duststorms in interior; periodic droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
+ Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change
+
+ Note: strategic location with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula
+ controlling Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude
+ oil
+
+@Oman:People
+
+ Population: 2,125,089 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 46% (female 480,974; male 498,619)
+ 15-64 years: 51% (female 493,685; male 593,740)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 31,826; male 26,245) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.71% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 38.05 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 4.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 34.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 70.25 years
+ male: 68.31 years
+ female: 72.29 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.16 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Omani(s)
+ adjective: Omani
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri
+ Lankan, Bangladeshi)
+
+ Religions: Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu
+
+ Languages: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: 430,000 (est.)
+ by occupation: agriculture 40% (est.)
+
+@Oman:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
+ conventional short form: Oman
+ local long form: Saltanat Uman
+ local short form: Uman
+
+ Digraph: MU
+
+ Type: monarchy
+
+ Capital: Muscat
+
+ Administrative divisions: 6 regions (mintaqah, singular - mintaqat)
+ and 2 governorates* (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah,
+ Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam*,
+ Zufar*
+
+ Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 18 November (1940)
+
+ Constitution: none
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate
+ appeal to the sultan; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: none
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister
+ QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970)
+ cabinet: Cabinet
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral Consultative Council
+
+ Judicial branch: none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent civil
+ court system
+
+ Political parties and leaders: none
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: NA
+
+ Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO,
+ IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
+ ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
+ WFTU, WHO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Abdallah bin Muhammad bin Aqil al-DHAHAB
+ chancery: 2535 Belmont Rd. NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 through 1982
+ FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador David J. DUNFORD
+ embassy: address NA, Muscat
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 202, Code No. 115, Muscat
+ telephone: [968] 698989
+ FAX: [968] 699779
+
+ Flag: three horizontal bands of white (top, double width), red, and
+ green (double width) with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist
+ side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed
+ on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered at the top of
+ the vertical band
+
+@Oman:Economy
+
+ Overview: Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of the
+ oil industry, including trends in international oil prices and the
+ ability of OPEC producers to agree on output quotas. Petroleum
+ accounts for more than 85% of export earnings, about 80% of government
+ revenues, and roughly 40% of GDP. Oman has proved oil reserves of 4
+ billion barrels, equivalent to about 20 years' supply at the current
+ rate of extraction. Agriculture is carried on at a subsistence level
+ and the general population depends on imported food. The government is
+ encouraging private investment, both domestic and foreign, as a prime
+ force for further economic development.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $17 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 0.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $10,020 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.2% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $4.4 billion
+ expenditures: $5.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $1
+ billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $4.8 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum 87%, re-exports, fish, processed copper,
+ textiles
+ partners: UAE 33%, Japan 20%, South Korea 14%, China 7% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $4.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods,
+ food, livestock, lubricants
+ partners: UAE 24% (largely re-exports), Japan 21%, UK 12%, US 7%,
+ France 6% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $3 billion (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 8.6% (1991); accounts for almost
+ 60% of GDP, including petroleum
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,540,000 kW
+ production: 6 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,407 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural gas production,
+ construction, cement, copper
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP and 40% of the labor force
+ (including fishing); less than 2% of land cultivated; largely
+ subsistence farming (dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables,
+ camels, cattle); not self-sufficient in food; annual fish catch
+ averages 100,000 metric tons
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $137 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $148 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $797 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Omani rial (RO) = 1,000 baiza
+
+ Exchange rates: Omani rials (RO) per US$1 - 0.3845 (fixed rate since
+ 1986)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Oman:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 26,000 km
+ paved: 5,000 km
+ unpaved: 21,000 km (1992 est.)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km
+
+ Ports: Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Qabus, Mina' Raysut
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1 passenger ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,442 GRT/1,320
+ DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 140
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 4
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 36
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 61
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 31
+
+@Oman:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 50,000 telephones; modern system consisting of
+ open-wire, microwave, and radio communications stations; limited
+ coaxial cable
+ local: NA
+ intercity: open wire, microwave, radio communications, and 8 domestic
+ satellite links
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) and 1 ARABSAT earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 7
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Oman:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Royal Oman Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 520,428; males fit for military
+ service 294,993; males reach military age (14) annually 26,065 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion, 14.2%
+ of GDP (1995 est.)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+PACIFIC OCEAN
+
+@Pacific Ocean:Geography
+
+ Location: body of water between Antarctica, Asia, Australia, and the
+ Western Hemisphere
+
+ Map references: World
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 165.384 million sq km
+ comparative area: about 18 times the size of the US; the largest ocean
+ (followed by the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Arctic
+ Ocean); covers about one-third of the global surface; larger than the
+ total land area of the world
+ note: includes Bali Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, Bering Sea, Bering
+ Strait, Coral Sea, East China Sea, Flores Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf of
+ Tonkin, Java Sea, Philippine Sea, Ross Sea, Savu Sea, Sea of Japan,
+ Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea, Tasman Sea, Timor Sea, and other
+ tributary water bodies
+
+ Coastline: 135,663 km
+
+ International disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
+
+ Climate: the western Pacific is monsoonal - a rainy season occurs
+ during the summer months, when moisture-laden winds blow from the
+ ocean over the land, and a dry season during the winter months, when
+ dry winds blow from the Asian land mass back to the ocean
+
+ Terrain: surface currents in the northern Pacific are dominated by a
+ clockwise, warm-water gyre (broad circular system of currents) and in
+ the southern Pacific by a counterclockwise, cool-water gyre; in the
+ northern Pacific sea ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk in
+ winter; in the southern Pacific sea ice from Antarctica reaches its
+ northernmost extent in October; the ocean floor in the eastern Pacific
+ is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the western Pacific is
+ dissected by deep trenches, including the world's deepest, the 10,924
+ meter Marianas Trench
+
+ Natural resources: oil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and
+ gravel aggregates, placer deposits, fish
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: endangered marine species include the dugong, sea
+ lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in
+ Philippine Sea and South China Sea
+ natural hazards: surrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and
+ earthquake activity sometimes referred to as the Pacific Ring of Fire;
+ subject to tropical cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and east Asia
+ from May to December (most frequent from July to October); tropical
+ cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico and strike Central
+ America and Mexico from June to October (most common in August and
+ September); southern shipping lanes subject to icebergs from
+ Antarctica; occasional El Nino phenomenon occurs off the coast of Peru
+ when the trade winds slacken and the warm Equatorial Countercurrent
+ moves south, killing the plankton that is the primary food source for
+ anchovies; consequently, the anchovies move to better feeding grounds,
+ causing resident marine birds to starve by the thousands because of
+ their lost food source; ships subject to superstructure icing in
+ extreme north from October to May and in extreme south from May to
+ October; persistent fog in the northern Pacific can be a maritime
+ hazard from June to December
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: the major choke points are the Bering Strait, Panama Canal,
+ Luzon Strait, and the Singapore Strait; the Equator divides the
+ Pacific Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific
+ Ocean; dotted with low coral islands and rugged volcanic islands in
+ the southwestern Pacific Ocean
+
+@Pacific Ocean:Government
+
+ Digraph: ZN
+
+@Pacific Ocean:Economy
+
+ Overview: The Pacific Ocean is a major contributor to the world
+ economy and particularly to those nations its waters directly touch.
+ It provides low-cost sea transportation between East and West,
+ extensive fishing grounds, offshore oil and gas fields, minerals, and
+ sand and gravel for the construction industry. In 1985 over half (54%)
+ of the world's fish catch came from the Pacific Ocean, which is the
+ only ocean where the fish catch has increased every year since 1978.
+ Exploitation of offshore oil and gas reserves is playing an
+ ever-increasing role in the energy supplies of Australia, NZ, China,
+ US, and Peru. The high cost of recovering offshore oil and gas,
+ combined with the wide swings in world prices for oil since 1985, has
+ slowed but not stopped new drillings.
+
+ Industries: fishing, oil and gas production
+
+@Pacific Ocean:Transportation
+
+ Ports: Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong, Los Angeles (US), Manila
+ (Philippines), Pusan (South Korea), San Francisco (US), Seattle (US),
+ Shanghai (China), Singapore, Sydney (Australia), Vladivostok (Russia),
+ Wellington (NZ), Yokohama (Japan)
+
+@Pacific Ocean:Communications
+
+ Telephone system:
+ international: several submarine cables with network nodal points on
+ Guam and Hawaii
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+PAKISTAN
+
+@Pakistan:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India and
+ Iran
+
+ Map references: Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 803,940 sq km
+ land area: 778,720 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of California
+
+ Land boundaries: total 6,774 km, Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km,
+ India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,046 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: status of Kashmir with India; border question
+ with Afghanistan (Durand Line); water-sharing problems (Wular Barrage)
+ over the Indus with upstream riparian India
+
+ Climate: mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in
+ north
+
+ Terrain: flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest;
+ Balochistan plateau in west
+
+ Natural resources: land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited
+ petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 23%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 6%
+ forest and woodland: 4%
+ other: 67% (1993)
+
+ Irrigated land: 170,000 sq km (1992)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes,
+ and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a
+ majority of the population does not have access to potable water;
+ deforestation; soil erosion; desertification
+ natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially
+ in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July
+ and August)
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
+ Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands;
+ signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine
+ Life Conservation
+
+ Note: controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes
+ between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent
+
+@Pakistan:People
+
+ Population: 131,541,920 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 44% (female 28,033,354; male 29,777,818)
+ 15-64 years: 52% (female 33,456,410; male 35,109,482)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 2,556,846; male 2,608,010) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.28% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 41.8 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 12.07 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -16.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 99.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 57.86 years
+ male: 57.18 years
+ female: 58.56 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.35 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Pakistani(s)
+ adjective: Pakistani
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir
+ (immigrants from India and their descendents)
+
+ Religions: Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and
+ other 3%
+
+ Languages: Urdu (official), English (official; lingua franca of
+ Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Punjabi 64%, Sindhi
+ 12%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu 7%, Balochi and other 9%
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 35%
+ male: 47%
+ female: 21%
+
+ Labor force: 36 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 46%, mining and manufacturing 18%, services
+ 17%, other 19%
+ note: extensive export of labor
+
+@Pakistan:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
+ conventional short form: Pakistan
+ former: West Pakistan
+
+ Digraph: PK
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Islamabad
+
+ Administrative divisions: 4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital
+ territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas*,
+ Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier, Punjab, Sindh
+ note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and
+ Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas
+
+ Independence: 14 August 1947 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Pakistan Day, 23 March (1956) (proclamation of the
+ republic)
+
+ Constitution: 10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with
+ amendments 30 December 1985
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law with provisions to
+ accommodate Pakistan's stature as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory
+ ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal; separate electorates and
+ reserved parliamentary seats for non-Muslims
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Sardar Farooq LEGHARI; election last held 13
+ November 1993 (next to be held no later than 14 October 1998); results
+ - LEGHARI was elected by Parliament and the four provincial assemblies
+
+ head of government: Prime Minister Benazir BHUTTO
+ cabinet: Cabinet
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora)
+ Senate: elections last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA March
+ 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (87 total) PPP
+ 22, PML/N 17; Tribal Area Representatives (nonparty) 8, ANP 6, PML/J
+ 5, JWP 5, MQM/A 5, JUI/F 2, PKMAP 2, JI 2, NPP 2, BNM/H 1, BNM/M 1,
+ JUP/NI 1, JUP/NO 1, JAH 1, JUI/S 1, PML/F 1, PNP 1, independents 2,
+ vacant 1
+ National Assembly: elections last held 6 October 1993 (next to be held
+ by October 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (217
+ total) PPP 92, PML/N 75, PML/J 6, IJM-Islamic Democratic Front 4, ANP
+ 3, PKMAP 4, PIF 3, JWP 2, MDM 2, BNM/H 1, BNM/M 1, NDA 1, NPP 1, PKQP
+ 1, Religious minorities 10 reserved seats, independents 9, results
+ pending 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Federal Islamic (Shari'at) Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ government: Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Benazir BHUTTO; Pakistan
+ Muslim League, Junejo faction (PML/J), Hamid Nasir CHATTHA; National
+ People's Party (NPP), Ghulam Mustapha JATOI; Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami
+ Party (PKMAP), Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI; Balochistan National Movement,
+ Hayee Group (BNM/H), Dr. HAYEE Baluch; National Democratic Alliance
+ (NDA), Maulana Kausar NIAZI; Pakhtun Quami Party (PKQP), Mohammed
+ AFZAL Khan; Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), Akbar Khan BUGTI
+ opposition: Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction (PML/N),
+ Nawaz SHARIF; Awami National Party (ANP), Khan Abdul WALI KHAN;
+ Pakistan Islamic Front (PIF), Qazi Hussain AHMED; Balochistan National
+ Movement, Mengal Group (BNM/M), Sardar Akhtar MENGAL; Mohajir Quami
+ Movement, Altaf faction (MQM/A), Altaf HUSSAIN; Jamaat-i-Islami (JI),
+ Qazi Hussain AHMED; Jamiat-al-Hadith (JAH)
+ frequently shifting: Mutaheda Deeni Mahaz (MDM), Maulana Sami-ul-HAQ,
+ the MDM includes Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction (JUP/NI) and
+ Anjuman Sepah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (ASSP); Islami-Jamhoori-Mahaz
+ (IJM-Islamic Democratic Party), the IJM includes Jamiat
+ Ulema-i-Islami, Fazlur Rehman group (JUI/F); Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan,
+ Noorani faction (JUP/NO); Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq faction
+ (JUI/S); Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group (PML/F); Pakistan
+ National Party (PNP)
+ note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: military remains important
+ political force; ulema (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and small
+ merchants also influential
+
+ Member of: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT,
+ IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
+ IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO,
+ NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
+ UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNOMIL, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
+ WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Maleeha LODHI
+ chancery: 2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 939-6200
+ FAX: [1] (202) 387-0484
+ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador John C. MONJO
+ embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, PSC 1212, Box 2000, Unit 6220,
+ Islamabad; APO AE 09812-2000
+ telephone: [92] (51) 826161 through 826179
+ FAX: [92] (51) 214222
+ consulate(s) general: Karachi, Lahore
+ consulate(s): Peshawar
+
+ Flag: green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of
+ religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and
+ star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color
+ green are traditional symbols of Islam
+
+@Pakistan:Economy
+
+ Overview: The Pakistani economy has made progress in several key areas
+ since Benazir BHUTTO became Prime Minister in October 1993. She has
+ been under pressure from international donors and the IMF - which gave
+ Pakistan a $1.3 billion structural adjustment credit in February 1994
+ - to continue the economic reforms and austerity measures begun by her
+ predecessor, caretaker Prime Minister Moeen QURESHI (July-October
+ 1993). Foreign exchange reserves climbed to more than $3 billion in
+ 1994, and the budget deficit was substantially reduced. Real GDP
+ growth was 4% in FY93/94, up from 2.3% in FY92/93. Foreign direct and
+ portfolio investment also have increased. Privatization of large
+ public sector utilities began in 1994 with the sale of 12% of the
+ Pakistan Telecommunications Corporation (PTC) and the Water and Power
+ Development Authority (WAPDA); the sale of state-owned banks and other
+ large units are planned for 1995. Still, the government must cope with
+ long-standing economic vulnerabilities - high levels of debt service
+ and defense spending, a small tax base, a huge population, and
+ dependence on cotton-based exports - which hamper its ability to
+ create a stable economic environment. In addition, Pakistan's
+ infrastructure is inadequate and deteriorating, low levels of literacy
+ constrain industrial growth, and increasing sectarian, ethnic, and
+ tribal violence disrupt production.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $248.5 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,930 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (FY93/94)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 10% (FY90/91 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $10.5 billion
+ expenditures: $11.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.1
+ billion (FY93/94)
+
+ Exports: $6.7 billion (1993)
+ commodities: cotton, textiles, clothing, rice, leather, carpets
+ partners: US, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, UK, UAE, France
+
+ Imports: $9.5 billion (1993)
+ commodities: petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, transportation
+ equipment, vegetable oils, animal fats, chemicals
+ partners: Japan, US, Germany, UK, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, South Korea
+
+ External debt: $24 billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 5.6% (FY93/94); accounts for 18% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 10,800,000 kW (1994)
+ production: 52.4 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 389 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, construction
+ materials, clothing, paper products, shrimp
+
+ Agriculture: 24% of GDP; world's largest contiguous irrigation system;
+ major crops - cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables;
+ livestock products - milk, beef, mutton, eggs
+
+ Illicit drugs: major illicit producer of opium and hashish for the
+ international drug trade; remains world's third largest opium producer
+ (160 metric tons in 1994); major center for processing Afghan heroin
+ and key transit area for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western
+ market
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: $2.5 billion (FY91/92); $2.5 billion (FY92/93); $2.5
+ billion (FY93/94); no US commitments, includes bi- and multilateral
+ aid
+
+ Currency: 1 Pakistani rupee (PRe) = 100 paisa
+
+ Exchange rates: Pakistani rupees (PRs) per US$1 - 30.860 (January
+ 1995), 30.570 (1994), 28.107 (1993), 25.083 (1992), 23.801 (1991),
+ 21.707 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Pakistan:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 8,773 km
+ broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (286 km electrified; 1,037 double
+ track)
+ narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge; 610 km less than 1.000-m gauge
+ (1985)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 177,410 km
+ paved: 94,027 km
+ unpaved: 83,383 km (1991 est.)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 885 km; natural gas
+ 4,044 km (1987)
+
+ Ports: Gwadar, Karachi, Ormaro (under construction), Port Muhammad bin
+ Qasim
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 352,189 GRT/532,782 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 25, oil tanker 1, passenger-cargo 3
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 119
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 12
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 33
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 14
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 24
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 7
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 8
+
+@Pakistan:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; about 7 telephones/1,000 persons; the
+ domestic telephone system is poor, adequate only for government and
+ business use; the system for international traffic is better
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay
+ international: 3 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) earth
+ stations; microwave radio relay
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 19, FM 8, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 29
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Pakistan:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces, National Guard,
+ paramilitary/security forces
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 30,219,551; males fit for
+ military service 18,544,008; males reach military age (17) annually
+ 1,429,719 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.2 billion, 5.6% of
+ GDP (FY94/95)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+PALAU
+
+@Palau:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean,
+ southeast of the Philippines
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 458 sq km
+ land area: 458 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,519 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid
+
+ Terrain: about 200 islands varying geologically from the high,
+ mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually
+ fringed by large barrier reefs
+
+ Natural resources: forests, minerals (especially gold), marine
+ products, deep-seabed minerals
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: NA%
+ permanent crops: NA%
+ meadows and pastures: NA%
+ forest and woodland: NA%
+ other: NA%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste;
+ threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging and
+ illegal fishing practices that involve the use of dynamite
+ natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and
+ world-famous rock islands; archipelago of six island groups totaling
+ over 200 islands in the Caroline chain
+
+@Palau:People
+
+ Population: 16,661 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.76% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 22.11 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.61 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 25.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 71.01 years
+ male: 69.14 years
+ female: 73.02 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.85 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Palauan(s)
+ adjective: Palauan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan, and
+ Melanesian races
+
+ Religions: Christian (Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's
+ Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and Latter-Day
+ Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the population observes this
+ religion which is indigenous to Palau)
+
+ Languages: English (official in all of Palau's 16 states), Sonsorolese
+ (official in the state of Sonsoral), Angaur and Japanese (in the state
+ of Anguar), Tobi (in the state of Tobi), Palauan (in the other 13
+ states)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
+ total population: 92%
+ male: 93%
+ female: 90%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: NA
+
+@Palau:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Palau
+ conventional short form: Palau
+ former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
+
+ Digraph: PS
+
+ Type: self-governing territory in free association with the US
+ pursuant to Compact of Free Association which entered into force 1
+ October 1994; Palau is fully responsible for internal affairs; US
+ retains responsibility for external affairs
+
+ Capital: Koror
+ note: a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast in eastern
+ Babelthuap
+
+ Administrative divisions: there are no first-order administrative
+ divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 16 states:
+ Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard,
+ Ngardmau, Ngaremlengui, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngerchelong, Ngiwal,
+ Peleliu, Sonsorol, Tobi
+
+ Independence: 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
+
+ National holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)
+
+ Constitution: 1 January 1981
+
+ Legal system: based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,
+ municipal, common, and customary laws
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA
+ (since 1 January 1993), Vice-President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since
+ 1 January 1993); election last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held
+ NA November 1996); results - Kuniwo NAKAMURA 50.7%, Johnson TORIBIONG
+ 49.3%
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Olbiil Era Kelulau or OEK)
+ Senate: elections last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA
+ November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (14
+ total) number of seats by party NA
+ House of Delegates: elections last held 4 November 1992 (next to be
+ held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
+ (16 total) number of seats by party NA
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court, National Court, Court of Common Pleas
+
+ Member of: ESCAP (associate), SPC, SPF (observer), UN
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Liaison Officer NA
+ liaison office: 444 North Capital Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
+ telephone: (202) 624-7793
+ FAX: NA
+ note: relationship of free association with the US pursuant to compact
+ of free association which entered into force 1 October 1994
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Liaison Officer Lloyd W. MOSS
+ liaison office: Erenguul Street, Koror, Republic of Palau
+ mailing address: P.O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
+ telephone: [680] 488-2920
+ FAX: [680] 488-2911
+ note: relationship of free association with the US pursuant to compact
+ of free association which entered into force 1 October 1994
+
+ Flag: light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon)
+ shifted slightly to the hoist side
+
+@Palau:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture
+ and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force,
+ relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. The compact of
+ "free association" with the United States, entered into after the end
+ of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provides Palau with $500
+ million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing some military
+ facilities. The population, in effect, enjoys a per capita income of
+ $5,000, twice that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run
+ prospects for the tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the
+ expansion of air travel in the Pacific and the rapidly rising
+ prosperity of leading East Asian countries.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $81.8 million (1994
+ est.)
+ note: GDP numbers reflect US spending
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $5,000 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: 20% (1986)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $6 million
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986 est.)
+
+ Exports: $600,000 (f.o.b., 1989)
+ commodities: trochus (type of shellfish), tuna, copra, handicrafts
+ partners: US, Japan
+
+ Imports: $24.6 million (c.i.f., 1989)
+ commodities: NA
+ partners: US
+
+ External debt: about $100 million (1989)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 16,000 kW
+ production: 22 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,540 kWh (1990)
+
+ Industries: tourism, craft items (shell, wood, pearl), some commercial
+ fishing and agriculture
+
+ Agriculture: subsistence-level production of coconut, copra, cassava,
+ sweet potatoes
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2.56 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $92 million
+
+ Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: US currency is used
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
+
+@Palau:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 61 km
+ paved: 36 km
+ unpaved: gravel 25 km
+
+ Ports: Koror
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 3
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+
+@Palau:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 2
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Palau:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: NA
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the US pursuant to Compact of
+ Free Association which entered into force 1 October 1994
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+PALMYRA ATOLL
+
+ (territory of the US)
+
+@Palmyra Atoll:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of
+ the way from Hawaii to American Samoa
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 11.9 sq km
+ land area: 11.9 sq km
+ comparative area: about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 14.5 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: equatorial, hot, and very rainy
+
+ Terrain: low, with maximum elevations of about 2 meters
+
+ Natural resources: none
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 100%
+ other: 0%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees,
+ and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall
+
+@Palmyra Atoll:People
+
+ Population: uninhabited
+
+@Palmyra Atoll:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll
+
+ Digraph: LQ
+
+ Type: incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but
+ administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs,
+ US Department of the Interior
+
+ Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
+
+@Palmyra Atoll:Economy
+
+ Overview: no economic activity
+
+@Palmyra Atoll:Transportation
+
+ Highways: much of the road and many causeways built during the war are
+ unserviceable and overgrown
+
+ Ports: West Lagoon
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+
+@Palmyra Atoll:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+PANAMA
+
+@Panama:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the
+ North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 78,200 sq km
+ land area: 75,990 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina
+
+ Land boundaries: total 555 km, Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km
+
+ Coastline: 2,490 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 200 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to
+ January), short dry season (January to May)
+
+ Terrain: interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland
+ plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
+
+ Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 6%
+ permanent crops: 2%
+ meadows and pastures: 15%
+ forest and woodland: 54%
+ other: 23%
+
+ Irrigated land: 320 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens
+ fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land
+ degradation
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but
+ not ratified - Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Life
+ Conservation, Tropical Timber 94
+
+ Note: strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge
+ connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links
+ North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean
+
+@Panama:People
+
+ Population: 2,680,903 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 34% (female 439,491; male 458,817)
+ 15-64 years: 61% (female 812,876; male 823,124)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 74,672; male 71,923) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.9% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 24.12 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 4.79 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -0.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 15.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 75.2 years
+ male: 72.57 years
+ female: 77.97 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.8 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Panamanian(s)
+ adjective: Panamanian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 70%,
+ West Indian 14%, white 10%, Indian 6%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
+
+ Languages: Spanish (official), English 14%
+ note: many Panamanians bilingual
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 89%
+ male: 89%
+ female: 88%
+
+ Labor force: 979,000 (1994 est.)
+ by occupation: government and community services 31.8%, agriculture,
+ hunting, and fishing 26.8%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 16.4%,
+ manufacturing and mining 9.4%, construction 3.2%, transportation and
+ communications 6.2%, finance, insurance, and real estate 4.3%
+ note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor
+
+@Panama:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Panama
+ conventional short form: Panama
+ local long form: Republica de Panama
+ local short form: Panama
+
+ Digraph: PM
+
+ Type: constitutional republic
+
+ Capital: Panama
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (provincias, singular -
+ provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui,
+ Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*, Veraguas
+
+ Independence: 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from
+ Spain 28 November 1821)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
+
+ Constitution: 11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of
+ legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory
+ ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Ernesto PEREZ
+ BALLADARES Gonzalez Revilla (since 1 September 1994, elected 8 May
+ 1994); First Vice President Tomas Gabriel ALTAMIRANO DUQUE (since 1
+ September 1994); Second Vice President Felipe Alejandro VIRZI Lopez
+ (since 1 September 1994 election last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held
+ 9 May 1999); results - Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (PRD) 33%, Mireya
+ MOSCOSO DE GRUBER (PA) 29%, Ruben BLADES (MPE) 17%, Ruben Dario CARLES
+ (MOLIRENA) 16%
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa): legislators from outlying
+ rural districts are chosen on a plurality basis while districts
+ located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple legislators
+ by means of a proportion-based formula; elections last held 8 May 1994
+ (next to be held 9 May 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA ;
+ seats - (72 total) PRD 32, PS 4, PALA 1, PA 14, MPE 6, MOLIRENA 4, PLA
+ 3, PRC 3, PL 2, PDC 1, UDI 1, MORENA 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia),
+ 5 superior courts, 3 courts of appeal
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ governing coalition: Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Gerardo
+ GONZALEZ; Solidarity Party (PS), Samuel LEWIS GALINDO; Liberal
+ Republican Party (PLR), Rodolfo CHIARI; Labor Party (PALA), Carlos
+ Lopez GUEVARA
+ other parties: Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA),
+ Alfredo RAMIREZ; Authentic Liberal Party (PLA), Arnulfo ESCALONA;
+ Arnulfista Party (PA), Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER; Christian Democratic
+ Party (PDC), Raul OSSA; Liberal Party (PL), Roberto ALEMAN Zubieta;
+ Papa Egoro Movement (MPE), Ruben BLADES; Civic Renewal Party (PRC),
+ Tomas HERRERA; National Unity Mission Party (MUN), Jose Manuel
+ PAREDES; Independent Democratic Union (UDI), Jacinto CARDENAS;
+ National Renovation Movement (MORENA), Pedro VALLERINO
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: National Council of Organized
+ Workers (CONATO); National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP);
+ Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE); National Civic
+ Crusade; Chamber of Commerce; Panamanian Industrialists Society (SIP);
+ Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama (CTRP)
+
+ Member of: AG (associate), CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS,
+ OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
+ WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Ricardo Alberto ARIAS
+ chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407
+ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York,
+ San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Oliver P. GARZA
+ embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5
+ mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945; APO AA 34002
+ telephone: [507] 27-1777
+ FAX: [507] 27-1964
+
+ Flag: divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white
+ (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain
+ red, the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a
+ red five-pointed star in the center
+
+@Panama:Economy
+
+ Overview: Because of its key geographic location, Panama's economy is
+ service-based, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce, and tourism.
+ Trade and financial ties with the US are especially close. GDP grew at
+ 3.6% in 1994, a respectable rate, yet below the 7.1% average of the
+ early 1990s. Banking and financial services and trade through the
+ Colon Free Zone continued to expand rapidly, with the industrial and
+ agricultural sectors experiencing little growth. The new
+ administration, inaugurated 1 September 1994, has launched an economic
+ plan designed to reverse rising unemployment, attract foreign
+ investment, cut back the size of government, and modernize the
+ economy. The success of the plan in meeting its goals for 1995 and
+ beyond depends largely on the success of the administration in
+ reforming the labor code and instituting the reforms necessary to join
+ the GATT.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3.6% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $4,670 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 12.9% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.93 billion
+ expenditures: $1.93 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1994)
+
+ Exports: $520 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: bananas 43%, shrimp 11%, sugar 4%, clothing 5%, coffee 2%
+
+ partners: US 45%, EU, Central America and Caribbean
+
+ Imports: $2.205 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: capital goods 21%, crude oil 11%, foodstuffs 9%, consumer
+ goods, chemicals
+ partners: US 40%, EU, Central America and Caribbean, Japan
+
+ External debt: $6.7 billion (yearend 1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 1.8% (1994 est.); accounts for
+ about 9% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 960,000 kW
+ production: 2.8 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,047 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: manufacturing and construction, petroleum refining,
+ brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP (1992 est.); crops - bananas,
+ rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane; livestock; fishing; importer of food
+ grain, vegetables
+
+ Illicit drugs: major cocaine transshipment point and drug money
+ laundering center
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $516 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $582 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $4 million
+
+ Currency: 1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos
+
+ Exchange rates: balboas (B) per US$1 - 1.000 (fixed rate)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Panama:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 238 km
+ broad gauge: 78 km 1.524-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 160 km 0.914-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 8,530 km
+ paved: 2,745 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 3,270 km; improved, unimproved earth
+ 2,515 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km
+ Panama Canal
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 130 km
+
+ Ports: Bahia de las Minas, Balboa, Colon, Cristobal, Panama
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 3,526 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 60,748,525
+ GRT/95,102,552 DWT
+ ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 787, cargo 1,070, chemical tanker
+ 175, combination bulk 33, combination ore/oil 25, container 259,
+ liquefied gas tanker 125, livestock carrier 8, multifunction
+ large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 465, passenger 24, passenger-cargo 3,
+ refrigerated cargo 284, roll-on/roll-off cargo 81, short-sea passenger
+ 34, specialized tanker 9, vehicle carrier 137
+ note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 93 countries; the 10
+ major fleet flags are: Japan 1,171 ships, Greece 323, Hong Kong 276,
+ US 212, Taiwan 184, Singapore 181, South Korea 172, China 145 ships,
+ UK 102, and Norway 70
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 115
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 14
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 74
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 20
+
+@Panama:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 220,000 telephones; domestic and international
+ facilities well developed
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean)
+ earth stations; connected to the Central American Microwave System
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 23
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Panama:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Panamanian Public Forces (PPF; includes the National Police
+ or PNP, Maritime Service, National Air Service, and Institutional
+ Protective Service); Judicial Branch Technical Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 701,691; males fit for military
+ service 481,927 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: expenditures for the Panamanian security forces
+ amounted to $105 million, 1.0% of GDP (1993 est.)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+PAPUA NEW GUINEA
+
+@Papua New Guinea:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands including the eastern
+ half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South
+ Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 461,690 sq km
+ land area: 451,710 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than California
+
+ Land boundaries: total 820 km, Indonesia 820 km
+
+ Coastline: 5,152 km
+
+ Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast
+ monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
+
+ Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
+
+ Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil
+ potential
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 71%
+ other: 28%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of
+ growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining
+ projects
+ natural hazards: active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Rim of
+ Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe
+ earthquakes; mudslides
+ international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine
+ Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
+ Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
+ Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's
+ largest swamps along southwest coast
+
+@Papua New Guinea:People
+
+ Population: 4,294,750 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 41% (female 847,208; male 892,718)
+ 15-64 years: 57% (female 1,161,961; male 1,268,266)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 66,759; male 57,838) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.3% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 33.2 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 10.18 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 61.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 56.85 years
+ male: 56.01 years
+ female: 57.74 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.55 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
+ adjective: Papua New Guinean
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%,
+ Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%,
+ Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant
+ sects 10%, indigenous beliefs 34%
+
+ Languages: English spoken by 1%-2%, pidgin English widespread, Motu
+ spoken in Papua region
+ note: 715 indigenous languages
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 52%
+ male: 65%
+ female: 38%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+
+@Papua New Guinea:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
+ conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
+
+ Digraph: PP
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Port Moresby
+
+ Administrative divisions: 20 provinces; Central, Chimbu, Eastern
+ Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus,
+ Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, North
+ Solomons, Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands,
+ West New Britain
+
+ Independence: 16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN
+ trusteeship)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
+
+ Constitution: 16 September 1975
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor General Wiwa KOROWI (since NA November 1991)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Sir Julius CHAN (since 30 August
+ 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Chris HAIVETA (since 7 September 1994)
+ cabinet: National Executive Council; appointed by the governor on
+ recommendation of the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Parliament: (sometimes referred to as the House of Assembly)
+ elections last held 13-26 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results
+ - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (109 total) Pangu Party 24, PDM
+ 17, PPP 10, PAP 10, independents 30, others 18; note - association
+ with political parties is fluid
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu
+ Party), Jack GENIA; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Paias WINGTI;
+ People's Action Party (PAP), Akoka DOI; People's Progress Party (PPP),
+ Sir Julius CHAN; United Party (UP), Paul TORATO; Papua Party (PP),
+ Galeva KWARARA; National Party (NP), Paul PORA; Melanesian Alliance
+ (MA), Fr. John MOMIS
+
+ Member of: ACP, APEC, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77,
+ IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, NAM
+ (observer), SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
+ WHO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Kepas Isimel WATANGIA
+ chancery: 3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
+ 20009
+ telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
+ FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Richard W. TEARE
+ embassy: Armit Street, Port Moresby
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby, or APO AE 96553
+ telephone: [675] 211455, 211594, 211654
+ FAX: [675] 213423
+
+ Flag: divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper
+ triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the
+ lower triangle is black with five white five-pointed stars of the
+ Southern Cross constellation centered
+
+@Papua New Guinea:Economy
+
+ Overview: Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources,
+ but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain and the high
+ cost of developing an infrastructure. Agriculture provides a
+ subsistence livelihood for 85% of the population. Mining of numerous
+ deposits, including copper and gold, accounts for about 60% of export
+ earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and development aid under
+ World Bank auspices have helped sustain the economy. Robust growth in
+ 1991-92 was led by the mining sector; the opening of a large new gold
+ mine helped the advance. At the start of 1995, Port Moresby is looking
+ primarily to the exploitation of mineral and petroleum resources to
+ drive economic development but new prospecting in Papua New Guinea has
+ slumped as other mineral-rich countries have stepped up their
+ competition for international investment. Output from current projects
+ will probably begin to taper off in 1996, but no new large ventures
+ are being developed to succeed them.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $9.2 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 6.1% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,200 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.33 billion
+ expenditures: $1.36 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1995 est.)
+
+ Exports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: gold, copper ore, oil, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa,
+ lobster
+ partners: Australia, Japan, US, Singapore, New Zealand
+
+ Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
+ food, fuels, chemicals
+ partners: Australia, Japan, UK, New Zealand, Netherlands
+
+ External debt: $3.2 billion (1992)
+
+ Industrial production: accounts for 32% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 490,000 kW
+ production: 1.8 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 390 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production,
+ wood chip production, mining of gold, silver, and copper,
+ construction, tourism
+
+ Agriculture: Accounts for 25% of GDP; livelihood for 85% of
+ population; fertile soils and favorable climate permits cultivating a
+ wide variety of crops; cash crops - coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm
+ kernels; other products - tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit,
+ vegetables, poultry, pork; net importer of food for urban centers
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $40.6 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $6.5 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $17 million
+
+ Currency: 1 kina (K) = 100 toea
+
+ Exchange rates: kina (K) per US$1 - 0.8565 (December 1994), 0.9950
+ (1994), 1.0221 (1993), 1.0367 (1992), 1.0504 (1991), 1.0467 (1990);
+ note - the government floated the kina on 10 October 1994
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Papua New Guinea:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 19,200 km
+ paved: 640 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 10,960 km; unimproved
+ earth 7,600 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 10,940 km
+
+ Ports: Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,565 GRT/27,071 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, combination ore/oil 5, container 1,
+ roll-on/roll-off 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 505
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 411
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 12
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 63
+
+@Papua New Guinea:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: more than 70,000 telephones (1987); services are
+ adequate and being improved; facilities provide radiobroadcast,
+ radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and
+ international radiocommunication services
+ local: NA
+ intercity: mostly radio telephone
+ international: submarine cables extend to Australia and Guam; 1
+ INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station; international radio
+ communication service
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 31, FM 2, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 2 (1987)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Papua New Guinea:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Army, Navy, and Air
+ Force)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,111,661; males fit for
+ military service 618,696 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $55 million, 1.8% of
+ GDP (1993 est.)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+PARACEL ISLANDS
+
+@Paracel Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the
+ South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to
+ the northern Philippines
+
+ Map references: Southeast Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: NA sq km
+ land area: NA sq km
+ comparative area: NA
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 518 km
+
+ Maritime claims: NA
+
+ International disputes: occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and
+ Vietnam
+
+ Climate: tropical
+
+ Terrain: NA
+
+ Natural resources: none
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: typhoons
+ international agreements: NA
+
+@Paracel Islands:People
+
+ Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are scattered
+ Chinese garrisons
+
+@Paracel Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Paracel Islands
+
+ Digraph: PF
+
+@Paracel Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: no economic activity
+
+@Paracel Islands:Transportation
+
+ Ports: small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island
+ being expanded
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (on Woody Island)
+
+@Paracel Islands:Communications
+
+ Telephone system:
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM, FM, shortwave
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Paracel Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: occupied by China
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+PARAGUAY
+
+@Paraguay:Geography
+
+ Location: Central South America, northeast of Argentina
+
+ Map references: South America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 406,750 sq km
+ land area: 397,300 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than California
+
+ Land boundaries: total 3,920 km, Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km,
+ Brazil 1,290 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: short section of the boundary with Brazil,
+ just west of Salto del Guaira (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana, has
+ not been determined
+
+ Climate: varies from temperate in east to semiarid in far west
+
+ Terrain: grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran
+ Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the
+ river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
+
+ Natural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 20%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 39%
+ forest and woodland: 35%
+ other: 5%
+
+ Irrigated land: 670 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation (an estimated 2 million hectares of
+ forest land have been lost from 1958-1985); water pollution;
+ inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many
+ urban residents
+ natural hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to
+ June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed,
+ but not ratified - Nuclear Test Ban
+
+ Note: landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil
+
+@Paraguay:People
+
+ Population: 5,358,198 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 41% (female 1,077,284; male 1,123,776)
+ 15-64 years: 55% (female 1,465,147; male 1,468,642)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 120,776; male 102,573) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.71% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 31.48 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 4.38 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 24.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 73.58 years
+ male: 72.06 years
+ female: 75.18 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.22 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Paraguayan(s)
+ adjective: Paraguayan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indian) 95%, Caucasians
+ plus Amerindians 5%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant
+ denominations
+
+ Languages: Spanish (official), Guarani
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 90%
+ male: 92%
+ female: 88%
+
+ Labor force: 1.692 million (1993 est.)
+ by occupation: agriculture 45%
+
+@Paraguay:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
+ conventional short form: Paraguay
+ local long form: Republica del Paraguay
+ local short form: Paraguay
+
+ Digraph: PA
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Asuncion
+
+ Administrative divisions: 19 departments (departamentos, singular -
+ departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Boqueron,
+ Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Chaco, Concepcion, Cordillera,
+ Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Nueva Asuncion, Paraguari,
+ Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
+
+ Independence: 14 May 1811 (from Spain)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)
+
+ Constitution: promulgated 20 June 1992
+
+ Legal system: based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes;
+ judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; does
+ not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Juan Carlos WASMOSY
+ (since 15 August 1993); Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15
+ August 1993); election last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held May
+ 1998); results - Juan Carlos WASMOSY 40.09%, Domingo LAINO 32.06%,
+ Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS 23.04%
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; nominated by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Congreso)
+ Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores): elections last held 9 May
+ 1993 (next to be held May 1998); results - percent of vote by party
+ NA; seats - (45 total) Colorado Party 20, PLRA 17, EN 8
+ Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): elections last held on 9
+ May 1993 (next to be held by May 1998); results - percent of vote by
+ party NA; seats - (80 total) Colorado Party 38, PLRA 33, EN 9
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Colorado Party, Eugenio SANABRIA
+ CANTERO, president; Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Domingo
+ LAINO; National Encounter (EN), Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS (the EN
+ party includes the following minor parties: Christian Democratic Party
+ (PDC), Jose Angel BURRO; Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF),
+ Euclides ACEVEDO; Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER)
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Confederation of Workers (CUT);
+ Roman Catholic Church
+
+ Member of: AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA,
+ IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MERCOSUR, OAS, OPANAL,
+ PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Jorge Genaro Andres PRIETO CONTI
+ chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
+ FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508
+ consulate(s) general: Miami, New Orleans, and New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Robert SERVICE
+ embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Asuncion
+ mailing address: C. P. 402, Asuncion; Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001
+ telephone: [595] (21) 213-715
+ FAX: [595] (21) 213-728
+
+ Flag: three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with
+ an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem
+ is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears
+ the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green
+ wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two
+ circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal of the
+ treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y
+ Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL
+ PARAGUAY, all within two circles)
+
+@Paraguay:Economy
+
+ Overview: Agriculture, including forestry, accounts for about 25% of
+ GDP, employs about 45% of the labor force, and provides the bulk of
+ exports, in which soybeans and cotton are the most important. Paraguay
+ lacks substantial mineral or petroleum resources but possesses a large
+ hydropower potential. In a major step to increase its economic
+ activity in the region, Paraguay in March 1991 joined the Southern
+ Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR), which includes Brazil, Argentina, and
+ Uruguay. In 1992, the government, through an unorthodox approach,
+ reduced external debt with both commercial and official creditors by
+ purchasing a sizable amount of the delinquent commercial debt in the
+ secondary market at a substantial discount. The government had paid
+ 100% of remaining official debt arrears to the US, Germany, France,
+ and Spain. All commercial debt arrears have been rescheduled. For the
+ long run, the government must press forward with general,
+ market-oriented economic reforms. Growth of 3.5% in 1993 was spurred
+ by higher-than-expected agricultural output and rising international
+ commodity prices. Inflation picked up steam in fourth quarter 1993
+ because of rises in public sector salaries and utility rates. GDP
+ growth continued in 1994 at 3.5%. Although inflation declined a bit
+ over 1993, increases in food prices, and crop and infrastructure
+ damage from heavy rains at the end of the year, forced inflation to
+ 18%, above the government's target of 15%. Paraguay reaffirmed its
+ commitment to MERCOSUR on 1 January 1995 by implementing the
+ organization's common external tariff.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $15.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,950 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 18% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 11.2% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.2 billion
+ expenditures: $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $487
+ million (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $728 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: cotton, soybeans, timber, vegetable oils, meat products,
+ coffee, tung oil
+ partners: EC 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%
+
+ Imports: $1.38 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, raw materials,
+ fuels
+ partners: Brazil 30%, EC 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7%
+
+ External debt: $1.4 billion (yearend 1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 3.6% (1993 est.); accounts for 20%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 6,530,000 kW
+ production: 26.5 billion kWh (1992)
+ consumption per capita: NA
+ note: much of the electricity produced in Paraguay is exported to
+ Brazil and domestic consumption cannot be determined
+
+ Industries: meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing,
+ textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 26% of GDP; cash crops - cotton, sugarcane,
+ soybeans; other crops - corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava, fruits,
+ vegetables; animal products - beef, pork, eggs, milk; surplus producer
+ of timber; self-sufficient in most foods
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug
+ trade; important transshipment point for Bolivian cocaine headed for
+ the US and Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $172 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $1.1 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos
+
+ Exchange rates: guaranies (G) per US$ - 1,949.6 (January 1995),
+ 1,911.5 (1994), 1,744.3 (1993), 1,500.3 (1992), 1,325.2 (1991),
+ 1,229.8 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Paraguay:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 970 km
+ standard gauge: 440 km 1.435-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 60 km 1.000-m gauge
+ other: 470 km various gauges (privately owned)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 28,300 km
+ paved: 2,600 km
+ unpaved: gravel 500 km; earth 25,200 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 3,100 km
+
+ Ports: Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,747 GRT/19,513 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 11, oil tanker 2
+ note: in addition, 1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used commercially
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 929
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 578
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 27
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 314
+
+@Paraguay:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 78,300 telephones; 16 telephones/1,000 persons;
+ meager telephone service; principal switching center in Asuncion
+ local: NA
+ intercity: fair microwave radio relay network
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 40, FM 0, shortwave 7
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 5
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Paraguay:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines), Air Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,290,894; males fit for
+ military service 937,054; males reach military age (17) annually
+ 55,551 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $100 million, 1.6% of
+ GDP (1994 est.)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+PERU
+
+@Peru:Geography
+
+ Location: Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean,
+ between Chile and Ecuador
+
+ Map references: South America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1,285,220 sq km
+ land area: 1.28 million sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Alaska
+
+ Land boundaries: total 6,940 km, Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km,
+ Chile 160 km, Colombia 2,900 km, Ecuador 1,420 km
+
+ Coastline: 2,414 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 200 nm
+
+ International disputes: three sections of the boundary with Ecuador
+ are in dispute
+
+ Climate: varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west
+
+ Terrain: western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in
+ center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
+
+ Natural resources: copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron
+ ore, coal, phosphate, potash
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 3%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 21%
+ forest and woodland: 55%
+ other: 21%
+
+ Irrigated land: 12,500 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of the slopes of the costa
+ and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in
+ Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining
+ wastes
+ natural hazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild
+ volcanic activity
+ international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
+ Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
+ Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
+ ratified - Desertification, Tropical Timber 94
+
+ Note: shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake,
+ with Bolivia
+
+@Peru:People
+
+ Population: 24,087,372 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 35% (female 4,152,520; male 4,296,293)
+ 15-64 years: 61% (female 7,280,287; male 7,378,227)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 535,156; male 444,889) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.8% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 24.88 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.84 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 52.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 66.07 years
+ male: 63.86 years
+ female: 68.38 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Peruvian(s)
+ adjective: Peruvian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Indian 45%, mestizo (mixed Indian and European
+ ancestry) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic
+
+ Languages: Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 82%
+ male: 92%
+ female: 74%
+
+ Labor force: 8 million (1992)
+ by occupation: government and other services 44%, agriculture 37%,
+ industry 19% (1988 est.)
+
+@Peru:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Peru
+ conventional short form: Peru
+ local long form: Republica del Peru
+ local short form: Peru
+
+ Digraph: PE
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Lima
+
+ Administrative divisions: 24 departments (departamentos, singular -
+ departamento) and 1 constitutional province* (provincia
+ constitucional); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho,
+ Cajamarca, Callao*, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La
+ Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco,
+ Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali
+ note: the 1979 Constitution mandated the creation of regions
+ (regiones, singular - region) to function eventually as autonomous
+ economic and administrative entities; so far, 12 regions have been
+ constituted from 23 of the 24 departments - Amazonas (from Loreto),
+ Andres Avelino Caceres (from Huanuco, Pasco, Junin), Arequipa (from
+ Arequipa), Chavin (from Ancash), Grau (from Tumbes, Piura), Inca (from
+ Cusco, Madre de Dios, Apurimac), La Libertad (from La Libertad), Los
+ Libertadores-Huari (from Ica, Ayacucho, Huancavelica), Mariategui
+ (from Moquegua, Tacna, Puno), Nor Oriental del Maranon (from
+ Lambayeque, Cajamarca, Amazonas), San Martin (from San Martin),
+ Ucayali (from Ucayali); formation of another region has been delayed
+ by the reluctance of the constitutional province of Callao to merge
+ with the department of Lima; because of inadequate funding from the
+ central government and organizational and political difficulties, the
+ regions have yet to assume major responsibilities; the 1993
+ Constitution retains the regions but limits their authority; the 1993
+ Constitution also reaffirms the roles of departmental and municipal
+ governments.
+
+ Independence: 28 July 1821 (from Spain)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 28 July (1821)
+
+ Constitution: 31 December 1993
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory
+ ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Alberto Kenyo
+ FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990); election last held 9 April
+ 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); results - Alberto FUJIMORI 64.42%,
+ Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR 21.80%, Mercedes CABANILLAS 4.11%, other 9.67%
+
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+ note: Prime Minister Efrain GOLDENBERG Schreiber (since NA February
+ 1994) does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of
+ the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Congress: elections last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA 2000);
+ results - C90/NM 52.1% of the total vote, UPP 14%, eleven other
+ parties 33.9%; seats - (120 total, when installed on 28 July 1995)
+ C90/NM 67, UPP 17, APRA 8, FIM 6, (CODE)-Pais Posible 5, AP 4, PPC 3,
+ Renovacion 3, IU 2, OBRAS 2, MIA 1, FRENATRACA 1, (FREPAP) 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Change 90-New Majority (C90/NM),
+ Alberto FUJIMORI; Union for Peru (UPP), Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR;
+ American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA), Agustin MANTILLA
+ Campos; Independent Moralizing Front (FIM), Fernando OLIVERA Vega;
+ Democratic Coordinator (CODE) - Pais Posible, Jose BARBA Caballero and
+ Alejandro TOLEDO; Popular Action Party (AP), Raul DIEZ CANSECO;
+ Popular Christian Party (PPC), Luis BEDOYA Reyes; Renovacion, Rafael
+ REY Rey; Civic Works Movement (OBRAS), Ricardo BELMONT; United Left
+ (IU), Agustin HAYA de la TORRE; Independent Agrarian Movement (MIA),
+ Rolando SALVATERRIE; Peru 2000-National Front of Workers and Peasants
+ (FRENATRACA), Roger CACARES; Popular Agricultural Front (FREPAP),
+ Ezequiel ATAUCUSI
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: leftist guerrilla groups include
+ Shining Path, Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso (imprisoned); Tupac Amaru
+ Revolutionary Movement, Nestor SERPA and Victor POLAY (imprisoned)
+
+ Member of: AG, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT,
+ IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
+ IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
+ LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG (suspended), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
+ UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Ricardo V. LUNA Mendoza
+ chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
+ telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869
+ FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124
+ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,
+ Paterson (New Jersey), and San Francisco
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Alvin P. ADAMS, Jr.
+ embassy: corner of Avenida Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Avenida
+ Espana, Lima
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima), APO
+ AA 34031
+ telephone: [51] (14) 338000
+ FAX: [51] (14) 316682
+
+ Flag: three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red
+ with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms
+ features a shield bearing a llama, cinchona tree (the source of
+ quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all framed
+ by a green wreath
+
+@Peru:Economy
+
+ Overview: The Peruvian economy has become increasingly
+ market-oriented, with major privatizations completed in 1994 in the
+ mining and telecommunications industries. In the 1980s the economy
+ suffered from hyperinflation, declining per capita output, and
+ mounting external debt. Peru was shut off from IMF and World Bank
+ support in the mid-1980s because of its huge debt arrears. An
+ austerity program implemented shortly after the FUJIMORI government
+ took office in July 1990 contributed to a third consecutive yearly
+ contraction of economic activity, but the slide came to a halt late
+ that year, and in 1991 output rose 2.4%. After a burst of inflation as
+ the austerity program eliminated government price subsidies, monthly
+ price increases eased to the single-digit level and by December 1991
+ dropped to the lowest increase since mid-1987. Lima obtained a
+ financial rescue package from multilateral lenders in September 1991,
+ although it faced $14 billion in arrears on its external debt. By
+ working with the IMF and World Bank on new financial conditions and
+ arrangements, the government succeeded in ending its arrears by March
+ 1993. In 1992, GDP had fallen by 2.8%, in part because a
+ warmer-than-usual El Nino current resulted in a 30% drop in the fish
+ catch, but the economy rebounded as strong foreign investment helped
+ push growth to 6% in 1993 and 8.6% in 1994.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $73.6 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 8.6% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $3,110 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 15%; extensive underemployment (1992 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $2 billion
+ expenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $300
+ million (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $4.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: copper, zinc, fishmeal, crude petroleum and byproducts,
+ lead, refined silver, coffee, cotton
+ partners: US 19%, Japan 9%, Italy, Germany
+
+ Imports: $5.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum,
+ iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
+ partners: US 21%, Colombia, Argentina, Japan, Germany, Brazil
+
+ External debt: $22.4 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: NA
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 4,190,000 kW
+ production: 11.2 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 448 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: mining of metals, petroleum, fishing, textiles, clothing,
+ food processing, cement, auto assembly, steel, shipbuilding, metal
+ fabrication
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 12% of GDP, about 35% of labor force;
+ commercial crops - coffee, cotton, sugarcane; other crops - rice,
+ wheat, potatoes, plantains, coca; animal products - poultry, red
+ meats, dairy, wool; not self-sufficient in grain or vegetable oil;
+ fish catch of 6.9 million metric tons (1990)
+
+ Illicit drugs: world's largest coca leaf producer with about 108,600
+ hectares under cultivation in 1994; source of supply for most of the
+ world's coca paste and cocaine base; at least 85% of coca cultivation
+ is for illicit production; most of cocaine base is shipped to
+ Colombian drug dealers for processing into cocaine for the
+ international drug market, but exports of finished cocaine are
+ increasing
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.7 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $4.3 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $577 million
+
+ Currency: 1 nuevo sol (S/.) = 100 centimos
+
+ Exchange rates: nuevo sol (S/.) per US$1 - 2.20 (February 1995), 2.195
+ (1994),1.988 (1993), 1.245 (1992), 0.772 (1991), 0.187 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Peru:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,801 km
+ standard gauge: 1,501 km 1.435-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 300 km 0.914-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 69,942 km
+ paved: 7,459 km
+ unpaved: improved earth 13,538 km; unimproved earth 48,945 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system
+ and 208 km of Lago Titicaca
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 800 km; natural gas and natural gas liquids 64 km
+
+ Ports: Callao, Chimbote, Ilo, Iquitos, Matarani, Paita, Pucallpa,
+ Salaverry, San Martin, Talara, Yurimaguas
+ note: Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are all on the upper reaches
+ of the Amazon and its tributaries
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 90,501 GRT/144,913 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 6, refrigerated cargo 1
+ note: in addition, 4 naval tankers and 1 naval cargo are sometimes
+ used commercially
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 236
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 6
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 97
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 21
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 77
+
+@Peru:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 544,000 telephones; fairly adequate for most
+ requirements
+ local: NA
+ intercity: nationwide microwave radio relay system and 12 domestic
+ satellite links
+ international: 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 273, FM 0, shortwave 144
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 140
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Peru:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru),
+ Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru), National Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 6,369,157; males fit for
+ military service 4,300,772; males reach military age (20) annually
+ 251,798 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $810 million, about
+ 2.7% of GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+PHILIPPINES
+
+@Philippines:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea
+ and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
+
+ Map references: Southeast Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 300,000 sq km
+ land area: 298,170 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Arizona
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 36,289 km
+
+ Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
+ continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from
+ coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed
+ polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in breadth
+
+ International disputes: involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly
+ Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei;
+ claims Malaysian state of Sabah
+
+ Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April);
+ southwest monsoon (May to October)
+
+ Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
+
+ Natural resources: timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold,
+ salt, copper
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 26%
+ permanent crops: 11%
+ meadows and pastures: 4%
+ forest and woodland: 40%
+ other: 19%
+
+ Irrigated land: 16,200 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas; soil
+ erosion; air and water pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of
+ coastal mangrove swamps which are important fish breeding grounds
+ natural hazards: astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and
+ struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides, active
+ volcanoes, destructive earthquakes, tsunamis
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
+ Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands
+
+@Philippines:People
+
+ Population: 73,265,584 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 38% (female 13,841,552; male 14,214,234)
+ 15-64 years: 58% (female 21,603,818; male 20,923,307)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 1,425,706; male 1,256,967) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.23% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 30.42 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.97 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 49.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 65.65 years
+ male: 63.16 years
+ female: 68.25 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.81 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Filipino(s)
+ adjective: Philippine
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese
+ 1.5%, other 3%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and
+ other 3%
+
+ Languages: Pilipino (official; based on Tagalog), English (official)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 94%
+ male: 94%
+ female: 93%
+
+ Labor force: 24.12 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 46%, industry and commerce 16%, services
+ 18.5%, government 10%, other 9.5% (1989)
+
+@Philippines:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
+ conventional short form: Philippines
+ local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
+ local short form: Pilipinas
+
+ Digraph: RP
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Manila
+
+ Administrative divisions: 72 provinces and 61 chartered cities*; Abra,
+ Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Angeles*, Antique,
+ Aurora, Bacolod*, Bago*, Baguio*, Bais*, Basilan, Basilan City*,
+ Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Batangas City*, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon,
+ Bulacan, Butuan*, Cabanatuan*, Cadiz*, Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro*,
+ Calbayog*, Caloocan*, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin,
+ Canlaon*, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite City*, Cebu, Cebu City*,
+ Cotabato*, Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao City* Davao, Davao del
+ Sur, Davao Oriental, Dipolog*, Dumaguete*, Eastern Samar, General
+ Santos*, Gingoog*, Ifugao, Iligan*, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo,
+ Iloilo City*, Iriga*, Isabela, Kalinga-Apayao, La Carlota*, Laguna,
+ Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Laoag*, Lapu-Lapu*, La Union,
+ Legaspi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena*, Maguindanao, Mandaue*, Manila*,
+ Marawi*, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental,
+ Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Naga*, Negros
+ Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva
+ Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Oroquieta*, Ozamis*,
+ Pagadian*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*, Puerto
+ Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Roxas*,
+ Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (in
+ Pangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South
+ Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao*, Surigao del
+ Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*, Tagbilaran*, Tangub*,
+ Tarlac, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*, Zambales, Zamboanga*,
+ Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur
+
+ Independence: 4 July 1946 (from US)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 12 June (1898) (from Spain)
+
+ Constitution: 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
+
+ Legal system: based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts
+ compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Fidel Valdes RAMOS
+ (since 30 June 1992); Vice President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30
+ June 1992); election last held 11 May 1992 (next to be held NA May
+ 1998); results - Fidel Valdes RAMOS won 23.6% of the vote, a narrow
+ plurality
+ cabinet: Executive Secretary; appointed by the president with the
+ consent of the Commission of Appointments
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Kongreso)
+ Senate (Senado): elections last held 11 May 1992 (next to be held NA
+ May 1995); results - LDP 66%, NPC 20%, Lakas/NUCD 8%, Liberal 6%;
+ seats - (24 total) LDP 15, NPC 5, Lakas/NUCD 2, Liberal 1, independent
+ 1
+ House of Representatives (Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan): elections last
+ held 11 May 1992 (next to be held NA May 1995); results - LDP 43.5%;
+ Lakas/NUCD 25%, NPC 23.5%, Liberal 5%, KBL 3%; seats - (200 total) LDP
+ 87, NPC 45, Lakas/NUCD 41, Liberal 15, NP 6, KBL 3, independents 3
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Democratic Filipino Struggle (Laban ng
+ Demokratikong Pilipinas, LDP), Edgardo ESPIRITU; People Power-National
+ Union of Christian Democrats (Lakas ng Edsa, NUCD and Partido Lakas
+ Tao, Lakas/NUCD); Fidel V. RAMOS, President of the Republic, Raul
+ MANGLAPUS, Jose DE VENECIA, secretary general; Nationalist People's
+ Coalition (NPC), Eduardo COJUANGCO; Liberal Party, Jovito SALONGA;
+ People's Reform Party (PRP), Miriam DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO; New Society
+ Movement (Kilusan Bagong Lipunan; KBL), Imelda MARCOS; Nacionalista
+ Party (NP), Salvador H. LAUREL, president
+
+ Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT,
+ IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Raul Chaves RABE
+ chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
+ telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300
+ FAX: [1] (202) 328-7614
+ consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los
+ Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle
+ consulate(s): San Diego and San Jose (Saipan)
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador John D. NEGROPONTE
+ embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000
+ mailing address: APO AP 96440
+ telephone: [63] (2) 521-71-16
+ FAX: [63] (2) 522-43-61
+ consulate(s): Cebu
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a white
+ equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; in the center of the
+ triangle is a yellow sun with eight primary rays (each containing
+ three individual rays) and in each corner of the triangle is a small
+ yellow five-pointed star
+
+@Philippines:Economy
+
+ Overview: Domestic output in this primarily agricultural economy
+ failed to grow in 1992 and rose only slightly in 1993. Drought and
+ power supply problems hampered production, while inadequate revenues
+ prevented government pump priming. Worker remittances helped to
+ supplement GDP. A marked increase in capital goods imports,
+ particularly power generating equipment, telecommunications equipment,
+ and electronic data processors, contributed to 20% annual import
+ growth in 1992-94. Provided the government can cope with the
+ substantial trade deficit and meet the fiscal targets agreed to with
+ the IMF, the Philippines should duplicate the strong growth
+ performance of 1994 in 1995-96.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $161.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4.3% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,310 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.1% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 9% (1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $14 billion
+ expenditures: $15.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (FY94/95 est.)
+
+ Exports: $13.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: electronics, textiles, coconut products, copper, fish
+ partners: US 39%, Japan 16%, Germany 5%, Hong Kong 5%, UK 4% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $21.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: raw materials 40%, capital goods 25%, petroleum products
+ 10%
+ partners: Japan 23%, US 20%, Taiwan 6%, Singapore 5%, South Korea 5%
+ (1993)
+
+ External debt: $40 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 1.4% (1993); accounts for 28% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 6,770,000 kW
+ production: 20.4 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 278 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food
+ processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 22% of GDP and about 45% of labor force;
+ major crops - rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples,
+ mangos; animal products - pork, eggs, beef; net exporter of farm
+ products; fish catch of 2 million metric tons annually
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug
+ trade; growers are producing more and better quality cannabis despite
+ government eradication efforts; transit point for Southwest Asian
+ heroin bound for the US
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.6 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-88), $7.9 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $5 million;
+ Communist countries (1975-89), $123 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos
+
+ Exchange rates: Philippine pesos (P) per US$1 - 24.622 (January 1995),
+ 26.417 (1994), 22.120 (1993), 25.512 (1992), 27.479 (1991), 24.311
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Philippines:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 800 km (est.); note - including about 390 km in Luzon
+ narrow gauge: 800 km 1.067-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 160,700 km
+ paved: 29,000 km
+ unpaved: 131,700 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m)
+ vessels
+
+ Pipelines: petroleum products 357 km
+
+ Ports: Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Guimaras, Iligan,
+ Iloilo, Jolo, Legaspi, Manila, Masao, Puerto Princesa, San Fernando,
+ Subic Bay, Zamboanga
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 552 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,748,083 GRT/14,373,730
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 237, cargo 134, chemical tanker 4, combination
+ bulk 10, combination ore/oil 1, container 10, liquefied gas tanker 6,
+ livestock carrier 9, oil tanker 46, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 11,
+ refrigerated cargo 24, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13, short-sea passenger
+ 17, vehicle carrier 29
+ note: a flag of convenience registry; Japan owns 13 ships, Norway 2,
+ Switzerland 1, Taiwan 1, and South Korea 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 269
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 32
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 133
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 4
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 67
+
+@Philippines:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 872,900 telephones; good international radio and
+ submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate
+ local: NA
+ intercity: 11 domestic satellite links
+ international: submarine cables extended to Hong Kong, Guam,
+ Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan; 3 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Pacific
+ Ocean) earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 267 (including 6 US), FM 55, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 33 (including 4 US)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Philippines:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy (includes Coast Guard and Marine Corps), Air
+ Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 18,238,568; males fit for
+ military service 12,876,771; males reach military age (20) annually
+ 752,622 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $731 million, 1.4% of
+ GNP (1992)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+PITCAIRN ISLANDS
+
+ (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+@Pitcairn Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half
+ of the way from Peru to New Zealand
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 47 sq km
+ land area: 47 sq km
+ comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 51 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical, hot, humid, modified by southeast trade winds;
+ rainy season (November to March)
+
+ Terrain: rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs
+
+ Natural resources: miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: NA%
+ permanent crops: NA%
+ meadows and pastures: NA%
+ forest and woodland: NA%
+ other: NA%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation (only a small portion of the original
+ forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)
+ natural hazards: typhoons (especially November to March)
+ international agreements: NA
+
+@Pitcairn Islands:People
+
+ Population: 73 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.8% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
+
+ Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
+
+ Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: NA years
+ male: NA years
+ female: NA years
+
+ Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Pitcairn Islander(s)
+ adjective: Pitcairn Islander
+
+ Ethnic divisions: descendants of the Bounty mutineers
+
+ Religions: Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
+
+ Languages: English (official), Tahitian/English dialect
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: no business community in the usual sense; some public
+ works; subsistence farming and fishing
+
+@Pitcairn Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
+ conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands
+
+ Digraph: PC
+
+ Type: dependent territory of the UK
+
+ Capital: Adamstown
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second
+ Saturday in June)
+
+ Constitution: Local Government Ordinance of 1964
+
+ Legal system: local island by-laws
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal with three years residency
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor
+ (non-resident) of the Pitcairn Islands Robert John ALSTON (since NA);
+ Commissioner (non-resident) G.D. HARRAWAY (since NA; is the liaison
+ person between the governor and the Island Council)
+ head of government: Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island
+ Council Jay WARREN (since NA)
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Island Council: elections take place each December; last held NA
+ December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1995); results - percent of
+ vote NA; seats - (11 total, 5 elected) all independents
+
+ Judicial branch: Island Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: none
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: NA
+
+ Member of: SPC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
+ and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of
+ the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a
+ shield featuring a yellow anchor
+
+@Pitcairn Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: The inhabitants exist on fishing and subsistence farming.
+ The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and
+ vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams,
+ and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major
+ sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and
+ the sale of handicrafts to passing ships.
+
+ National product: GDP $NA
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $NA
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $430,000
+ expenditures: $429,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1987
+ est.)
+
+ Exports: $NA
+ commodities: fruits, vegetables, curios
+ partners: NA
+
+ Imports: $NA
+ commodities: fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar,
+ other foodstuffs
+ partners: NA
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 110 kW
+ production: 300,000 kWh
+ consumption per capita: 5,360 kWh (1990)
+
+ Industries: postage stamps, handicrafts
+
+ Agriculture: based on subsistence fishing and farming; wide variety of
+ fruits and vegetables; must import grain products
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: ODA bilateral commitments (1992-93), $84,000
+
+ Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5601 (January
+ 1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991),
+ 1.6750 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Pitcairn Islands:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 6.4 km
+ unpaved: earth 6.4 km
+
+ Ports: Bounty Bay
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports: none
+
+@Pitcairn Islands:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 24 telephones; party line telephone service on the
+ island
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Pitcairn Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+POLAND
+
+@Poland:Geography
+
+ Location: Central Europe, east of Germany
+
+ Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 312,680 sq km
+ land area: 304,510 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than New Mexico
+
+ Land boundaries: total 3,114 km, Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658
+ km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432
+ km, Slovakia 444 km, Ukraine 428 km
+
+ Coastline: 491 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with
+ frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and
+ thundershowers
+
+ Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
+
+ Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead,
+ salt
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 46%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 13%
+ forest and woodland: 28%
+ other: 12%
+
+ Irrigated land: 1,000 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: forest damage due to air pollution and resulting acid
+ rain; improper means for disposal of large amounts of hazardous and
+ industrial waste; severe water pollution from industrial and municipal
+ sources; severe air pollution results from emissions of sulfur dioxide
+ from coal-fired power plants, which also drifts into Germany and the
+ Netherlands
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty,
+ Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
+ Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and
+ the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
+
+@Poland:People
+
+ Population: 38,792,442 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 23% (female 4,349,467; male 4,559,536)
+ 15-64 years: 66% (female 12,849,300; male 12,698,179)
+ 65 years and over: 11% (female 2,693,407; male 1,642,553) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.36% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 13.34 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.23 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 12.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 73.13 years
+ male: 69.15 years
+ female: 77.33 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Pole(s)
+ adjective: Polish
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%,
+ Byelorussian 0.5% (1990 est.)
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern
+ Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5%
+
+ Languages: Polish
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1978)
+ total population: 99%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 98%
+
+ Labor force: 17.321 million (1993 annual average)
+ by occupation: industry and construction 32.0%, agriculture 27.6%,
+ trade, transport, and communications 14.7%, government and other 25.7%
+ (1992)
+
+@Poland:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Poland
+ conventional short form: Poland
+ local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska
+ local short form: Polska
+
+ Digraph: PL
+
+ Type: democratic state
+
+ Capital: Warsaw
+
+ Administrative divisions: 49 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular -
+ wojewodztwo); Biala Podlaska, Bialystok, Bielsko Biala, Bydgoszcz,
+ Chelm, Ciechanow, Czestochowa, Elblag, Gdansk, Gorzow, Jelenia Gora,
+ Kalisz, Katowice, Kielce, Konin, Koszalin, Krakow, Krosno, Legnica,
+ Leszno, Lodz, Lomza, Lublin, Nowy Sacz, Olsztyn, Opole, Ostroleka,
+ Pila, Piotrkow, Plock, Poznan, Przemysl, Radom, Rzeszow, Siedlce,
+ Sieradz, Skierniewice, Slupsk, Suwalki, Szczecin, Tarnobrzeg, Tarnow,
+ Torun, Walbrzych, Warszawa, Wloclawek, Wroclaw, Zamosc, Zielona Gora
+
+ Independence: 11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)
+
+ National holiday: Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
+
+ Constitution: interim "small constitution" came into effect in
+ December 1992 replacing the Communist-imposed constitution of 22 July
+ 1952; new democratic constitution being drafted
+
+ Legal system: mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and
+ holdover Communist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced as
+ part of broader democratization process; limited judicial review of
+ legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Lech WALESA (since 22 December 1990);
+ election first round held 25 November 1990, second round held 9
+ December 1990 (next to be held NA November 1995); results - second
+ round Lech WALESA 74.7%, Stanislaw TYMINSKI 25.3%
+ head of government: Prime Minister Jozef OLEKSY (since 6 March 1995);
+ Deputy Prime Ministers Roman JAGIELINSKI, Grzegorz KOLODKO, and
+ Aleksander LUCZAK (since NA)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; responsible to the president and the
+ Sejm
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Zgromadzenie
+ Narodowe)
+ Senate (Senat): elections last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held
+ no later than NA October 1997); seats - (100 total) Communist origin
+ or linked (PSL 34, SLD 37), post-Solidarity parties (UW 6, NSZZ 12,
+ BBWR 2), non-Communist, non-Solidarity (independents 7, unaffiliated
+ 1, vacant 1)
+ Diet (Sejm): elections last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held no
+ later than NA October 1997); seats - (460 total) Communist origin or
+ linked (SLD 171, PSL 132), post-Solidarity parties (UW 74, UP 41, BBWR
+ 16), non-Communist, non-Solidarity (KPN 22)
+ note: 4 seats are constitutionally assigned to ethnic German parties
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ post-Solidarity parties: Freedom Union (UW; Democratic Union and
+ Liberal Democratic Congress merged to form Freedom Union), Leszek
+ BALCEROWICZ; Christian-National Union (ZCHN), Ryszard CZARNECKI;
+ Centrum (PC), Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI; Peasant Alliance (PL), Gabriel
+ JANOWSKI; Solidarity Trade Union (NSZZ), Marian KRZAKLEWSKI; Union of
+ Labor (UP), Ryszard BUGAJ; Christian-Democratic Party (PCHD), Pawel
+ LACZKOWSKI; Conservative Party, Alexander HALL; Nonparty Bloc for the
+ Support of the Reforms (BBWR)
+ non-Communist, non-Solidarity: Confederation for an Independent Poland
+ (KPN), Leszek MOCZULSKI; Polish Economic Program (PPG), Janusz
+ REWINSKI; Christian Democrats (CHD), Andrzej OWSINSKI; German Minority
+ (MN), Henryk KROL; Union of Real Politics (UPR), Janusz KORWIN-MIKKE;
+ Democratic Party (SD), Antoni MACKIEWICZ
+ Communist origin: Polish Peasant Party (PSL), Waldemar PAWLAK;
+ Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: powerful Roman Catholic Church;
+ Solidarity (trade union); All Poland Trade Union Alliance (OPZZ),
+ populist program
+
+ Member of: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CCC, CE, CEI,
+ CERN, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC,
+ IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user),
+ INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS
+ (observer), OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO,
+ UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNOMIG, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner),
+ WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Jerzy KOZMINSKI
+ chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
+ telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802
+ FAX: [1] (202) 328-6271
+ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas Andrew REY
+ embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, Warsaw
+ mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, Box 5010, Unit 1340, APO AE
+ 09213-1340
+ telephone: [48] (2) 628-30-41
+ FAX: [48] (2) 628-82-98
+ consulate(s) general: Krakow, Poznan
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to
+ the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white
+
+@Poland:Economy
+
+ Overview: Poland continues to make good progress in the difficult
+ transition to a market economy that began on 1 January 1990, when the
+ new democratic government instituted "shock therapy" by decontrolling
+ prices, slashing subsidies, and drastically reducing import barriers.
+ Real GDP fell sharply in 1990 and 1991, but in 1992 Poland became the
+ first country in the region to resume economic growth with a 2.6%
+ increase. Growth increased to 3.8% in 1993 and 5.5% in 1994 - the
+ highest rate in Europe except for Albania. All of the growth since
+ 1991 has come from the booming private sector, which now accounts for
+ at least 55% of GDP, even though privatization of the state-owned
+ enterprises is proceeding slowly and most industry remains in state
+ hands. Industrial production increased 12% in 1994 - led by 50% jumps
+ in the output of motor vehicles, radios and televisions, and pulp and
+ paper - and is now well above the 1990 level. Inflation, which had
+ approached 1,200% annually in early 1990, was down to about 30% in
+ 1994, as the government held the budget deficit to 1.5% of GDP. After
+ five years of steady increases, unemployment has leveled off at about
+ 16% nationwide, although it approaches 30% in some regions. The trade
+ deficit was sharply reduced in 1994, due mainly to increased exports
+ to Western Europe, Poland's main customer. The leftist government
+ elected in September 1993 gets generally good marks from foreign
+ observers for its management of the budget but is often criticized for
+ not moving faster on privatization.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $191.1 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $4,920 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 16.1% (November 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $27.1 billion
+ expenditures: $30 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994
+ est.)
+
+ Exports: $16.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: intermediate goods 26.5%, machinery and transport
+ equipment 18.1%, miscellaneous manufactures 16.7%, foodstuffs 9.4%,
+ fuels 8.4% (1993)
+ partners: Germany 33.4%, Russia 10.2%, Italy 5.3%, UK 4.3% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $18.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment 29.6%, intermediate
+ goods 18.5%, chemicals 13.3%, fuels 12.5%, miscellaneous manufactures
+ 10.1%
+ partners: Germany 35.8%, Italy 9.2%, Russia 8.5%, UK 6.6% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $47 billion (1993); note - Poland's Western government
+ creditors promised in 1991 to forgive 30% of Warsaw's $35 billion
+ official debt immediately and to forgive another 20% in 1994; foreign
+ banks agreed in early 1994 to forgive 45% of their $12 billion debt
+ claim
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 12% (1994 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 31,120,000 kW
+ production: 124 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,908 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: machine building, iron and steel, extractive industries,
+ chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 7% of GDP; 75% of output from private farms,
+ 25% from state farms; productivity remains low by European standards;
+ leading European producer of rye, rapeseed, and potatoes; wide variety
+ of other crops and livestock; major exporter of pork products;
+ normally self-sufficient in food
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium for domestic consumption and
+ amphetamines for the international market; transshipment point for
+ Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to Western Europe; producer of
+ precursor chemicals
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: bilateral aid to non-Communist less developed countries
+ (1954-89), $2.2 billion
+ recipient: Western governments and institutions have pledged $8
+ billion in grants and loans since 1989, but most of the money has not
+ been disbursed
+
+ Currency: 1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy
+
+ Exchange rates: zlotych (Zl) per US$1 - 2.45 (January 1995; a currency
+ reform on 1 January 1995 replaced 10,000 old zlotys with 1 new zloty),
+ 22,723 (1994), 18,115 (1993), 13,626 (1992), 10,576 (1991), 9,500
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Poland:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 25,528 km
+ broad gauge: 659 km 1.520-m gauge
+ standard gauge: 23,014 km 1.435-m gauge (11,496 km electrified; 8,978
+ km double track)
+ narrow gauge: 1,855 km various gauges including 1.000-m, 0.785-m,
+ 0.750-m, and 0.600-m (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 367,000 km (excluding farm, factory and forest roads)
+ paved: 235,247 km (257 km of which are limited access expressways)
+ unpaved: 131,753 km (1992)
+
+ Inland waterways: 3,997 km navigable rivers and canals (1991)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 1,986 km; petroleum products 360 km; natural gas
+ 4,600 km (1992)
+
+ Ports: Gdansk, Gdynia, Gliwice, Kolobrzeg, Szczecin, Swinoujscie,
+ Ustka, Warsaw, Wrocaw
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 152 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,186,405 GRT/3,270,914
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 89, cargo 38, chemical tanker 4, container 7, oil
+ tanker 1, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8, short-sea passenger 4
+
+ note: in addition, Poland owns 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
+ 76,501 DWT that operate under Bahamian, Liberian, Saint Vincent and
+ the Grenadines, Vanuatu, Panamanian, and Cypriot registry
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 134
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 27
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 7
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 10
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 32
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 18
+
+@Poland:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 4.9 million telephones; 12.7 phones/100 residents
+ (1994); severely underdeveloped and outmoded system; exchanges are 86%
+ automatic (1991)
+ local: NA
+ intercity: cable, open wire, and microwave
+ international: INTELSAT, EUTELSAT, INMARSAT, and Intersputnik earth
+ stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 27, FM 27, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 40 (Russian repeaters 5)
+ televisions: 9.6 million
+
+@Poland:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 10,181,069; males fit for
+ military service 7,940,634; males reach military age (19) annually
+ 323,133 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: 50.7 billion zlotych, NA% of GNP (1994 est.);
+ note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the
+ current exchange rate could produce misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+PORTUGAL
+
+@Portugal:Geography
+
+ Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
+ west of Spain
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 92,080 sq km
+ land area: 91,640 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana
+ note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,214 km, Spain 1,214 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,793 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor
+ Province) disputed with Indonesia
+
+ Climate: maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier
+ in south
+
+ Terrain: mountainous north of the Tagus, rolling plains in south
+
+ Natural resources: fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore, uranium
+ ore, marble
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 32%
+ permanent crops: 6%
+ meadows and pastures: 6%
+ forest and woodland: 40%
+ other: 16%
+
+ Irrigated land: 6,340 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and
+ vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas
+ natural hazards: Azores subject to severe earthquakes
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,
+ Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
+ Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air
+ Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Desertification, Environmental
+ Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
+
+ Note: Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along
+ western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
+
+@Portugal:People
+
+ Population: 10,562,388 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 18% (female 943,412; male 1,000,971)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 3,625,086; male 3,499,176)
+ 65 years and over: 14% (female 889,142; male 604,601) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.36% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 11.72 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.65 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 1.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 75.53 years
+ male: 72.11 years
+ female: 79.16 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.47 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Portuguese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Portuguese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: homogeneous Mediterranean stock in mainland, Azores,
+ Madeira Islands; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to
+ mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant denominations 1%, other 2%
+
+ Languages: Portuguese
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 85%
+ male: 89%
+ female: 82%
+
+ Labor force: 4.24 million (1994 est.)
+ by occupation: services 54.5%, manufacturing 24.4%, agriculture,
+ forestry, fisheries 11.2%, construction 8.3%, utilites 1.0%, mining
+ 0.5% (1992)
+
+@Portugal:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Portuguese Republic
+ conventional short form: Portugal
+ local long form: Republica Portuguesa
+ local short form: Portugal
+
+ Digraph: PO
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Lisbon
+
+ Administrative divisions: 18 districts (distritos, singular -
+ distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas, singular -
+ regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca,
+ Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa,
+ Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila
+ Real, Viseu
+
+ Dependent areas: Macau (scheduled to become a Special Administrative
+ Region of China on 20 December 1999)
+
+ Independence: 1140 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)
+
+ National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
+
+ Constitution: 25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982 and 1 June 1989
+
+ Legal system: civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews
+ the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Dr. Mario Alberto Nobre Lopes SOARES (since
+ 9 March 1986); election last held 13 February 1991 (next to be held NA
+ February 1996); results - Dr. Mario Lopes SOARES 70%, Basilio HORTA
+ 14%, Carlos CARVALHAS 13%, Carlos MARQUES 3%; note - SOARES is
+ finishing his second term and by law cannot run for a third
+ consecutive term
+ head of government: Prime Minister Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 6
+ November 1985); note - will be replaced in the October 1995 elections
+ Council of State: acts as a consultative body to the president
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on
+ recommendation of the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica): elections last
+ held 6 October 1991 (next to be held NA October 1995); results - PSD
+ 50.4%, PS 29.3%, CDU 8.8%, CDS 4.4%, PSN 1.7%, PRD 0.6%, other 4.8%;
+ seats - (230 total) PSD 136, PS 71, CDU 17, CDS 5, PSN 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de
+ Justica)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party (PSD), Fernando
+ NOGUEIRA; Portuguese Socialist Party (PS), Antonio GUTERRES; Party of
+ Democratic Renewal (PRD), Pedro CANAVARRO; Portuguese Communist Party
+ (PCP), Carlos CARVALHAS; Social Democratic Center (CDS), Manuel
+ MONTEIRO; National Solidarity Party (PSN), Manuel SERGIO; Center
+ Democratic Party (CDS); United Democratic Coalition (CDU; Communists)
+
+ Member of: AfDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, EC, ECE,
+ ECLAC, EIB, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
+ IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
+ IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO,
+ NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
+ UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco Jose Laco Treichler KNOPFLI
+ chancery: 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 328-8610
+ FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726
+ consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), and San
+ Francisco
+ consulate(s): Los Angeles, New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence
+ (Rhode Island), and Washington, DC
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley BAGLEY
+ embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600 Lisbon
+ mailing address: PSC 83, Lisbon; APO AE 09726
+ telephone: [351] (1) 7266600, 7266659, 7268670, 7268880
+ FAX: [351] (1) 7269109
+ consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)
+
+ Flag: two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red
+ (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the
+ dividing line
+
+@Portugal:Economy
+
+ Overview: Portugal's economy contracted 0.4% in 1993 but registered a
+ 1.4% growth in 1994, with 3% growth expected in 1995 and 1996. This
+ comeback rests on high levels of public investment, continuing strong
+ export growth, and a gradual recovery in consumer spending. The
+ government's long-run economic goal is the modernization of Portuguese
+ markets, industry, infrastructure, and work force in order to catch up
+ with productivity and income levels of the more advanced EU countries.
+ Per capita income now equals only 55% of the EU average. Economic
+ policy in 1994 focused on reducing inflationary pressures by lowering
+ the fiscal deficit, maintaining a stable escudo, moderating wage
+ increases, and encouraging increased competition. The government's
+ medium-term objective is to be in the first tier of the EU countries
+ eligible to join the economic and monetary union (EMU) as early as
+ 1997. To this end, the 1995 budget posits a cut in total deficit to
+ 5.8% of GDP.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $107.3 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 1.4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $10,190 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.1% (May 1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 6.7% (May 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $31 billion
+ expenditures: $41 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1994)
+
+ Exports: $15.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: clothing and footwear, machinery, cork and paper
+ products, hides and skins
+ partners: EU 75.5%, other developed countries 12.4%, US 4.3% (1994)
+
+ Imports: $24.3 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment, agricultural products,
+ chemicals, petroleum, textiles
+ partners: EC 72%, other developed countries 10.9%, less developed
+ countries 12.9%, US 3.4%
+
+ External debt: $20 billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 1.5% (1994 est.); accounts for
+ 30.6% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 8,220,000 kW
+ production: 29.5 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,642 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork;
+ metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GDP; small, inefficient farms; imports
+ more than half of food needs; major crops - grain, potatoes, olives,
+ grapes; livestock sector - sheep, cattle, goats, poultry, meat, dairy
+ products
+
+ Illicit drugs: increasingly important gateway country for Latin
+ American cocaine entering the European market; transshipment point for
+ hashish from North Africa to Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.8 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $1.2 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Portuguese escudo (Esc) = 100 centavos
+
+ Exchange rates: Portuguese escudos (Esc) per US$1 - 158.02 (January
+ 1995), 165.99 (1994), 160.80 (1993), 135.00 (1992), 144.48 (1991),
+ 142.55 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Portugal:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 3,068 km
+ broad gauge: 2,761 km 1.668-m gauge (439 km electrified; 426 km double
+ track)
+ narrow gauge: 307 km 1.000-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 70,176 km
+ paved and graveled: 60,351 km (519 km of expressways)
+ unpaved: earth 9,825 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 820 km navigable; relatively unimportant to national
+ economy, used by shallow-draft craft limited to 300 metric-ton cargo
+ capacity
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 22 km; petroleum products 58 km
+
+ Ports: Aveiro, Funchal (Madeira Islands), Horta (Azores), Leixoes,
+ Lisbon, Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Praia da Vitoria (Azores),
+ Setubal, Viana do Castelo
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 65 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 852,785 GRT/1,545,804 DWT
+
+ ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 28, chemical tanker 5, container 4,
+ liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 2,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1
+ note: Portugal has created a captive register on Madeira for
+ Portuguese-owned ships; ships on the Madeira Register (MAR) will have
+ taxation and crewing benefits of a flag of convenience; in addition,
+ Portugal owns 25 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 155,776 DWT that
+ operate under Panamanian and Maltese registry
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 65
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 5
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 18
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 29
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+
+@Portugal:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 2,690,000 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: generally adequate integrated network of coaxial cables,
+ open wire and microwave radio relay, domestic satellite earth stations
+
+ international: 6 submarine cables; 3 INTELSAT (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1
+ Indian Ocean), EUTELSAT earth stations; tropospheric link to Azores
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 57, FM 66 (repeaters 22), shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 66 (repeaters 23)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Portugal:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, National
+ Republican Guard, Fiscal Guard, Public Security Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,747,357; males fit for
+ military service 2,223,299; males reach military age (20) annually
+ 90,402 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.4 billion, 2.9% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+PUERTO RICO
+
+ (commonwealth associated with the US)
+
+@Puerto Rico:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North
+ Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 9,104 sq km
+ land area: 8,959 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Rhode
+ Island
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 501 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical marine, mild, little seasonal temperature variation
+
+ Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains
+ precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal
+ areas
+
+ Natural resources: some copper and nickel, potential for onshore and
+ offshore crude oil
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 8%
+ permanent crops: 9%
+ meadows and pastures: 41%
+ forest and woodland: 20%
+ other: 22%
+
+ Irrigated land: 390 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: the recent drought has caused water levels in
+ reservoirs to drop and prompted water rationing for more than one-half
+ of the population
+ natural hazards: periodic droughts
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane
+ to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural
+ harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains
+ ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile
+ coastal plain belt in north
+
+@Puerto Rico:People
+
+ Population: 3,812,569 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 25% (female 466,596; male 489,127)
+ 15-64 years: 65% (female 1,274,765; male 1,195,785)
+ 65 years and over: 10% (female 213,716; male 172,580) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.16% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 15.92 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.47 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -6.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 75.1 years
+ male: 70.78 years
+ female: 79.66 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.98 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
+ adjective: Puerto Rican
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Hispanic
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other 15%
+
+ Languages: Spanish, English
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
+ total population: 89%
+ male: 90%
+ female: 88%
+
+ Labor force: 1.2 million (1993)
+ by occupation: government 22%, manufacturing 17%, trade 20%,
+ construction 6%, communications and transportation 5%, other 30%
+ (1993)
+
+@Puerto Rico:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
+ conventional short form: Puerto Rico
+
+ Digraph: RQ
+
+ Type: commonwealth associated with the US
+
+ Capital: San Juan
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth associated with the US);
+ note - there are 78 municipalities
+
+ Independence: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
+
+ National holiday: US Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
+
+ Constitution: ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July
+ 1952; effective 25 July 1952
+
+ Legal system: based on Spanish civil code
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US
+ citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January
+ 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
+ head of government: Governor Pedro ROSSELLO (since 2 January 1993);
+ election last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 5 November 1996);
+ results - Pedro ROSSELLO (PNP) 50%, Victoria MUNOZ (PPD) 46%, Fernando
+ MARTIN (PIP) 4%
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly
+ Senate: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 5
+ November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (29
+ total) PNP 20, PPD 8, PIP 1
+ House of Representatives: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to
+ be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA;
+ seats - (53 total) PNP 36, PPD 16, PIP 1
+ US House of Representatives: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next
+ to be held 5 November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA;
+ seats - (1 total) PNP 1 (Carlos Romero BARCELO); note - Puerto Rico
+ elects one representative to the US House of Representatives
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Superior Courts, Municipal Courts
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National Republican Party of Puerto
+ Rico, Luis FERRE; Popular Democratic Party (PPD), Hector ACEVEDO; New
+ Progressive Party (PNP), Pedro ROSSELLO; Puerto Rican Socialist Party
+ (PSP) has been disbanded (1994); Puerto Rican Independence Party
+ (PIP), Ruben BERRIOS Martinez; Puerto Rican Communist Party (PCP),
+ leader(s) unknown
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Armed Forces for National
+ Liberation (FALN); Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution; Boricua
+ Popular Army (also known as the Macheteros); Armed Forces of Popular
+ Resistance
+
+ Member of: CARICOM (observer), ECLAC (associate), FAO (associate),
+ ICFTU, INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, WCL, WFTU, WHO (associate), WTO
+ (associate)
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (commonwealth associated with
+ the US)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (commonwealth associated with the
+ US)
+
+ Flag: five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating
+ with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a
+ large white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the US
+ flag
+
+@Puerto Rico:Economy
+
+ Overview: Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the
+ Caribbean region. Industry has surpassed agriculture as the primary
+ sector of economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty free access
+ to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in
+ Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Important
+ industries include pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles,
+ petrochemicals, and processed foods. Sugar production has lost out to
+ dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of
+ income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an
+ important source of income for the island, with estimated arrivals of
+ nearly 3.9 million tourists in 1993.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $26.8 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.6% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $7,050 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 16% (1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $5.1 billion
+ expenditures: $5.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (FY94/95)
+
+ Exports: $21.8 billion (1994)
+ commodities: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum,
+ beverage concentrates, medical equipment, instruments
+ partners: US 86.2% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $16.7 billion (1994)
+ commodities: chemicals, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
+ partners: US 69.2% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1994 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 4.230,000 kW
+ production: 15.6 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,819 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: manufacturing accounts for 39.4% of GDP; manufacturing of
+ pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, instruments;
+ tourism
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for only 3% of labor force and just over 1% of
+ GDP; crops - sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas;
+ livestock - cattle, chickens; imports a large share of food needs
+ (1993)
+
+ Economic aid: none
+
+ Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: US currency is used
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Puerto Rico:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 96 km rural narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; note -
+ no passenger railroads
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 13,762 km
+ paved: 13,762 km (1982)
+
+ Ports: Guanica, Guayanilla, Guayama, Playa de Ponce, San Juan
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 31
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 9
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 14
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+
+@Puerto Rico:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; modern system, integrated with that
+ of the US by high capacity submarine cable and INTELSAT with
+ high-speed data capability; digital telephone system with about 1
+ million lines; cellular telephone service (1990)
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT earth station and submarine cable
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 50, FM 63, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 9; note - cable television available with US
+ programs (1990)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Puerto Rico:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+QATAR
+
+@Qatar:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi
+ Arabia
+
+ Map references: Middle East
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 11,000 sq km
+ land area: 11,000 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut
+
+ Land boundaries: total 60 km, Saudi Arabia 60 km
+
+ Coastline: 563 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: territorial dispute with Bahrain over the
+ Hawar Islands; maritime boundary with Bahrain
+
+ Climate: desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer
+
+ Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and
+ gravel
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 5%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 95%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: limited natural fresh water resources are increasing
+ dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
+ natural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
+ international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Law
+ of the Sea
+
+ Note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum
+ deposits
+
+@Qatar:People
+
+ Population: 533,916 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 30% (female 81,443; male 80,591)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 104,921; male 258,135)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 2,941; male 5,885) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.74% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 22.72 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 3.59 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 8.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 20.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 73.03 years
+ male: 70.45 years
+ female: 75.5 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.63 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Qatari(s)
+ adjective: Qatari
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%,
+ other 14%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 95%
+
+ Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second
+ language
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1986)
+ total population: 76%
+ male: 77%
+ female: 72%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+
+@Qatar:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: State of Qatar
+ conventional short form: Qatar
+ local long form: Dawlat Qatar
+ local short form: Qatar
+
+ Digraph: QA
+
+ Type: traditional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Doha
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular -
+ baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al
+ Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Salal
+
+ Independence: 3 September 1971 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
+
+ Constitution: provisional constitution enacted 2 April 1970
+
+ Legal system: discretionary system of law controlled by the amir,
+ although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant
+ in personal matters
+
+ Suffrage: none
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: Amir and Prime Minister KHALIFA
+ bin Hamad Al Thani (since 22 February 1972); Crown Prince HAMAD bin
+ Khalifa Al Thani (appointed 31 May 1977; son of Amir and Minister of
+ Defense)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the amir
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura): constitution calls for elections
+ for part of this consultative body, but no elections have been held;
+ seats - (30 total)
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
+
+ Political parties and leaders: none
+
+ Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GATT, GCC,
+ IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,
+ OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador ABD AL-RAHMAN bin Saud bin Fahd Al Thani
+ chancery: Suite 1180, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
+ 20037
+ telephone: [1] (202) 338-0111
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Kenton W. KEITH
+ embassy: 149 Ali Bin Ahmed St., Farig Bin Omran (opposite the
+ television station), Doha
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
+ telephone: [974] 864701 through 864703
+ FAX: [974] 861669
+
+ Flag: maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on
+ the hoist side
+
+@Qatar:Economy
+
+ Overview: Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more
+ than 30% of GDP, roughly 75% of export earnings, and 70% of government
+ revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.3 billion barrels should ensure
+ continued output at current levels for about 25 years. Oil has given
+ Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to the leading West European
+ industrial countries. Production and export of natural gas are
+ becoming increasingly important. Long-term goals feature the
+ development of off-shore oil and the diversification of the economy.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $10.7 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -1% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $20,820 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $2.5 billion
+ expenditures: $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $440
+ million (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $3.13 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum products 75%, steel, fertilizers
+ partners: Japan 57%, South Korea 9%, Brazil 4%, UAE 4%, Singapore 3%
+ (1992)
+
+ Imports: $1.75 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals
+ partners: Japan 16%, UK 11%, US 11%, Germany 7%, France 5% (1992)
+
+ External debt: $1.5 billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: accounts for 50% of GDP, including oil
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,520,000 kW
+ production: 4.5 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 8,415 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers,
+ petrochemicals, steel (rolls reinforcing bars for concrete
+ construction), cement
+
+ Agriculture: farming and grazing on small scale, less than 2% of GDP;
+ agricultural area is small and government-owned; commercial fishing
+ increasing in importance; most food imported
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: pledged in ODA to less developed countries (1979-88), $2.7
+ billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams
+
+ Exchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1 - 3.6400 riyals (fixed
+ rate)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Qatar:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1,190 km
+ paved: 1,030 km
+ unpaved: 160 km (1988 est.)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km
+
+ Ports: Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 463,227 GRT/763,507 DWT
+ ships by type: combination ore/oil 1, container 3, cargo 11, oil
+ tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 6
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+
+@Qatar:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 110,000 telephones; modern system centered in Doha
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay
+ to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; 2
+ INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 ARABSAT earth
+ station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 3
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Qatar:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 219,442; males fit for military
+ service 115,103; males reach military age (18) annually 3,915 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA%, of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+REUNION
+
+ (overseas department of France)
+
+@Reunion:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
+ Madagascar
+
+ Map references: World
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 2,510 sq km
+ land area: 2,500 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 201 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical, but moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May
+ to November, hot and rainy from November to April
+
+ Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
+
+ Natural resources: fish, arable land
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 20%
+ permanent crops: 2%
+ meadows and pastures: 4%
+ forest and woodland: 35%
+ other: 39%
+
+ Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April);
+ Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
+ international agreements: NA
+
+@Reunion:People
+
+ Population: 666,067 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 32% (female 104,924; male 109,972)
+ 15-64 years: 62% (female 210,762; male 203,774)
+ 65 years and over: 6% (female 21,606; male 15,029) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.98% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 24.59 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 4.79 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 74.46 years
+ male: 71.39 years
+ female: 77.67 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.75 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Reunionese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Reunionese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani,
+ Indian
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 94%
+
+ Languages: French (official), Creole widely used
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
+ total population: 79%
+ male: 76%
+ female: 80%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: agriculture 30%, industry 21%, services 49% (1981)
+
+@Reunion:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Department of Reunion
+ conventional short form: Reunion
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: Ile de la Reunion
+
+ Digraph: RE
+
+ Type: overseas department of France
+
+ Capital: Saint-Denis
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
+
+ Independence: none (overseas department of France)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
+
+ Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
+
+ Legal system: French law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
+ head of government: Prefect of Reunion Island Hubert FOURNIER (since
+ NA)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional
+ Council
+ General Council: elections last held March 1994 (next to be held NA);
+ results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (47 total) PCR 12, PS
+ 12, UDF 11, RPR 5, others 7
+ Regional Council: elections last held 25 June 1993 (next to be held
+ NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (45 total) UPF 17,
+ Free-Dom Movement 13, PCR 9, PS 6
+ French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1992 (next to be held
+ NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (3 total) RPR 1,
+ FRA 1, independent 1
+ French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993
+ (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;
+ seats - (5 total) PS 1, PCR 1, UPF 1, RPR 1, UDF-CDS 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Appeals (Cour d'Appel)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR), Alain
+ DEFAUD; Union for French Democracy (UDF), Gilbert GERARD; Communist
+ Party of Reunion (PCR), Elie HOARAU;; France-Reunion Future (FRA),
+ Andre THIEN AH KOON; Socialist Party (PS), Jean-Claude FRUTEAU; Social
+ Democrats (CDS), leader NA; Union for France (UPF - including RPR and
+ UDF); Free-Dom Movement, Marguerite SUDRE
+
+ Member of: FZ, WFTU
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas department of France)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (overseas department of France)
+
+ Flag: the flag of France is used
+
+@Reunion:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture.
+ Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more than a century, and in
+ some years it accounts for 85% of exports. The government has been
+ pushing the development of a tourist industry to relieve high
+ unemployment, which recently amounted to one-third of the labor force.
+ The gap in Reunion between the well-off and the poor is extraordinary
+ and accounts for the persistent social tensions. The white and Indian
+ communities are substantially better off than other segments of the
+ population, often approaching European standards, whereas indigenous
+ groups suffer the poverty and unemployment typical of the poorer
+ nations of the African continent. The outbreak of severe rioting in
+ February 1991 illustrates the seriousness of socioeconomic tensions.
+ The economic well-being of Reunion depends heavily on continued
+ financial assistance from France.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $3,900 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: 35% (February 1991)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $358 million
+ expenditures: $914 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1986 est.)
+
+ Exports: $166 million (f.o.b., 1988)
+ commodities: sugar 75%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 4%,
+ lobster 3%, vanilla and tea 1%
+ partners: France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy
+
+ Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1988)
+ commodities: manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery
+ and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products
+ partners: France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%; about 25% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 180,000 kW
+ production: 1 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,454 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: sugar, rum, cigarettes, several small shops producing
+ handicraft items
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 30% of labor force; dominant sector of
+ economy; cash crops - sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco; food crops -
+ tropical fruits, vegetables, corn; imports large share of food needs
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $14.8 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.2943 (January 1995),
+ 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Reunion:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 2,800 km
+ paved: 2,200 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 600 km
+
+ Ports: Le Port, Pointe des Galets
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Reunion:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 85,900 telephones; adequate system; principal center
+ Saint-Denis
+ local: NA
+ intercity: modern open-wire and microwave network
+ international: radiocommunication to Comoros, France, Madagascar; new
+ microwave route to Mauritius; 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 13, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1 (repeaters 18)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Reunion:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Gendarmerie)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 173,693; males fit for military
+ service 89,438; males reach military age (18) annually 5,781 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of France
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ROMANIA
+
+@Romania:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between
+ Bulgaria and Ukraine
+
+ Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 237,500 sq km
+ land area: 230,340 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,508 km, Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km,
+ Moldova 450 km, Serbia and Montenegro 476 km (all with Serbia),
+ Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (south) 169 km
+
+ Coastline: 225 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: certain territory of Moldova and Ukraine -
+ including Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina - are considered by
+ Bucharest as historically a part of Romania; this territory was
+ incorporated into the former Soviet Union following the
+ Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1940
+
+ Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog;
+ sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
+
+ Terrain: central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of
+ Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from
+ the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural
+ gas, coal, iron ore, salt
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 43%
+ permanent crops: 3%
+ meadows and pastures: 19%
+ forest and woodland: 28%
+ other: 7%
+
+ Irrigated land: 34,500 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air
+ pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube
+ delta wetlands
+ natural hazards: earthquakes most severe in south and southwest;
+ geologic structure and climate promote landslides
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty,
+ Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
+ Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
+ Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans,
+ Moldova, and Ukraine
+
+@Romania:People
+
+ Population: 23,198,330 (July 1995 est.)
+ note: the Romanian census of January 1992 gives the population for
+ that date as 22.749 million; the government estimates that population
+ declined in 1993 by 0.3%
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 21% (female 2,413,933; male 2,534,019)
+ 15-64 years: 67% (female 7,737,531; male 7,732,038)
+ 65 years and over: 12% (female 1,604,210; male 1,176,599) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.09% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 13.71 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.93 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -2.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 18.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 72.24 years
+ male: 69.31 years
+ female: 75.35 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Romanian(s)
+ adjective: Romanian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Romanian 89.1%, Hungarian 8.9%, German 0.4%,
+ Ukrainian, Serb, Croat, Russian, Turk, and Gypsy 1.6%
+
+ Religions: Romanian Orthodox 70%, Roman Catholic 6% (of which 3% are
+ Uniate), Protestant 6%, unaffiliated 18%
+
+ Languages: Romanian, Hungarian, German
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1992)
+ total population: 97%
+ male: 98%
+ female: 95%
+
+ Labor force: 11.3 million (1992)
+ by occupation: industry 38%, agriculture 28%, other 34% (1989)
+
+@Romania:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Romania
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: Romania
+
+ Digraph: RO
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Bucharest
+
+ Administrative divisions: 40 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1
+ municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor,
+ Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti*, Buzau,
+ Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj,
+ Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Maramures,
+ Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu,
+ Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea
+
+ Independence: 1881 (from Turkey; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947)
+
+ National holiday: National Day of Romania, 1 December (1990)
+
+ Constitution: 8 December 1991
+
+ Legal system: former mixture of civil law system and Communist legal
+ theory; is now based on the Constitution of France's Fifth Republic
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Ion ILIESCU (since 20 June 1990, previously
+ President of Provisional Council of National Unity since 23 December
+ 1989); election last held 27 September 1992, with runoff between top
+ two candidates on 11 October 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results -
+ Ion ILIESCU 61.4%, Emil CONSTANTINESCU 38.6%
+ head of government: Prime Minister Nicolae VACAROIU (since November
+ 1992)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
+ Senate (Senat): elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held
+ NA 1996); results - PSDR 34.3%, CDR 18.2%, DP-FSN 12.6%, others 34.9%;
+ seats - (143 total) PSDR 49, CDR 26, DP-FSN 18, PUNR 13, UDMR 12, PRM
+ 6, PAC 6, PDAR 5, PSM 5, PL-93 2 other 1
+ House of Deputies (Adunarea Deputatilor): elections last held 27
+ September 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - PSDR 34.0%, CDR
+ 16,4%, DP-FSN 12.3%, others 37.3%; seats - (341 total) PSDR 116, CDR
+ 56, DP-FSN 42, PUNR 29, UDMR 27, PL-93 19, PRM 15, PSM 13, PAC 5,
+ other 19
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice, Constitutional Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party (DP-FSN), Petre ROMAN;
+ Social Democratic Party of Romania (PSDR), Adrian NASTASE; Democratic
+ Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), Bela MARKO; National Liberal
+ Party (PNL), Mircea IONESCU-QUINTUS; National Peasants' Christian and
+ Democratic Party (PNTCD), Corneliu COPOSU; Romanian National Unity
+ Party (PUNR), Gheorghe FUNAR; Socialist Labor Party (PSM), Ilie
+ VERDET; Agrarian Democratic Party of Romania (PDAR), Victor SURDU; The
+ Democratic Convention (CDR), Emil CONSTANTINESCU; Romania Mare Party
+ (PRM), Corneliu Vadim TUDOR; Civic Alliance Party (PAC), Nicolae
+ MANOLESCU, chairman
+ note: numerous other small parties exist but almost all failed to gain
+ representation in the most recent election
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: various human rights and
+ professional associations
+
+ Member of: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI (associate members), EBRD,
+ ECE, FAO, G- 9, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC,
+ IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM
+ (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OSCE,
+ PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UPU, WCL, WEU
+ (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Mihai Horia BOTEZ
+ chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851
+ FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748
+ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Alfred H. MOSES
+ embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest
+ mailing address: American Consulate General (Bucharest), Unit 1315,
+ Bucharest; APO AE 09213-1315
+ telephone: [40] (1) 210 01 49, 210 40 42
+ FAX: [40] (1) 210 03 95
+ branch office: Cluj-Napoca
+
+ Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and
+ red; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow
+ band has been removed; now similar to the flags of Andorra and Chad
+
+@Romania:Economy
+
+ Overview: Despite the continuing difficulties in moving away from the
+ former command system, the Romanian economy seems to have bottomed out
+ in 1993-94. Market oriented reforms have been introduced fitfully
+ since the downfall of CEAUSESCU in December 1989, with the result a
+ growing private sector, especially in services. The slow pace of
+ structural reform, however, has exacerbated Romania's high inflation
+ rate and eroded real wages. Agricultural production rebounded in 1993
+ from the drought-reduced harvest of 1992. The economy continued its
+ recovery in 1994, further gains being realized in agriculture,
+ construction, services, and trade. Food supplies are adequate but
+ expensive. Romania's infrastructure had deteriorated over the last
+ five years due to reduced levels of public investment. Residents of
+ the capital reported frequent disruptions of heating and water
+ services. The slow and painful process of conversion to a more open
+ economy will continue in 1995.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $64.7 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3.4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,790 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 62% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 10.9% (December 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $8.3 billion
+ expenditures: $9.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1995 est.)
+
+ Exports: $6 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: metals and metal products 17.6%, mineral products 11.9%,
+ textiles 18.5%, electric machines and equipment 8.4%, transport
+ materials 6.5% (1994)
+ partners: EC 36.1%, developing countries 27.4%, East and Central
+ Europe 14.9%, EFTA 5.1%, Russia 5%, Japan 1.4%, US 1.3% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $6.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: minerals 21.1%, machinery and equipment 19.7%, textiles
+ 11.5%, agricultural goods 9.2% (1994)
+ partners: EC 45.8%, East and Central Europe 8.6%, developing countries
+ 22.6%, Russia 11%, EFTA 6.2%, US 5.0%, Japan 0.8% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $4.4 billion (1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -1% (1993 est.); accounts for 45%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 22,180,000 kW
+ production: 50.8 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,076 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy,
+ chemicals, machine building, food processing, petroleum production and
+ refining
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 18% of GDP and 28% of labor force; major
+ wheat and corn producer; other products - sugar beets, sunflower seed,
+ potatoes, milk, eggs, meat, grapes
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for southwest Asian heroin and
+ Latin American cocaine transiting the Balkan route
+
+ Economic aid: $NA
+
+ Currency: 1 leu (L) = 100 bani
+
+ Exchange rates: lei (L) per US$1 - 1,776.00 (January 1995), 1,655.09
+ (1994), 760.05 (1993), 307.95 (1992), 76.39 (1991), 22.432 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Romania:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 11,365 km
+ broad gauge: 45 km 1.524-m gauge
+ standard gauge: 10,893 km 1.435-m gauge (3,723 km electrified; 3,060
+ km double track)
+ narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 461,880 km
+ paved: 235,559 km (113 km of expressways)
+ unpaved: 226,321 km (1992)
+
+ Inland waterways: 1,724 km (1984)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 2,800 km; petroleum products 1,429 km; natural
+ gas 6,400 km (1992)
+
+ Ports: Braila, Constanta, Galatz, Mangalia, Sulina, Tulcea
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 238 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,528,971 GRT/3,849,943
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 46, cargo 167, container 2, oil tanker 14,
+ passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7
+ note: in addition, Romania owns 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
+ 1,207,388 DWT that operate under Liberian, Maltese, Cypriot, and
+ Bahamian registry
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 156
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 4
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 17
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 108
+
+@Romania:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: about 2.3 million telephones; 99 telephones/1,000
+ persons; 89% of phone network is automatic; poor service; cable and
+ open wire
+ local: NA
+ intercity: trunk network is microwave; roughly 3,300 villages with no
+ service (February 1990)
+ international: 1 INTELSAT earth station; new digital international
+ direct dial exchanges are in Bucharest (1993)
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 5, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 13 (1990)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Romania:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Paramilitary Forces,
+ Civil Defense
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 5,934,524; males fit for
+ military service 5,002,287; males reach military age (20) annually
+ 196,587 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: 1,260 billion lei, 3% of GDP (1994); note -
+ conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current
+ exchange rate could produce misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+RUSSIA
+
+@Russia:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is sometimes
+ included with Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and
+ the North Pacific Ocean
+
+ Map references: Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 17,075,200 sq km
+ land area: 16,995,800 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than 1.8 times the size of the US
+
+ Land boundaries: total 20,139 km, Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km,
+ China (southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 290 km,
+ Finland 1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 19
+ km, Latvia 217 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia
+ 3,441 km, Norway 167 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Ukraine
+ 1,576 km
+
+ Coastline: 37,653 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: inherited disputes from former USSR including:
+ sections of the boundary with China; islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri,
+ and Shikotan and the Habomai group occupied by the Soviet Union in
+ 1945, administered by Russia, claimed by Japan; maritime dispute with
+ Norway over portion of the Barents Sea; Caspian Sea boundaries are not
+ yet determined; potential dispute with Ukraine over Crimea; Estonia
+ claims over 2,000 sq km of Russian territory in the Narva and Pechora
+ regions; the Abrene section of the border ceded by the Latvian Soviet
+ Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944; has made no territorial claim in
+ Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not
+ recognize the claims of any other nation
+
+ Climate: ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in
+ much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the
+ polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in
+ Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic
+ coast
+
+ Terrain: broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous
+ forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern
+ border regions
+
+ Natural resources: wide natural resource base including major deposits
+ of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, timber
+ note: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder
+ exploitation of natural resources
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 8%
+ permanent crops: NEGL%
+ meadows and pastures: 5%
+ forest and woodland: 45%
+ other: 42%
+
+ Irrigated land: 56,000 sq km (1992)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of
+ coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities;
+ industrial and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and sea
+ coasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper
+ application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes
+ intense radioactive contamination
+ natural hazards: permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment
+ to development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and
+ earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty,
+ Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling;
+ signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
+ Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably
+ located in relation to major sea lanes of the world; despite its size,
+ much of the country lacks proper soils and climates (either too cold
+ or too dry) for agriculture
+
+@Russia:People
+
+ Population: 149,909,089 (July 1995 est.)
+ note: official Russian statistics put the population at 148,200,000
+ for 1994
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 22% (female 16,208,640; male 16,784,017)
+ 15-64 years: 66% (female 50,711,209; male 48,247,101)
+ 65 years and over: 12% (female 12,557,447; male 5,400,675) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.2% (1995 est.)
+ note: official Russian statistics put the population growth rate at
+ -6.0% for 1994
+
+ Birth rate: 12.64 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ note: official Russian statistics put the birth rate at 9.5 births per
+ l,000 population for 1994
+
+ Death rate: 11.36 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ note: official Russian statistics put the death rate at 15.5 deaths
+ per l,000 population in 1994
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 26.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+ note: official Russian statistics put the infant mortality rate at
+ 19.9 deaths per l,000 live births in 1994
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 69.1 years
+ male: 64.1 years
+ female: 74.35 years (1995 est.)
+ note: official Russian statistics put life expectancy at birth as 64
+ years for total population in 1994
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Russian(s)
+ adjective: Russian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Russian 81.5%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 3%, Chuvash
+ 1.2%, Bashkir 0.9%, Byelorussian 0.8%, Moldavian 0.7%, other 8.1%
+
+ Religions: Russian Orthodox, Muslim, other
+
+ Languages: Russian, other
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
+ total population: 98%
+ male: 100%
+ female: 97%
+
+ Labor force: 85 million (1993)
+ by occupation: production and economic services 83.9%, government
+ 16.1%
+
+@Russia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Russian Federation
+ conventional short form: Russia
+ local long form: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya
+ local short form: Rossiya
+ former: Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
+
+ Digraph: RS
+
+ Type: federation
+
+ Capital: Moscow
+
+ Administrative divisions: 21 autonomous republics (avtomnykh
+ respublik, singular - avtomnaya respublika); Adygea (Maykop),
+ Bashkortostan (Ufa), Buryatia (Ulan-Ude), Chechnya (Groznyy),
+ Chuvashia (Cheboksary), Dagestan (Makhachkala), Gorno-Altay
+ (Gorno-Altaysk), Ingushetia (Nazran'), Kabardino-Balkaria (Nal'chik),
+ Kalmykia (Elista), Karachay-Cherkessia (Cherkessk), Karelia
+ (Petrozavodsk), Khakassia (Abakan), Komi (Syktyvkar), Mari El
+ (Yoshkar-Ola), Mordovia (Saransk), North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz),
+ Tatarstan (Kazan'), Tuva (Kyzyl), Udmurtia (Izhevsk), Yakutia - also
+ known as Sakha (Yakutsk); 49 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast');
+ Amur (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', Belgorod, Bryansk,
+ Chelyabinsk, Chita, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Kamchatka
+ (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Kemerovo, Kirov, Kostroma, Kurgan, Kursk,
+ Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Lipetsk, Magadan, Moscow, Murmansk,
+ Nizhniy Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orel, Orenburg, Penza,
+ Perm', Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan', Sakhalin (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samara,
+ Saratov, Smolensk, Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg), Tambov, Tomsk, Tula,
+ Tver', Tyumen', Ul'yanovsk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh,
+ Yaroslavl'; 6 krays (krayev, singular - kray); Altay (Barnaul),
+ Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Primorskiy (Vladivostok),
+ Stavropol'; 10 autonomous okrugs; Aga (Aginskoye), Chukotka (Anadyr'),
+ Evenkia (Tura), Khantia-Mansia (Khanty-Mansiysk), Koryakia (Palana),
+ Nenetsia (Nar'yan-Mar), Permyakia (Kudymkar), Taymyria (Dudinka),
+ Ust'-Onda (Ust'-Ordynskiy), Yamalia (Salekhard); 1 autonomous oblast
+ (avtomnykh oblast'); Birobijan
+ note: the autonomous republics of Chechnya and Ingushetia were
+ formerly the autonomous republic of Checheno-Ingushetia (the boundary
+ between Chechenia and Ingushetia has yet to be determined); the cities
+ of Moscow and St. Petersburg are federal cities; an administrative
+ division has the same name as its administrative center (exceptions
+ have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
+
+ Independence: 24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, June 12 (1990)
+
+ Constitution: adopted 12 December 1993
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of
+ legislative acts
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Boris Nikolayevich YEL'TSIN (since 12 June
+ 1991); election last held 12 June 1991 (next to be held NA 1996);
+ results - percent of vote by party NA; note - no vice president; if
+ the president dies in office, cannot exercise his powers because of
+ ill health, is impeached, or resigns, the premier succeeds him; the
+ premier serves as acting president until a new presidential election
+ is held, which must be within three months
+ head of government: Premier and Chairman of the Council of Ministers
+ Viktor Stepanovich CHERNOMYRDIN (since 14 December 1992); First Deputy
+ Chairmen of the Council of Ministers Oleg SOSKOVETS (since 30 April
+ 1993) and Anatoliy CHUBAYS (since 5 November 1994)
+ Security Council: originally established as a presidential advisory
+ body in June 1991, but restructured in March 1992 with responsibility
+ for managing individual and state security
+ Presidential Administration: drafts presidential edicts and provides
+ staff and policy support to the entire executive branch
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+ Group of Assistants: schedules president's appointments, processes
+ presidential edicts and other official documents, and houses the
+ president's press service and primary speechwriters
+ Council of Heads of Republics: includes the leaders of the 21
+ ethnic-based Republics
+ Council of Heads of Administrations: includes the leaders of the 66
+ autonomous territories and regions, and the mayors of Moscow and St.
+ Petersburg
+ Presidential Council: prepares policy papers for the president
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly
+ Federation Council: elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be
+ held NA); results - two members elected from each of Russia's 89
+ territorial units for a total of 176 deputies; 2 seats unfilled as of
+ 15 May 1994 (Chechnya did not participate in the election); Speaker
+ Vladimir SHUMEYKO (Russia's Democratic Choice)
+ State Duma: elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA
+ December 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (450
+ total) Russia's Democratic Choice 78, New Regional Policy 66, Liberal
+ Democrats 63, Agrarian Party 55, Communist Party of the Russian
+ Federation 45, Unity and Accord 30, Yavlinskiy-Boldyrev-Lukin Bloc
+ (Yabloko) 27, Women of Russia 23, Democratic Party of Russia 15,
+ Russia's Path 12, other parties 23, affiliation unknown 12, unfilled
+ (as of 13 March 1994; Chechnya did not participate in the election) 1;
+ Speaker Ivan RYBKIN (Agrarian Party); note - as of 11 April 1995,
+ seats were as follows: Russia's Democratic Choice 54, New Regional
+ Policy 32, Liberal Democrats 54, Agrarian Party 51, Communist Party of
+ the Russian Federation 45, Unity and Accord 25,
+ Yavlinskiy-Boldyrev-Lukin Bloc (Yabloko) 28, Liberal Democratic Union
+ of 12 December 9, Women of Russia 22, Democratic Party of Russia 10,
+ Russia's Path 12, Duma 96 23, Russia 35, Stability 36, affiliation
+ unknown 14
+
+ Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (highest court
+ for criminal, civil, and administrative cases), Superior Court of
+ Arbitration (highest court that resolves economic disputes)
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ pro-market democrats: Party of Russian Unity and Accord, Sergey
+ SHAKHRAY; Russia's Democratic Choice Party, Yegor GAYDAR; Russian
+ Movement for Democratic Reforms, Anatoliy SOBCHAK;
+ Yavlinskiy-Boldyrev-Lukin Bloc (Yabloko), Grigoriy YAVLINSKIY; Liberal
+ Democratic Union of 12 December, Boris FEDOROV
+ centrists/special interest parties: Civic Union for Stability,
+ Justice, and Progress, Arkadiy VOL'SKIY; Democratic Party of Russia,
+ Sergey GLAZ'YEV; Women of Russia, Alevtina FEDULOVA; Social Democratic
+ Peoples' Party, Vasiliy LIPITSKIY; New Regional Policy (NRP), Vladimir
+ MEDVEDEV
+ anti-market and/or ultranationalist parties: Agrarian Party, Mikhail
+ LAPSHIN; Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Gennadiy ZYUGANOV;
+ Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, Vladimir ZHIRINOVSKIY; Derzhava,
+ Aleksandr RUTSKOY
+ note: more than 20 political parties and associations tried to gather
+ enough signatures to run slates of candidates in the 12 December 1993
+ legislative elections, but only 13 succeeded
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: NA
+
+ Member of: BSEC, CBSS, CCC, CE (guest), CERN (observer), CIS, EBRD,
+ ECE, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO,
+ NACC, NSG, OAS (observer), OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security Council,
+ UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMOZ,
+ UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Sergey LAVROV
+ chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
+ telephone: [1] (202) 298-5700 through 5704
+ FAX: [1] (202) 298-5735
+ consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco, and Seattle
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas R. PICKERING
+ embassy: Novinskiy Bul'var 19/23, Moscow
+ mailing address: APO AE 09721
+ telephone: [7] (095) 252-24-51 through 59
+ FAX: [7] (095) 956-42-61
+ consulate(s) general: St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red
+
+@Russia:Economy
+
+ Overview: Russia, a vast country with a wealth of natural resources, a
+ well-educated population, and a diverse industrial base, continues to
+ experience formidable difficulties in moving from its old centrally
+ planned economy to a modern market economy. President YEL'TSIN's
+ government has made substantial strides in converting to a market
+ economy since launching its economic reform program in January 1992 by
+ freeing nearly all prices, slashing defense spending, eliminating the
+ old centralized distribution system, completing an ambitious voucher
+ privatization program, establishing private financial institutions,
+ and decentralizing foreign trade. Russia, however, has made little
+ progress in a number of key areas that are needed to provide a solid
+ foundation for the transition to a market economy. Financial
+ stabilization has remained elusive, with wide swings in monthly
+ inflation rates. Only limited restructuring of industry has occurred
+ so far because of a scarcity of investment funds and the failure of
+ enterprise managers to make hard cost-cutting decisions. In addition,
+ Moscow has yet to develop a social safety net that would allow faster
+ restructuring by relieving enterprises of the burden of providing
+ social benefits for their workers and has been slow to develop the
+ legal framework necessary to fully support a market economy and to
+ encourage foreign investment. As a result, output has continued to
+ fall. According to Russian official data, which probably overstate the
+ fall, GDP declined by 15% in 1994 compared with a 12% decline in 1993.
+ Industrial output in 1994 fell 21% with all major sectors taking a
+ hit. Agricultural production in 1994 was down 9%. The grain harvest
+ totaled 81 million tons, some 15 million tons less than in 1993.
+ Unemployment climbed to an estimated 6.6 million or about 7% of the
+ work force by yearend 1994. Floundering Russian firms have already had
+ to put another 4.8 million workers on involuntary, unpaid leave or
+ shortened workweeks. Government fears of large-scale unemployment
+ continued to hamper industrial restructuring efforts. According to
+ official Russian data, real per capita income was up nearly 18% in
+ 1994 compared with 1993, in part because many Russians are working
+ second jobs. Most Russians perceive that they are worse off now
+ because of growing crime and health problems and mounting wage
+ arrears. Russia has made significant headway in privatizing state
+ assets, completing its voucher privatization program at midyear 1994.
+ At least a portion of about 110,000 state enterprises were transferred
+ to private hands by the end of 1994. Including partially privatized
+ firms, the private sector accounted for roughly half of GDP in 1994.
+ Financial stabilization continued to remain a challenge for the
+ government. Moscow tightened financial policies in late 1993 and early
+ 1994, including postponing planned budget spending, and succeeded in
+ reducing monthly inflation from 18% in January to about 5% in July and
+ August. At midyear, however, the government relaxed austerity measures
+ in the face of mounting pressure from industry and agriculture,
+ sparking a new round of inflation; the monthly inflation rate jumped
+ to roughly 15% per month during the fourth quarter. In response,
+ Moscow announced a fairly tight government budget for 1995 designed to
+ bring monthly inflation down to around 1% by the end of 1995.
+ According to official statistics, Russia's 1994 trade with nations
+ outside the former Soviet Union produced a $12.3 billion surplus, up
+ from $11.3 billion in 1993. Foreign sales - comprised largely of oil,
+ natural gas, and other raw materials - grew more than 8%. Imports also
+ were up 8% as demand for food and other consumer goods surged. Russian
+ trade with other former Soviet republics continued to decline. At the
+ same time, Russia paid only a fraction of the roughly $20 billion in
+ debt that came due in 1994, and by the end of the year, Russia's hard
+ currency foreign debt had risen to nearly $100 billion. Moscow reached
+ agreement to restructure debts with Paris Club official creditors in
+ mid-1994 and concluded a preliminary deal with its commercial bank
+ creditors late in the year to reschedule debts owed them in early
+ 1995. Capital flight continued to be a serious problem in 1994, with
+ billions of additional dollars in assets being moved abroad, primarily
+ to bank accounts in Europe. Russia's physical plant continues to
+ deteriorate because of insufficient maintenance and new construction.
+ Plant and equipment on average are twice the age of the West's. Many
+ years will pass before Russia can take full advantage of its natural
+ resources and its human assets.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $721.2 billion (1994
+ estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -15% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $4,820 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% per month (average 1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 7.1% (December 1994) with considerable additional
+ underemployment
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $48 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, wood and
+ wood products, metals, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and
+ military manufactures
+ partners: Europe, North America, Japan, Third World countries, Cuba
+
+ Imports: $35.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, medicines, meat,
+ grain, sugar, semifinished metal products
+ partners: Europe, North America, Japan, Third World countries, Cuba
+
+ External debt: $95 billion-$100 billion (yearend 1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -21% (1994)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 213,100,000 KW
+ production: 876 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 5,800 kWh (1994)
+
+ Industries: complete range of mining and extractive industries
+ producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine
+ building from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space
+ vehicles; ship- building; road and rail transportation equipment;
+ communications equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and
+ construction equipment; electric power generating and transmitting
+ equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables
+
+ Agriculture: grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, meat, milk,
+ vegetables, fruits; because of its northern location does not grow
+ citrus, cotton, tea, and other warm climate products
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly
+ for domestic consumption; government has active eradication program;
+ used as transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs
+ to Western Europe and Latin America
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1990-94), $15 billion;
+ other countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1990-93), $120
+ billion
+
+ Currency: 1 ruble (R) = 100 kopeks
+
+ Exchange rates: rubles per US$1 - 3,550 (29 December 1994), 1,247 (27
+ December 1993); nominal exchange rate still deteriorating but real
+ exchange rate holding steady
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Russia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 154,000 km; note - 87,000 km in common carrier service (49,000
+ km diesel; and 38,000 km electrified); 67,000 km serve specific
+ industries and are not available for common carrier use
+ broad gauge: 154,000 km 1.520-m gauge (1 January 1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 934,000 km (445,000 km serve specific industries or farms and
+ are not available for common carrier use)
+ paved and graveled: 725,000 km
+ unpaved: 209,000 km (1 January 1994)
+
+ Inland waterways: total navigable routes in general use 101,000 km;
+ routes with navigation guides serving the Russian River Fleet 95,900
+ km; of which routes with night navigational aids 60,400 km; man-made
+ navigable routes 16,900 km (1 January 1994)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 48,000 km; petroleum products 15,000 km; natural
+ gas 140,000 km (30 June 1993)
+
+ Ports: Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', Kaliningrad, Kazan', Khabarovsk,
+ Kholmsk, Krasnoyarsk, Moscow, Murmansk, Nakhodka, Nevel'sk,
+ Novorossiysk, Petropavlovsk, St. Petersburg, Rostov, Sochi, Tuapse,
+ Vladivostok, Volgograd, Vostochnyy, Vyborg
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 800 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,295,109 GRT/10,128,579
+ DWT
+ ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk cargo 26, cargo 424, chemical
+ tanker 7, combination bulk 22, combination ore/oil 16, container 81,
+ multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 111, passenger 4,
+ passenger-cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 19, roll-on/roll-off cargo 62,
+ short-sea passenger 16, specialized tanker 2
+ note: in addition, Russia owns 235 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
+ 5,084,439 DWT that operate under Maltese, Cypriot, Liberian,
+ Panamanian, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Honduran, Marshall
+ Islands, Bahamian, and Vanuatu registry
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 2,517
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 54
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 202
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 108
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 115
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 151
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 25
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 45
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 134
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 291
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 1,392
+
+@Russia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 24,400,000 telephones; 20,900,000 telephones in
+ urban areas and 3,500,000 telephones in rural areas; of these, total
+ installed in homes 15,400,000; total pay phones for long distant calls
+ 34,100; about 164 telephones/1,000 persons; Russia is enlisting
+ foreign help, by means of joint ventures, to speed up the
+ modernization of its telecommunications system; in 1992, only 661,000
+ new telephones were installed compared with 855,000 in 1991, and in
+ 1992 the number of unsatisfied applications for telephones reached
+ 11,000,000; expanded access to international E-mail service available
+ via Sprint network; the inadequacy of Russian telecommunications is a
+ severe handicap to the economy, especially with respect to
+ international connections
+ local: NMT-450 analog cellular telephone networks are operational and
+ growing in Moscow and St. Petersburg
+ intercity: intercity fiberoptic cable installation remains limited
+ international: international traffic is handled by an inadequate
+ system of satellites, land lines, microwave radio relay and outdated
+ submarine cables; this traffic passes through the international
+ gateway switch in Moscow which carries most of the international
+ traffic for the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent
+ States; a new Russian Raduga satellite will link Moscow and St.
+ Petersburg with Rome from whence calls will be relayed to destinations
+ in Europe and overseas; satellite earth stations - INTELSAT,
+ Intersputnik, Eutelsat (Moscow), INMARSAT, Orbita
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1,050, FM 1,050, shortwave 1,050
+ radios: 48.8 million (radio receivers with multiple speaker systems
+ for program diffusion 74,300,000)
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 7,183
+ televisions: 54.2 million
+
+@Russia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Forces, Air Defense Forces,
+ Strategic Rocket Forces
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 38,264,699; males fit for
+ military service 29,951,977; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 1,106,176 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+ note: the Intelligence Community estimates that defense spending in
+ Russia fell about 15% in real terms in 1994, reducing Russian defense
+ outlays to about one-fourth of peak Soviet levels in the late 1980s;
+ although Russia may still spend as much as 10% of its GDP on defense,
+ this is significantly below the 15% to 17% burden the former USSR
+ carried during much of the 1980s; conversion of military expenditures
+ into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce
+ misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+RWANDA
+
+@Rwanda:Geography
+
+ Location: Central Africa, east of Zaire
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 26,340 sq km
+ land area: 24,950 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Maryland
+
+ Land boundaries: total 893 km, Burundi 290 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda
+ 169 km, Zaire 217 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to
+ January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
+
+ Terrain: mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with
+ altitude declining from west to east
+
+ Natural resources: gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten
+ ore), natural gas, hydropower
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 29%
+ permanent crops: 11%
+ meadows and pastures: 18%
+ forest and woodland: 10%
+ other: 32%
+
+ Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of
+ trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion
+ natural hazards: periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are
+ in the northwest along the border with Zaire
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear Test
+ Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of
+ the Sea
+
+ Note: landlocked; predominantly rural population
+
+@Rwanda:People
+
+ Population: 8,605,307 (July 1995 est.)
+ note: the demographic estimates were prepared before civil strife,
+ starting in April 1994, set in motion substantial and continuing
+ population changes
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 51% (female 2,184,549; male 2,201,049)
+ 15-64 years: 47% (female 2,034,278; male 1,968,298)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 126,255; male 90,878) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.67% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 48.52 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 21.82 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ note: since April 1994, more than one million refugees have fled the
+ civil strife between the Hutu and Tutsi factions in Rwanda and crossed
+ into Zaire, Burundi, and Tanzania; close to 350,000 Rwandan Tutsis who
+ fled civil strife in earlier years are returning to Rwanda and a few
+ of the recent Hutu refugees are going home despite the danger of doing
+ so; the ethnic violence continues and in 1995 could produce further
+ refugee flows as well as deter returns
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 118.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 39.33 years
+ male: 38.5 years
+ female: 40.19 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 8.12 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Rwandan(s)
+ adjective: Rwandan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Hutu 90%, Tutsi 9%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 1%, indigenous
+ beliefs and other 25%
+
+ Languages: Kinyarwanda (official), French (official), Kiswahili used
+ in commercial centers
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 50%
+ male: 64%
+ female: 37%
+
+ Labor force: 3.6 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 93%, government and services 5%, industry
+ and commerce 2%
+
+@Rwanda:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda
+ conventional short form: Rwanda
+ local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda
+ local short form: Rwanda
+
+ Digraph: RW
+
+ Type: republic; presidential system
+ note: after genocide and civil war in April 1994, the Tutsi Rwandan
+ Patriotic Front, in July 1994, took power and formed a new government
+
+ Capital: Kigali
+
+ Administrative divisions: 10 prefectures (prefectures, singular -
+ prefecture in French; plural - NA, singular - prefegitura in
+ Kinyarwanda); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Gitarama,
+ Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali, Ruhengeri
+
+ Independence: 1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
+
+ Constitution: 18 June 1991
+
+ Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil law systems and
+ customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme
+ Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Pasteur BIZIMUNGU (since 19 July 1994); took
+ office following the siezure of the government by the Tutsi Rwandan
+ Patriotic Front and the exiling of interim President Dr. Theodore
+ SINDIKUBWABO; no future election dates have been set
+ head of government: Prime Minister Faustin TWAGIRAMUNGU (since the
+ siezure of power by the Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front in July 1994)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Development Council: (Conseil National de Developpement)
+ elections last held 19 December 1988 (next to be held NA 1995);
+ results - MRND was the only party; seats - (70 total) MRND 70
+
+ Judicial branch: Constitutional Court consists of the Court of
+ Cassation and the Council of State in joint session
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), Alexis
+ KANYARENGWE, Chairman; National Revolutionary Movement for Democracy
+ and Development (MRND); significant independent parties include:
+ Democratic Republican Movement (MDR); Liberal Party (PL); Democratic
+ and Socialist Party (PSD); Coalition for the Defense of the Republic
+ (CDR); Party for Democracy in Rwanda (PADER); Christian Democratic
+ Party (PDL)
+ note: formerly a one-party state, Rwanda legalized independent parties
+ in mid-1991
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), the
+ RPF military wing, Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME, commander;
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT,
+ IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT,
+ INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
+ WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Joseph W.
+ MUTABOBA
+ chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
+ telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882
+ FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ note: US Embassy closed indefinitely
+ chief of mission: Ambassador David P. RAWSON
+ embassy: Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali
+ mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali
+ telephone: [250] 756 01 through 03
+ FAX: [250] 721 28
+
+ Flag: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and
+ green with a large black letter R centered in the yellow band; uses
+ the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of
+ Guinea, which has a plain yellow band
+
+@Rwanda:Economy
+
+ Overview: Rwanda is a poor African nation suffering bitterly from
+ ethnic-based civil war. Almost 50% of GDP comes from the agricultural
+ sector; coffee and tea make up 80%-90% of total exports. The amount of
+ fertile land is limited, however, and deforestation and soil erosion
+ continue to create problems. The industrial sector in Rwanda is small,
+ contributing only 17% to GDP. Manufacturing focuses mainly on the
+ processing of agricultural products. The Rwandan economy remains
+ dependent on coffee/tea exports and foreign aid. Weak international
+ prices since 1986 have caused the economy to contract and per capita
+ GDP to decline. A structural adjustment program with the World Bank
+ began in October 1990. Ethnic-based insurgency since 1990 has
+ devastated wide areas, especially in the north, and displaced hundreds
+ of thousands of people. A peace accord in mid-1993 temporarily ended
+ most of the fighting, but massive resumption of civil warfare in April
+ 1994 in the capital city Kigali and elsewhere has been taking
+ thousands of lives and severely affecting short-term economic
+ prospects. The economy suffers massively from failure to maintain the
+ infrastructure, looting, neglect of important cash crops, and lack of
+ health care facilities.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $7.9 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -8% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $950 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $350 million
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $44 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: coffee 63%, tea, cassiterite, wolframite, pyrethrum
+ partners: Germany, Belgium, Italy, Uganda, UK, France, US
+
+ Imports: $250 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: textiles, foodstuffs, machines and equipment, capital
+ goods, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material
+ partners: US, Belgium, Germany, Kenya, Japan
+
+ External debt: $873 million (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -2.2% (1991); accounts for 17% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 60,000 kW
+ production: 190 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 23 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: mining of cassiterite (tin ore) and wolframite (tungsten
+ ore), tin, cement, agricultural processing, small-scale beverage
+ production, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles,
+ cigarettes
+
+ Agriculture: cash crops - coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made
+ from chrysanthemums); main food crops - bananas, beans, sorghum,
+ potatoes; stock raising
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $128 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $45 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $58 million
+ note: in October 1990 Rwanda launched a Structural Adjustment Program
+ with the IMF; since September 1991, the EC has given $46 million and
+ the US $25 million in support of this program (1993)
+
+ Currency: 1 Rwandan franc (RF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Rwandan francs (RF) per US$1 - 144.3 (3rd quarter
+ 1994), 144.25 (1993), 133.35 (1992), 125.14 (1991), 82.60 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Rwanda:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 4,885 km
+ paved: 880 km
+ unpaved: gravel, sand and gravel 1,305 km; unimproved earth 2,700 km
+
+ Inland waterways: Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and
+ native craft
+
+ Ports: Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 7
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Rwanda:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; telephone system does not provide
+ service to the general public but is intended for business and
+ government use
+ local: NA
+ intercity: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the
+ prefectures by microwave radio relay; the remainder of the network
+ depends on wire and high frequency radio
+ international: international connections employ microwave radio relay
+ to neighboring countries and satellite communications to more distant
+ countries; 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) and 1 SYMPHONIE earth station in
+ Kigali (includes telex and telefax service)
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Rwanda:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Gendarmerie
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,792,326; males fit for
+ military service 913,711 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $112.5 million, 7% of
+ GDP (1992)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SAINT HELENA
+
+ (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+@Saint Helena:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean, west of
+ Angola, about two-thirds of the way from South America to Africa
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 410 sq km
+ land area: 410 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than 2.3 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+ note: includes Ascension, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island,
+ Nightingale Island, and Tristan da Cunha
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 60 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds
+
+ Terrain: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
+
+ Natural resources: fish; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea
+ turtles and sooty terns, no minerals
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 7%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 7%
+ forest and woodland: 3%
+ other: 83%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: Napoleon Bonaparte's place of exile and burial (the remains were
+ taken to Paris in 1840); harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown
+ anywhere else in the world
+
+@Saint Helena:People
+
+ Population: 6,762 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.31% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 9.5 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.43 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 36.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 75.07 years
+ male: 73.01 years
+ female: 76.89 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.13 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Saint Helenian(s)
+ adjective: Saint Helenian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: NA
+
+ Religions: Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman
+ Catholic
+
+ Languages: English
+
+ Literacy: age 20 and over can read and write (1987)
+ total population: 97%
+ male: 97%
+ female: 98%
+
+ Labor force: 2,516
+ by occupation: professional, technical, and related workers 8.7%,
+ managerial, administrative, and clerical 12.8%, sales people 8.1%,
+ farmer, fishermen, etc. 5.4%, craftspersons, production process
+ workers 14.7%, others 50.3% (1987)
+
+@Saint Helena:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Saint Helena
+
+ Digraph: SH
+
+ Type: dependent territory of the UK
+
+ Capital: Jamestown
+
+ Administrative divisions: 1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*;
+ Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha*
+
+ Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen, 10 June
+ 1989 (second Saturday in June)
+
+ Constitution: 1 January 1989
+
+ Legal system: NA
+
+ Suffrage: NA
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
+ head of government: Governor A. N. HOOLE (since NA 1991)
+ cabinet: Executive Council
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Legislative Council: elections last held July 1993 (next to be held
+ NA); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected)
+ independents 15
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: none
+
+ Member of: ICFTU
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
+ and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag;
+ the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship
+
+@Saint Helena:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy depends primarily on financial assistance from
+ the UK. The local population earns some income from fishing, the
+ raising of livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few
+ jobs, a large proportion of the work force has left to seek employment
+ overseas.
+
+ National product: GDP $NA
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $NA
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): -1.1% (1986)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $11.2 million
+ expenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (FY92/93)
+
+ Exports: $27,400 (f.o.b., FY92/93)
+ commodities: fish (frozen and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), handicrafts
+ partners: South Africa, UK
+
+ Imports: $9.8 million (c.i.f., FY92/93)
+ commodities: food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed,
+ building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts
+ partners: UK, South Africa
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 9,800 kW
+ production: 10 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing
+
+ Agriculture: maize, potatoes, vegetables; timber production being
+ developed; crawfishing on Tristan da Cunha
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1992-93), $13.5 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Saint Helenian pound (#S) = 100 pence
+
+ Exchange rates: Saint Helenian pounds (#S) per US$1 - 0.6350 (January
+ 1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6033 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991),
+ 0.5603 (1990); note - the Saint Helenian pound is at par with the
+ British pound
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Saint Helena:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: NA (mainland 107 km, Ascension NA, Tristan da Cunha NA)
+ paved: 169.7 km (mainland 87 km, Ascension 80 km, Tristan da Cunha
+ 2.70 km)
+ unpaved: NA (mainland 20 km earth roads, Ascension NA, Tristan da
+ Cunha NA)
+
+ Ports: Georgetown, Jamestown
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+
+@Saint Helena:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 550 telephones; automatic network
+ local: NA
+ intercity: HF radio links to Ascension, then into worldwide submarine
+ cable and satellite networks
+ international: major coaxial submarine cable relay point between South
+ Africa, Portugal, and UK at Ascension; 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean)
+ earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: 1,500
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Saint Helena:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS
+
+@Saint Kitts And Nevis:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of
+ the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 269 sq km
+ land area: 269 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 135 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental
+ margin
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal
+ temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
+
+ Terrain: volcanic with mountainous interiors
+
+ Natural resources: negligible
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 22%
+ permanent crops: 17%
+ meadows and pastures: 3%
+ forest and woodland: 17%
+ other: 41%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: hurricanes (July to October)
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Whaling
+
+@Saint Kitts And Nevis:People
+
+ Population: 40,992 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 35% (female 7,072; male 7,430)
+ 15-64 years: 57% (female 11,784; male 11,756)
+ 65 years and over: 8% (female 1,729; male 1,221) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.85% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 23.49 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.56 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -5.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 19.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 66.51 years
+ male: 63.51 years
+ female: 69.69 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.56 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Kittsian(s), Nevisian(s)
+ adjective: Kittsian, Nevisian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: black African
+
+ Religions: Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic
+
+ Languages: English
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1980)
+ total population: 97%
+ male: 97%
+ female: 98%
+
+ Labor force: 20,000 (1981)
+
+@Saint Kitts And Nevis:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
+ conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis
+ former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
+
+ Digraph: SC
+
+ Type: constitutional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Basseterre
+
+ Administrative divisions: 14 parishs; Christ Church Nichola Town,
+ Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George
+ Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capisterre, Saint John
+ Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capisterre, Saint Paul
+ Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint
+ Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point
+
+ Independence: 19 September 1983 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
+
+ Constitution: 19 September 1983
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law
+
+ Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor General Sir Clement Athelston ARRINDELL (since
+ 19 September 1983, previously Governor General of theWest Indies
+ Associated States since NA November 1981)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Kennedy Alphonse SIMMONDS
+ (since 19 September 1983, previously Premier of the West Indies
+ Associated States since NA February 1980); Deputy Prime Minister Hugh
+ HEYLIGER (since November 1994)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general in consultation
+ with the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ House of Assembly: elections last held 29 November 1993 (next to be
+ held by 15 November 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA;
+ seats - (14 total, 11 elected) PAM 4, SKNLP 4, NRP 1, CCM 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint
+ Lucia)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: People's Action Movement (PAM), Dr.
+ Kennedy SIMMONDS; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party (SKNLP), Dr.
+ Denzil DOUGLAS; Nevis Reformation Party (NRP), Simeon DANIEL;
+ Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), Vance AMORY
+
+ Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICFTU,
+ ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS (associate), IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, OAS, OECS, UN,
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Erstein Mallet EDWARDS
+ chancery: Suite 608, 2100 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
+ telephone: [1] (202) 833-3550
+ FAX: [1] (202) 833-3553
+
+ US diplomatic representation: no official presence; covered by embassy
+ in Bridgetown, Barbados
+
+ Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black
+ band bearing two white five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in
+ yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red
+
+@Saint Kitts And Nevis:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy has traditionally depended on the growing and
+ processing of sugarcane; decreasing world prices have hurt the
+ industry in recent years. Tourism and export-oriented manufacturing
+ have begun to assume larger roles, although they still only account
+ for 7% and 4% of GDP respectively. Growth in the construction and
+ tourism sectors spurred the economic expansion in 1994. Most food is
+ imported.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $210 million (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $5,300 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (1993)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 12.2% (1990)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $103.2 million
+ expenditures: $102.6 million, including capital expenditures of $50.1
+ million (1995 est.)
+
+ Exports: $32.4 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: machinery, food, electronics, beverages and tobacco
+ partners: US 50%, UK 30%, CARICOM nations 11% (1992)
+
+ Imports: $100 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: machinery, manufactures, food, fuels
+ partners: US 43%, CARICOM nations 18%, UK 12%, Canada 4%, Japan 4%,
+ OECS 4% (1992)
+
+ External debt: $43.3 million (1992)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 5.9% (1992 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 15,800 kW
+ production: 45 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 990 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing,
+ footwear, beverages
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 17% of GDP; cash crop - sugarcane;
+ subsistence crops - rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fishing potential
+ not fully exploited
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined
+ for the US
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-88), $10.7 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $67 million
+
+ Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed
+ rate since 1976)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Saint Kitts And Nevis:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 58 km on Saint Kitts for sugarcane
+ narrow gauge: 58 km 0.760-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 300 km
+ paved: 125 km
+ unpaved: otherwise improved 125 km; unimproved earth 50 km
+
+ Ports: Basseterre, Charlestown
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+
+@Saint Kitts And Nevis:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 2,400 telephones; good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radio
+ connections and international link via Antigua and Barbuda and Saint
+ Martin
+ local: NA
+ intercity: interisland links are handled by VHF/UHF/SHF radio; within
+ the islands all calls are local
+ international: international calls are carried by radio to Antigua and
+ Barbuda and there switched to submarine cable or to INTELSAT, or
+ carried to Saint Martin by radio and switched to INTELSAT
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 4
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Saint Kitts And Nevis:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, Coast Guard
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SAINT LUCIA
+
+@Saint Lucia:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad
+ and Tobago
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 620 sq km
+ land area: 610 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 158 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental
+ margin
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from
+ January to April, rainy season from May to August
+
+ Terrain: volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
+
+ Natural resources: forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral
+ springs, geothermal potential
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 8%
+ permanent crops: 20%
+ meadows and pastures: 5%
+ forest and woodland: 13%
+ other: 54%
+
+ Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the
+ northern region
+ natural hazards: hurricanes and volcanic activity
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law
+ of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
+
+@Saint Lucia:People
+
+ Population: 156,050 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 35% (female 26,710; male 27,255)
+ 15-64 years: 60% (female 47,584; male 46,326)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 5,040; male 3,135) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.17% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 22.48 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.1 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -4.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 20.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 69.88 years
+ male: 66.33 years
+ female: 73.67 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.37 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Saint Lucian(s)
+ adjective: Saint Lucian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: African descent 90.3%, mixed 5.5%, East Indian 3.2%,
+ Caucasian 0.8%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 7%, Anglican 3%
+
+ Languages: English (official), French patois
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1980)
+ total population: 67%
+ male: 65%
+ female: 69%
+
+ Labor force: 43,800
+ by occupation: agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry and
+ commerce 17.7% (1983 est.)
+
+@Saint Lucia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Saint Lucia
+
+ Digraph: ST
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Castries
+
+ Administrative divisions: 11 quarters; Anse La Raye, Castries,
+ Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin,
+ Soufriere, Vieux Fort
+
+ Independence: 22 February 1979 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
+
+ Constitution: 22 February 1979
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor General Sir Stanislaus Anthony JAMES (since 10
+ October 1988)
+ head of government: Prime Minister John George Melvin COMPTON (since 3
+ May 1982)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice of the
+ prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
+ Senate: consists of an 11-member body, 6 appointed on the advice of
+ the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition,
+ and 2 after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups
+ House of Assembly: elections last held 27 April 1992 (next to be held
+ by April 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17
+ total) UWP 11, SLP 6
+
+ Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: United Workers' Party (UWP), John
+ COMPTON; Saint Lucia Labor Party (SLP), Julian HUNTE; Progressive
+ Labor Party (PLP), Jon ODLUM
+
+ Member of: ACCT (associate), ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77,
+ GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (subscriber), NAM,
+ OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Joseph Edsel EDMUNDS
+ chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
+ telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795
+ FAX: [1] (202) 364-6728
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation: no official presence since the
+ Ambassador resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)
+
+ Flag: blue with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the
+ upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border
+
+@Saint Lucia:Economy
+
+ Overview: Though foreign investment in manufacturing and information
+ processing in recent years has increased Saint Lucia's industrial
+ base, the economy remains vulnerable due to its heavy dependence on
+ banana production, which is subject to periodic droughts and tropical
+ storms. Indeed, the destructive effect of Tropical Storm Debbie in
+ mid-1994 caused the loss of 60% of the year's banana crop. Increased
+ competition from Latin American bananas will probably further reduce
+ market prices, exacerbating Saint Lucia's need to diversify its
+ economy in coming years, e.g., by expanding tourism, manufacturing,
+ and construction
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $610 million (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $4,200 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.8% (1993)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 25% (1993 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $121 million
+ expenditures: $127 million, including capital expenditures of $104
+ million (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $122.8 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: bananas 60%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut
+ oil
+ partners: UK 56%, US 22%, CARICOM 19% (1991)
+
+ Imports: $276 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation
+ equipment 21%, food and live animals, chemicals, fuels
+ partners: US 34%, CARICOM 17%, UK 14%, Japan 7%, Canada 4% (1991)
+
+ External debt: $96.4 million (1992 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 3.5% (1990 est.); accounts for 12%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 20,000 kW
+ production: 112 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 693 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages,
+ corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut
+ processing
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 14% of GDP and 43% of labor force; crops -
+ bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus fruit, root crops, cocoa;
+ imports food for the tourist industry
+
+ Illicit drugs: transit country for South American drugs destined for
+ the US and Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $120 million
+
+ Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed
+ rate since 1976)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Saint Lucia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 760 km
+ paved: 500 km
+ unpaved: otherwise improved 260 km
+
+ Ports: Castries, Vieux Fort
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 3
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+
+@Saint Lucia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 9,500 telephones
+ local: low density (6 telephones/100 persons) but the system is
+ automatically switched
+ intercity: no intercity traffic
+ international: direct microwave link with Martinique and Saint Vincent
+ and the Grenadines; interisland troposcatter link to Barbados
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1 cable
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Saint Lucia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, Coast Guard
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON
+
+ (territorial collectivity of France)
+
+@Saint Pierre And Miquelon:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean,
+ south of Newfoundland (Canada)
+
+ Map references: North America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 242 sq km
+ land area: 242 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+ note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the
+ Miquelon groups
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 120 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: focus of maritime boundary dispute between
+ Canada and France
+
+ Climate: cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are
+ windy
+
+ Terrain: mostly barren rock
+
+ Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 13%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 4%
+ other: 83%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime
+ hazard
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: vegetation scanty
+
+@Saint Pierre And Miquelon:People
+
+ Population: 6,757 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.78% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 13.02 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.83 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 10.77 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 76 years
+ male: 74.4 years
+ female: 77.92 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.67 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
+ adjective: French
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 98%
+
+ Languages: French
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
+ total population: 99%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 2,850 (1988)
+ by occupation: NA
+
+@Saint Pierre And Miquelon:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and
+ Miquelon
+ conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
+ local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
+ local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
+
+ Digraph: SB
+
+ Type: territorial collectivity of France
+
+ Capital: Saint-Pierre
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France)
+
+ Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under
+ French control since 1763)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
+
+ Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
+
+ Legal system: French law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
+ head of government: Commissioner of the Republic Yves HENRY (since NA
+ December 1993); President of the General Council Gerard GRIGNON (since
+ NA April 1994)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ General Council: elections last held NA April 1994 (next to be held NA
+ April 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (19 total)
+ seats by party NA
+ French Senate: elections last held NA September 1986 (next to be held
+ NA September 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1
+ total) PS 1
+ French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993
+ (next to be held NA June 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;
+ seats - (1 total) UDF 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals (Tribunal Superieur
+ d'Appel)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party (PS), Albert PEN; Union
+ for French Democracy (UDF/CDS), Gerard GRIGNON
+
+ Member of: FZ, WFTU
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (territorial collectivity of
+ France)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (territorial collectivity of
+ France)
+
+ Flag: the flag of France is used
+
+@Saint Pierre And Miquelon:Economy
+
+ Overview: The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood
+ by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of
+ Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because the
+ number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre has dropped steadily over the
+ years. In March 1989, an agreement between France and Canada set fish
+ quotas for Saint Pierre's trawlers fishing in Canadian and
+ Canadian-claimed waters for three years. The agreement settles a
+ longstanding dispute that had virtually brought fish exports to a
+ halt. The islands are heavily subsidized by France. Imports come
+ primarily from Canada and France.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $66 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $10,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: 9.6% (1990)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $18.3 million
+ expenditures: $18.3 million, including capital expenditures of $5.5
+ million (1989 est.)
+
+ Exports: $30 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
+ commodities: fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts
+ partners: US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%, Canada, Portugal (1990)
+
+ Imports: $82 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
+ commodities: meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery,
+ building materials
+ partners: Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 10,000 kW
+ production: 50 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 6,013 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets;
+ tourism
+
+ Agriculture: vegetables, cattle, sheep, pigs for local consumption;
+ fish catch of 20,500 metric tons (1989)
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $500 million
+
+ Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.2943 (January 1995),
+ 5.520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Saint Pierre And Miquelon:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 120 km
+ paved: 60 km
+ unpaved: earth 60 km (1985)
+
+ Ports: Saint Pierre
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+
+@Saint Pierre And Miquelon:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 3,601 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: radio communication with most countries in the world; 1
+ satellite link in French domestic satellite system
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Saint Pierre And Miquelon:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of France
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
+
+@Saint Vincent And The Grenadines:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad
+ and Tobago
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 340 sq km
+ land area: 340 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 84 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season
+ (May to November)
+
+ Terrain: volcanic, mountainous; Soufriere volcano on the island of
+ Saint Vincent
+
+ Natural resources: negligible
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 38%
+ permanent crops: 12%
+ meadows and pastures: 6%
+ forest and woodland: 41%
+ other: 3%
+
+ Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from
+ discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas
+ pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive
+ natural hazards: hurricanes; Soufriere volcano is a constant threat
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the
+ Sea, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified -
+ Desertification
+
+ Note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is
+ divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
+
+@Saint Vincent And The Grenadines:People
+
+ Population: 117,344 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 34% (female 19,551; male 20,185)
+ 15-64 years: 61% (female 35,565; male 35,573)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 3,793; male 2,677) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.65% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 19.62 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.46 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -7.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 17.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 72.66 years
+ male: 71.15 years
+ female: 74.21 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
+ adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: African descent, Caucasian, East Indian, Carib
+ Indian
+
+ Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist
+
+ Languages: English, French patois
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970)
+ total population: 96%
+ male: 96%
+ female: 96%
+
+ Labor force: 67,000 (1984 est.)
+ by occupation: NA
+
+@Saint Vincent And The Grenadines:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
+
+ Digraph: VC
+
+ Type: constitutional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Kingstown
+
+ Administrative divisions: 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint
+ Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
+
+ Independence: 27 October 1979 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
+
+ Constitution: 27 October 1979
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor General David JACK (since 29 September 1989)
+ head of government: Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL (since 30 July
+ 1984); Deputy Prime Minister Parnel CAMPBELL (since NA February 1994);
+ note - governor general appoints leader of the majority party to
+ position of prime minister
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on the advice of
+ the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ House of Assembly: elections last held 21 February 1994 (next to be
+ held NA July 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21
+ total, 15 elected representatives and 6 appointed senators) NDP 12,
+ ULP 3
+
+ Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint
+ Lucia)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: New Democratic Party (NDP), James
+ MITCHELL (son of Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL); United People's
+ Movement (UPM), Adrian SAUNDERS; National Reform Party (NRP), Joel
+ MIGUEL; Unity Labor Party (ULP),Vincent BEACHE - formed by the
+ coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party (SVLP) and the Movement for
+ National Unity (MNU)
+
+ Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user),
+ INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
+ WCL, WFTU, WHO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Kingsley C.A. LAYNE
+ chancery: 1717 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 102, Washington, DC
+ 20036
+ telephone: [1] (202) 462-7806, 7846
+ FAX: [1] (202) 462-7807
+
+ US diplomatic representation: no official presence since the
+ Ambassador resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)
+
+ Flag: three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width),
+ and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V
+ pattern
+
+@Saint Vincent And The Grenadines:Economy
+
+ Overview: Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is the most
+ important sector of the economy. The services sector, based mostly on
+ a growing tourist industry, is also important. In 1993, economic
+ growth slowed to 1.4%, reflecting a sharp decline in agricultural
+ production caused by drought. The government has been relatively
+ unsuccessful at introducing new industries, and high unemployment
+ rates of 35%-40% continue.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $235 million (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,000 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 35%-40% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $66.2
+ expenditures: $77.3 million, including capital expenditures of $23
+ million (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $57.1 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch,
+ tennis racquets
+ partners: UK 54%, CARICOM 34%, US 10%
+
+ Imports: $134.6 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and
+ fertilizers, minerals and fuels
+ partners: US 36%, CARICOM 21%, UK 18%, Trinidad and Tobago 13%
+
+ External debt: $74.9 million (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: NA
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 16,600 kW
+ production: 50 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 436 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 14% of GDP and 60% of labor force; provides
+ bulk of exports; products - bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices;
+ small numbers of cattle, sheep, hogs, goats; small fish catch used
+ locally
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined
+ for the US and Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $11 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $81 million
+
+ Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed
+ rate since 1976)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Saint Vincent And The Grenadines:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1,000 km
+ paved: 300 km
+ unpaved: improved earth 400 km; unimproved earth 300 km
+
+ Ports: Kingstown
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 580 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,212,812 GRT/8,530,725
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 106, cargo 289, chemical tanker 15, combination
+ bulk 10, combination ore/oil 3, container 36, liquefied gas tanker 5,
+ livestock carrier 2, oil tanker 53, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1,
+ refrigerated cargo 30, roll-on/roll-off cargo 25, short-sea passenger
+ 1, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
+ note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 16 countries among
+ which are Croatia 49 ships, Russia 23, Slovenia 11, China 8, Germany
+ 3, Serbia 2, Latvia 1, Montenegro 1, Georgia 1, UAR 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 6
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 4
+
+@Saint Vincent And The Grenadines:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 6,500 telephones; islandwide fully automatic
+ telephone system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: VHF/UHF interisland links from Saint Vincent to the other
+ islands of the Grenadines
+ international: VHF/UHF interisland links from Saint Vincent to
+ Barbados; new SHF links to Grenada and to Saint Lucia
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1 cable
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Saint Vincent And The Grenadines:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Coast
+ Guard
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SAN MARINO
+
+@San Marino:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 60 sq km
+ land area: 60 sq km
+ comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: total 39 km, Italy 39 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
+
+ Terrain: rugged mountains
+
+ Natural resources: building stone
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 17%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 83%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ international agreements: NA
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test
+ Ban; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution
+
+ Note: landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy
+ See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines
+
+@San Marino:People
+
+ Population: 24,313 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 16% (female 1,944; male 1,962)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 8,243; male 8,354)
+ 65 years and over: 16% (female 2,198; male 1,612) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.88% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 10.98 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.61 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 5.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 81.27 years
+ male: 77.26 years
+ female: 85.29 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.52 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Sammarinese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Sammarinese, Italian
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic
+
+ Languages: Italian
+
+ Literacy: age 10 and over can read and write (1976)
+ total population: 96%
+ male: 97%
+ female: 95%
+
+ Labor force: 4,300 (est.)
+ by occupation: industry 42%, agriculture 3%
+
+@San Marino:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of San Marino
+ conventional short form: San Marino
+ local long form: Repubblica di San Marino
+ local short form: San Marino
+
+ Digraph: SM
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: San Marino
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (castelli, singular -
+ castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano,
+ Fiorentino, Monte Giardino, San Marino, Serravalle
+
+ Independence: 301 AD (by tradition)
+
+ National holiday: Anniversary of the Foundation of the Republic, 3
+ September
+
+ Constitution: 8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the
+ functions of a constitution
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system with Italian law influences;
+ has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ co-chiefs of state: Captain Regent Marino BOLLINI and Captain Regent
+ Settimio LONFERNINI (for the period 1 April 1995-30 September 1995)
+ head of government: Secretary of State Gabriele GATTI (since July
+ 1986)
+ cabinet: Congress of State
+ note: the popularly elected parliament (Great and General Council)
+ selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent (Co-Chiefs
+ of State) for a six-month period; they preside over meetings of the
+ Great and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State) which
+ has ten other members, all selected by the Great and General Council;
+ assisting the Captains Regent are three Secretaries of State - Foreign
+ Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Finance - and several additional
+ secretaries; the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has come to
+ assume many of the prerogatives of a prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Great and General Council: (Consiglio Grande e Generale) elections
+ last held 30 May 1993 (next to be held by NA May 1998); results - PDCS
+ 41.4%, PSS 23.7%, PDP 18.6%, ADP 7.7%, MD 5.3%, RC 3.3%; seats - (60
+ total) PDCS 26, PSS 14, PDP 11, ADP 4, MD 3, RC 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Council of Twelve (Consiglio dei XII)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party (PDCS),
+ Cesare GASPERONI, secretary general; Democratic Progressive Party (PDP
+ - formerly San Marino Communist Party (PSS)), Stefano MACINA,
+ secretary general; San Marino Socialist Party (PSS), Maurizio RATTINI,
+ secretary general; Democratic Movement (MD), Emilio Della BALDA;
+ Popular Democratic Alliance (ADP); Communist Refoundation (RC),
+ Guiseppe AMICHI, Renato FABBRI; Moderate Group, Alvaro SELVA; Social
+ Democratic Party
+
+ Member of: CE, ECE, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IOC, IOM
+ (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO,
+ WIPO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ honorary consulate(s) general: Washington and New York
+ honorary consulate(s): Detroit
+
+ US diplomatic representation: no mission in San Marino, but the Consul
+ General in Florence (Italy) is accredited to San Marino
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with
+ the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms
+ has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a
+ wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS
+ (Liberty)
+
+@San Marino:Economy
+
+ Overview: The tourist sector contributes over 50% of GDP. In 1993 more
+ than 3 million tourists visited San Marino. The key industries are
+ banking, wearing apparel, electronics, and ceramics. Main agricultural
+ products are wine and cheeses. The per capita level of output and
+ standard of living are comparable to those of Italy, which supplies
+ much of its food.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $380 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.4% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $15,800 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.5% (1993)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 4.9% (December 1993)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $275 million
+ expenditures: $275 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: trade data are included with the statistics for Italy;
+ commodities: building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked
+ goods, hides, and ceramics
+
+ Imports: wide variety of consumer manufactures, food
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 42% of labor
+ force
+
+ Electricity: supplied by Italy
+
+ Industries: tourism, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine
+
+ Agriculture: employs 3% of labor force; products - wheat, grapes,
+ maize, olives, meat, cheese, hides; small numbers of cattle, pigs,
+ horses
+
+ Economic aid: $NA
+
+ Currency: 1 Italian lire (Lit) = 100 centesimi; note - also mints its
+ own coins
+
+ Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1 - 1,609.5 (January 1995),
+ 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991),
+ 1,198.1 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@San Marino:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 104 km
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports: none
+
+@San Marino:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 11,700 telephones; automatic telephone system
+ completely integrated into Italian system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: microwave and cable links into Italian networks; no
+ communication satellite facilities
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA; note - receives broadcasts from Italy
+ televisions: NA
+
+@San Marino:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: public security or police force
+
+ Defense expenditures: $3.7 million (1992 est.), 1% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
+
+@Sao Tome And Principe:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, island in the Atlantic Ocean, straddling the
+ equator, west of Gabon
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 960 sq km
+ land area: 960 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 209 km
+
+ Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
+
+ Terrain: volcanic, mountainous
+
+ Natural resources: fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 1%
+ permanent crops: 20%
+ meadows and pastures: 1%
+ forest and woodland: 75%
+ other: 3%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Environmental Modification, Law
+ of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change
+
+@Sao Tome And Principe:People
+
+ Population: 140,423 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 40% (female 27,995; male 28,452)
+ 15-64 years: 55% (female 38,846; male 38,619)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 3,615; male 2,896) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.62% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 34.94 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.7 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 62.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 63.65 years
+ male: 61.76 years
+ female: 65.59 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.44 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Sao Tomean(s)
+ adjective: Sao Tomean
+
+ Ethnic divisions: mestico, angolares (descendents of Angolan slaves),
+ forros (descendents of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers
+ from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of
+ servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day
+ Adventist
+
+ Languages: Portuguese (official)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991)
+ total population: 73%
+ male: 85%
+ female: 62%
+
+ Labor force: most of population mainly engaged in subsistence
+ agriculture and fishing; labor shortages on plantations and of skilled
+ workers
+
+@Sao Tome And Principe:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
+ conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe
+ local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
+ local short form: Sao Tome e Principe
+
+ Digraph: TP
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Sao Tome
+
+ Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos, singular -
+ concelho); Principe, Sao Tome
+
+ Independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
+
+ Constitution: approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990
+
+ Legal system: based on Portuguese law system and customary law; has
+ not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991);
+ election last held 3 March 1991 (next to be held NA March 1996);
+ results - Miguel TROVOADA was elected without opposition in Sao Tome's
+ first multiparty presidential election
+ head of government: Prime Minister Carlos da GRACA (since 25 October
+ 1994)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on the
+ proposal of the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National People's Assembly: (Assembleia Popular Nacional) parliament
+ dissolved by President TROVOADA in July 1994; early elections held 2
+ October 1994; results - MLSTP 27%, PCD-GR 25.5%, ADI 25.5%; seats -
+ (55 total) MLSTP 27, PCD-GR 14, ADI 14
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Party for Democratic
+ Convergence-Reflection Group (PCD-GR), Daniel Lima Dos Santos DAIO,
+ secretary general; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and
+ Principe (MLSTP), Carlos da GRACA; Christian Democratic Front (FDC),
+ Alphonse Dos SANTOS; Democratic Opposition Coalition (CODO), leader
+ NA; Independent Democratic Action (ADI), Gabriel COSTA; other small
+ parties
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
+ IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL,
+ IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
+ WHO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: Sao Tome and Principe has no embassy
+ in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by
+ First Secretary Domingos AUGUSTO Ferreira, located at 122 East 42nd
+ Street, Suite 1604, New York, NY 10168, telephone [1] (212) 697-4211
+
+ US diplomatic representation: ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao
+ Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to
+ the islands
+
+ Flag: three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width),
+ and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the
+ center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the
+ hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
+
+@Sao Tome And Principe:Economy
+
+ Overview: This small poor island economy has remained dependent on
+ cocoa since independence 20 years ago. Since then, however, cocoa
+ production has gradually declined because of drought and
+ mismanagement, so that by 1987 annual output had fallen from 10,000
+ tons to 3,900 tons. As a result, a shortage of cocoa for export has
+ created a serious balance-of-payments problem. Production of less
+ important crops, such as coffee, copra, and palm kernels, has also
+ declined. The value of imports generally exceeds that of exports by a
+ ratio of 4:1 or more. The emphasis on cocoa production at the expense
+ of other food crops has meant that Sao Tome has to import 90% of food
+ needs. It also has to import all fuels and most manufactured goods.
+ Over the years, Sao Tome has been unable to service its external debt
+ and has had to depend on concessional aid and debt rescheduling.
+ Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist industry,
+ and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in recent
+ years. The government also has attempted to reduce price controls and
+ subsidies and to encourage market-based mechanisms, e. g., to
+ facilitate the distribution of imported food. Annual GDP growth is
+ estimated in the 3%-4% range for 1994-96.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $133 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $1,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 27% (1992 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $10.2 million
+ expenditures: $36.8 million, including capital expenditures of $22.5
+ million (1989 est.)
+
+ Exports: $5.5 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: cocoa 78%, copra, coffee, palm oil (1992)
+ partners: Netherlands, Germany, China, Portugal
+
+ Imports: $31.5 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and electrical equipment 44%, food products
+ 18%, petroleum 11% (1992)
+ partners: Portugal, Japan, Spain, France, Angola
+
+ External debt: $237 million (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 1% (1991); accounts for 7% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 5,000 kW
+ production: 17 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 105 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: light construction, shirts, soap, beer, fisheries, shrimp
+ processing
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 25% of GDP; dominant sector of economy,
+ primary source of exports; cash crops - cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels,
+ coffee; food products - bananas, papaya, beans, poultry, fish; not
+ self-sufficient in food grain and meat
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $8 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $89 million
+
+ Currency: 1 dobra (Db) = 100 centimos
+
+ Exchange rates: dobras (Db) per US$1 - 129.59 (1 July 1993), 230
+ (1992), 260.0 (November 1991), 122.48 (December 1988), 72.827 (1987)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Sao Tome And Principe:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 300 km
+ paved: 200 km
+ unpaved: 100 km
+ note: roads on Principe are mostly unpaved and in need of repair
+
+ Ports: Santo Antonio, Sao Tome
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,096 GRT/1,105 DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Sao Tome And Principe:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA; minimal system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Sao Tome And Principe:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, National Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 33,789; males fit for military
+ service 17,752 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SAUDI ARABIA
+
+@Saudi Arabia:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea,
+ north of Yemen
+
+ Map references: Middle East
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1,960,582 sq km
+ land area: 1,960,582 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US
+
+ Land boundaries: total 4,415 km, Iraq 814 km, Jordan 728 km, Kuwait
+ 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km
+
+ Coastline: 2,640 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 18 nm
+ continental shelf: not specified
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: large section of boundary with Yemen not
+ defined; status of boundary with UAE not final; Kuwaiti ownership of
+ Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands is disputed by Saudi Arabia
+
+ Climate: harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature
+
+ Terrain: mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 1%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 39%
+ forest and woodland: 1%
+ other: 59%
+
+ Irrigated land: 4,350 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: desertification; depletion of underground water
+ resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has
+ prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination
+ facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills
+ natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
+ international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes,
+ Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great
+ leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and
+ Suez Canal
+
+@Saudi Arabia:People
+
+ Population: 18,729,576 (July 1995 est.)
+ note: a 1992 census gives the number of Saudi citizens as 12,304,835
+ and the number of residents who are not citizens as 4,624,459
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 43% (female 3,952,573; male 4,065,224)
+ 15-64 years: 55% (female 4,078,001; male 6,219,737)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 203,372; male 210,669) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.68% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 38.78 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.54 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 3.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 48.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 68.5 years
+ male: 66.79 years
+ female: 70.3 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.48 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Saudi(s)
+ adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 100%
+
+ Languages: Arabic
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 62%
+ male: 73%
+ female: 48%
+
+ Labor force: 5 million-6 million
+ by occupation: government 34%, industry and oil 28%, services 22%,
+ agriculture 16%
+
+@Saudi Arabia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
+ conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
+ local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
+ local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
+
+ Digraph: SA
+
+ Type: monarchy
+
+ Capital: Riyadh
+
+ Administrative divisions: 13 provinces (mintaqah, singular -
+ mintaqat); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al
+ Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah, Asir, Hail, Jizan, Makkah, Najran,
+ Tabuk
+
+ Independence: 23 September 1932 (unification)
+
+ National holiday: Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
+
+ Constitution: none; governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law)
+
+ Legal system: based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been
+ introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not
+ accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: none
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD
+ bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First
+ Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother
+ to the King, appointed heir to the throne 13 June 1982)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; dominated by royal family members
+ appointed by the king
+
+ Legislative branch: a consultative council comprised of 60 members and
+ a chairman who are appointed by the King for a term of four years
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Council of Justice
+
+ Political parties and leaders: none allowed
+
+ Member of: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77,
+ GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
+ IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS
+ (observer), OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
+ WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
+ chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
+ telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
+ consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond E. MABUS, Jr.
+ embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
+ mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 61307, Riyadh; International
+ Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693; APO AE 09803-1307
+ telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800
+ FAX: [966] (1) 482-4364
+ consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
+
+ Flag: green with large white Arabic script (that may be translated as
+ There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a
+ white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is
+ the traditional color of Islam
+
+@Saudi Arabia:Economy
+
+ Overview: This is a well-to-do oil-based economy with strong
+ government controls over major economic activities. About 46% of GDP
+ comes from the private sector. Economic (as well as political) ties
+ with the US are especially strong. The petroleum sector accounts for
+ roughly 75% of budget revenues, 35% of GDP, and almost all export
+ earnings. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the
+ world (26% of the proved total), ranks as the largest exporter of
+ petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. For the 1990s the
+ government intends to bring its budget, which has been in deficit
+ since 1983, back into balance, and to encourage private economic
+ activity. Roughly four million foreign workers play an important role
+ in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and banking sectors. For
+ about a decade, Saudi Arabia's domestic and international outlays have
+ outstripped its income, and the government has cut its foreign
+ assistance and is beginning to rein in domestic programs. For 1995,
+ the country looks for improvement in oil prices and will continue its
+ policies of restraining public spending and encouraging non-oil
+ exports.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $173.1 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -3% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $9,510 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 6.5% (1992 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $39 billion
+ expenditures: $50 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.5
+ billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $39.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 92%
+ partners: US 20%, Japan 18%, Singapore 5%, France 5%, South Korea 5%
+ (1992)
+
+ Imports: $28.9 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, motor
+ vehicles, textiles
+ partners: US 21%, Japan 14%, UK 11%, Germany 8%, Italy 6%, France 5%
+ (1992)
+
+ External debt: $18.9 billion (December 1989 est., includes short-term
+ trade credits)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 20% (1991 est.); accounts for 35%
+ of GDP, including petroleum
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 17,550,000 kW
+ production: 46 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,430 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic
+ petrochemicals, cement, two small steel-rolling mills, construction,
+ fertilizer, plastics
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 10% of GDP, 16% of labor force;
+ subsidized by government; products - wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons,
+ dates, citrus fruit, mutton, chickens, eggs, milk; approaching
+ self-sufficiency in food
+
+ Illicit drugs: death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption
+ of heroin and cocaine
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: pledged bilateral aid (1979-89), $64.7 billion; pledged $100
+ million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon
+
+ Currency: 1 Saudi riyal (SR) = 100 halalah
+
+ Exchange rates: Saudi riyals (SR) per US$1 - 3.7450 (fixed rate since
+ late 1986), 3.7033 (1986)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Saudi Arabia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,390 km
+ standard gauge: 1,390 km 1.435-m gauge (448 km double track)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 151,530 km
+ paved: 60,610 km
+ unpaved: 90,920 km (1992 est.)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 6,400 km; petroleum products 150 km; natural gas
+ 2,200 km (includes natural gas liquids 1,600 km)
+
+ Ports: Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Rabigh, Ras al
+ Khafji, Ras al Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 71 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 855,452 GRT/1,233,477 DWT
+
+ ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 12, chemical tanker 5, container 3,
+ liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 4, oil tanker 22, passenger
+ 1, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11, short-sea
+ passenger 7
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 211
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 30
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 21
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 73
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 43
+
+@Saudi Arabia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 1,624,000 telephones; modern system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: extensive microwave and coaxial and fiber optic cable
+ systems
+ international: microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait,
+ Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan;
+ submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain; earth stations - 5
+ INTELSAT (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 ARABSAT, and 1
+ INMARSAT
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 43, FM 13, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 80
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Saudi Arabia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force,
+ National Guard, Coast Guard, Frontier Forces, Special Security Force,
+ Public Security Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 5,303,679; males fit for
+ military service 2,949,842; males reach military age (17) annually
+ 164,220 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $17.2 billion, 13.8%
+ of GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SENEGAL
+
+@Senegal:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
+ Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 196,190 sq km
+ land area: 192,000 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than South Dakota
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,640 km, The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km,
+ Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km
+
+ Coastline: 531 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: short section of the boundary with The Gambia
+ is indefinite; boundary with Mauritania in dispute;
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (December to April) has
+ strong southeast winds; dry season (May to November) dominated by hot,
+ dry harmattan wind
+
+ Terrain: generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in
+ southeast
+
+ Natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 27%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 30%
+ forest and woodland: 31%
+ other: 12%
+
+ Irrigated land: 1,800 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: wildlife populations threatened by poaching;
+ deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing
+
+ natural hazards: lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life
+ Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands,
+ Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Marine Dumping
+
+ Note: The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal
+
+@Senegal:People
+
+ Population: 9,007,080 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 45% (female 2,004,514; male 2,021,251)
+ 15-64 years: 52% (female 2,398,609; male 2,301,236)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 140,128; male 141,342) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.12% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 42.87 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 11.64 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 73.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 57.16 years
+ male: 55.65 years
+ female: 58.71 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.03 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Senegalese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Senegalese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Wolof 36%, Fulani 17%, Serer 17%, Toucouleur 9%,
+ Diola 9%, Mandingo 9%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 2%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 92%, indigenous beliefs 6%, Christian 2% (mostly
+ Roman Catholic)
+
+ Languages: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Diola, Mandingo
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1988)
+ total population: 27%
+ male: 37%
+ female: 18%
+
+ Labor force: 2.509 million (77% are engaged in subsistence farming;
+ 175,000 wage earners)
+ by occupation: private sector 40%, government and parapublic 60%
+
+@Senegal:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Senegal
+ conventional short form: Senegal
+ local long form: Republique du Senegal
+ local short form: Senegal
+
+ Digraph: SG
+
+ Type: republic under multiparty democratic rule
+
+ Capital: Dakar
+
+ Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regions, singular - region);
+ Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis,
+ Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
+
+ Independence: 20 August 1960 (from France; The Gambia and Senegal
+ signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the creation
+ of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement
+ was dissolved on 30 September 1989)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
+
+ Constitution: 3 March 1963, revised 1991
+
+ Legal system: based on French civil law system; judicial review of
+ legislative acts in Supreme Court, which also audits the government's
+ accounting office; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Abdou DIOUF (since 1 January 1981); election
+ last held 21 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 2000); results
+ - Abdou DIOUF (PS) 58.4%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 32.03%, other 9.57%
+ head of government: Prime Minister Habib THIAM (since 7 April 1991)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister in
+ consultation with the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 9 May
+ 1993 (next to be held NA May 1998); results - PS 70%, PDS 23%, other
+ 7%; seats - (120 total) PS 84, PDS 27, LD-MPT 3, Let Us Unite Senegal
+ 3, PIT 2, UDS-R 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party (PS), President Abdou
+ DIOUF; Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), Abdoulaye WADE; Democratic
+ League-Labor Party Movement (LD-MPT), Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY;
+ Independent Labor Party (PIT), Amath DANSOKHO; Senegalese Democratic
+ Union-Renewal (UDS-R), Mamadou Puritain FALL; Let Us Unite Senegal
+ (coalition of African Party for Democracy and Socialism and National
+ Democratic Rally); other small uninfluential parties
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: students; teachers; labor; Muslim
+ Brotherhoods
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15,
+ G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
+ IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM
+ (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
+ UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIH, UNOMUR, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
+ WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Mamadou Mansour SECK
+ chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540, 0541
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Mark JOHNSON
+ embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Avenue Kleber, Dakar
+ mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar
+ telephone: [221] 23 42 96, 23 34 24
+ FAX: [221] 22 29 91
+
+ Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and
+ red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band;
+ uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
+
+@Senegal:Economy
+
+ Overview: In 1994 Senegal embarked on its most concerted structural
+ adjustment effort yet to exploit the 50% devaluation of the currencies
+ of the 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January. After years of
+ foot-dragging, the government finally passed a liberalized labor code
+ which should significantly help lower the cost of labor and improve
+ the manufacturing sector's competitiveness. Inroads also have been
+ made in closing tax loopholes and eliminating monopoly power in
+ several sectors. At the same time the government is holding the line
+ on current fiscal expenditure under the watchful eyes of international
+ organizations on which it depends for substantial support. A bumper
+ peanut crop - Senegal's main source of foreign exchange - coincided
+ with an improvement of international prices and probably resulted in a
+ doubling of earnings in 1994 over 1993. The country's narrow resource
+ base, environmental degradation, and untamed population growth will
+ continue to hold back growth in living standards over the medium term.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -2% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,450 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): -1.8% (1991 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.2 billion
+ expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $269
+ million (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $904 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
+ commodities: fish, ground nuts (peanuts), petroleum products,
+ phosphates, cotton
+ partners: France, other EC countries, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali
+
+ Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
+ commodities: foods and beverages, consumer goods, capital goods,
+ petroleum
+ partners: France, other EC countries, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Algeria,
+ China, Japan
+
+ External debt: $2.9 billion (1990)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 1.9% (1991); accounts for 15% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 230,000 kW
+ production: 720 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 79 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining,
+ petroleum refining, building materials
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 20% of GDP; major products - peanuts (cash
+ crop), millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green
+ vegetables; estimated two-thirds self-sufficient in food; fish catch
+ of 354,000 metric tons in 1990
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian
+ heroin moving to Europe and North America
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $551 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $5.23 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $589 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $295 million
+
+ Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1
+ - 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
+ 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)
+ note: the official rate is pegged to the French franc, and beginning
+ 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French
+ franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Senegal:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 905 km
+ narrow gauge: 905 km 1.000-meter gauge (70 km double track)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 14,007 km
+ paved: 3,777 km
+ unpaved: crushed stone, improved earth 10,230 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 897 km total; 785 km on the Senegal, 112 km on the
+ Saloum
+
+ Ports: Dakar, Kaolack, Matam, Podor, Richard-Toll, Saint-Louis,
+ Ziguinchor
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,995 GRT/3,775 DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 24
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 4
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
+
+@Senegal:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; above-average urban system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave and cable
+ international: 3 submarine cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth
+ station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Senegal:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police
+ (Surete Nationale)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,021,019; males fit for
+ military service 1,054,855; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 96,589 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $134 million, 2.1% of
+ GDP (1993)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO
+
+ Note--Serbia and Montenegro have asserted the formation of a joint
+ independent state, but this entity has not been formally recognized as
+ a state by the US; the US view is that the Socialist Federal Republic
+ of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of the successor
+ republics represents its continuation
+
+@Serbia And Montenegro:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between
+ Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina
+
+ Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 102,350 sq km
+ land area: 102,136 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Kentucky
+ note: Serbia has a total area and a land area of 88,412 sq km making
+ it slightly larger than Maine; Montenegro has a total area of 13,938
+ sq km and a land area of 13,724 sq km making it slightly larger than
+ Connecticut
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,246 km, Albania 287 km (114 km with Serbia;
+ 173 km with Montenegro), Bosnia and Herzegovina 527 km (312 km with
+ Serbia; 215 km with Montenegro), Bulgaria 318 km, Croatia (north) 241
+ km, Croatia (south) 25 km, Hungary 151 km, The Former Yugoslav
+ Republic of Macedonia 221 km, Romania 476 km
+ note: the internal boundary between Montenegro and Serbia is 211 km
+
+ Coastline: 199 km (Montenegro 199 km, Serbia 0 km)
+
+ Maritime claims: NA
+
+ International disputes: Sandzak region bordering northern Montenegro
+ and southeastern Serbia - Muslims seeking autonomy; disputes with
+ Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia over Serbian populated areas;
+ Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Serbian Republic
+
+ Climate: in the north, continental climate (cold winter and hot, humid
+ summers with well distributed rainfall); central portion, continental
+ and Mediterranean climate; to the south, Adriatic climate along the
+ coast, hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with
+ heavy snowfall inland
+
+ Terrain: extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the
+ east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountain
+ and hills; to the southwest, extremely high shoreline with no islands
+ off the coast
+
+ Natural resources: oil, gas, coal, antimony, copper, lead, zinc,
+ nickel, gold, pyrite, chrome
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 30%
+ permanent crops: 5%
+ meadows and pastures: 20%
+ forest and woodland: 25%
+ other: 20%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets,
+ especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor; air pollution
+ around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from
+ industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube
+ natural hazards: destructive earthquakes
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to
+ Turkey and the Near East; strategic location along the Adriatic coast
+
+@Serbia And Montenegro:People
+
+ Population:
+ total population: 11,101,833 (July 1995 est.)
+ Montenegro: 708,248 (July 1995 est.)
+ Serbia: 10,393,585 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ Montenegro: *** No data for this item ***
+ 0-14 years: 22% (female 77,498; male 82,005)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 236,987; male 241,397)
+ 65 years and over: 10% (female 41,625; male 28,736) (July 1995 est.)
+ Serbia: *** No data for this item ***
+ 0-14 years: 22% (female 1,095,121; male 1,173,224)
+ 15-64 years: 66% (female 3,431,823; male 3,483,066)
+ 65 years and over: 12% (female 699,488; male 510,863) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate:
+ Montenegro: 0.79% (1995 est.)
+ Serbia: 0.51% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate:
+ Montenegro: 14.39 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ Serbia: 14.15 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate:
+ Montenegro: 5.7 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ Serbia: 8.72 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate:
+ Montenegro: -0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ Serbia: -0.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate:
+ Montenegro: 9.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+ Serbia: 18.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ Montenegro: *** No data for this item ***
+ total population: 79.56 years
+ male: 76.69 years
+ female: 82.61 years (1995 est.)
+ Serbia: *** No data for this item ***
+ total population: 73.94 years
+ male: 71.4 years
+ female: 76.68 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate:
+ Montenegro: 1.79 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+ Serbia: 2 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Serb(s) and Montenegrin(s)
+ adjective: Serbian and Montenegrin
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Serbs 63%, Albanians 14%, Montenegrins 6%,
+ Hungarians 4%, other 13%
+
+ Religions: Orthodox 65%, Muslim 19%, Roman Catholic 4%, Protestant 1%,
+ other 11%
+
+ Languages: Serbo-Croatian 95%, Albanian 5%
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: 2,640,909
+ by occupation: industry, mining 40% (1990)
+
+@Serbia And Montenegro:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Serbia and Montenegro
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: Srbija-Crna Gora
+
+ Digraph:
+ Serbia: SR
+ Montenegro: MW
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Belgrade
+
+ Administrative divisions: 2 republics (pokajine, singular - pokajina);
+ and 2 nominally autonomous provinces*; Kosovo*, Montenegro, Serbia,
+ Vojvodina*
+
+ Independence: 11 April 1992 (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia formed as
+ self-proclaimed successor to the Socialist Federal Republic of
+ Yugoslavia - SFRY)
+
+ National holiday: NA
+
+ Constitution: 27 April 1992
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system
+
+ Suffrage: 16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Zoran LILIC (since 25 June 1993); note -
+ Slobodan MILOSEVIC is president of Serbia (since 9 December 1990);
+ Momir BULATOVIC is president of Montenegro (since 23 December 1990);
+ Federal Assembly elected Zoran LILIC on 25 June 1993
+ head of government: Prime Minister Radoje KONTIC (since 29 December
+ 1992); Deputy Prime Ministers Jovan ZEBIC (since NA March 1993), Uros
+ KLIKOVAC (since 15 September 1994), Nikola SAINOVIC (since 15
+ September 1995)
+ cabinet: Federal Executive Council
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly
+ Chamber of Republics: elections last held 20 December 1992 (next to be
+ held NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (40
+ total, 20 Serbian, 20 Montenegrin) seats by party NA
+ Chamber of Citizens: elections last held 20 December 1992 (next to be
+ held NA 1996); results - percent of votes by party NA; seats - (138
+ total, 108 Serbian, 30 Montenegrin) SPS 47, SRS 34, Depos 20, DPSCG
+ 17, DS 5, SP 5, NS 4, DZVM 3, other 3
+
+ Judicial branch: Savezni Sud (Federal Court), Constitutional Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Serbian Socialist Party (SPS, former
+ Communist Party), Slobodan MILOSEVIC; Serbian Radical Party (SRS),
+ Vojislav SESELJ; Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO), Vuk DRASKOVIC,
+ president; Democratic Party (DS), Zoran DJINDJIC; Democratic Party of
+ Serbia (Depos), Vojlslav KOSTUNICA; Democratic Party of Socialists of
+ Montenegro (DPSCG), Momir BULATOVIC, president; People's Party of
+ Montenegro (NS), Milan PAROSKI; Liberal Alliance of Montenegro, Slavko
+ PEROVIC; Democratic Community of Vojvodina Hungarians (DZVM), Andras
+ AGOSTON; League of Communists-Movement for Yugoslavia (SK-PJ), Dragan
+ ATANASOVSKI; Democratic Alliance of Kosovo (LDK), Dr. Ibrahim RUGOVA,
+ president; Party of Democratic Action (SDA), Sulejman UGLJANIN; Civic
+ Alliance of Serbia (GSS), Vesna PESIC, chairman; Socialist Party of
+ Montenegro (SP), leader NA
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: NA
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: US and Serbia and Montenegro do not
+ maintain full diplomatic relations; the Embassy of the former
+ Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia continues to function in the
+ US
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Rudolf V. PERINA
+ embassy: address NA, Belgrade
+ mailing address: Box 5070, Unit 1310, APO AE 09213-1310
+ telephone: [381] (11) 645655
+ FAX: [381] (11) 645221
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and red
+
+@Serbia And Montenegro:Economy
+
+ Overview: The swift collapse of the Yugoslav federation in 1991 has
+ been followed by bloody ethnic warfare, the destabilization of
+ republic boundaries, and the breakup of important interrepublic trade
+ flows. Serbia and Montenegro faces major economic problems; output has
+ dropped sharply, particularly in 1993. First, like the other former
+ Yugoslav republics, it depended on its sister republics for large
+ amounts of foodstuffs, energy supplies, and manufactures. Wide
+ differences in climate, mineral resources, and levels of technology
+ among the republics accentuated this interdependence, as did the
+ communist practice of concentrating much industrial output in a small
+ number of giant plants. The breakup of many of the trade links, the
+ sharp drop in output as industrial plants lost suppliers and markets,
+ and the destruction of physical assets in the fighting all have
+ contributed to the economic difficulties of the republics. One
+ singular factor in the economic situation of Serbia and Montenegro is
+ the continuation in office of a communist government that is primarily
+ interested in political and military mastery, not economic reform. A
+ further complication is the imposition of economic sanctions by the UN
+ in 1992. Hyperinflation ended with the establishment of a new currency
+ unit in June 1993; prices were relatively stable in 1994. Reliable
+ statistics are hard to come by; the GDP estimate of $1,000 per capita
+ in 1994 is extremely rough. Output in 1994 seems to have leveled off
+ after the plunge in 1993.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $10 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $1,000 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (January-November 1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: more than 40% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $NA
+ commodities: prior to the breakup of the federation, Yugoslavia
+ exported machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
+ chemicals, food and live animals, raw materials
+ partners: prior to the imposition of UN sanctions trade partners were
+ the other former Yugoslav republics, Italy, Germany, other EC, the FSU
+ countries, East European countries, US
+
+ Imports: $NA
+ commodities: prior to the breakup of the federation, Yugoslavia
+ imported machinery and transport equipment, fuels and lubricants,
+ manufactured goods, chemicals, food and live animals, raw materials
+ including coking coal for the steel industry
+ partners: prior to the imposition of UN sanctions trade partners were
+ the other former Yugoslav republics, the FSU countries, EC countries
+ (mainly Italy and Germany), East European countries, US
+
+ External debt: $4.2 billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 10,400,000 kW
+ production: 34 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,400 kWh (1994 est.)
+
+ Industries: machine building (aircraft, trucks, and automobiles;
+ armored vehicles and weapons; electrical equipment; agricultural
+ machinery), metallurgy (steel, aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, chromium,
+ antimony, bismuth, cadmium), mining (coal, bauxite, nonferrous ore,
+ iron ore, limestone), consumer goods (textiles, footwear, foodstuffs,
+ appliances), electronics, petroleum products, chemicals, and
+ pharmaceuticals
+
+ Agriculture: the fertile plains of Vojvodina produce 80% of the cereal
+ production of the former Yugoslavia and most of the cotton, oilseeds,
+ and chicory; Vojvodina also produces fodder crops to support intensive
+ beef and dairy production; Serbia proper, although hilly, has a
+ well-distributed rainfall and a long growing season; produces fruit,
+ grapes, and cereals; in this area, livestock production (sheep and
+ cattle) and dairy farming prosper; Kosovo produces fruits, vegetables,
+ tobacco, and a small amount of cereals; the mountainous pastures of
+ Kosovo and Montenegro support sheep and goat husbandry; Montenegro has
+ only a small agriculture sector, mostly near the coast where a
+ Mediterranean climate permits the culture of olives, citrus, grapes,
+ and rice
+
+ Illicit drugs: NA
+
+ Economic aid: $NA
+
+ Currency: 1 Yugoslav New Dinar (YD) = 100 paras
+
+ Exchange rates: Yugoslav New Dinars (YD) per US $1 - 102.6 (February
+ 1995 black market rate)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Serbia And Montenegro:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 3,960 km
+ standard gauge: 3,960 km 1.435-m gauge (partially electrified) (1992)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 46,019 km
+ paved: 26,949 km
+ unpaved: gravel 10,373 km; earth 8,697 km (1990)
+
+ Inland waterways: NA km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 415 km; petroleum products 130 km; natural gas
+ 2,110 km
+
+ Ports: Bar, Belgrade, Kotor, Novi Sad, Pancevo, Tivat
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ Montenegro: total 35 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 543,511
+ GRT/891,664 DWT (controlled by Montenegrin beneficial owners)
+ ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 14, container 5, short-sea passenger
+ ferry 1
+ note: under Maltese and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines flags; no
+ ships remain under Yugoslav flag
+ Serbia: total 2 (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 113,471 GRT/212,742 DWT
+ (controlled by Serbian beneficial owners)
+ ships by type: bulk 2
+ note: all under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; no ships
+ remain under Yugoslav flag
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 54
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 24
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 14
+
+@Serbia And Montenegro:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 700,000 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 26, FM 9, shortwave 0
+ radios: 2.015 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 18
+ televisions: 1 million
+
+@Serbia And Montenegro:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: People's Army (includes Ground Forces with internal and
+ border troops, Naval Forces, and Air and Air Defense Forces), Civil
+ Defense
+
+ Manpower availability:
+ Montenegro: males age 15-49 194,154; males fit for military service
+ 157,611; males reach military age (19) annually 5,498 (1995 est.)
+ Serbia: males age 15-49 2,652,224; males fit for military service
+ 2,131,894 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: 245 billion dinars, 4% to 6% of GDP (1992 est.);
+ note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the
+ current exchange rate could produce misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SEYCHELLES
+
+@Seychelles:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean,
+ northeast of Madagascar
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 455 sq km
+ land area: 455 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 491 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claims Tromelin Island
+
+ Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast
+ monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest
+ monsoon (March to May)
+
+ Terrain: Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly;
+ others are coral, flat, elevated reefs
+
+ Natural resources: fish, copra, cinnamon trees
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 4%
+ permanent crops: 18%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 18%
+ other: 60%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: no natural fresh water resources, catchments collect
+ rain water
+ natural hazards: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are
+ rare; short droughts possible
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
+ Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling;
+ signed, but not ratified - Desertification
+
+ Note: 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands
+
+@Seychelles:People
+
+ Population: 72,709 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 32% (female 11,630; male 11,811)
+ 15-64 years: 62% (female 23,229; male 21,679)
+ 65 years and over: 6% (female 2,875; male 1,485) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.81% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 21.35 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.7 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -6.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 11.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 70.08 years
+ male: 66.54 years
+ female: 73.73 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.16 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Seychelles
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans, Europeans)
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 8%, other 2%
+
+ Languages: English (official), French (official), Creole
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1971)
+ total population: 58%
+ male: 56%
+ female: 60%
+
+ Labor force: 27,700 (1985)
+ by occupation: industry and commerce 31%, services 21%, government
+ 20%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 12%, other 16% (1985)
+
+@Seychelles:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
+ conventional short form: Seychelles
+
+ Digraph: SE
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Victoria
+
+ Administrative divisions: 23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins,
+ Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie
+ Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand'
+ Anse (on Mahe Island), Grand' Anse (on Praslin Island), La Digue, La
+ Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue,
+ Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka
+
+ Independence: 29 June 1976 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 18 June (1993) (adoption of new
+ constitution)
+
+ Constitution: 18 June 1993
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law, French civil law, and
+ customary law
+
+ Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President France Albert RENE
+ (since 5 June 1977); election last held 20-23 July 1993 (next to be
+ held NA); results - President France Albert RENE (SPPF) reelected with
+ 59.5% of the vote, Sir James MANCHAM (DP) 36.72%
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ People's Assembly (Assemblee du Peuple): elections last held 20-23
+ July 1993 (next to be held NA); results - SPPF 82%, DP 15%, UO 3%;
+ seats - (33 total, 22 elected, 11 awarded) seats elected - SPPF 21, DP
+ 1; seats awarded - SPPF 6, DP 4, UO 1; total seats by party - SPPF 27,
+ DP 5, UO 1
+ note: the 11 awarded seats are apportioned according to the share of
+ each party in the total vote
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: ruling party - Seychelles People's
+ Progressive Front (SPPF), France Albert RENE; Democratic Party (DP),
+ Sir James MANCHAM; United Opposition (UO), Annette GEORGES - a
+ coalition of the following parties: Seychelles Party (PS), Wavel
+ RAMKALAWAN; Seychelles Democratic Movement (MSPD), Jacques HONDOUL;
+ Seychelles Liberal Party (SLP), Ogilvie BERLOUIS;;
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: trade unions; Roman Catholic
+ Church
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
+ ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
+ UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Marc R. MARENGO
+ chancery: (temporary) 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900F, New York, NY
+ 10017
+ telephone: [1] (212) 687-9766, 9767
+ FAX: [1] (212) 922-9177
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Carl Burton STOKES
+ embassy: 4th Floor, Victoria House, Box 251, Victoria, Mahe
+ mailing address: Box 148, Unit 62501, Victoria, Seychelles; APO AE
+ 09815-2501
+ telephone: [248] 225256
+ FAX: [248] 225189
+
+ Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (wavy), and green;
+ the white band is the thinnest, the red band is the thickest
+
+@Seychelles:Economy
+
+ Overview: Since independence in 1976, per capita output has grown to
+ roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level, led by the tourist
+ sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more
+ than 70% of hard currency earnings. In recent years the government has
+ encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade hotels and other
+ services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the
+ high dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming,
+ fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. The vulnerability of the
+ tourist sector was illustrated by the sharp drop in 1991-92 due
+ largely to the Gulf war. Although the industry has rebounded, the
+ government recognizes the continuing need for upgrading the sector in
+ the face of stiff international competition.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $430 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -2% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $6,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 9% (1987)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $227.4 million
+ expenditures: $263 million, including capital expenditures of $54
+ million (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $50 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products
+ (re-exports)
+ partners: France 43%, UK 22%, Reunion 11%, (1992)
+
+ Imports: $261 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: manufactured goods, food, petroleum products, tobacco,
+ beverages, machinery and transportation equipment
+ partners: Singapore 16%, Bahrain 16%, South Africa, 14%, UK 13% (1992)
+
+ External debt: $181 million (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 4% (1992); accounts for 12% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 30,000 kW
+ production: 110 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,399 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tourism, processing of coconut and vanilla, fishing, coir
+ rope factory, boat building, printing, furniture, beverage
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GDP, mostly subsistence farming; cash
+ crops - coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla; other products - sweet potatoes,
+ cassava, bananas; broiler chickens; large share of food needs
+ imported; expansion of tuna fishing under way
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY78-89), $26 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1978-89), $315 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $5 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $60 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Seychelles rupee (SRe) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Seychelles rupees (SRe) per US$1 - 4.9371 (January
+ 1995), 5.0559 (1994), 5.1815 (1993), 5.1220 (1992), 5.2893 (1991),
+ 5.3369 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Seychelles:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 260 km
+ paved: 160 km
+ unpaved: crushed stone, earth 100 km
+
+ Ports: Victoria
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 14
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 6
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+
+@Seychelles:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 13,000 telephones; direct radio communications with
+ adjacent islands and African coastal countries
+ local: NA
+ intercity: radio communications
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 2
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Seychelles:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard, Presidential
+ Protection Unit, Police Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 19,829; males fit for military
+ service 10,099 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $12 million, 4% of
+ GDP (1990 est.)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SIERRA LEONE
+
+@Sierra Leone:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
+ Guinea and Liberia
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 71,740 sq km
+ land area: 71,620 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina
+
+ Land boundaries: total 958 km, Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
+
+ Coastline: 402 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 200 nm
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December);
+ winter dry season (December to April)
+
+ Terrain: coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland
+ plateau, mountains in east
+
+ Natural resources: diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold,
+ chromite
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 25%
+ permanent crops: 2%
+ meadows and pastures: 31%
+ forest and woodland: 29%
+ other: 13%
+
+ Irrigated land: 340 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: rapid population growth pressuring the environment;
+ overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and
+ slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil
+ exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing
+ natural hazards: dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara
+ (November to May); sandstorms, dust storms
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species,
+ Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban; signed,
+ but not ratified - Climate Change, Environmental Modification
+
+@Sierra Leone:People
+
+ Population: 4,753,120 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 44% (female 1,054,826; male 1,020,943)
+ 15-64 years: 53% (female 1,310,506; male 1,216,510)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 72,982; male 77,353) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.63% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 44.65 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 18.38 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ note: thousands of refugees, fleeing the civil strife in Sierra Leone,
+ are taking refuge in Guinea
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 138.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 46.94 years
+ male: 44.07 years
+ female: 49.89 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 5.9 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Sierra Leonean(s)
+ adjective: Sierra Leonean
+
+ Ethnic divisions: 13 native African tribes 99% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%,
+ other 39%), Creole, European, Lebanese, and Asian 1%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%
+
+ Languages: English (official; regular use limited to literate
+ minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal
+ vernacular in the north), Krio (the language of the re-settled
+ ex-slave population of the Freetown area and is lingua franca)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or
+ Arabic (1990 est.)
+ total population: 21%
+ male: 31%
+ female: 11%
+
+ Labor force: 1.369 million (1981 est.)
+ by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 19%, services 16% (1981 est.)
+
+ note: only about 65,000 wage earners (1985)
+
+@Sierra Leone:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
+ conventional short form: Sierra Leone
+
+ Digraph: SL
+
+ Type: military government
+
+ Capital: Freetown
+
+ Administrative divisions: 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern,
+ Southern, Western*
+
+ Independence: 27 April 1961 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Republic Day, 27 April (1961)
+
+ Constitution: 1 October 1991; suspended following 19 April 1992 coup
+
+ Legal system: based on English law and customary laws indigenous to
+ local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: Chairman of the Supreme Council
+ of State Capt. Valentine E. M. STRASSER (since 29 April 1992)
+ cabinet: Council of Secretaries; responsible to the Supreme Council of
+ State (SCS)
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (suspended
+ after coup of 29 April 1992); Chairman STRASSER promises multi-party
+ elections sometime in 1995
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (suspended after coup of 29 April 1992)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: status of existing political parties is
+ unknown following 29 April 1992 coup
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
+ IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN,
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas Kahota KARGBO
+ chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
+ telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Lauralee M. PETERS
+ embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [232] (22) 226481 trough 226485
+ FAX: [232] (22) 225471
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and
+ light blue
+
+@Sierra Leone:Economy
+
+ Overview: Sierra Leone has substantial mineral, agricultural, and
+ fishery resources, but the economic and social infrastructure is not
+ well developed. Agriculture generates about 40% of GDP and employs
+ about two-thirds of the working population, with subsistence
+ agriculture dominating the sector. Manufacturing, which accounts for
+ roughly 10% of GDP, consists mainly of the processing of raw materials
+ and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. Diamond mining
+ provides an important source of hard currency. Since 1990, the
+ government has been able to meet its IMF- and World Bank-mandated
+ stabilization targets, holding down fiscal deficits, increasing
+ foreign exchange reserves, and retiring much of its domestic debt -
+ but at a steep cost in terms of capital investments and social
+ spending. Moreover, the economic infrastructure has nearly collapsed
+ due to neglect and war-related disruptions in the mining and
+ agricultural export sectors. The continuing civil war in Liberia has
+ led to a large influx of refugees, who place additional burdens on
+ Sierra Leon's fragile economy.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $4.5 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 0.7% (1993 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 22% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $68 million
+ expenditures: $118 million, including capital expenditures of $28
+ million (1992 est.)
+
+ Exports: $149 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: rutile 48%, bauxite 25%, diamonds 16%, coffee, cocoa,
+ fish
+ partners: US, UK, Belgium, Germany, other Western Europe
+
+ Imports: $149 million (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: foodstuffs 48%, machinery and equipment 32%, fuels 9%
+ partners: US, EC countries, Japan, China, Nigeria
+
+ External debt: $1.15 billion (yearend 1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -1.5% (FY91/92); accounts for 11%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 130,000 kW
+ production: 220 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 44 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: mining (diamonds, bauxite, rutile), small-scale
+ manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear), petroleum
+ refinery
+
+ Agriculture: largely subsistence farming; cash crops - coffee, cocoa,
+ palm kernels; harvests of food staple rice meets 80% of domestic
+ needs; annual fish catch averages 53,000 metric tons
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $161 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $848 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $18 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $101 million
+
+ Currency: 1 leone (Le) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: leones (Le) per US$1 - 617.67 (January 1995), 586.74
+ (1994), 567.46 (1993), 499.44 (1992), 295.34 (1991), 144.9275 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Sierra Leone:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 84 km mineral line is used on a limited basis because the mine
+ at Marampa is closed
+ narrow gauge: 84 km 1.067-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 7,400 km
+ paved: 1,150 km
+ unpaved: crushed stone, gravel 490 km; improved earth 5,760 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 800 km; 600 km navigable year round
+
+ Ports: Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 11
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
+
+@Sierra Leone:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 23,650 telephones; telephone density - 5
+ telephones/1,000 persons; marginal telephone and telegraph service
+ local: NA
+ intercity: national microwave radio relay system made unserviceable by
+ military activities
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Sierra Leone:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Police, Security Forces
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,030,332; males fit for
+ military service 498,945 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $14 million, 2.6% of
+ GDP (FY92/93)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SINGAPORE
+
+@Singapore:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
+
+ Map references: Southeast Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 632.6 sq km
+ land area: 622.6 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 193 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined
+ in treaties and practice
+ territorial sea: 3 nm
+
+ International disputes: two islands in dispute with Malaysia
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy; no pronounced rainy or dry
+ seasons; thunderstorms occur on 40% of all days (67% of days in April)
+
+ Terrain: lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water
+ catchment area and nature preserve
+
+ Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 4%
+ permanent crops: 7%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 5%
+ other: 84%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water
+ resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the
+ Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed,
+ but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change
+
+ Note: focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes
+
+@Singapore:People
+
+ Population: 2,890,468 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 23% (female 327,417; male 348,345)
+ 15-64 years: 70% (female 991,015; male 1,030,668)
+ 65 years and over: 7% (female 105,081; male 87,942) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.06% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 15.93 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.35 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 76.16 years
+ male: 73.28 years
+ female: 79.25 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.87 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Singaporean(s)
+ adjective: Singapore
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Chinese 76.4%, Malay 14.9%, Indian 6.4%, other 2.3%
+
+ Religions: Buddhist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu,
+ Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist
+
+ Languages: Chinese (official), Malay (official and national), Tamil
+ (official), English (official)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 89%
+ male: 95%
+ female: 83%
+
+ Labor force: 1.649 million (1994)
+ by occupation: financial, business, and other services 33.5%,
+ manufacturing 25.6%, commerce 22.9%, construction 6.6%, other 11.4%
+ (1994)
+
+@Singapore:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Singapore
+ conventional short form: Singapore
+
+ Digraph: SN
+
+ Type: republic within Commonwealth
+
+ Capital: Singapore
+
+ Administrative divisions: none
+
+ Independence: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysia)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 9 August (1965)
+
+ Constitution: 3 June 1959, amended 1965 (based on preindependence
+ State of Singapore Constitution)
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory
+ ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President ONG Teng Cheong (since 1 September 1993);
+ election last held 28 August 1993 (next to be held NA August 1997);
+ results - ONG Teng Cheong was elected with 59% of the vote in the
+ country's first popular election for president
+ head of government: Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November
+ 1990); Deputy Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November 1990)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president, responsible to
+ parliament
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Parliament: elections last held 31 August 1991 (next to be held by 31
+ August 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (81
+ total) PAP 77, SDP 3, WP 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ government: People's Action Party (PAP), GOH Chok Tong, secretary
+ general
+ opposition: Workers' Party (WP), J. B. JEYARETNAM; Singapore
+ Democratic Party (SDP), CHEE Soon Juan; National Solidarity Party
+ (NSP), leader NA; Barisan Sosialis (BS, Socialist Front), leader NA;
+ Singapore People's Party (SPP), SIN Kek Tong
+
+ Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
+ IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UPU,
+ WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Sellapan Rama NATHAN
+ chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100
+ FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Timothy A. CHORBA
+ embassy: 30 Hill Street, Singapore 0617
+ mailing address: FPO AP 96534
+ telephone: [65] 3380251
+ FAX: [65] 3384550
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the
+ hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent
+ (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five
+ white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle
+
+@Singapore:Economy
+
+ Overview: Singapore has an open entrepreneurial economy with strong
+ service and manufacturing sectors and excellent international trading
+ links derived from its entrepot history. The economy registered 10.1%
+ growth in 1994, with prospects for 7.5%-8.5% growth in 1995. In 1994,
+ the manufacturing and financial and business services sectors have led
+ economic growth. Exports boomed, led by the electronics sector,
+ particularly US demand for disk drives. Rising labor costs continue to
+ be a threat to Singapore's competitiveness, but there are indications
+ that productivity is keeping up. In applied technology, per capita
+ output, investment, and labor discipline, Singapore has key attributes
+ of a developed country.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $57 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 10.1% (1994)
+
+ National product per capita: $19,940 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 2.6% (1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $11.9 billion
+ expenditures: $10.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.9
+ billion (FY93/94 est.)
+
+ Exports: $96.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: computer equipment, rubber and rubber products, petroleum
+ products, telecommunications equipment
+ partners: Malaysia 20%, US 19%, Hong Kong 9%, Japan 7%, Thailand 6%
+ (1994)
+
+ Imports: $102.4 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
+ commodities: aircraft, petroleum, chemicals, foodstuffs
+ partners: Japan 22%, Malaysia 16%, US 15%, Taiwan 4%, Saudi Arabia 4%
+ (1994)
+
+ External debt: $20 million (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 13% (1994 est.); accounts for 28%
+ of GDP (1993)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 4,510,000 kW
+ production: 17 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 5,590 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: petroleum refining, electronics, oil drilling equipment,
+ rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages,
+ ship repair, entrepot trade, financial services, biotechnology
+
+ Agriculture: minor importance in the economy; self-sufficient in
+ poultry and eggs; must import much of other food; major crops -
+ rubber, copra, fruit, vegetables
+
+ Illicit drugs: transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to the
+ US, Western Europe, and the Third World; also a major money-laundering
+ center
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $590 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $1 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Singapore dollar (S$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Singapore dollars (S$) per US$1 - 1.4524 (January
+ 1995), 1.5275 (1994), 1.6158 (1993), 1.6290 (1992), 1.7276 (1991),
+ 1.8125 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Singapore:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 38.6 km
+ narrow gauge: 38.6 km 1.000-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 2,883 km
+ paved: 2,796 km
+ unpaved: 87 km (1991 est.)
+
+ Ports: Singapore
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 563 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,167,596
+ GRT/17,845,687 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 96, cargo 121, chemical tanker 16, combination
+ bulk 2, combination ore/oil 7, container 78, liquefied gas tanker 6,
+ oil tanker 198, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12,
+ short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 22
+ note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 20 countries among
+ which are Japan 35 ships, Denmark 21, Germany 21, Hong Kong 18,
+ Belgium 14, Thailand 11, Sweden 8, US 7, Indonesia 6, and Norway 5;
+ Singapore owns 1 ship under Malaysia registry
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 10
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Singapore:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 1,110,000 telephones; good domestic facilities; good
+ international service; good radio and television broadcast coverage
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: submarine cables extend to Malaysia (Sabah and
+ Peninsular Malaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines; 2 INTELSAT (1
+ Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 2
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Singapore:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force, Police Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 860,437; males fit for military
+ service 629,973 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.7 billion, 6% of
+ GDP (1993 est.)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SLOVAKIA
+
+@Slovakia:Geography
+
+ Location: Central Europe, south of Poland
+
+ Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 48,845 sq km
+ land area: 48,800 sq km
+ comparative area: about twice the size of New Hampshire
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,355 km, Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km,
+ Hungary 515 km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 90 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Hungary; unresolved
+ property issues with Czech Republic over redistribution of former
+ Czechoslovak federal property
+
+ Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
+
+ Terrain: rugged mountains in the central and northern part and
+ lowlands in the south
+
+ Natural resources: brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore,
+ copper and manganese ore; salt
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: NA%
+ permanent crops: NA%
+ meadows and pastures: NA%
+ forest and woodland: NA%
+ other: NA%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human
+ health risks; acid rain damaging forests
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty,
+ Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
+ Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air
+ Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Slovakia:People
+
+ Population: 5,432,383 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 23% (female 609,795; male 638,346)
+ 15-64 years: 66% (female 1,807,312; male 1,778,712)
+ 65 years and over: 11% (female 364,610; male 233,608) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.54% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 14.51 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.12 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 73.24 years
+ male: 69.15 years
+ female: 77.57 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.93 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Slovak(s)
+ adjective: Slovak
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Slovak 85.7%, Hungarian 10.7%, Gypsy 1.5% (the 1992
+ census figures underreport the Gypsy/Romany community, which could
+ reach 500,000 or more), Czech 1%, Ruthenian 0.3%, Ukrainian 0.3%,
+ German 0.1%, Polish 0.1%, other 0.3%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 60.3%, atheist 9.7%, Protestant 8.4%,
+ Orthodox 4.1%, other 17.5%
+
+ Languages: Slovak (official), Hungarian
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: 2.484 million
+ by occupation: industry 33.2%, agriculture 12.2%, construction 10.3%,
+ communication and other 44.3% (1990)
+
+@Slovakia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Slovak Republic
+ conventional short form: Slovakia
+ local long form: Slovenska Republika
+ local short form: Slovensko
+
+ Digraph: LO
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Bratislava
+
+ Administrative divisions: 4 departments (kraje, singular - kraj)
+ Bratislava, Zapadoslovensky, Stredoslovensky, Vychodoslovensky
+
+ Independence: 1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)
+
+ National holiday: Anniversary of Slovak National Uprising, August 29
+ (1944)
+
+ Constitution: ratified 1 September 1992, fully effective 1 January
+ 1993
+
+ Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has
+ not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to
+ comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and
+ Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal
+ theory
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Michal KOVAC (since 8 February 1993);
+ election last held 8 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results
+ - Michal KOVAC elected by the National Council
+ head of government: Prime Minister Vladimir MECIAR (since 12 December
+ 1994)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on recommendation of the
+ prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Council (Narodni Rada): elections last held 30 September-1
+ October 1994 (next to be held by October 1998); results - HZDS 35%,
+ SDL 10.4%, Hungarian coalition (Hungarian Christian Democrats,
+ Hungarian Civic Party, Coexistence) 10.2%, KDH 10.1%, DU 8.6%, ZRS
+ 7.3%, SNS 5.4%; seats - (150 total) governing coalition 83 (HZDS 61,
+ ZRS 13, SNS 9), opposition 67 (SDL 18, Hungarian coalition 17, KDH 17,
+ DU 15)
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Movement for a Democratic Slovakia
+ (HZDS), Vladimir MECIAR, chairman; Common Choice/Party of the
+ Democratic Left (SDL), Peter WEISS, chairman; Hungarian Christian
+ Democrats, Vojtech BUGAR; Hungarian Civic Party; Coexistence, Miklos
+ DURAY, chairman; Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), Jan CARNOGURSKY;
+ Democratic Union (DU), Jozef MORAVCIK, chairman; Association of Slovak
+ Workers (ZRS), Jan LUPTAK, chairman; Slovak National Party (SNS), Jan
+ SLOTA, chairman
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Green Party; Social Democratic
+ Party of Slovakia; Slovak Christian Union
+
+ Member of: Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE (guest), CEI, CERN, EBRD,
+ ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
+ IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM
+ (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, NSG, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM II,
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIL, UNOMUR, UNPROFOR, UPU, WEU (associate
+ partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Branislav LICHARDUS
+ chancery: (temporary) Suite 380, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington,
+ DC 20007
+ telephone: [1] (202) 965-5161
+ FAX: [1] (202) 965-5166
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore E. RUSSELL
+ embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [42] (7) 330-861, 333-338
+ FAX: [42] (7) 330-096
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red
+ superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield centered on the hoist
+ side; the cross is white centered on a background of red and blue
+
+@Slovakia:Economy
+
+ Overview: In 1994 macroeconomic performance improved steadily but
+ privatization progressed only in fits and starts. Most of Slovakia's
+ IMF-approved targets were met by an interim government that lasted 9
+ months. Annual inflation fell from 23% in 1993 to 12%; unemployment at
+ 14.6% was still well below forecasts of 17%; and the budget deficit
+ was around half that in 1993. Slovakia's nearly $200 million trade
+ surplus also compares favorably with a more than $800 million deficit
+ in 1993. Furthermore, after contracting almost 25% in the three years
+ following 1990, GDP grew 4.3% in 1994, according to official
+ statistics. Bratislava in June qualified for a $254 million IMF
+ stand-by loan and the second $90 million tranche of its Systemic
+ Transformation Facility and, in December, received approval for a
+ European Union loan worth about $160 million. By the end of September
+ 1994, the Central Bank's foreign currency reserves had tripled since
+ the end of 1993. Slovakia continued to have difficulty attracting
+ foreign investment, however, because of perceived political
+ instability and halting progress in privatization. The interim
+ government prepared property worth nearly $2 billion for the second
+ wave of coupon privatization and sold participation in the program to
+ over 80% of Slovakia's eligible citizens. Parties controlling the new
+ Parliament in November 1994, however, put the second wave of coupon
+ privatization on hold and suspended sales of 38 firms until the new
+ government could evaluate the interim government's decisions in early
+ 1995. The new government's targets for 1995 include GDP growth of 3%,
+ inflation of 8%-10%, unemployment of 15%, and a budget deficit under
+ 3% of GDP. Continuing economic recovery in western Europe should boost
+ Slovak exports and production, but Slovakia's image with foreign
+ creditors and investors could suffer setbacks in 1995 if progress on
+ privatization stalls or budget deficits mount beyond IMF-recommended
+ levels.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $32.8 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4.3% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $6,070 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 14.6% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $4.4 billion
+ expenditures: $4.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $350
+ million (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $6.3 billion (f.o.b., January-November 1994)
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment; chemicals; fuels,
+ minerals, and metals; agricultural products
+ partners: Czech Republic 37.7%, Germany 17.1%, Hungary 5.3%, Austria
+ 5.3%, Italy 4.6%, Russia 4.0%, Poland 2.6%, Ukraine 1.8%, US 1.6%
+ (January-September 1994)
+
+ Imports: $6.1 billion (f.o.b., January-November 1994)
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment; fuels and lubricants;
+ manufactured goods; raw materials; chemicals; agricultural products
+ partners: Czech Republic 29.9%, Russia 19.0%, Germany 13.2%, Austria
+ 5.8%, Italy 4.3%, US 2.6%, Poland 2.4%, Ukraine 1.9%, Hungary 1.6%
+ (January-September 1994)
+
+ External debt: $4.2 billion hard currency indebtedness (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 6,300,000 kW
+ production: 20.9 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,609 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity,
+ gas, and water; coking, oil production, and nuclear fuel production;
+ chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing;
+ earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and
+ optical apparatus; rubber products
+
+ Agriculture: largely self-sufficient in food production; diversified
+ crop and livestock production, including grains, potatoes, sugar
+ beets, hops, fruit, hogs, cattle, and poultry; exporter of forest
+ products
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound
+ for Western Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: the former Czechoslovakia was a donor - $4.2 billion in
+ bilateral aid to non-Communist less developed countries (1954-89)
+
+ Currency: 1 koruna (Sk) = 100 halierov
+
+ Exchange rates: koruny (Sk) per US$1 - 31.14 (September 1994), 32.9
+ (December 1993), 28.59 (December 1992), 28.26 (1992), 29.53 (1991),
+ 17.95 (1990), 15.05 (1989); note - values before 1993 reflect
+ Czechoslovak exchange rate
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Slovakia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 3,660 km (electrified 635 km)
+ broad gauge: 102 km 1.520-m gauge
+ standard gauge: 3,511 km 1.435-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 47 km (35 km 1,000-m gauge; 12 km 0.750-m gauge) (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 17,650 km (1990)
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Inland waterways: NA km
+
+ Pipelines: petroleum products NA km; natural gas 2,700 km
+
+ Ports: Bratislava, Komarno
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,160 GRT/6,163 DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 37
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 4
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 10
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 11
+
+@Slovakia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Slovakia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense, Railroad
+ Units
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,443,719; males fit for
+ military service 1,107,453; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 49,045 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: 9.59 billion koruny, 3.1% of GDP (1994 est.);
+ note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the
+ current exchange rate could produce misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SLOVENIA
+
+@Slovenia:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between
+ Croatia and Italy
+
+ Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 20,296 sq km
+ land area: 20,296 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than New Jersey
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,045 km, Austria 262 km, Croatia 501 km, Italy
+ 199 km, Hungary 83 km
+
+ Coastline: 32 km
+
+ Maritime claims: NA
+
+ International disputes: dispute with Croatia over fishing rights in
+ the Adriatic and over some border areas; the border issue is currently
+ under negotiation
+
+ Climate: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with
+ mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to
+ the east
+
+ Terrain: a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain
+ region adjacent to Italy, mixed mountain and valleys with numerous
+ rivers to the east
+
+ Natural resources: lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 10%
+ permanent crops: 2%
+ meadows and pastures: 20%
+ forest and woodland: 45%
+ other: 23%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial
+ waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic
+ chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at
+ metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain
+ natural hazards: flooding and earthquakes
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Hazardous Wastes,
+ Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
+ Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur
+ 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change
+
+@Slovenia:People
+
+ Population: 2,051,522 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 19% (female 191,318; male 200,957)
+ 15-64 years: 69% (female 701,082; male 708,482)
+ 65 years and over: 12% (female 160,662; male 89,021) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.24% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 11.85 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.27 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 74.73 years
+ male: 70.91 years
+ female: 78.76 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.64 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Slovene(s)
+ adjective: Slovenian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Slovene 91%, Croat 3%, Serb 2%, Muslim 1%, other 3%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 96% (including 2% Uniate), Muslim 1%, other
+ 3%
+
+ Languages: Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croatian 7%, other 2%
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: 786,036
+ by occupation: agriculture 2%, manufacturing and mining 46%
+
+@Slovenia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
+ conventional short form: Slovenia
+ local long form: Republika Slovenije
+ local short form: Slovenija
+
+ Digraph: SI
+
+ Type: emerging democracy
+
+ Capital: Ljubljana
+
+ Administrative divisions: 60 provinces (pokajine, singular - pokajina)
+ Ajdovscina, Brezice, Celje, Cerknica, Crnomelj, Dravograd, Gornja
+ Radgona, Grosuplje, Hrastnik Lasko, Idrija, Ilirska Bistrica, Izola,
+ Jesenice, Kamnik, Kocevje, Koper, Kranj, Krsko, Lenart, Lendava,
+ Litija, Ljubljana-Bezigrad, Ljubljana-Center, Ljubljana-Moste-Polje,
+ Ljubljana-Siska, Ljubljana-Vic-Rudnik, Ljutomer, Logatec, Maribor,
+ Metlika, Mozirje, Murska Sobota, Nova Gorica, Novo Mesto, Ormoz,
+ Pesnica, Piran, Postojna, Ptuj, Radlje Ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne Na
+ Koroskem, Ribnica, Ruse, Sentjur Pri Celju, Sevnica, Sezana, Skofja
+ Loka, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje
+ Pri Jelsah, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trzic, Velenje, Vrhnika,
+ Zagorje Ob Savi, Zalec
+
+ Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
+
+ National holiday: Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
+
+ Constitution: adopted 23 December 1991, effective 23 December 1991
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Milan KUCAN (since 22 April 1990); election
+ last held 6 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Milan
+ KUCAN reelected by direct popular vote
+ head of government: Prime Minister Janez DRNOVSEK (since 14 May 1992)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly
+ State Assembly: elections last held 6 December 1992 (next to be held
+ NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (90 total)
+ LDS 22, SKD 15, United List (former Communists and allies) 14, Slovene
+ National Party 12, SLS 10, Democratic Party 6, ZS 5, SDSS 4, Hungarian
+ minority 1, Italian minority 1
+ State Council: will become operational after next election in 1996; in
+ the election of 6 December 1992, 40 members were elected to represent
+ local and socioeconomic interests
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Constitutional Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Liberal Democratic (LDS), Janez
+ DRNOVSEK, chairman; Slovene Christian Democrats (SKD), Lozje PETERLE,
+ chairman; Social Democratic Party of Slovenia (SDSS), Janez JANSA,
+ chairman; Slovene People's National Party, Marjan PODOBNIK, chairman;
+ United List (former Communists and allies), Janez KOCJANCIC, chairman;
+ Slovene People's Party (SLS), Ivan OMAN, chairman; Democratic Party,
+ Igor BAVCAR, chairman; Greens of Slovenia (ZS), Dusan PLUT, chairman
+ note: parties have changed as of the December 1992 elections
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: none
+
+ Member of: CCC, CE, CEI, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
+ IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC,
+ IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
+ UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Ernest PETRIC
+ chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
+ telephone: [1] (202) 667-5363
+ FAX: [1] (202) 667-4563
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador E. Allan WENDT
+ embassy: P.O. Box 254, Prazakova 4, 61000 Ljubljana
+ mailing address: American Embassy, Ljubljana, Department of State,
+ Washington, DC 20521-7140
+ telephone: [386] (61) 301-427, 472, 485
+ FAX: [386] (61) 301-401
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red with
+ the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav in white
+ against a blue background at the center, beneath it are two wavy blue
+ lines depicting seas and rivers, and around it, there are three
+ six-sided stars arranged in an inverted triangle); the seal is located
+ in the upper hoist side of the flag centered in the white and blue
+ bands
+
+@Slovenia:Economy
+
+ Overview: Slovenia appears to be making a solid economic recovery,
+ fulfilling the promise it showed at the time of Yugoslavia's breakup.
+ It was by far the most prosperous of the former Yugoslav republics,
+ with a per capita income more than twice the national average. It also
+ benefited from strong ties to Western Europe and suffered
+ comparatively small physical damage in the dismemberment process. The
+ beginning was difficult, however. Real GDP fell 15% during 1991-92,
+ while inflation jumped to 247% in 1991 and unemployment topped 8% -
+ nearly three times the 1989 level. The turning point came in 1993 when
+ real GDP grew 1%, unemployment leveled off at about 9%, and inflation
+ slowed dramatically to 23%. In 1994, the rate of growth of GDP rose to
+ 4%, unemployment remained stable, and inflation dropped to 20%. This
+ was accomplished, moreover, without balance-of-payments problems. The
+ government gets generally good economic marks from foreign observers,
+ particularly with regard to fiscal policy - the budget deficit in 1994
+ was only about 1% of GDP, following several years of small surpluses.
+ Prospects for 1995 appear good, with economic growth expected to
+ remain strong while unemployment and inflation may decline slightly.
+ Privatization, sluggish to date, is expected to pick up in 1995.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $16 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $8,110 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 9% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $9.9 billion
+ expenditures: $9.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1993)
+
+ Exports: $6.5 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment 27%, intermediate
+ manufactured goods 26%, chemicals 9%, food 4.8%, raw materials 3%,
+ consumer goods 26% (1993)
+ partners: Germany 29.5%, former Yugoslavia 15.8%, Italy 12.4%, France
+ 8.7%, Austria 5.0% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $6.5 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and transport equipment 30%, intermediate
+ manufactured goods 17.6%, chemicals 11.5%, raw materials 5.3%, fuels
+ and lubricants 10.8%, food 8.4% (1993)
+ partners: Germany 25.0%, Italy 16.1%, former Yugoslavia 10.7%, France
+ 8.0%, Austria 8.5% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $2.1 billion (1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 6% (1994 est.); accounts for 37% of
+ GDP (1993)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 2,700,000 kW
+ production: 8.9 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 4,470 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: ferrous metallurgy and rolling mill products, aluminum
+ reduction and rolled products, lead and zinc smelting, electronics
+ (including military electronics), trucks, electric power equipment,
+ wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 4.8% of GDP (1993); dominated by stock
+ breeding (sheep and cattle) and dairy farming; main crops - potatoes,
+ hops, hemp, flax; an export surplus in these commodities; Slovenia
+ must import many other agricultural products and has a negative
+ overall trade balance in this sector
+
+ Illicit drugs: NA
+
+ Economic aid: $NA
+
+ Currency: 1 tolar (SlT) = 100 stotins
+
+ Exchange rates: tolars (SIT) per US$1 - 127 (January 1995), 112 (June
+ 1993), 28 (January 1992)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Slovenia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,201 km
+ standard gauge: 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 499 km) (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 14,726 km
+ paved: 11,046 km (187 km expressways)
+ unpaved: gravel 3,680 km (1992)
+
+ Inland waterways: NA
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 290 km; natural gas 305 km
+
+ Ports: Izola, Koper, Piran
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 265,937 GRT/449,205 DWT
+ (controlled by Slovenian owners)
+ ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 6
+ note: ships under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
+ Singapore, Liberia; no ships remain under the Slovenian flag
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 14
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+
+@Slovenia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 130,000 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 0
+ radios: 370,000
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 7
+ televisions: 330,000
+
+@Slovenia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Slovene Defense Forces
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 542,815; males fit for military
+ service 434,302; males reach military age (19) annually 15,350 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: 13.5 billion tolars, 4.5% of GDP (1993 est.);
+ note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the
+ current exchange rate could produce misleading results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SOLOMON ISLANDS
+
+@Solomon Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east
+ of Papua New Guinea
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 28,450 sq km
+ land area: 27,540 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 5,313 km
+
+ Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
+ continental shelf: 200 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather
+
+ Terrain: mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls
+
+ Natural resources: fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead,
+ zinc, nickel
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 1%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 1%
+ forest and woodland: 93%
+ other: 4%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; much of the surrounding
+ coral reefs are dead or dying
+ natural hazards: typhoons, but they are rarely destructive;
+ geologically active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic
+ activity
+ international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Environmental
+ Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Law of
+ the Sea
+
+@Solomon Islands:People
+
+ Population: 399,206 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 46% (female 90,293; male 93,695)
+ 15-64 years: 51% (female 100,183; male 103,374)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 5,738; male 5,923) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.4% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 38.48 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 4.51 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 26.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 70.84 years
+ male: 68.38 years
+ female: 73.41 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 5.59 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Solomon Islander(s)
+ adjective: Solomon Islander
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%,
+ European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4%
+
+ Religions: Anglican 34%, Roman Catholic 19%, Baptist 17%, United
+ (Methodist/Presbyterian) 11%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, other
+ Protestant 5%, traditional beliefs 4%
+
+ Languages: Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca,
+ English spoken by 1%-2% of population
+ note: 120 indigenous languages
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: agriculture, forestry, and fishing 32.4%, services 25%,
+ construction, manufacturing, and mining 7.0%, commerce, transport, and
+ finance 4.7% (1984)
+
+@Solomon Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Solomon Islands
+ former: British Solomon Islands
+
+ Digraph: BP
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Honiara
+
+ Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 town*; Central,
+ Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Temotu, Western
+
+ Independence: 7 July 1978 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
+
+ Constitution: 7 July 1978
+
+ Legal system: common law
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor General Moses PITAKAKA (since 10 June 1994)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Solomon MAMALONI (since 7 November
+ 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Dennis LULEI (since 10 November 1994)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice of the
+ prime minister from members of parliament
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Parliament: elections last held NA November 1994 (next to be
+ held NA 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (47
+ total) number of seats by party NA
+
+ Judicial branch: High Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: People's Alliance Party (PAP); United
+ Party (UP), leader NA; Solomon Islands Liberal Party (SILP),
+ Bartholemew ULUFA'ALU; Nationalist Front for Progress (NFP), Andrew
+ NORI; Labor Party (LP), Joses TUHANUKU; National Action Party, leader
+ NA; Christian Fellowship, leader NA; National Unity Group, Solomon
+ MAMALONI
+
+ Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
+ IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC,
+ ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: ambassador traditionally resides in
+ Honiara (Solomon Islands)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: embassy closed July 1993; the ambassador
+ to Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands
+
+ Flag: divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower
+ hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five
+ white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle
+ is green
+
+@Solomon Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: The bulk of the population depend on subsistence
+ agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of their
+ livelihood. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be
+ imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such
+ as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. The economy suffered from a severe
+ cyclone in mid-1986 that caused widespread damage to the
+ infrastructure. In 1993, the government was working with the IMF to
+ develop a structural adjustment program to address the country's
+ fiscal deficit.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1992
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 8% (1992)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,590 (1992 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13% (1992 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $48 million
+ expenditures: $107 million, including capital expenditures of $45
+ million (1991 est.)
+
+ Exports: $84 million (f.o.b., 1991)
+ commodities: fish 46%, timber 31%, palm oil 5%, cocoa, copra
+ partners: Japan 39%, UK 23%, Thailand 9%, Australia 5%, US 2% (1991)
+
+ Imports: $110 million (c.i.f., 1991)
+ commodities: plant and machinery, manufactured goods, food and live
+ animals, fuel
+ partners: Australia 34%, Japan 16%, Singapore 14%, NZ 9%
+
+ External debt: $128 million (1988 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -3.8% (1991 est.); accounts for 5%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 21,000 kW
+ production: 30 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 80 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: copra, fish (tuna)
+
+ Agriculture: including fishing and forestry, accounts for 31% of GDP;
+ mostly subsistence farming; cash crops - cocoa, beans, coconuts, palm
+ kernels, timber; other products - rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit,
+ cattle, pigs; not self-sufficient in food grains; 90% of the total
+ fish catch of 44,500 metric tons was exported (1988)
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1980-89), $250 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Solomon Islands dollar (SI$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Solomon Islands dollars (SI$) per US$1 - 3.3113
+ (September 1994), 3.1877 (1993), 2.9281 (1992), 2.7148 (1991), 2.5288
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Solomon Islands:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1,300 km
+ paved: 30 km
+ unpaved: gravel 290 km; earth 980 km
+ note: in addition, there are 800 km of private logging and plantation
+ roads of varied construction (1982)
+
+ Ports: Aola Bay, Honiara, Lofung, Noro, Viru Harbor, Yandina
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 31
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 19
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 9
+
+@Solomon Islands:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 3,000 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Solomon Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: no military forces; Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SOMALIA
+
+@Somalia:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian
+ Ocean, east of Ethiopia
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 637,660 sq km
+ land area: 627,340 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,366 km, Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km,
+ Kenya 682 km
+
+ Coastline: 3,025 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ territorial sea: 200 nm
+
+ International disputes: southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a
+ Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia
+ over the Ogaden
+
+ Climate: principally desert; December to February - northeast monsoon,
+ moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; May to October -
+ southwest monsoon, torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular
+ rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
+
+ Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
+
+ Natural resources: uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron
+ ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 2%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 46%
+ forest and woodland: 14%
+ other: 38%
+
+ Irrigated land: 1,600 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human
+ health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
+ desertification
+ natural hazards: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern
+ plains in summer
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the
+ Sea; signed, but not ratified - Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
+
+ Note: strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches
+ to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
+
+@Somalia:People
+
+ Population: 7,347,554 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 45% (female 1,653,175; male 1,650,377)
+ 15-64 years: 51% (female 1,845,886; male 1,932,012)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 138,264; male 127,840) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 15.58% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 45.53 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 13.3 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 123.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 119.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 55.74 years
+ male: 55.48 years
+ female: 56 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 7.13 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Somali(s)
+ adjective: Somali
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000
+
+ Religions: Sunni Muslim
+
+ Languages: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 24%
+ male: 36%
+ female: 14%
+
+ Labor force: 2.2 million (very few are skilled laborers)
+ by occupation: pastoral nomad 70%, agriculture, government, trading,
+ fishing, handicrafts, and other 30%
+
+@Somalia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Somalia
+ former: Somali Republic
+
+ Digraph: SO
+
+ Type: none
+
+ Capital: Mogadishu
+
+ Administrative divisions: 18 regions (plural - NA, singular -
+ gobolka); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo,
+ Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag,
+ Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed
+
+ Independence: 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which
+ became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian
+ Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN
+ trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)
+
+ National holiday: NA
+
+ Constitution: 25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
+
+ Legal system: NA
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch: Somalia has no functioning government; the United
+ Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD
+ Barre on 27 January 1991; the present political situation is one of
+ anarchy, marked by inter-clan fighting and random banditry
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly
+ People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga): not functioning
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (not functioning)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted
+ the former regime on 27 January 1991; formerly the only party was the
+ Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP), headed by former
+ President and Commander in Chief of the Army Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD
+ Barre
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: numerous clan and subclan factions
+ are currently vying for power
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN,
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: Somalian Embassy ceased operations on
+ 8 May 1991
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ note: the US Embassy in Mogadishu was evacuated and closed
+ indefinitely in January 1991; Ambassador Daniel SIMPSON, ambassador to
+ Kenya, represents US interests in Somalia
+ liaison office: US Embassy, Nairobi, Kenya
+ address: corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi
+ mailing address: P.O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, Nairobi or APO AE 09831
+ telephone: [254] (2) 334141
+ FAX: [254] (2) 340838
+
+ Flag: light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center;
+ design based on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN trust
+ territory)
+
+@Somalia:Economy
+
+ Overview: One of the world's poorest and least developed countries,
+ Somalia has few resources. Moreover, much of the economy has been
+ devastated by the civil war. Agriculture is the most important sector,
+ with livestock accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export
+ earnings. Nomads and seminomads who are dependent upon livestock for
+ their livelihood make up about 70% of the population. Crop production
+ generates only 10% of GDP and employs about 20% of the work force. The
+ main export crop is bananas; sugar, sorghum, and corn are grown for
+ the domestic market. The small industrial sector is based on the
+ processing of agricultural products and accounts for less than 10% of
+ GDP; most facilities have been shut down because of the civil strife.
+ The greatly increased political turmoil of 1991-93 has resulted in a
+ substantial drop in agricultural output, with widespread famine. In
+ 1994 economic conditions stabilized in the countryside but may turn
+ worse in 1995 if civil strife intensifies after the UN withdrawal.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.3 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $500 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $58 million (1990 est.)
+ commodities: bananas, live animals, fish, hides
+ partners: Saudi Arabia, Italy, FRG (1986)
+
+ Imports: $249 million (1990 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials
+ partners: US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986)
+
+ External debt: $1.9 billion (1989)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: prior to the civil war, 75,000 kW, but now almost completely
+ shut down due to war damage; note - UN and relief organizations use
+ their own portable power systems
+ production: NA kWh
+ consumption per capita: NA kWh
+
+ Industries: a few small industries, including sugar refining,
+ textiles, petroleum refining (mostly shut down) (1994)
+
+ Agriculture: dominant sector, led by livestock raising (cattle, sheep,
+ goats); crops - bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane; not
+ self-sufficient in food; distribution of food disrupted by civil
+ strife; fishing potential largely unexploited
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $639 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $3.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.1 billion;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $336 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - approximately
+ 5,000 (1 January 1995), 2,616 (1 July 1993), 4,200 (December 1992),
+ 3,800.00 (December 1990), 490.7 (1989),
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Somalia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 22,500 km
+ paved: 2,700 km
+ unpaved: gravel 3,000 km; improved, stabilized earth 16,800 km (1992)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 15 km
+
+ Ports: Bender Cassim (Boosaaso), Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo), Merca,
+ Mogadishu
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,529 GRT/6,892 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 76
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 14
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 16
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 33
+
+@Somalia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; the public telecommunications system
+ was completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions; all
+ relief organizations depend on their own private systems (1993)
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Somalia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: no functioning central government military forces; clan
+ militias continue to battle for control of key economic or political
+ prizes
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,736,673; males fit for
+ military service 972,203 (1995 est.
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SOUTH AFRICA
+
+@South Africa:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of
+ Africa
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1,219,912 sq km
+ land area: 1,219,912 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
+ note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward
+ Island)
+
+ Land boundaries: total 4,750 km, Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km,
+ Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 855 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km
+
+ Coastline: 2,798 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: Swaziland has asked South Africa to open
+ negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African territories
+ that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long ago part of the
+ Swazi Kingdom;
+
+ Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days,
+ cool nights
+
+ Terrain: vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow
+ coastal plain
+
+ Natural resources: gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore,
+ manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum,
+ copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 10%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 65%
+ forest and woodland: 3%
+ other: 21%
+
+ Irrigated land: 11,280 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires
+ extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water
+ usage threatens to outpace supply; pollution of rivers from
+ agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in
+ acid rain; soil erosion; desertification
+ natural hazards: prolonged droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Endangered
+ Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,
+ Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
+ Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
+ Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely
+ surrounds Swaziland
+
+@South Africa:People
+
+ Population:
+ total: 45,095,459 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 40% (female 8,842,764; male 9,091,722)
+ 15-64 years: 56% (female 12,825,617; male 12,508,039)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 1,047,285; male 780,032) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate:
+ total: 2.61% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 33.39 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.42 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 45.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 65.42 years
+ male: 62.68 years
+ female: 68.25 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.35 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: South African(s)
+ adjective: South African
+
+ Ethnic divisions: black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored 8.6%, Indian 2.6%
+
+ Religions: Christian (most whites and Coloreds and about 60% of
+ blacks), Hindu (60% of Indians), Muslim 2%
+
+ Languages: eleven official languages, including Afrikaans, English,
+ Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
+ total population: 76%
+ male: 78%
+ female: 75%
+
+ Labor force: 13.4 million economically active (1990)
+ by occupation: services 35%, agriculture 30%, industry 20%, mining 9%,
+ other 6%
+
+@South Africa:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of South Africa
+ conventional short form: South Africa
+
+ Abbreviation: RSA
+
+ Digraph: SF
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Pretoria (administrative); Cape Town (legislative);
+ Bloemfontein (judicial)
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Eastern
+ Transvaal, KwaZulu/Natal, Northern Cape, Northern Transvaal,
+ Northwest, Orange Free State, Gauteng, Western Cape
+
+ Independence: 31 May 1910 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)
+
+ Constitution: 27 April 1994 (interim constitution, replacing the
+ constitution of 3 September 1984)
+
+ Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; accepts
+ compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: Executive President Nelson
+ MANDELA (since 10 May 1994); Deputy Executive President Thabo MBEKI
+ (since 10 May 1994); Deputy Executive President Frederik W. DE KLERK
+ (since 10 May 1994)
+ note: any political party that wins 20% or more of the National
+ Assembly votes in a general election is entitled to name a Deputy
+ Executive President
+ cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the Executive President
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral
+ National Assembly: elections last held 26-29 April 1994 (next to be
+ held NA); results - ANC 62.6%, NP 20.4%, IFP 10.5%, FF 2.2%, DP 1.7%,
+ PAC 1.2%, ACDP 0.5%, other 0.9%; seats - (400 total) ANC 252, NP 82,
+ IFP 43, FF 9, DP 7, PAC 5, ACDP 2
+ Senate: the Senate is composed of members who are nominated by the
+ nine provincial parliaments (which are elected in parallel with the
+ National Assembly) and has special powers to protect regional
+ interests, including the right to limited self-determination for
+ ethnic minorities; seats - (90 total) ANC 61, NP 17, FF 4, IFP 5, DP 3
+
+ note: when the National Assembly meets in joint session with the
+ Senate to consider the provisions of the constitution, the combined
+ group is referred to as the Constitutional Assembly
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: African National Congress (ANC), Nelson
+ MANDELA, president; National Party (NP), Frederik W. DE KLERK,
+ president; Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI,
+ president; Freedom Front (FF), Constand VILJOEN, president; Democratic
+ Party (DP); Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), Clarence MAKWETU,
+ president; African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), leader NA
+ note: in addition to these seven parties which received seats in the
+ National Assembly, twelve other parties won votes in the national
+ elections in April 1994
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: NA;;
+
+ Member of: BIS, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,
+ IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO,
+ ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Franklin SONN
+ chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400
+ consulate(s) general: Beverly Hills (California), Chicago, and New
+ York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Princeton N. LYMAN
+ embassy: 877 Pretorius St., Arcadia 0083
+ mailing address: P.O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001
+ telephone: [27] (12) 342-1048
+ FAX: [27] (12) 342-2244
+ consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg
+
+ Flag: two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated
+ by a central green band which splits into a horozontal Y, the arms of
+ which end at the corners of the hoist side, embracing a black isoceles
+ triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the
+ red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by
+ narrow white stripes
+ note: prior to 26 April 1994, the flag was actually four flags in one
+ - three miniature flags reproduced in the center of the white band of
+ the former flag of the Netherlands, which has three equal horizontal
+ bands of orange (top), white, and blue; the miniature flags are a
+ vertically hanging flag of the old Orange Free State with a horizontal
+ flag of the UK adjoining on the hoist side and a horizontal flag of
+ the old Transvaal Republic adjoining on the other side
+
+@South Africa:Economy
+
+ Overview: Many of the white one-seventh of the South African
+ population enjoy incomes, material comforts, and health and
+ educational standards equal to those of Western Europe. In contrast,
+ most of the remaining population suffers from the poverty patterns of
+ the Third World, including unemployment and lack of job skills. The
+ main strength of the economy lies in its rich mineral resources, which
+ provide two-thirds of exports. Economic developments for the remainder
+ of the 1990s will be driven largely by the new government's attempts
+ to improve black living conditions, to set the country on an
+ aggressive export-led growth path, and to cut back the enormous
+ numbers of unemployed. The economy in recent years has absorbed less
+ than 5% of the more than 300,000 workers entering the labor force
+ annually. Local economists estimate that the economy must grow between
+ 5% and 6% in real terms annually to absorb all of the new entrants,
+ much less reduce the accumulated total.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $194.3 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $4,420 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 32.6% (1994 est.); an additional 11%
+ underemployment
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $26.3 billion
+ expenditures: $34 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.5
+ billion (FY93/94 est.)
+
+ Exports: $25.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: gold 27%, other minerals and metals 20%-25%, food 5%,
+ chemicals 3%
+ partners: Italy, Japan, US, Germany, UK, other EU countries, Hong Kong
+
+ Imports: $21.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: machinery 32%, transport equipment 15%, chemicals 11%,
+ oil, textiles, scientific instruments
+ partners: Germany, US, Japan, UK, Italy
+
+ External debt: $18 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for about 40% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 39,750,000 kW
+ production: 163 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,482 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold,
+ chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron
+ and steel, chemical, fertilizer, foodstuffs
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 5% of GDP and 30% of labor force;
+ diversified agriculture, with emphasis on livestock; products -
+ cattle, poultry, sheep, wool, milk, beef, corn, wheat, sugarcane,
+ fruits, vegetables; self-sufficient in food
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment center for heroin and cocaine; cocaine
+ consumption on the rise; world's largest market for illicit
+ methaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through various
+ east African countries
+
+ Economic aid: many aid packages for the new government are still being
+ prepared; current aid pledges include US $600 million over 3 years; UK
+ $150 million over 3 years; Australia $21 million over 3 years; Japan
+ $1.3 billion over 2 years
+
+ Currency: 1 rand (R) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: rand (R) per US$1 - 3.5389 (January 1995), 3.5490
+ (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@South Africa:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 20,638 km
+ narrow gauge: 20,324 km 1.067-m gauge (substantial electrification);
+ 314 km 0.610-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 188,309 km
+ paved: 54,013 km
+ unpaved: crushed stone, gravel, improved earth 134,296 km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 931 km; petroleum products 1,748 km; natural gas
+ 322 km
+
+ Ports: Cape Town, Durban, East London, Mosselbaai, Port Elizabeth,
+ Richards Bay, Saldanha
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 4 container ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 211,276
+ GRT/198,602 DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 853
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 9
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 47
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 72
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 327
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 39
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 354
+
+@South Africa:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: over 4,500,000 telephones; the system is the best
+ developed, most modern, and has the highest capacity in Africa
+ local: NA
+ intercity: consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial
+ cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber optic cable, and
+ radiocommunication stations; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town,
+ Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria
+ international: 1 submarine cable; 3 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 2
+ Atlantic Ocean) earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 14, FM 286, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 67
+ televisions: NA
+
+@South Africa:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: South African National Defence Force (SANDF; includes Army,
+ Navy, Air Force, and Medical Services), South African Police Service
+ (SAPS)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 10,830,079; males fit for
+ military service 6,601,323; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 439,793 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.2 billion, 2.8% of
+ GDP (FY93/94)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS
+
+ (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+@South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean,
+ east of the tip of South America
+
+ Map references: Antarctic Region
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 4,066 sq km
+ land area: 4,066 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island
+ note: includes Shag Rocks, Clerke Rocks, Bird Island
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: NA km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina
+
+ Climate: variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year,
+ interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as
+ snow
+
+ Terrain: most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged
+ and mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep,
+ glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic
+ origin with some active volcanoes
+
+ Natural resources: fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some
+ sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen)
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: the South Sandwich Islands have prevailing weather
+ conditions that generally make them difficult to approach by ship;
+ they are also subject to active volcanism
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which
+ provide good anchorage; reindeer, introduced early in this century,
+ live on South Georgia
+
+@South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands:People
+
+ Population: no indigenous population; there is a small military
+ garrison on South Georgia, and the British Antarctic Survey has a
+ biological station on Bird Island; the South Sandwich Islands are
+ uninhabited
+
+@South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
+ conventional short form: none
+
+ Digraph: SX
+
+ Type: dependent territory of the UK
+
+ Capital: none; Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison town
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
+
+ Constitution: 3 October 1985
+
+ Legal system: English common law
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Commissioner David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992;
+ resident at Stanley, Falkland Islands)
+
+ Legislative branch: no elections
+
+ Judicial branch: none
+
+@South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There is a
+ potential source of income from harvesting fin fish and krill. The
+ islands receive income from postage stamps produced in the UK.
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $291,777
+ expenditures: $451,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988
+ est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 900 kW
+ production: 2 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)
+
+@South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands:Transportation
+
+ Highways:
+ total: NA
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: Grytviken
+
+ Airports: none
+
+@South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; coastal radio station at Grytviken
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SPAIN
+
+@Spain:Geography
+
+ Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay,
+ Mediterranean Sea, and North Atlantic Ocean, southwest of France
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 504,750 sq km
+ land area: 499,400 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
+ note: includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places of
+ sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco -
+ Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de
+ Velez de la Gomera
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,903.2 km, Andorra 65 km, France 623 km,
+ Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1,214 km
+
+ Coastline: 4,964 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: Gibraltar question with UK; Spain controls
+ five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast
+ of Morocco - the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco
+ contests, as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez
+ de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas
+
+ Climate: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and
+ cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy
+ and cool along coast
+
+ Terrain: large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills;
+ Pyrenees in north
+
+ Natural resources: coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites,
+ fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash,
+ hydropower
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 31%
+ permanent crops: 10%
+ meadows and pastures: 21%
+ forest and woodland: 31%
+ other: 7%
+
+ Irrigated land: 33,600 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and
+ effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; air pollution;
+ deforestation; desertification
+ natural hazards: periodic droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
+ Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
+ Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
+ Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur
+ 94, Desertification, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
+
+@Spain:People
+
+ Population: 39,404,348 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 17% (female 3,214,606; male 3,446,643)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 13,377,839; male 13,457,683)
+ 65 years and over: 15% (female 3,461,367; male 2,446,210) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.27% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 11.21 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.86 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 6.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 77.91 years
+ male: 74.67 years
+ female: 81.39 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.41 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Spaniard(s)
+ adjective: Spanish
+
+ Ethnic divisions: composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 99%, other sects 1%
+
+ Languages: Castilian Spanish, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1986)
+ total population: 96%
+ male: 98%
+ female: 94%
+
+ Labor force: 14.621 million
+ by occupation: services 53%, industry 24%, agriculture 14%,
+ construction 9% (1988)
+
+@Spain:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain
+ conventional short form: Spain
+ local short form: Espana
+
+ Digraph: SP
+
+ Type: parliamentary monarchy
+
+ Capital: Madrid
+
+ Administrative divisions: 17 autonomous communities (comunidades
+ autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon,
+ Asturias, Canarias, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon,
+ Cataluna, Communidad Valencia, Extremadura, Galicia, Islas Baleares,
+ La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco
+ note: there are five places of sovereignty on and off the coast of
+ Morocco (Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and
+ Penon de Velez de la Gomera) with administrative status unknown
+
+ Independence: 1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 12 October
+
+ Constitution: 6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978
+
+ Legal system: civil law system, with regional applications; does not
+ accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez (since 2
+ December 1982); Deputy Prime Minister Narcis SERRA y Serra (since 13
+ March 1991)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; designated by the prime minister
+ Council of State: is the supreme consultative organ of the government
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral The General Courts or National Assembly
+ (Las Cortes Generales)
+ Senate (Senado): elections last held 6 June 1993 (next to be held by
+ June 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (255 total)
+ PSOE 117, PP 107, CiU 15, PNV 5, IU 2, other 9
+ Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados): elections last held
+ 6 June 1993 (next to be held by June 1997); results - percent of vote
+ by party NA; seats - (350 total) PSOE 159, PP 141, IU 18, CiU 17, PNV
+ 5, CC 4, HB 2, other 4
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo)
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ principal national parties, from right to left: Popular Party (PP),
+ Jose Maria AZNAR Lopez; Democratic Social Center (CDS), Rafael CALVO
+ Ortega; Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), Felipe GONZALEZ
+ Marquez, secretary general; Socialist Democracy Party (DS), Ricardo
+ GARCIA Damborenea; Spanish Communist Party (PCE), Julio ANGUITA
+ Gonzalez; United Left (IU - a coalition of parties including the PCE,
+ a branch of the PSOE, and other small parties), Julio ANGUITA Gonzalez
+
+ chief regional parties: Convergence and Union (CiU), Miquel ROCA i
+ Junyent, secretary general; Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), Xabier
+ ARZALLUS Antia and Jose Antonio ARDANZA; Basque United People (HB),
+ Jon IDIGORAS Guerricabeitia and Inaki ESNAOLA; Canarian Coalition
+ (CC), a coalition of five parties
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: on the extreme left, the Basque
+ Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) and the First of October Antifascist
+ Resistance Group (GRAPO) use terrorism to oppose the government; free
+ labor unions (authorized in April 1977) include the
+ Communist-dominated Workers Commissions (CCOO); the Socialist General
+ Union of Workers (UGT), and the smaller independent Workers Syndical
+ Union (USO); business and landowning interests; the Catholic Church;
+ Opus Dei; university students
+
+ Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE,
+ CERN, EBRD, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, FAO, G- 8, GATT, IADB, IAEA,
+ IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
+ IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA
+ (observer), MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
+ OECD, ONUSAL, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIH,
+ UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime De OJEDA Eiseley
+ chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
+ telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100, 728-2340
+ FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670
+ consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
+ New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Richard N. GARDNER
+ embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid
+ mailing address: APO AE 09642
+ telephone: [34] (1) 577-4000
+ FAX: [34] (1) 577-5735
+ consulate(s) general: Barcelona
+ consulate(s): Bilbao
+
+ Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and
+ red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow
+ band; the coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars
+ of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on
+ either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar
+
+@Spain:Economy
+
+ Overview: Spain, with a per capita output approximately two-thirds
+ that of the four leading economies of Western Europe, has shared with
+ these countries the recession of the early 1990s and the upturn of
+ their economic fortunes in 1994. But whereas unemployment in these
+ countries has hovered just above 10%, Spain has been forced to cope
+ with a 25% unemployment rate. Continued political turmoil has
+ complicated the establishment of stable government policies toward
+ budgetary restraint, interest rates, labor law reform, and Spain's
+ role in the evolving economic integration of Western Europe. Because
+ the recession has been so deep, the growth in industrial output,
+ tourism, and other sectors in 1994, while welcome, falls far short of
+ the growth required to bring unemployment down to, say, 10%. The
+ recovery in the economies of major trade partners, the comparatively
+ low inflation rate, lower interest rates, and prospects in the tourist
+ sector suggest that Spain can make substantial progress in 1995.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $515.8 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 1.8% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $13,120 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.9% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 24.5% (yearend 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $97.7 billion
+ expenditures: $128 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $72.8 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: cars and trucks, semifinished manufactured goods,
+ foodstuffs, machinery
+ partners: EC 71.2%, US 4.8%, other developed countries 7.9% (1992)
+
+ Imports: $92.5 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: machinery, transport equipment, fuels, semifinished
+ goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals
+ partners: EC 60.7%, US 7.4%, other developed countries 11.5%, Middle
+ East 5.9% (1992)
+
+ External debt: $90 billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 4% (1994 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 43,800,000 kW
+ production: 148 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,545 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and
+ beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding,
+ automobiles, machine tools, tourism
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 5% of GDP and 14% of labor force;
+ major products - grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets,
+ citrus fruit, beef, pork, poultry, dairy; largely self-sufficient in
+ food; fish catch of 1.4 million metric tons is among top 20 nations
+
+ Illicit drugs: key European gateway country for Latin American cocaine
+ and North African hashish entering the European market; transshipment
+ point for Southwest Asian heroin
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $1.9 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-79), $545 million
+ note: not currently a recipient
+
+ Currency: 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos
+
+ Exchange rates: pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 132.61 (January 1995),
+ 133.96 (1994), 127.26 (1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91 (1991), 101.93
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Spain:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 14,400 km
+ broad gauge: 12,111 km 1.668-m gauge (6,404 km electrified; 2,295 km
+ double track)
+ standard gauge: 515 km 1.435-m gauge (515 km electrified)
+ narrow gauge: 1,774 km (privately owned: 1,727 km 1.000-m gauge, 560
+ km electrified; 28 km 0.914-m gauge, 28 km electrified; government
+ owned: 19 km 1.000-m gauge, all electrified)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 331,961 km
+ paved: 328,641 km (2,700 km of expressways)
+ unpaved: 3,320 km (1991)
+
+ Inland waterways: 1,045 km, but of minor economic importance
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 265 km; petroleum products 1,794 km; natural gas
+ 1,666 km
+
+ Ports: Aviles, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellon de la
+ Plana, Ceuta, Huelva, La Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Malaga,
+ Melilla, Pasajes, Puerto de Gijon, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary
+ Islands), Santander, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 157 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 868,326 GRT/1,382,335
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 12, cargo 41, chemical tanker 11, container 9,
+ liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 25, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo
+ 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 34, short-sea passenger 5, specialized
+ tanker 2
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 106
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 15
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 12
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 34
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 16
+
+@Spain:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 15,350,464 telephones; generally adequate, modern
+ facilities
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 22 coaxial submarine cables; 2 earth stations for
+ INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); earth stations for
+ working the EUTELSAT, INMARSAT, and MARECS satellite communications
+ systems; microwave tropospheric scatter links to adjacent countries
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 190, FM 406 (repeaters 134), shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 100 (repeaters 1,297)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Spain:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard, National
+ Police, Coastal Civil Guard
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 10,435,970; males fit for
+ military service 8,434,460; males reach military age (20) annually
+ 335,967 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $8 billion, 1.6% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SPRATLY ISLANDS
+
+@Spratly Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Asia, group of reefs in the South China Sea,
+ about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern
+ Philippines
+
+ Map references: Southeast Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: NA sq km but less than 5 km2
+ land area: less than 5 sq km
+ comparative area: NA
+ note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered
+ over the South China Sea
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 926 km
+
+ Maritime claims: NA
+
+ International disputes: all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by
+ China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and
+ the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive economic
+ zone, which encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly claimed the
+ island
+
+ Climate: tropical
+
+ Terrain: flat
+
+ Natural resources: fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas
+ potential
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous
+ reefs and shoals
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the
+ central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls,
+ shoals, and coral reefs
+
+@Spratly Islands:People
+
+ Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are scattered
+ garrisons
+
+@Spratly Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Spratly Islands
+
+ Digraph: PG
+
+@Spratly Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The
+ proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests
+ the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely
+ unexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves;
+ commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
+
+ Industries: none
+
+@Spratly Islands:Transportation
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 4
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Spratly Islands:Communications
+
+ Telephone system:
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Spratly Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: about 50 small islands or reefs are occupied by China, Malaysia,
+ the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SRI LANKA
+
+@Sri Lanka:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
+
+ Map references: Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 65,610 sq km
+ land area: 64,740 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,340 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March);
+ southwest monsoon (June to October)
+
+ Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central
+ interior
+
+ Natural resources: limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems,
+ phosphates, clay
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 16%
+ permanent crops: 17%
+ meadows and pastures: 7%
+ forest and woodland: 37%
+ other: 23%
+
+ Irrigated land: 5,600 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations
+ threatened by poaching; coastal degradation from mining activities and
+ increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial
+ wastes and sewage runoff
+ natural hazards: occasional cyclones and tornadoes
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law
+ of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands;
+ signed, but not ratified - Marine Life Conservation
+
+ Note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
+
+@Sri Lanka:People
+
+ Population: 18,342,660 (July 1995 est.)
+ note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and
+ armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand
+ Tamil civilians have fled the island; as of late 1992, nearly 115,000
+ were housed in refugee camps in south India, another 95,000 lived
+ outside the Indian camps, and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought
+ political asylum in the West
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 29% (female 2,597,969; male 2,713,696)
+ 15-64 years: 65% (female 6,042,228; male 5,902,343)
+ 65 years and over: 6% (female 547,715; male 538,709) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.15% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 18.13 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.78 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 21.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 72.14 years
+ male: 69.58 years
+ female: 74.82 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Sri Lankan(s)
+ adjective: Sri Lankan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay,
+ and Vedda 1%
+
+ Religions: Buddhist 69%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 8%
+
+ Languages: Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil
+ (national language) 18%
+ note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken by about
+ 10% of the population
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 88%
+ male: 93%
+ female: 84%
+
+ Labor force: 6.6 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 45.9%, mining and manufacturing 13.3%,
+ trade and transport 12.4%, services and other 28.4% (1985 est.)
+
+@Sri Lanka:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
+ conventional short form: Sri Lanka
+ former: Ceylon
+
+ Digraph: CE
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Colombo
+
+ Administrative divisions: 8 provinces; Central, North Central, North
+ Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western
+
+ Independence: 4 February 1948 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence and National Day, 4 February (1948)
+
+ Constitution: adopted 16 August 1978
+
+ Legal system: a highly complex mixture of English common law,
+ Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted
+ compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Chandrika
+ Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994); note - Sirimavo
+ BANDARANAIKE is the Prime Minister; in Sri Lanka the president is
+ considered to be both the chief of state and the head of the
+ government, this is in contrast to the more common practice of
+ dividing the roles between the president and the prime minister when
+ both offices exist; election last held 9 November 1994 (next to be
+ held NA November 2000); results - Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA
+ (People's Alliance) 62%, Srima DISSANAYAKE (United National Party)
+ 37%, other 1%
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president in consultation with the
+ prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Parliament: elections last held 16 August 1994 (next to be held by
+ August 2000); results - PA 49.0%, UNP 44.0%, SLMC 1.8%, TULF 1.7%,
+ SLPF 1.1%, EPDP 0.3%, UPF 0.3%, PLOTE 0.1%, other 1.7%; seats - (225
+ total) PA 105, UNP 94, EPDP 9, SLMC 7, TULF 5, PLOTE 3, SLPF 1, UPF 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), C. G.
+ Kumar PONNAMBALAM; Ceylon Workers Congress (CLDC), S. THONDAMAN;
+ Communist Party, K. P. SILVA; Communist Party/Beijing (CP/B), N.
+ SHANMUGATHASAN; Democratic People's Liberation Front (DPLF), leader
+ NA; Democratic United National Front (DUNF), G. M. PREMACHANDRA; Eelam
+ People's Democratic Party (EPDP), Douglas DEVANANDA; Eelam People's
+ Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRL), Suresh PREMACHANDRAN; Eelam
+ Revolutionary Organization of Students (EROS), Shankar RAJI; Lanka
+ Socialist Party/Trotskyite (LSSP, or Lanka Sama Samaja Party), Colin
+ R. DE SILVA; Liberal Party (LP), Chanaka AMARATUNGA; New Socialist
+ Party (NSSP, or Nava Sama Samaja Party), Vasudeva NANAYAKKARA;
+ People's Alliance (PA), Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA; People's
+ Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Dharmalingam
+ SIDARTHAN; People's United Front (MEP, or Mahajana Eksath Peramuna),
+ Dinesh GUNAWARDENE; Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Sirimavo
+ BANDARANAIKE; Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), M. H. M. ASHRAFF; Sri
+ Lanka People's Party (SLMP, or Sri Lanka Mahajana Party), Ossie
+ ABEYGUNASEKERA; Sri Lanka Progressive Front (SLPF), leader NA; Tamil
+ Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO), leader NA; Tamil United
+ Liberation Front (TULF), M. SIVASITHAMBARAM; United National Party
+ (UNP), Ranil WICKREMANSINGHE; Upcountry People's Front (UPF), leader
+ NA; several ethnic Tamil and Muslim parties, represented in either
+ parliament or provincial councils
+ note: the United Socialist Alliance (USA), which was formed in 1987
+ and included the NSSP, LSSP, SLMP, CP/M, and CP/B, was defunct as of
+ 1993, following the formation of the People's Alliance Party (PA)
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
+ (LTTE) and other smaller Tamil separatist groups; other radical
+ chauvinist Sinhalese groups; Buddhist clergy; Sinhalese Buddhist lay
+ groups; labor unions
+
+ Member of: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, PCA, SAARC, UN,
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Jayantha DHANAPALA
+ chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028
+ FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181
+ consulate(s): New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Teresita C. SCHAFFER
+ embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo
+ telephone: [94] (1) 448007
+ FAX: [94] (1) 437345
+
+ Flag: yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two
+ equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel
+ is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and
+ there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as
+ a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two
+ panels
+
+@Sri Lanka:Economy
+
+ Overview: Industry - dominated by the fast-growing apparel industry -
+ has surpassed agriculture as the main source of export earnings and
+ accounts for over 16% of GDP. The economy has been plagued by high
+ rates of unemployment since the late 1970s. Economic growth, which has
+ been depressed by ethnic unrest, accelerated in 1991-94 as domestic
+ conditions began to improve and conditions for foreign investment
+ brightened. Currently, however, the new government's emphasis on
+ populist measures has clouded Sri Lanka's economic prospects.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $57.6 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $3,190 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 13.6% (1993 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $2.3 billion
+ expenditures: $3.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.5
+ billion (1993)
+
+ Exports: $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: garments and textiles, teas, diamonds, other gems,
+ petroleum products, rubber products, other agricultural products,
+ marine products, graphite
+ partners: US 35.2%, Germany, UK, Belgium-Luxembourg, Japan,
+ Netherlands, France (1993)
+
+ Imports: $4 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: textiles and textile materials, machinery and equipment,
+ transport equipment, petroleum, building materials
+ partners: Japan, India, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore,
+ China (1993)
+
+ External debt: $7.2 billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 9% (1993 est.); accounts for 16% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,410,000 kW
+ production: 3.2 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 168 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other
+ agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining,
+ textiles, tobacco
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for one-fourth of GDP; field crops - rice,
+ sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseeds, roots, spices; cash crops - tea,
+ rubber, coconuts; animal products - milk, eggs, hides, meat; not
+ self-sufficient in rice production
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1980-89), $5.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $169 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $369 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Sri Lankan rupee (SLRe) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Sri Lankan rupees (SLRes) per US$1 - 50.115 (January
+ 1995), 49.415 (1994), 48.322 (1993), 43.830 (1992), 41.372 (1991),
+ 40.063 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Sri Lanka:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,948 km
+ broad gauge: 1,948 km 1.868-m gauge (102 km double track) (1990)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 75,263 km
+ paved: mostly bituminous treated 27,637 km
+ unpaved: crushed stone, gravel 32,887 km; improved, unimproved earth
+ 14,739 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 430 km; navigable by shallow-draft craft
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil and petroleum products 62 km (1987)
+
+ Ports: Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Trincomalee
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 289,115 GRT/453,609 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 12, container 1, oil tanker 3,
+ refrigerated cargo 8
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 14
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+
+@Sri Lanka:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 114,000 telephones (1982); very inadequate domestic
+ service, good international service
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: submarine cables extend to Indonesia and Djibouti; 2
+ INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 5, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 5
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Sri Lanka:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,990,661; males fit for
+ military service 3,888,372; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 178,926 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $412 million, 3.6% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SUDAN
+
+@Sudan:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and
+ Eritrea
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 2,505,810 sq km
+ land area: 2.376 million sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US
+
+ Land boundaries: total 7,687 km, Central African Republic 1,165 km,
+ Chad 1,360 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 1,606 km,
+ Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km, Zaire 628 km
+
+ Coastline: 853 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 18 nm
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: administrative boundary with Kenya does not
+ coincide with international boundary; administrative boundary with
+ Egypt does not coincide with international boundary creating the
+ "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km, tensions over this
+ disputed area began to escalate in 1992 and remain high
+
+ Climate: tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season (April
+ to October)
+
+ Terrain: generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and west
+
+ Natural resources: small reserves of petroleum, iron ore, copper,
+ chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 5%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 24%
+ forest and woodland: 20%
+ other: 51%
+
+ Irrigated land: 18,900 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife
+ populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion;
+ desertification
+ natural hazards: dust storms
+ international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered
+ Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection;
+ signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Desertification
+
+ Note: largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its
+ tributaries
+
+@Sudan:People
+
+ Population: 30,120,420 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 46% (female 6,801,001; male 7,124,892)
+ 15-64 years: 52% (female 7,706,864; male 7,830,980)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 280,297; male 376,386) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.35% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 41.29 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 11.74 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ note: the flow of refugees from the civil war in Sudan into
+ neighboring countries continues, often at the rate of tens of
+ thousands annually; Uganda was the main recipient of Sudanese refugees
+ in the past year; repatriation of Eritrean and Ethiopean refugees in
+ Sudan continues
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 77.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 54.71 years
+ male: 53.81 years
+ female: 55.65 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Sudanese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Sudanese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other
+ 1%
+
+ Religions: Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%,
+ Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum)
+
+ Languages: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of
+ Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English
+ note: program of Arabization in process
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1983)
+ total population: 32%
+ male: 44%
+ female: 21%
+
+ Labor force: 6.5 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 10%, government
+ 6%
+ note: labor shortages for almost all categories of skilled employment
+ (1983 est.)
+
+@Sudan:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan
+ conventional short form: Sudan
+ local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan
+ local short form: As-Sudan
+ former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
+
+ Digraph: SU
+
+ Type: ruling military junta - Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) -
+ dissolved on 16 October 1993 and government civilianized
+
+ Capital: Khartoum
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 states (wilayat, singular - wilayat or
+ wilayah*); A'ali an Nil, Al Wusta*, Al Istiwa'iyah*, Al Khartum, Ash
+ Shamaliyah*, Ash Sharqiyah*, Bahr al Ghazal, Darfur, Kurdufan
+ note: on 14 February 1994, the 9 states comprising Sudan were divided
+ into 26 new states; the new state boundary alignments are undetermined
+
+ Independence: 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
+
+ Constitution: 12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April 1985;
+ interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30
+ June 1989
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20
+ January 1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed
+ Islamic law in the northern states; the council is still studying
+ criminal provisions under Islamic law; Islamic law applies to all
+ residents of the northern states regardless of their religion; some
+ separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
+ reservations
+
+ Suffrage: none
+
+ Executive branch:
+ Chief of State and Head of Government: President Lt. General Umar
+ Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); prior to 16 October
+ 1993, BASHIR served concurrently as Chief of State, Chairman of the
+ RCC, Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence (since 30 June 1989);
+ First Vice President Major General al-Zubayr Muhammad SALIH (since 19
+ October 1993); Second Vice President (Police) Maj. General George
+ KONGOR (since NA February 1994); note - upon its dissolution on 16
+ October 1993, the RCC's executive and legislative powers were devolved
+ to the President and the Transitional National Assembly (TNA), Sudan's
+ appointed legislative body
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president; note - on 30 October
+ 1993, President BASHIR announced a new, predominantly civilian
+ cabinet, consisting of 20 federal ministers, most of whom retained
+ their previous cabinet positions; on 9 February 1995, he abolished
+ three ministries and redivided their portfolios to create several new
+ ministries; these changes increased National Islamic Front presence at
+ the ministerial level and consolidated its control over the Ministry
+ of Foreign Affairs; President BASHIR's government is dominated by
+ members of Sudan's National Islamic Front, a fundamentalist political
+ organization formed from the Muslim Brotherhood in 1986; front leader
+ Hasan al-TURABI controls Khartoum's overall domestic and foreign
+ policies
+
+ Legislative branch: appointed 300-member Transitional National
+ Assembly; officially assumes all legislative authority for Sudan until
+ the proposed 1995 resumption of national elections
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Special Revolutionary Courts
+
+ Political parties and leaders: none; banned following 30 June 1989
+ coup
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: National Islamic Front, Hasan
+ al-TURABI
+
+ Member of: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO,
+ G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF,
+ IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmad SULAYMAN
+ chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565 through 8570
+ FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Donald K. PETTERSON
+ embassy: Shar'ia Ali Abdul Latif, Khartoum
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 699, Khartoum; APO AE 09829
+ telephone: 74700, 74611 (operator assistance required)
+ FAX: Telex 22619 AMEMSD
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with
+ a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
+
+@Sudan:Economy
+
+ Overview: Sudan is buffeted by civil war, chronic political
+ instability, adverse weather, high inflation, a drop in remittances
+ from abroad, and counterproductive economic policies. Governmental
+ entities account for more than 70% of new investment. The private
+ sector's main areas of activity are agriculture and trading, with most
+ private industrial investment predating 1980. Agriculture employs 80%
+ of the work force. Industry mainly processes agricultural items.
+ Sluggish economic performance over the past decade, attributable
+ largely to declining annual rainfall, has reduced levels of per capita
+ income and consumption. A large foreign debt and huge arrearages
+ continue to cause difficulties. In 1990 the International Monetary
+ Fund took the unusual step of declaring Sudan noncooperative because
+ of its nonpayment of arrearages to the Fund. After Sudan backtracked
+ on promised reforms in 1992-93, the IMF threatened to expel Sudan from
+ the Fund. To avoid expulsion, Khartoum agreed to make payments on its
+ arrears to the Fund, liberalize exchange rates, and reduce subsidies.
+ These measures have been partially implemented. The government's
+ continued prosecution of the civil war and its growing international
+ isolation led to a further deterioration of the nonagricultural
+ sectors of the economy during 1994. Agriculture, on the other hand,
+ after several disappointing years, enjoyed a bumper fall harvest in
+ 1994; its strong performance produced an overall growth rate in GDP of
+ perhaps 7%.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $23.7 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 7% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $870 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 112% (FY93/94 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 30% (FY92/93 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $493 million
+ expenditures: $1.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $225
+ million (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $419 million (f.o.b., FY93/94)
+ commodities: gum arabic 29%, livestock/meat 24%, cotton 13%, sesame,
+ peanuts
+ partners: Western Europe 46%, Saudi Arabia 14%, Eastern Europe 9%,
+ Japan 9%, US 3% (FY87/88)
+
+ Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., FY93/94)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products, manufactured goods,
+ machinery and equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles
+ partners: Western Europe 32%, Africa and Asia 15%, US 13%, Eastern
+ Europe 3% (FY87/88)
+
+ External debt: $17 billion (June 1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 6.8% (FY92/93 est.); accounts for
+ 11% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 500,000 kW
+ production: 1.3 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 42 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap
+ distilling, shoes, petroleum refining
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 35% of GDP; major products - cotton,
+ oilseeds, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sheep; marginally
+ self-sufficient in most foods
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.5 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $5.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $3.1 billion;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $588 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Sudanese pound (#Sd) = 100 piastres
+
+ Exchange rates: official rate - Sudanese pounds (#Sd) per US$1 - 434.8
+ (January 1995), 277.8 (1994), 153.8 (1993), 69.4 (1992), 5.4288
+ (1991), 4.5004 (1990); note - the commercial rate is 300 Sudanese
+ pounds per US$1
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Sudan:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 5,516 km
+ narrow gauge: 4,800 km 1.067-m gauge; 716 km 1.6096-m gauge plantation
+ line
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 20,703 km
+ paved: bituminous treated 2,000 km
+ unpaved: gravel 4,000 km; improved earth 2,304 km; unimproved earth
+ 12,399 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 5,310 km navigable
+
+ Pipelines: refined products 815 km
+
+ Ports: Juba, Khartoum, Kusti, Malakal, Nimule, Port Sudan, Sawakin
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 43,024 GRT/122,379 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 70
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 13
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 14
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 33
+
+@Sudan:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; large, well-equipped system by
+ African standards, but barely adequate and poorly maintained by modern
+ standards
+ local: NA
+ intercity: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radio
+ communications, troposcatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14
+ stations
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 ARABSAT earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 3
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Sudan:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense Force Militia
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 6,806,588; males fit for
+ military service 4,185,206; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 313,958 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $600 million, 7.3% of
+ GDP (FY93/94 est.)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SURINAME
+
+@Suriname:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
+ between French Guiana and Guyana
+
+ Map references: South America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 163,270 sq km
+ land area: 161,470 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Georgia
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,707 km, Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km,
+ Guyana 600 km
+
+ Coastline: 386 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claims area in French Guiana between Litani
+ Rivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa Rivier);
+ claims area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and
+ Courantyne/Koetari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)
+
+ Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
+
+ Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
+
+ Natural resources: timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp,
+ bauxite, iron ore, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, gold
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: NEGL%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 97%
+ other: 3%
+
+ Irrigated land: 590 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation as foreign producers obtain timber
+ concessions
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine
+ Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not
+ ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna
+ which for the most part is not threatened because of the lack of
+ development; relatively small population most of which lives along the
+ coast
+
+@Suriname:People
+
+ Population: 429,544 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 34% (female 70,845; male 74,330)
+ 15-64 years: 61% (female 130,153; male 133,693)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 10,897; male 9,626) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.58% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 24.72 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.91 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 30.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 69.76 years
+ male: 67.24 years
+ female: 72.41 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.73 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Surinamer(s)
+ adjective: Surinamese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Hindustani (also known locally as "East" Indians;
+ their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of
+ the 19th century) 37%, Creole (mixed European and African ancestry)
+ 31%, Javanese 15.3%, "Bush Black" (also known as "Bush Creole" whose
+ ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries
+ as slaves) 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, Europeans 1%, other
+ 1.1%
+
+ Religions: Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Protestant
+ 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%
+
+ Languages: Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo
+ (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of Creoles
+ and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others),
+ Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 95%
+ male: 95%
+ female: 95%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+
+@Suriname:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
+ conventional short form: Suriname
+ local long form: Republiek Suriname
+ local short form: Suriname
+ former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
+
+ Digraph: NS
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Paramaribo
+
+ Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular -
+ distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para,
+ Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
+
+ Independence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
+
+ Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987
+
+ Legal system: NA
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Ronald R. VENETIAAN
+ (since 16 September 1991); Prime Minister Jules R. AJODHIA (since 16
+ September 1991); election last held 6 September 1991 (next to be held
+ NA May 1996); results - elected by the National Assembly - Ronald
+ VENETIAAN (NF) 80% (645 votes), Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) 14% (115
+ votes), Hans PRADE (DA '91) 6% (49 votes)
+ cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers; appointed by the president from members
+ of the National Assembly
+ note: Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains significant
+ power
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 25 May
+ 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - percent of vote by party
+ NA; seats - (51 total) NF 30, NDP 10, DA '91 9, independents 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: The New Front (NF), a coalition of four
+ parties (NPS, VHP, KTPI, SPA), leader Ronald R. VENETIAAN; Progressive
+ Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON; National Party of Suriname
+ (NPS), Ronald VENETIAAN; Party of National Unity and Solidarity
+ (KTPI), Willy SOEMITA; Suriname Labor Party (SPA), Fred DERBY;
+ Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91), Winston JESSURUN, a coalition of
+ four parties (AF, HPP, Pendawa Lima, BEP) formed in January 1991;
+ Alternative Forum (AF), Gerard BRUNINGS, Winston JESSURUN; Reformed
+ Progressive Party (HPP), Panalal PARMESSAR; Party for Brotherhood and
+ Unity in Politics (BEP), Caprino ALLENDY; Pendawa Lima, Marsha JAMIN;
+ National Democratic Party (NDP), Desire BOUTERSE; Progressive Workers'
+ and Farm Laborers' Union (PALU), Ir Iwan KROLIS, chairman;
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Surinamese Liberation Army (SLA),
+ Ronnie BRUNSWIJK, Johan "Castro" WALLY; Union for Liberation and
+ Democracy, Kofi AFONGPONG; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement,
+ Leendert ADAMS; Tucayana Amazonica, Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO
+
+ Member of: ACP, CARICOM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA,
+ UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Willem A. UDENHOUT
+ chancery: Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488, 7490 through 7492
+ FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878
+ consulate(s) general: Miami
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Roger R. GAMBLE
+ embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 1821, Paramaribo
+ telephone: [597] 472900, 477881, 476459
+ FAX: [597] 410025
+
+ Flag: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red
+ (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large
+ yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band
+
+@Suriname:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which
+ accounts for 15% of GDP and about 70% of export earnings. Paramaribo
+ has failed to initiate the economic reforms necessary to stabilize the
+ economy or win renewed Dutch aid disbursements. The government
+ continues to finance deficit spending with monetary emissions. As a
+ result, high inflation, high unemployment, widespread black market
+ activity, and hard currency shortfalls continue to mark the economy.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -0.8% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,800 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 225% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $300 million
+ expenditures: $700 million, including capital expenditures of $70
+ million (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $443.3 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: alumina, aluminum, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
+ partners: Norway 33%, Netherlands 26%, US 13%, Japan 6%, Brazil 6%, UK
+ 3% (1992)
+
+ Imports: $520.5 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton,
+ consumer goods
+ partners: US 42%, Netherlands 22%, Trinidad and Tobago 10%, Brazil 5%
+ (1992)
+
+ External debt: $180 million (March 1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 3.5% (1992 est.); accounts for 18%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 420,000 kW
+ production: 1.4 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,123 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: bauxite mining, alumina and aluminum production,
+ lumbering, food processing, fishing
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GDP and 25% of export earnings; paddy
+ rice planted on 85% of arable land and represents 60% of total farm
+ output; other products - bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains,
+ peanuts, beef, chicken; shrimp and forestry products of increasing
+ importance; self-sufficient in most foods
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined
+ for the US and Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $2.5 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $1.5 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1
+ - 1.7850 (fixed rate); parallel rate 510 (December 1994), 109 (January
+ 1994)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Suriname:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 166 km (single track)
+ standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 8,800 km
+ paved: 500 km
+ unpaved: bauxite, gravel, crushed stone 5,400 km; improved and
+ unimproved earth 2,900 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport;
+ oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of
+ the principal waterways
+
+ Ports: Albina, Moengo, Nieuw Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam, Wageningen
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,421 GRT/2,990 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 1, container 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 46
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 38
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
+
+@Suriname:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 27,500 telephones; international facilities good
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay network
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 14, shortwave 1
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 6
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Suriname:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: National Army (includes small Navy and Air Force elements),
+ Civil Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 116,456; males fit for military
+ service 69,011 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SVALBARD
+
+ (territory of Norway)
+
+@Svalbard:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents
+ Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
+
+ Map references: Arctic Region
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 62,049 sq km
+ land area: 62,049 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia
+ note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 3,587 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but not
+ recognized by Russia
+ territorial sea: 4 nm
+
+ International disputes: focus of maritime boundary dispute in the
+ Barents Sea between Norway and Russia
+
+ Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool
+ summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and
+ north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of
+ the year
+
+ Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west
+ coast clear of ice about half the year; fjords along west and north
+ coasts
+
+ Natural resources: coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc, wildlife,
+ fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and
+ cloudberry)
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: ice floes often block up the entrance to Bellsund (a
+ transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make
+ parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine
+ main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area
+
+@Svalbard:People
+
+ Population: 2,914 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: -3.5% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
+
+ Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
+
+ Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: NA years
+ male: NA years
+ female: NA years
+
+ Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Russian 64%, Norwegian 35%, other 1% (1981)
+
+ Languages: Russian, Norwegian
+
+ Labor force: NA
+
+@Svalbard:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Svalbard
+
+ Digraph: SV
+
+ Type: territory of Norway administered by the Ministry of Industry,
+ Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen,
+ Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was given to
+ Norway
+
+ Capital: Longyearbyen
+
+ Independence: none (territory of Norway)
+
+ National holiday: NA
+
+ Legal system: NA
+
+ Executive branch:
+ Chief of State: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991)
+ Head of Government: Governor Odd BLOMDAL (since NA); Assistant
+ Governor Jan-Atle HANSEN (since NA September 1993)
+
+ Member of: none
+
+ Flag: the flag of Norway is used
+
+@Svalbard:Economy
+
+ Overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. By
+ treaty (9 February 1920), the nationals of the treaty powers have
+ equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian
+ regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have
+ mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and
+ Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns.
+ The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the
+ Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services,
+ and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some
+ trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $13.3 million
+ expenditures: $13.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1990 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 21,000 kW
+ production: 45 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 13,860 kWh (1992)
+
+ Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere
+
+ Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.7014 (January
+ 1995), 7.0469 (1994), 7.0941 (1993), 6.2145 (1992), 6.4829 (1991),
+ 6.2597 (1990)
+
+@Svalbard:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: NA
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 4
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 3
+
+@Svalbard:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; local telephone service
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: satellite communication with Norwegian mainland
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1 (repeaters 2), shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1
+ televisions: NA
+
+ Note: there are 5 meteorological/radio stations
+
+@Svalbard:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SWAZILAND
+
+@Swaziland:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 17,360 sq km
+ land area: 17,200 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey
+
+ Land boundaries: total 535 km, Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: Swaziland has asked South Africa to open
+ negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African territories
+ that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long ago part of the
+ Swazi Kingdom
+
+ Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate
+
+ Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
+
+ Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower,
+ forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 10.9%
+ permanent crops: 0.2%
+ meadows and pastures: 62.2%
+ forest and woodland: 6.9%
+ other: 19.8%
+
+ Irrigated land: 640 sq km (1993 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: limited access to potable water; wildlife populations
+ being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil
+ degradation; soil erosion
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Nuclear Test Ban,
+ Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Law
+ of the Sea
+
+ Note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
+
+@Swaziland:People
+
+ Population: 966,977 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 46% (female 222,544; male 221,003)
+ 15-64 years: 52% (female 261,973; male 238,726)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 13,291; male 9,440) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.23% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 43.06 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 10.8 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 90.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 56.84 years
+ male: 52.83 years
+ female: 60.96 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.1 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Swazi(s)
+ adjective: Swazi
+
+ Ethnic divisions: African 97%, European 3%
+
+ Religions: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%
+
+ Languages: English (official; government business conducted in
+ English), siSwati (official)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1986)
+ total population: 67%
+ male: 70%
+ female: 65%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: private sector about 65%, public sector 35%
+
+@Swaziland:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland
+ conventional short form: Swaziland
+
+ Digraph: WZ
+
+ Type: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth
+
+ Capital: Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)
+
+ Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini,
+ Shiselweni
+
+ Independence: 6 September 1968 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)
+
+ Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended 12
+ April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but
+ has not been formally presented to the people
+
+ Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory
+ courts, Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has
+ not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: none
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Prince Jameson Mbilini DLAMINI
+ (since 12 November 1993)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; designated by the monarch
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament is advisory
+ Senate: consists of 30 members (10 appointed by the House of Assembly
+ and 20 appointed by the king)
+ House of Assembly: elections last held NA October 1993 (next to be
+ held NA); results - NA; seats - (65 total, 55 directly elected, 10
+ appointed by the king) - balloting held on a non-party basis
+
+ Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ note: political parties are banned by the Constitution promulgated on
+ 13 October 1978; illegal parties are prohibited from holding large
+ public gatherings
+ illegal parties: Peoples' United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Kilson
+ SHONOWE; Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYCO), Benedict TSABEDZE;
+ Swaziland Communist Party (SWACOPA), Mphandlana SHONGWE
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
+ ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
+ NAM, OAU, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
+ WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Madzandza Mary KHANYA
+ chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 362-6683, 6685
+ FAX: [1] (202) 244-8059
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador John T. SPROTT
+ embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
+ telephone: [268] 46441 through 46445
+ FAX: [268] 45959
+
+ Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and
+ blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a
+ large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated
+ with feather tassels, all placed horizontally
+
+@Swaziland:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is based on subsistence agriculture, which
+ occupies more than 60% of the population and contributes nearly 25% to
+ GDP. Manufacturing, which includes a number of agroprocessing
+ factories, accounts for another quarter of GDP. Mining has declined in
+ importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted
+ by 1978, and health concerns cut world demand for asbestos. Exports of
+ sugar and forestry products are the main earners of hard currency.
+ Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique,
+ Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa, from which it receives
+ 90% of its imports and to which it sends about half of its exports.
+ Remittances from Swazi workers in South African mines may supplement
+ domestically produced income by as much as 20%.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.3 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $3,490 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11.3% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $342 million
+ expenditures: $410 million, including capital expenditures of $130
+ million (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $632 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: sugar, edible concentrates, wood pulp, cotton yarn,
+ asbestos
+ partners: South Africa 50% (est.), EC countries, Canada
+
+ Imports: $734 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum
+ products, foodstuffs, chemicals
+ partners: South Africa 90% (est.), Switzerland, UK
+
+ External debt: $240 million (1992)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 4.2% (1993 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 120,000 kW
+ production: 410 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,003 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for over 60% of labor force; mostly subsistence
+ agriculture; cash crops - sugarcane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice,
+ citrus fruit, pineapples; other crops and livestock - corn, sorghum,
+ peanuts, cattle, goats, sheep; not self-sufficient in grain
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: bilateral aid (1991) $35 million of which US disbursements
+ $12 million, UK disbursements $6 million, and Denmark $2 million;
+ multilateral aid (1991) $24 million of which EC disbursements $8
+ million
+
+ Currency: 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1 -3.5389 (January 1995), 3.5490
+ (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990);
+ note - the Swazi emalangeni is at par with the South African rand
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Swaziland:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 297 km; note - includes 71 km which are not in use
+ narrow gauge: 297 km 1.067-m gauge (single track)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 2,853 km
+ paved: 510 km
+ unpaved: crushed stone, gravel, stabilized earth 1,230 km; improved
+ earth 1,113 km
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 18
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 9
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 8
+
+@Swaziland:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 17,000 telephones; telephone density is only 17.6
+ telephones/1,000 persons
+ local: NA
+ intercity: system consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines and
+ low-capacity radio relay microwave links
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 6, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 10
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Swaziland:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (Army), Royal Swaziland
+ Police Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 212,239; males fit for military
+ service 122,782 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $22 million, NA% of
+ GDP (FY93/94)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SWEDEN
+
+@Sweden:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia,
+ and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 449,964 sq km
+ land area: 410,928 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than California
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,205 km, Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km
+
+ Coastline: 3,218 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly
+ cloudy summers; subarctic in north
+
+ Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
+
+ Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber,
+ uranium, hydropower potential
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 7%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 2%
+ forest and woodland: 64%
+ other: 27%
+
+ Irrigated land: 1,120 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: acid rain damaging soils and lakes; pollution of the
+ North Sea and the Baltic Sea
+ natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in
+ the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
+ Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
+ Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
+ Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,
+ Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
+ Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air
+ Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North
+ Seas
+
+@Sweden:People
+
+ Population: 8,821,759 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 19% (female 810,859; male 854,553)
+ 15-64 years: 64% (female 2,761,060; male 2,856,012)
+ 65 years and over: 17% (female 887,597; male 651,678) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.46% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 13.19 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 10.84 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 2.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 78.43 years
+ male: 75.64 years
+ female: 81.39 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.97 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Swede(s)
+ adjective: Swedish
+
+ Ethnic divisions: white, Lapp (Sami), foreign born or first-generation
+ immigrants 12% (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks)
+
+ Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal
+ 1%, other 3.5% (1987)
+
+ Languages: Swedish
+ note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities; immigrants speak
+ native languages
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991 est.)
+ total population: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 4.552 million (84% unionized,1992)
+ by occupation: community, social and personal services 38.3%, mining
+ and manufacturing 21.2%, commerce, hotels, and restaurants 14.1%,
+ banking, insurance 9.0%, communications 7.2%, construction 7.0%,
+ agriculture, fishing, and forestry 3.2% (1991)
+
+@Sweden:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
+ conventional short form: Sweden
+ local long form: Konungariket Sverige
+ local short form: Sverige
+
+ Digraph: SW
+
+ Type: constitutional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Stockholm
+
+ Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (lan, singular and plural);
+ Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan, Gavleborgs Lan, Goteborgs och Bohus Lan,
+ Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan, Jamtlands Lan, Jonkopings Lan, Kalmar Lan,
+ Kopparbergs Lan, Kristianstads Lan, Kronobergs Lan, Malmohus Lan,
+ Norrbottens Lan, Orebro Lan, Ostergotlands Lan, Skaraborgs Lan,
+ Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan, Uppsala Lan, Varmlands Lan,
+ Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan, Vastmanlands Lan
+
+ Independence: 6 June 1809 (constitutional monarchy established)
+
+ National holiday: Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June
+
+ Constitution: 1 January 1975
+
+ Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts
+ compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir
+ Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the King
+ (born 14 July 1977)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Ingvar CARLSSON (since 6 October
+ 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Mona SAHLIN (since 6 October 1994)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Parliament (Riksdag): elections last held 18 September 1994 (next to
+ be held NA September 1998); results - Social Democrats 45.4%, Moderate
+ Party (Conservatives) 22.3%, Center Party 7.7%, Liberals 7.2%, Left
+ Party 6.2%, Greens 5.8%, Christian Democrats 4.1%, New Democracy Party
+ 1.2%; seats - (349 total) Social Democrats 162, Moderate Party
+ (Conservatives) 80, Center Party 27, Liberals 26, Left Party 22,
+ Greens 18, Christian Democrats 14; note - the New Democracy Party did
+ not receive a seat because parties require a minimum of 4.8% of votes
+ for a seat in parliament
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hogsta Domstolen)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party, Ingvar
+ CARLSSON; Moderate Party (conservative), Carl BILDT; Liberal People's
+ Party, Maria LEISSNER; Center Party, Olof JOHANSSON; Christian
+ Democratic Party, Alf SVENSSON; New Democracy Party, Vivianne FRANZEN;
+ Left Party (VP; Communist), Gudrun SCHYMAN; Communist Workers' Party,
+ Rolf HAGEL; Green Party, no formal leader but party spokesperson is
+ Birger SHLAUG
+
+ Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC,
+ CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 8, G- 9, G-10, GATT,
+ IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
+ ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR,
+ NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, ONUSAL, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
+ UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMOGIP,
+ UNOMIG, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Carl Henrik Sihver LILJEGREN
+ chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
+ telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600
+ FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699
+ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas L. SIEBERT
+ embassy: Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [46] (8) 783 53 00
+ FAX: [46] (8) 661 19 64
+
+ Flag: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag;
+ the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the
+ style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
+
+@Sweden:Economy
+
+ Overview: Aided by a long period of peace and neutrality during World
+ War I through World War II, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard
+ of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive
+ welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent
+ internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force.
+ Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an
+ economy that is heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned
+ firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the
+ engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. In 1990,
+ agriculture accounted for only 1.2% of GDP and 1.9% of the jobs,
+ Sweden being about 50% sufficient in most products. In the last few
+ years, however, this extraordinarily favorable picture has been
+ clouded by inflation, growing unemployment, and a gradual loss of
+ competitiveness in international markets. Although Prime Minister
+ BILDT's center-right minority coalition had hoped to charge ahead with
+ free-market-oriented reforms, a skyrocketing budget deficit - about
+ 14% of GDP in FY93/94 projections - and record unemployment have
+ forestalled many of the plans. Unemployment in 1994 is estimated at
+ around 9% with another 5% in job training. Continued heavy foreign
+ exchange speculation forced the government to cooperate in late 1992
+ with the opposition Social Democrats on two crisis packages - one a
+ severe austerity pact and the other a program to spur industrial
+ competitiveness - which basically set economic policy through 1997. In
+ November 1992, Sweden broke its tie to the EC's ECU, and the krona has
+ since depreciated about 25% against the dollar. The boost in export
+ competitiveness from the depreciation helped lift Sweden out of its
+ 3-year recession. To curb the budget deficit and bolster confidence in
+ the economy, the new Social Democratic government is proposing cuts in
+ welfare benefits, subsidies, defense, and foreign aid. Sweden has
+ harmonized its economic policies with those of the EU, which it joined
+ at the start of 1995.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $163.1 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 2.4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $18,580 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 8.8% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $47.9 billion
+ expenditures: $70.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (FY93/94)
+
+ Exports: $59.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: machinery, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood,
+ iron and steel products, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products
+ partners: EC 55.8% (Germany 15%, UK 9.7%, Denmark 7.2%, France 5.8%),
+ EFTA 17.4% (Norway 8.4%, Finland 5.1%), US 8.2%, Central and Eastern
+ Europe 2.5% (1992)
+
+ Imports: $49.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
+ commodities: machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals,
+ motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing
+ partners: EC 53.6% (Germany 17.9%, UK 6.3%, Denmark 7.5%, France
+ 4.9%), EFTA (Norway 6.6%, Finland 6%), US 8.4%, Central and Eastern
+ Europe 3% (1992)
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 9% (1994)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 34,560,000 kW
+ production: 141 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 14,891 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and
+ telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed
+ foods, motor vehicles
+
+ Agriculture: animal husbandry predominates, with milk and dairy
+ products accounting for 37% of farm income; main crops - grains, sugar
+ beets, potatoes; 100% self-sufficient in grains and potatoes; Sweden
+ is about 50% self-sufficient in most products
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics shipped via the CIS
+ and Baltic states for the European market
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.3 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 oere
+
+ Exchange rates: Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1 - 7.4675 (January 1995),
+ 7.7160 (1994), 7.7834 (1993), 5.8238 (1992), 6.0475 (1991) 5.9188
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Sweden:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 12,000 km (includes 953 km of privately owned railways)
+ standard gauge: 10,742 km 1.435-m gauge (7,502 km electrified and
+ 1,152 km double track); 8 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified; privately
+ owned)
+ narrow gauge: 61 km 0.891-m gauge (electrified; privately owned)
+ other: 1,189 km NA-m gauge (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 135,859 km
+ paved: 97,818 km (including 936 km of expressways)
+ unpaved: gravel 38,041 km (1991)
+
+ Inland waterways: 2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges
+
+ Pipelines: natural gas 84 km
+
+ Ports: Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall, Kalmar,
+ Karlshamn, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 157 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,872,350 GRT/2,075,722
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 24, chemical tanker 25, combination
+ ore/oil 1, container 2, oil tanker 31, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated
+ cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 37, short-sea passenger 8, specialized
+ tanker 4, vehicle carrier 12
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 253
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 84
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 26
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 129
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
+
+@Sweden:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 8,200,000 telephones; excellent domestic and
+ international facilities; automatic system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: coaxial and multiconductor cable carry most voice traffic;
+ parallel microwave network carries TV, radio, and some additional
+ telephone channels
+ international: 5 submarine coaxial cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean)
+ and 1 EUTELSAT earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 360 (mostly repeaters), shortwave 0
+ radios: 7 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 880 (mostly repeaters)
+ televisions: 3.5 million
+
+@Sweden:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Swedish Army, Royal Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,133,420; males fit for
+ military service 1,864,258; males reach military age (19) annually
+ 52,937 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $5.4 billion, 2.4% of
+ GDP (FY94/95)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SWITZERLAND
+
+@Switzerland:Geography
+
+ Location: Central Europe, east of France
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 41,290 sq km
+ land area: 39,770 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,852 km, Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy
+ 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy,
+ rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with
+ occasional showers
+
+ Terrain: mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a
+ central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
+
+ Natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 10%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 40%
+ forest and woodland: 26%
+ other: 23%
+
+ Irrigated land: 250 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions and open air
+ burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural
+ fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
+ natural hazards: avalanches, landslides, flash floods
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
+ Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
+ Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
+ Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur
+ 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along
+ with southeastern France and northern Italy, contains the highest
+ elevations in Europe
+
+@Switzerland:People
+
+ Population: 7,084,984 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 17% (female 594,565; male 622,436)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 2,375,792; male 2,448,213)
+ 65 years and over: 15% (female 623,136; male 420,842) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.57% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 12.04 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.16 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 2.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 78.36 years
+ male: 74.99 years
+ female: 81.88 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Swiss (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Swiss
+
+ Ethnic divisions:
+ total population: German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%,
+ other 6%
+ Swiss nationals: German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%,
+ other 1%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 47.6%, Protestant 44.3%, other 8.1% (1980)
+
+ Languages: German 65%, French 18%, Italian 12%, Romansch 1%, other 4%
+ note: figures for Swiss nationals only - German 74%, French 20%,
+ Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1%
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
+ total population: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 3.48 million (900,000 foreign workers, mostly Italian)
+ by occupation: services 50%, industry and crafts 34%, government 10%,
+ agriculture and forestry 6% (1992)
+
+@Switzerland:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Swiss Confederation
+ conventional short form: Switzerland
+ local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German)
+ Confederation Suisse (French) Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)
+ local short form: Schweiz (German) Suisse (French) Svizzera (Italian)
+
+ Digraph: SZ
+
+ Type: federal republic
+
+ Capital: Bern
+
+ Administrative divisions: 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in
+ French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular -
+ kanton in German); Aargau, Ausser-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft,
+ Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Inner-Rhoden,
+ Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen,
+ Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud,
+ Zug, Zurich
+
+ Independence: 1 August 1291
+
+ National holiday: Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss
+ Confederation, 1 August (1291)
+
+ Constitution: 29 May 1874
+
+ Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial
+ review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of
+ general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
+ with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Kaspar VILLIGER (1995
+ calendar year; presidency rotates annually); Vice President
+ Jean-Pascal DELAMURAZ (term runs concurrently with that of president)
+ cabinet: Federal Council (German - Bundesrat, French - Censeil
+ Federal, Italian - Consiglio Federale); elected by the Federal
+ Assembly from own members
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (German -
+ Bundesversammlung, French - Assemblee Federale, Italian - Assemblea
+ Federale)
+ Council of States: German - Standerat, French - Conseil des Etats,
+ Italian - Consiglio degli Stati; elections last held throughout 1991
+ (next to be held NA 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA;
+ seats - (46 total) FDP 18, CVP 16, SVP 4, SPS 3, LPS 3, LdU 1, Ticino
+ League 1
+ National Council: German - Nationalrat, French - Conseil National,
+ Italian - Consiglio Nazionale; elections last held 20 October 1991
+ (next to be held NA October 1995); results - percent of vote by party
+ NA; seats - (200 total) FDP 44, SPS 42, CVP 37, SVP 25, GPS 14, LPS
+ 10, AP 8, LdU 6, SD 5, EVP 3, PdA 2, Ticino League 2, other 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Free Democratic Party (FDP), Franz
+ STEINEGGER, president; Social Democratic Party (SPS), Peter BODENMANN,
+ president; Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP), Anton COTTIER,
+ president; Swiss People's Party (SVP), Hans UHLMANN, president; Green
+ Party (GPS), Verena DIENER, president; Freedom Party (FPS), Roland
+ BORER, president; Liberal Party (LPS), Christoph EYMANN, president;
+ Alliance of Independents' Party (LdU), Monica WEBER, president; Ticino
+ League, Giuliano BIGNASCA, president; and other minor parties
+ including the Automobile Party (AP), Swiss Democratic Party (SD),
+ Workers' Party (PdA), and the Evangelical People's Party (EVP); note -
+ see elections
+
+ Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE,
+ CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G- 8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM
+ (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN (observer),
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMIG, UNPROFOR, UNTSO,
+ UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Carlo JAGMETTI
+ chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900
+ FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564
+ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New
+ York, Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San Francisco
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador M. Larry LAWRENCE
+ embassy: Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [41] (31) 357 70 11
+ FAX: [41] (31) 357 73 44
+ branch office: Geneva
+ consulate(s) general: Zurich
+
+ Flag: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center
+ that does not extend to the edges of the flag
+
+@Switzerland:Economy
+
+ Overview: Switzerland's economy - one of the most prosperous and
+ stable in the world - is nonetheless undergoing a stressful adjustment
+ after both the inflationary boom of the late 1980s and the
+ electorate's rejection of membership in the European Economic Area
+ (EEA) in 1992. So far the decision to remain outside the European
+ single market structure does not appear to have harmed Swiss
+ interests. In December 1994, the Swiss began bilateral negotiations
+ with the EU aimed at establishing closer ties in areas of mutual
+ interest and progressing toward the free circulation of persons,
+ goods, capital, and services between the two parties. The Swiss
+ emerged from a three-year recession in mid-1993 and posted 1.8% GDP
+ growth in 1994. The Swiss central bank's tight monetary policies
+ brought inflation down from about 4% in 1992 to just under 1% in 1994.
+ Unemployment has fallen slightly from 5.1% in 1993 to 4.7% in 1994.
+ Swiss per capita output, living standards, education, and health care
+ remain unsurpassed in Europe. The country has few mineral resources,
+ but its spectacular natural beauty sustains a substantial tourism
+ industry.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $148.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 1.8% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $22,080 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 4.7% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $26.7 billion
+ expenditures: $32 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994
+ est.)
+
+ Exports: $69.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and equipment, precision instruments, metal
+ products, foodstuffs, textiles and clothing
+ partners: Western Europe 63.1% (EU countries 56%, other 7.1%), US
+ 8.8%, Japan 3.4%
+
+ Imports: $68.2 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: agricultural products, machinery and transportation
+ equipment, chemicals, textiles, construction materials
+ partners: Western Europe 79.2% (EU countries 72.3%, other 6.9%), US
+ 6.4%
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 0% (1993 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 15,430,000 kW
+ production: 58 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 6,699 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision
+ instruments
+
+ Agriculture: dairy farming predominates; less than 50% self-sufficient
+ in food; must import fish, refined sugar, fats and oils (other than
+ butter), grains, eggs, fruits, vegetables, meat
+
+ Illicit drugs: money-laundering center
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $3.5 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes,
+ rappen, or centesimi
+
+ Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 -
+ 1.2880 (January 1995), 1.3677 (1994), 1.4776 (1993), 1.4062 (1992),
+ 1.4340 (1991), 1.3892 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Switzerland:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 5,763 km (1,432 km double track)
+ standard gauge: 3,533 km 1.435-m gauge (99% electrified; 560 km
+ nongovernment owned)
+ narrow gauge: 1,094 km 1.000-m gauge (99% electrified; 1,020 km
+ nongovernment owned)
+ other: 1,136 km NA-m gauge (1994)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 71,118 km
+ paved: 71,118 km (including 1,514 km of expressways)
+
+ Inland waterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to
+ Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 314 km; natural gas 1,506 km
+
+ Ports: Basel
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 374,935 GRT/669,353 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 12, cargo 2, chemical tanker 4, oil tanker 2,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, specialized tanker 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 69
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 4
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 42
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Switzerland:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 5,890,000 telephones; excellent domestic,
+ international, and broadcast services
+ local: NA
+ intercity: extensive cable and microwave networks
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean) earth
+ stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 265, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 18 (repeaters 1,322)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Switzerland:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Air Force and Antiaircraft Command
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,847,639; males fit for
+ military service 1,582,335; males reach military age (20) annually
+ 41,831 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $4.1 billion, 1.4% of
+ GDP (1995)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+SYRIA
+
+@Syria:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
+ Lebanon and Turkey
+
+ Map references: Middle East
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 185,180 sq km
+ land area: 184,050 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than North Dakota
+ note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,253 km, Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375
+ km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km
+
+ Coastline: 193 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 41 nm
+ territorial sea: 35 nm
+
+ International disputes: separated from Israel by the 1949 Armistice
+ Line; Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Hatay question with Turkey;
+ ongoing dispute over water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris
+ and Euphrates Rivers; Syrian troops in northern Lebanon since October
+ 1976
+
+ Climate: mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and
+ mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather
+ with snow or sleet periodically hits Damascus
+
+ Terrain: primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain;
+ mountains in west
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores,
+ asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 28%
+ permanent crops: 3%
+ meadows and pastures: 46%
+ forest and woodland: 3%
+ other: 20%
+
+ Irrigated land: 10,000 sq km (1992)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
+ desertification; water pollution from dumping of raw sewage and wastes
+ from petroleum refining; inadequate supplies of potable water
+ natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
+ international agreements: party to - Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
+ Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified
+ - Biodiversity, Desertification, Environmental Modification
+
+ Note: there are 42 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites in
+ the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 1994 est.)
+
+@Syria:People
+
+ Population: 15,451,917 (July 1995 est.)
+ note: in addition, there are 31,000 people living in the
+ Israeli-occupied Golan Heights - 16,500 Arabs (15,000 Druze and 1,500
+ Alawites) and 14,500 Jewish settlers (August 1994 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 48% (female 3,639,776; male 3,826,154)
+ 15-64 years: 49% (female 3,691,862; male 3,854,989)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 219,251; male 219,885) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.71% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 43.21 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.07 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 41.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 66.81 years
+ male: 65.67 years
+ female: 68.01 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.55 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Syrian(s)
+ adjective: Syrian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
+
+ Religions: Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects
+ 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in
+ Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
+
+ Languages: Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian,
+ French widely understood
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 64%
+ male: 78%
+ female: 51%
+
+ Labor force: 4.3 million (1994 est.)
+ by occupation: miscellaneous and government services 36%, agriculture
+ 32%, industry and construction 32%; note - shortage of skilled labor
+ (1984)
+
+@Syria:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic
+ conventional short form: Syria
+ local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
+ local short form: Suriyah
+ former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
+
+ Digraph: SY
+
+ Type: republic under leftwing military regime since March 1963
+
+ Capital: Damascus
+
+ Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (muhafazat, singular -
+ muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As
+ Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif
+ Dimashq, Tartus
+
+ Independence: 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under
+ French administration)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 17 April (1946)
+
+ Constitution: 13 March 1973
+
+ Legal system: based on Islamic law and civil law system; special
+ religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971 see
+ note); Vice Presidents 'Abd al-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM, Rif'at al-ASAD,
+ and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984); election last
+ held 2 December 1991 (next to be held NA December 1998); results -
+ President Hafiz al-ASAD was reelected for a fourth seven-year term
+ with 99.98% of the vote; note - President ASAD seized power in the
+ November 1970 coup, assumed presidential powers 22 February 1971, and
+ was confirmed as president in the 12 March 1971 national elections
+ head of government: Prime Minister Mahmud ZU'BI (since 1 November
+ 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March
+ 1984); Deputy Prime Minister Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981);
+ Deputy Prime Minister Rashid AKHTARINI (since 4 July 1992)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ People's Council (Majlis al-Chaab): elections last held 24-25 August
+ 1994 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA;
+ seats - (250 total) National Progressive Front 167, independents 83
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial Council,
+ Court of Cassation, State Security Courts
+
+ Political parties and leaders:
+ National Progressive Front includes: the ruling Arab Socialist
+ Resurrectionist (Ba'th) Party, Hafiz al-ASAD, President of the
+ Republic, Secretary General of the party, and Chairman of the National
+ Progressive Front; Syrian Arab Socialist Party (ASP), 'Abd al-Ghani
+ KANNUT; Arab Socialist Union (ASU), Jamal ATASSI; Syrian Communist
+ Party (SCP), Khalid BAKDASH; Arab Socialist Unionist Movement, Sami
+ SOUFAN; and Democratic Socialist Union Party, leader NA
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: non-Ba'th parties have little
+ effective political influence; Communist party ineffective;
+ conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood
+
+ Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77,
+ IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
+ IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Walid MUALEM
+ chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313
+ FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher W. S. ROSS
+ embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street No. 2, Damascus
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus
+ telephone: [963] (11) 333-2814, 714-108, 333-3788
+ FAX: [963] (11) 224-7938
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with
+ two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in
+ the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white
+ band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic
+ inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also
+ similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle centered in
+ the white band
+
+@Syria:Economy
+
+ Overview: In 1990-93 Syria's state-dominated Ba'thist economy
+ benefited from the Gulf war, increased oil production, good weather,
+ and economic deregulation. Economic growth averaged roughly 10%. The
+ Gulf war provided Syria an aid windfall of nearly $5 billion dollars
+ from Arab, European, and Japanese donors. However, the benefits of the
+ 1990-93 boom were not evenly distributed and the gap between rich and
+ poor is widening. A nationwide financial scandal and increasing
+ inflation were accompanied by a decline in GDP growth to 4% in 1994.
+ For the long run, Syria's economy is still saddled with a large number
+ of poorly performing public sector firms, and industrial productivity
+ remains to be improved. Oil production is likely to fall off
+ dramatically by the end of the decade. Unemployment will become a
+ problem for the government when the more than 60% of the population
+ under the age of 20 enter the labor force.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $74.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $5,000 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16.3% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1993 est.)
+
+ Budget: NA
+
+ Exports: $3.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum 53%, textiles 22%, cotton, fruits and
+ vegetables, wheat, barley, chickens
+ partners: EC 48%, former CEMA countries 24%, Arab countries 18% (1991)
+
+ Imports: $4 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: foodstuffs 21%, metal products 17%, machinery 15%
+ partners: EC 37%, former CEMA countries 15%, US and Canada 10% (1991)
+
+ External debt: $19.4 billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 4,160,000 kW
+ production: 13.2 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 865 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate
+ rock mining, petroleum
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP and one-third of labor force; all
+ major crops (wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas) grown mainly
+ on rain-watered land causing wide swings in production; animal
+ products - beef, lamb, eggs, poultry, milk; not self-sufficient in
+ grain or livestock products
+
+ Illicit drugs: a transit country for Lebanese and Turkish refined
+ cocaine going to Europe and heroin and hashish bound for regional and
+ Western markets
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: no US aid; about $4.2 billion in loans and grants from Arab
+ and Western donors 1990-92 as a result of Gulf war stance
+
+ Currency: 1 Syrian pound (#S) = 100 piastres
+
+ Exchange rates: Syrian pounds (#S) per US$1 - 11.2 (official fixed
+ rate), 26.6 (blended rate used by the UN and diplomatic missions),
+ 42.0 (neighboring country rate - applies to most state enterprise
+ imports), 46.0 - 53.0 (offshore rate) (yearend 1993)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Syria:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,998 km
+ broad gauge: 1,766 km 1.435-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 232 km 1.050-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 31,569 km
+ paved: 24,308 km (including 670 km of expressways)
+ unpaved: 7,261 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 870 km; minimal economic importance
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 1,304 km; petroleum products 515 km
+
+ Ports: Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 80 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 233,701 GRT/364,714 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 68, vehicle carrier 2
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 107
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 5
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 67
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 15
+
+@Syria:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 512,600 telephones; 37 telephones/1,000 persons;
+ fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital
+ upgrades, including fiber optic technology
+ local: NA
+ intercity: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik earth
+ station; 1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to
+ Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 17
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Syria:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force,
+ Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces, Police and Security Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 3,440,030; males fit for
+ military service 1,927,930; males reach military age (19) annually
+ 159,942 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.2 billion, 6% of
+ GDP (1992)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+TAIWAN
+
+@Taiwan:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea,
+ Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the
+ Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China
+
+ Map references: Southeast Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 35,980 sq km
+ land area: 32,260 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland and Delaware combined
+ note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,448 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: involved in complex dispute over the Spratly
+ Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly
+ Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam and
+ Taiwan; Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu
+ Tai) claimed by China and Taiwan
+
+ Climate: tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June
+ to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year
+
+ Terrain: eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently
+ rolling plains in west
+
+ Natural resources: small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone,
+ marble, and asbestos
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 24%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 5%
+ forest and woodland: 55%
+ other: 15%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage;
+ air pollution; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in
+ endangered species
+ natural hazards: earthquakes and typhoons
+ international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Marine Life
+ Conservation
+
+@Taiwan:People
+
+ Population: 21,500,583 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 24% (female 2,543,134; male 2,665,878)
+ 15-64 years: 68% (female 7,191,964; male 7,482,814)
+ 65 years and over: 8% (female 734,535; male 882,258) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.93% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 15.33 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.71 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 75.47 years
+ male: 72.17 years
+ female: 78.93 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Chinese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Chinese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Taiwanese 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%
+
+ Religions: mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian
+ 4.5%, other 2.5%
+
+ Languages: Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka
+ dialects
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
+ total population: 86%
+ male: 93%
+ female: 79%
+
+ Labor force: 7.9 million
+ by occupation: industry and commerce 53%, services 22%, agriculture
+ 15.6%, civil administration 7% (1989)
+
+@Taiwan:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Taiwan
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: T'ai-wan
+
+ Digraph: TW
+
+ Type: multiparty democratic regime; opposition political parties
+ legalized in March, 1989
+
+ Capital: Taipei
+
+ Administrative divisions: some of the ruling party in Taipei claim to
+ be the government of all China; in keeping with that claim, the
+ central administrative divisions include 2 provinces (sheng, singular
+ and plural) and 2 municipalities* (shih, singular and plural) -
+ Fu-chien (some 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province including Quemoy
+ and Matsu), Kao-hsiung*, T'ai-pei*, and Taiwan (the island of Taiwan
+ and the Pescadores islands); the more commonly referenced
+ administrative divisions are those of Taiwan Province - 16 counties
+ (hsien, singular and plural), 5 municipalities* (shih, singular and
+ plural), and 2 special municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and
+ plural); Chang-hua, Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*,
+ Hua-lien, I-lan, Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou,
+ P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung, T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*,
+ T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**, T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; the
+ provincial capital is at Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un
+ note: Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 10 October (1911) (Anniversary of the
+ Revolution)
+
+ Constitution: 1 January 1947, amended in 1992, presently undergoing
+ revision
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President LI Teng-hui (since 13 January 1988); Vice
+ President LI Yuan-zu (since 20 May 1990)
+ head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) LIEN
+ Chan (since 23 February 1993); Vice Premier (Vice President of the
+ Executive Yuan) HSU Li-teh (since 23 February 1993); presidential
+ election last held 21 March 1990 (next election will probably be a
+ direct popular election and will be held NA March 1996); results -
+ President LI Teng-hui was reelected by the National Assembly; vice
+ presidential election last held 21 March 1990; results - LI Yuan-zu
+ was elected by the National Assembly
+ cabinet: Executive Yuan; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Yuan and unicameral
+ National Assembly
+ Legislative Yuan: elections last held 19 December 1992 (next to be
+ held NA December 1995); results - KMT 60%, DPP 31%, independents 9%;
+ seats - (304 total, 161 elected) KMT 96, DPP 50, independents 15
+ National Assembly: first National Assembly elected in November 1946
+ with a supplementary election in December 1986; second and present
+ National Assembly elected in December 1991; seats - (403 total) KMT
+ 318, DPP 75, other 10; (next election to be held probably in 1996 and
+ will be a direct popular election)
+
+ Judicial branch: Judicial Yuan
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Kuomintang (KMT, Nationalist Party), LI
+ Teng-hui, chairman; Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), SHIH Ming-teh,
+ chairman; Chinese New Party (CNP); Labor Party (LP)
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Taiwan independence movement,
+ various environmental groups
+ note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the
+ mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization
+ and the increased representation of the opposition Democratic
+ Progressive Party in Taiwan's legislature have opened public debate on
+ the island's national identity; advocates of Taiwan independence, both
+ within the DPP and the ruling Kuomintang, oppose the ruling party's
+ traditional stand that the island will eventually unify with mainland
+ China; the aims of the Taiwan independence movement include
+ establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the UN; other
+ organizations supporting Taiwan independence include the World United
+ Formosans for Independence and the Organization for Taiwan Nation
+ Building
+
+ Member of: expelled from UN General Assembly and Security Council on
+ 25 October 1971 and withdrew on same date from other
+ charter-designated subsidiary organs; expelled from IMF/World Bank
+ group April/May 1980; seeking to join GATT; attempting to retain
+ membership in INTELSAT; suspended from IAEA in 1972, but still allows
+ IAEA controls over extensive atomic development, APEC, AsDB, BCIE,
+ ICC, IOC, WCL
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none; unofficial commercial and
+ cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through a
+ private instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural
+ Representative Office (TECRO) with headquarters in Taipei and field
+ offices in Washington and 10 other US cities
+
+ US diplomatic representation: unofficial commercial and cultural
+ relations with the people of Taiwan are maintained through a private
+ institution, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which has offices
+ in Taipei at #7, Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, telephone [886]
+ (2) 709-2000, and in Kao-hsiung at #2 Chung Cheng 3d Road, telephone
+ [886] (7) 224-0154 through 0157, and the American Trade Center at Room
+ 3207 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333
+ Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei 10548, telephone [886] (2) 720-1550
+
+ Flag: red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
+ bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays
+
+@Taiwan:Economy
+
+ Overview: Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with considerable
+ government guidance of investment and foreign trade and partial
+ government ownership of some large banks and industrial firms. Real
+ growth in GNP has averaged about 9% a year during the past three
+ decades. Export growth has been even faster and has provided the
+ impetus for industrialization. Inflation and unemployment are
+ remarkably low. Agriculture contributes about 4% to GDP, down from 35%
+ in 1952. Taiwan currently ranks as number 13 among major trading
+ countries. Traditional labor-intensive industries are steadily being
+ replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive industries.
+ Taiwan has become a major investor in China, Thailand, Indonesia, the
+ Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The tightening of labor markets
+ has led to an influx of foreign workers, both legal and illegal.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $257 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 6% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $12,070 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.2% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 1.6% (1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $30.3 billion
+ expenditures: $30.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1991 est.)
+
+ Exports: $93 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: electrical machinery 19.7%, electronic products 19.6%,
+ textiles 10.9%, footwear 3.3%, foodstuffs 1.0%, plywood and wood
+ products 0.9% (1993 est.)
+ partners: US 27.6%, Hong Kong 21.7%, EC countries 15.2%, Japan 10.5%
+ (1994 est.)
+
+ Imports: $85.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
+ commodities: machinery and equipment 15.7%, electronic products 15.6%,
+ chemicals 9.8%, iron and steel 8.5%, crude oil 3.9%, foodstuffs 2.1%
+ (1993 est.)
+ partners: Japan 30.1%, US 21.7%, EC countries 17.6% (1993 est.)
+
+ External debt: $620 million (1992 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 4.5% (1994 est.); accounts for more
+ than 40% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 21,460,000 kW
+ production: 108 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 4,789 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: electronics, textiles, chemicals, clothing, food
+ processing, plywood, sugar milling, cement, shipbuilding, petroleum
+ refining
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP and 16% of labor force (includes
+ part-time farmers); heavily subsidized sector; major crops -
+ vegetables, rice, fruit, tea; livestock - hogs, poultry, beef, milk;
+ not self-sufficient in wheat, soybeans, corn; fish catch increasing,
+ reached 1.4 million metric tons in 1988
+
+ Illicit drugs: an important heroin transit point; also a major drug
+ money laundering center
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US, including Ex-Im (FY46-82), $4.6 billion; Western
+ (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $500
+ million
+
+ Currency: 1 New Taiwan dollar (NT$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: New Taiwan dollars per US$1 - 26.2 (1994), 26.6
+ (1993), 25.4 (1992), 25.748 (1991), 27.108 (1990), 26.407 (1989)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Taiwan:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 4,600 km; note - 1,075 km in common carrier service and about
+ 3,525 km is dedicated to industrial use
+ narrow gauge: 4,600 km 1.067-m
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 20,041 km
+ paved: bituminous, concrete pavement 17,095 km
+ unpaved: crushed stone, gravel 2,371 km; graded earth 575 km
+
+ Pipelines: petroleum products 615 km; natural gas 97 km
+
+ Ports: Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Kao-hsiung, Su-ao, T'ai-chung
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 198 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,635,682 GRT/8,652,111
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 55, cargo 30, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk
+ 2, combination ore/oil 1, container 78, oil tanker 17, passenger-cargo
+ 1, refrigerated cargo 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 41
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 8
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 8
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+
+@Taiwan:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 7,800,000 telephones; best developed system in Asia
+ outside of Japan
+ local: NA
+ intercity: extensive microwave radio relay links on east and west
+ coasts
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) earth
+ stations; submarine cable links to Japan (Okinawa), Philippines, Guam,
+ Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, Middle East, and Western
+ Europe
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 91, FM 23, shortwave 0
+ radios: 8.62 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 15 (repeaters 13)
+ televisions: 6.386 million (color 5,680,000, monochrome 706,000)
+
+@Taiwan:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, Coastal Patrol and
+ Defense Command, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Military Police Command
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 6,293,884; males fit for
+ military service 4,863,014; males reach military age (19) annually
+ 201,191 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $9.8 billion, 3.4% of
+ GDP (FY94/95); $9.77 billion proposed for FY95/96 budget
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+TAJIKISTAN
+
+ Note--Tajikistan has experienced three changes of government since it
+ gained independence in September 1991. The current president, Emomali
+ RAKHMONOV, was elected to the presidency in November 1994, yet has
+ been in power since 1992. The country is suffering through its third
+ year of a civil war, with no clear end in sight. Underlying the
+ conflict are deeply-rooted regional and clan-based animosities that
+ pit a government consisting of people primarily from the Kulob
+ (Kulyab), Khujand (Leninabad), and Hisor (Hissar) regions against a
+ secular and Islamic-led opposition from the Gharm, Gorno-Badakhshan,
+ and Qurghonteppa (Kurgan-Tyube) regions. Government and opposition
+ representatives have held periodic rounds of UN-mediated peace talks
+ and agreed in September 1994 to a cease-fire. Russian-led peacekeeping
+ troops are deployed throughout the country, and Russian border guards
+ are stationed along the Tajik-Afghan border.
+
+@Tajikistan:Geography
+
+ Location: Central Asia, west of China
+
+ Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian
+ States
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 143,100 sq km
+ land area: 142,700 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Wisconsin
+
+ Land boundaries: total 3,651 km, Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km,
+ Kyrgyzstan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: boundary with China in dispute; territorial
+ dispute with Kyrgyzstan on northern boundary in Isfara Valley area;
+ Afghanistan's and other foreign support to Tajik rebels based in
+ northern Afghanistan
+
+ Climate: midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid
+ to polar in Pamir Mountains
+
+ Terrain: Pamir and Altay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana
+ Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest
+
+ Natural resources: significant hydropower potential, some petroleum,
+ uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 6%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 23%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 71%
+
+ Irrigated land: 6,940 sq km (1990)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of
+ soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides; part of the
+ basin of the shrinking Aral Sea which suffers from severe
+ overutilization of available water for irrigation and associated
+ pollution
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Tajikistan:People
+
+ Population: 6,155,474 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 43% (female 1,303,627; male 1,340,086)
+ 15-64 years: 53% (female 1,612,429; male 1,624,379)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 157,841; male 117,112) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.6% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 34.06 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.58 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -1.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 60.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 69.03 years
+ male: 66.11 years
+ female: 72.1 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.55 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Tajik(s)
+ adjective: Tajik
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Tajik 64.9%, Uzbek 25%, Russian 3.5% (declining
+ because of emigration), other 6.6%
+
+ Religions: Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 5%
+
+ Languages: Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and
+ business
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
+ total population: 98%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 97%
+
+ Labor force: 1.95 million (1992)
+ by occupation: agriculture and forestry 43%, government and services
+ 24%, industry 14%, trade and communications 11%, construction 8%
+ (1990)
+
+@Tajikistan:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan
+ conventional short form: Tajikistan
+ local long form: Jumhurii Tojikistan
+ local short form: none
+ former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
+
+ Digraph: TI
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Dushanbe
+
+ Administrative divisions: 2 oblasts (viloyatho, singular - viloyat)
+ and one autonomous oblast* (viloyati avtonomii); Viloyati Avtonomii
+ Badakhshoni Kuni* (Khorugh - formerly Khorog), Viloyati Khatlon
+ (Qurghonteppa - formerly Kurgan-Tyube), Viloyati Leninobad (Khujand -
+ formerly Leninabad)
+ note: the administrative center names are in parentheses
+
+ Independence: 9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 9 September (1991)
+
+ Constitution: new constitution adopted 6 November 1994
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of
+ legislative acts
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Emomili RAKHMONOV (since 6 November 1994;
+ was Head of State and Assembly Chairman since NA November 1992);
+ election last held 6 November 1994 (next to be held NA 1998); results
+ - Emomili RAKHMONOV 58%, Abdumalik ABDULLAJANOV 40%
+ head of government: Prime Minister Jamshed KARIMOV (since 2 December
+ 1994)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Supreme Soviet: elections last held 26 February 1994 (next to be held
+ NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; estimated seats - (181
+ total) Communist Party and affiliates 100, Popular Party 10, Party of
+ Political and Economic Progress 1, Party of Popular Unity 6, other 64
+
+ Judicial branch: Prosecutor General
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Communist Party (People's Party of
+ Tajikistan - PPT), Abdumalik ABDULAJANOV; Party of Economic Freedom
+ (PEF), Abdumalik ABDULAJANOV; Tajik Socialist Party (TSP), Shodi
+ SHABDOLOV; Tajik Democratic Party (TDP), Abdu-Nabi SATARZADE,
+ chairman; note - suspended for six months; Islamic Renaissance Party
+ (IRP), Sayed Abdullo NURI, chairman; Rebirth (Rastokhez), Takhir
+ ABDUZHABOROV; Lali Badakhshan Society, Atobek AMIRBEK; People's
+ Democratic Party (PDP), Abdujalil HAMIDOV, chairman; Tajikistan Party
+ of Economic and Political Renewal (TPEPR), Mukhtor BOBOYEV
+ note: all the above-listed parties except the Communist Party, the
+ Party of National Unity, and the People's Party were banned in June
+ 1993
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Tajikistan Opposition Movement
+ based in northern Afghanistan
+
+ Member of: CIS, EBRD, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, ILO,
+ IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC,
+ OIC, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: NA
+ chancery: NA
+ telephone: NA
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Stanley T. ESCUDERO
+ embassy: Interim Chancery, #39 Ainii Street, Oktyabrskaya Hotel,
+ Dushanbe
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [7] (3772) 21-03-56
+
+ Flag: three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white,
+ and green; a crown surmounted by seven five-pointed stars is located
+ in the center of the white stripe
+
+@Tajikistan:Economy
+
+ Overview: Tajikistan had the next-to-lowest per capita GDP in the
+ former USSR, the highest rate of population growth, and an extremely
+ low standard of living. Agriculture dominates the economy, cotton
+ being the most important crop. Mineral resources, varied but limited
+ in amount, include silver, gold, uranium, and tungsten. Industry is
+ limited to a large aluminum plant, hydropower facilities, and small
+ obsolete factories mostly in light industry and food processing. The
+ Tajik economy has been gravely weakened by three years of civil war
+ and by the loss of subsidies and markets for its products, which has
+ left Tajikistan dependent on Russia and Uzbekistan and on
+ international humanitarian assistance for much of its basic
+ subsistence needs. Moreover, constant political turmoil and the
+ continued dominance by former Communist officials have impeded the
+ introduction of meaningful economic reforms. In the meantime,
+ Tajikistan's efforts to adopt the Russian ruble as its domestic
+ currency despite Russia's unwillingness to supply sufficient rubles
+ left the country in a severe monetary crisis throughout 1994, keeping
+ inflation low but leaving workers and pensioners unpaid for months at
+ a time. The government has announced plans to introduce its own
+ currency in 1995 to help resolve the problem.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $8.5 billion (1994
+ estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -12% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,415 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: 1.5% includes only officially registered
+ unemployed; also large numbers of underemployed workers and
+ unregistered unemployed people (September 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $320 million to outside the FSU countries (1994)
+ commodities: cotton, aluminum, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles
+ partners: Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan
+
+ Imports: $318 million from outside the FSU countries (1994)
+ commodities: fuel, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment,
+ textiles, foodstuffs
+ partners: Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -31% (1994)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 3,800,000 kW
+ production: 17 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,800 kWh (1994)
+
+ Industries: aluminum, zinc, lead, chemicals and fertilizers, cement,
+ vegetable oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers
+
+ Agriculture: cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep
+ and goats
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly
+ for CIS consumption; used as transshipment points for illicit drugs
+ from Southwest Asia to Western Europe and North America
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Russia and Uzbekistan reportedly provided substantial
+ general assistance throughout 1993 and 1994; Western aid and credits
+ promised through the end of 1993 were $700 million but disbursements
+ were only $104 million; large scale development loans await IMF
+ approval of a reform and stabilization plan
+
+ Currency: 1 ruble (R) = 100 kopeks; Tajikistan uses the Russian ruble
+ as its currency by agreement with Russia; government has plans to
+ introduce its own currency, the Tajik ruble, in 1995
+
+ Exchange rates: NA
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Tajikistan:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 480 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
+ lines (1990)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 29,900 km
+ paved: 21,400 km
+ unpaved: earth 8,500 km (1990)
+
+ Pipelines: natural gas 400 km (1992)
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 59
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 9
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 36
+
+@Tajikistan:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 303,000 telephones (December 1991); about 55
+ telephones/1,000 persons (1991); poorly developed and not well
+ maintained; many towns are not reached by the national network
+ local: NA
+ intercity: cable and microwave radio relay
+ international: linked by cable and microwave to other CIS republics,
+ and by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch;
+ Dushanbe linked by INTELSAT to international gateway switch in Ankara;
+ 1 Orbita and 2 INTELSAT earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+ note: 1 INTELSAT earth station provides TV receive-only service from
+ Turkey
+
+@Tajikistan:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army (being formed), National Guard, Security Forces
+ (internal and border troops)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,410,229; males fit for
+ military service 1,153,638; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 57,942 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+TANZANIA
+
+@Tanzania:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya
+ and Mozambique
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 945,090 sq km
+ land area: 886,040 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than twice the size of California
+ note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar
+
+ Land boundaries: total 3,402 km, Burundi 451 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi
+ 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,424 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: boundary dispute with Malawi in Lake Nyasa;
+ Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be
+ indefinite since it is reported that the indefinite section of the
+ Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled
+
+ Climate: varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands
+
+ Terrain: plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north,
+ south
+
+ Natural resources: hydropower potential, tin, phosphates, iron ore,
+ coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 5%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 40%
+ forest and woodland: 47%
+ other: 7%
+
+ Irrigated land: 1,530 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: soil degradation; deforestation; desertification;
+ destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts
+ affected marginal agriculture
+ natural hazards: the tsetse fly and lack of water limit agriculture;
+ flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous
+ Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection;
+ signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Desertification
+
+ Note: Mount Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa
+
+@Tanzania:People
+
+ Population: 28,701,077 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 47% (female 6,724,575; male 6,676,652)
+ 15-64 years: 50% (female 7,462,615; male 7,027,551)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 425,211; male 384,473) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.55% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 45.25 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 19.81 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ note: in February 1995, a fresh influx of refugees from civil strife
+ in Burundi brought the total number of Burundian refugees in Tanzania
+ to about 60,000; in addition, since April 1994 more than a half
+ million refugees from Rwanda have taken refuge in Tanzania to escape
+ civil strife in Rwanda
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 109 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 42.53 years
+ male: 40.88 years
+ female: 44.22 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.15 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Tanzanian(s)
+ adjective: Tanzanian
+
+ Ethnic divisions:
+ mainland: native African 99% (consisting of well over 100 tribes),
+ Asian, European, and Arab 1%
+ Zanzibar: NA
+
+ Religions:
+ mainland: Christian 45%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 20%
+ Zanzibar: Muslim 99% plus
+
+ Languages: Swahili (official; widely understood and generally used for
+ communication between ethnic groups and is used in primary education),
+ English (official; primary language of commerce, administration, and
+ higher education)
+ note: first language of most people is one of the local languages
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over has ability to read and write a letter or
+ message in Kisahili (1988)
+ total population: 59%
+ male: 71%
+ female: 48%
+
+ Labor force: 732,200 wage earners
+ by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 10% (1986 est.)
+
+@Tanzania:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania
+ conventional short form: Tanzania
+ former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar
+
+ Digraph: TZ
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Dar es Salaam
+ note: some government offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which
+ is planned as the new national capital by the end of the 1990s
+
+ Administrative divisions: 25 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma,
+ Iringa, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara,
+ Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga,
+ Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar North,
+ Zanzibar Urban/West, Ziwa Magharibi
+
+ Independence: 26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent 9 December
+ 1961 (from UN trusteeship under British administration); Zanzibar
+ became independent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with
+ Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and
+ Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964
+
+ National holiday: Union Day, 26 April (1964)
+
+ Constitution: 25 April 1977; major revisions October 1984
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of
+ legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not
+ accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Ali Hassan MWINYI (since 5 November 1985);
+ First Vice President Cleopa MSUYA (since 5 December 1994); Second Vice
+ President and President of Zanzibar Salmin AMOUR (since 9 November
+ 1990) election last held 28 October 1990 (next to be held 29 October
+ 1995); results - Ali Hassan MWINYI was elected without opposition
+ head of government: Prime Minister Cleopa David MSUYA (since 7
+ December 1994)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from the National
+ Assembly
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Bunge): elections last held 28 October 1990 (next
+ to be held 29 October 1995); results - CCM was the only party; seats -
+ (241 total, 168 elected) CCM 168
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM or
+ Revolutionary Party), Ali Hassan MWINYI; Civic United Front (CUF),
+ James MAPALALA; National Convention for Construction and Reform
+ (NCCR), Lyatonga (Augustine) MREMA; Union for Multiparty Democracy
+ (UMD), Abdullah FUNDIKIRA; Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo
+ (CHADEMA), Edwin I. M. MTEI, chairman; Democratic Party
+ (unregistered), Reverend MTIKLA
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, FLS, G- 6, G-77, GATT,
+ IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
+ UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Charles Musama NYIRABU
+ chancery: 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 939-6125
+ FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Brady ANDERSON
+ embassy: 36 Laibon Road (off Bagamoyo Road), Dar es Salaam
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
+ telephone: [255] (51) 66010 through 66015
+ FAX: [255] (51) 66701
+
+ Flag: divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower
+ hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the
+ lower triangle is blue
+
+@Tanzania:Economy
+
+ Overview: Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The
+ economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for about
+ 58% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the work
+ force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated
+ crops to only 5% of the land area. Industry accounts for 8% of GDP and
+ is mainly limited to processing agricultural products and light
+ consumer goods. The economic recovery program announced in mid-1986
+ has generated notable increases in agricultural production and
+ financial support for the program by bilateral donors. The World Bank,
+ the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral donors have provided
+ funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's deteriorated economic infrastructure.
+ Growth in 1991-94 has featured a pickup in industrial production and a
+ substantial increase in output of minerals, led by gold. Recent
+ banking reforms have helped increase private sector growth and
+ investment.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $21 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $750 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $495 million
+ expenditures: $631 million, including capital expenditures of $118
+ million (1990 est.)
+
+ Exports: $462 million (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: coffee, cotton, tobacco, tea, cashew nuts, sisal
+ partners: Germany, UK, Japan, Netherlands, Kenya, Hong Kong, US
+
+ Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
+ commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transportation
+ equipment, cotton piece goods, crude oil, foodstuffs
+ partners: Germany, UK, US, Japan, Italy, Denmark
+
+ External debt: $6.7 billion (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 9.3% (1990); accounts for 8% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 440,000 kW
+ production: 880 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 30 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: primarily agricultural processing (sugar, beer,
+ cigarettes, sisal twine), diamond and gold mining, oil refining,
+ shoes, cement, textiles, wood products, fertilizer
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 58% of GDP; cash crops - coffee,
+ sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums),
+ cashews, tobacco, cloves (Zanzibar); food crops - corn, wheat,
+ cassava, bananas, fruits, vegetables; small numbers of cattle, sheep,
+ and goats; not self-sufficient in food grain production
+
+ Illicit drugs: growing role in transshipment of Southwest Asian heroin
+ destined for European and US markets
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $400 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $9.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $44 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $614 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Tanzanian shilling (TSh) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Tanzanian shillings (TSh) per US$1 - 523.40 (December
+ 1994), 509.63 (1994), 405.27 (1993), 297.71 (1992), 219.16 (1991),
+ 195.06 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Tanzania:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 2,600 km; note - not a part of Tanzania Railways Corporation is
+ the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860
+ km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and New Kapiri
+ M'poshi in Zambia; 969 km are in Tanzania and 891 km are in Zambia;
+ because of the difference in gauge, this system does not connect to
+ Tanzania Railways
+ narrow gauge: 2,600 km 1.000-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 81,900 km
+ paved: 3,600 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 5,600 km; improved, unimproved earth
+ 72,700 km
+
+ Inland waterways: Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 982 km
+
+ Ports: Bukoba, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Lindi, Mkoani, Mtwara, Musoma,
+ Mwanza, Tanga, Wete, Zanzibar
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 29,145 GRT/39,186 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 3, oil tanker 1, passenger-cargo 2,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 108
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 30
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 16
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 51
+
+@Tanzania:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 103,800 telephones; fair system operating below
+ capacity
+ local: NA
+ intercity: open wire, microwave radio relay, troposcatter
+ international: 2 satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT
+ and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 4, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 2
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Tanzania:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Tanzanian People's Defense Force (TPDF; includes Army, Navy,
+ and Air Force), paramilitary Police Field Force Unit, Militia
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 6,188,455; males fit for
+ military service 3,584,912 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $69 million, NA% of
+ GDP (FY94/95)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+THAILAND
+
+@Thailand:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of
+ Thailand, southeast of Burma
+
+ Map references: Southeast Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 514,000 sq km
+ land area: 511,770 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
+
+ Land boundaries: total 4,863 km, Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos
+ 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km
+
+ Coastline: 3,219 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: boundary dispute with Laos; unresolved
+ maritime boundary with Vietnam; parts of border with Thailand in
+ dispute; maritime boundary with Thailand not clearly defined
+
+ Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to
+ September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March);
+ southern isthmus always hot and humid
+
+ Terrain: central plain; Khorat plateau in the east; mountains
+ elsewhere
+
+ Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum,
+ timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 34%
+ permanent crops: 4%
+ meadows and pastures: 1%
+ forest and woodland: 30%
+ other: 31%
+
+ Irrigated land: 42,300 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution
+ from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife
+ populations threatened by illegal hunting
+ natural hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the
+ depletion of the water table; droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered
+ Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
+ Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified -
+ Biodiversity, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore
+
+@Thailand:People
+
+ Population: 60,271,300 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 29% (female 8,545,362; male 8,866,271)
+ 15-64 years: 66% (female 19,733,773; male 20,185,392)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 1,636,426; male 1,304,076) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.24% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 18.87 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.48 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 35.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 68.42 years
+ male: 64.94 years
+ female: 72.08 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.04 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Thai (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Thai
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
+
+ Religions: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism
+ 0.1%, other 0.6% (1991)
+
+ Languages: Thai, English the secondary language of the elite, ethnic
+ and regional dialects
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 93%
+ male: 96%
+ female: 91%
+
+ Labor force: 30.87 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 62%, industry 13%, commerce 11%, services
+ (including government) 14% (1989 est.)
+
+@Thailand:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
+ conventional short form: Thailand
+
+ Digraph: TH
+
+ Type: constitutional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Bangkok
+
+ Administrative divisions: 76 provinces (changwat, singular and
+ plural); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat,
+ Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon,
+ Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep
+ Mahanakhon, Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha
+ Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon
+ Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong
+ Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga,
+ Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok,
+ Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri
+ Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut
+ Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri,
+ Sisaket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak,
+ Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit,
+ Yala, Yasothon
+
+ Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
+
+ National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927)
+
+ Constitution: new constitution approved 7 December 1991; amended 10
+ June 1992
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system, with influences of common
+ law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; martial law in
+ effect since 23 February 1991 military coup
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946); Heir
+ Apparent Crown Prince WACHIRALONGKON (born 28 July 1952)
+ head of government: Prime Minister CHUAN Likphai (since 23 September
+ 1992)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers
+ Privy Council: NA
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Rathasatha)
+ Senate (Vuthisatha): consists of a 270-member appointed body
+ House of Representatives (Saphaphoothan-Rajsadhorn): elections last
+ held 13 September 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote
+ by party NA; seats - (360 total) DP 79, TNP 77, NDP 60, NAP 51,
+ Phalang Tham 47, SAP 22, LDP 8, SP 8, Mass Party 4, Thai Citizen's
+ Party 3, People's Party 1, People's Force Party 0
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarndika)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Democrat Party (DP), CHUAN Likphai;
+ Thai Nation Party (TNP or Chat Thai Party), Banhan SINLAPA-ACHA;
+ National Development Party (NDP or Chat Phattana), Chatchai CHUNHAWAN;
+ New Aspiration Party (NAP), Gen. Chawalit YONGCHAIYUT; Phalang Tham
+ (Palang Dharma), CHAMLONG Simuang; Social Action Party (SAP), Montri
+ PHONGPHANIT; Liberal Democratic Party (LDP or Seri Tham), Athit
+ URAIRAT; Solidarity Party (SP), Uthai PHIMCHAICHON; Mass Party
+ (Muanchon), Pol. Cpt. Choem YUBAMRUNG; Thai Citizen's Party (Prachakon
+ Thai), Samak SUNTHONWET; People's Party (Ratsadon), Chaiphak SIRIWAT;
+ People's Force Party (Phalang Prachachon), Col. Sophon HANCHAREON
+
+ Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
+ IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
+ UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador MANATPHAT Chuto
+ chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
+ telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600
+ FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611
+ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador David F. LAMBERTSON
+ embassy: 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok
+ mailing address: APO AP 96546
+ telephone: [66] (2) 252-5040
+ FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990
+ consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai
+ consulate(s): Udorn (Udon Thani)
+
+ Flag: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width),
+ white, and red
+
+@Thailand:Economy
+
+ Overview: Thailand's economy recovered rapidly from the political
+ unrest in May 1992 to post an impressive 7.5% growth rate for the
+ year, 7.8% in 1993, and 8% in 1994. One of the more advanced
+ developing countries in Asia, Thailand depends on exports of
+ manufactures and the development of the service sector to fuel the
+ country's rapid growth. Much of Thailand's recent imports have been
+ for capital equipment, suggesting that the export sector is poised for
+ further growth. With foreign investment slowing, Bangkok is working to
+ increase the generation of domestic capital. Prime Minister CHUAN's
+ government - Thailand's fifth government in less than three years - is
+ pledged to continue Bangkok's probusiness policies, and the return of
+ a democratically elected government has improved business confidence.
+ Even so, CHUAN must overcome divisions within his ruling coalition to
+ complete much needed infrastructure development programs if Thailand
+ is to remain an attractive place for business investment. Over the
+ longer-term, Bangkok must produce more college graduates with
+ technical training and upgrade workers' skills to continue its rapid
+ economic development.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $355.2 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 8% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $5,970 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 3.2% (1993 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $28.4 billion
+ expenditures: $28.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $9.6
+ billion (FY94/95 est.)
+
+ Exports: $46 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and manufactures 83%, agricultural products and
+ fisheries 16%, others 1% (1994 est.)
+ partners: US 22%, Japan 17%, Singapore 12%, Hong Kong 5%, Germany 4%
+ (1993)
+
+ Imports: $52.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: capital goods 44%, intermediate goods and raw materials
+ 37%, consumer goods 16%, other 3% (1994 est.)
+ partners: Japan 30%, US 12%, Singapore 6%, Germany 5%, Taiwan 5%
+ (1993)
+
+ External debt: $64.3 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 11.5% (1993 est.); accounts for
+ about 26% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 12,810,000 kW
+ production: 56.8 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 909 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tourism is the largest source of foreign exchange;
+ textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco,
+ cement, light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric appliances and
+ components, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's
+ second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 11% of GDP and 62% of labor force; leading
+ producer and exporter of rice and cassava (tapioca); other crops -
+ rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans; except for wheat,
+ self-sufficient in food
+
+ Illicit drugs: a minor producer of opium and marijuana; major illicit
+ transit point for heroin, particularly from Burma and Laos, for the
+ international drug market; eradication efforts have reduced the area
+ of cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring
+ countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication
+ efforts; also a major drug money laundering center; rapidly growing
+ role in amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing
+ indigenous abuse of heroin and cocaine
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $870 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $8.6 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million
+
+ Currency: 1 baht (B) = 100 satang
+
+ Exchange rates: baht (B) per US$1 - 25.074 (January 1995), 25.150
+ (1994), 25.319 (1993), 25.400 (1992), 25.517 (1991), 25.585 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
+
+@Thailand:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 3,940 km
+ narrow gauge: 3,940 km 1.000-m gauge (99 km double track)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 77,697 km
+ paved: 35,855 km (including 88 km of expressways)
+ unpaved: gravel, other stabilization 14,092 km; earth 27,750 km (1988)
+
+ Inland waterways: 3,999 km principal waterways; 3,701 km with
+ navigable depths of 0.9 m or more throughout the year; numerous minor
+ waterways navigable by shallow-draft native craft
+
+ Pipelines: petroleum products 67 km; natural gas 350 km
+
+ Ports: Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha,
+ Songkhla
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 229 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,231,172 GRT/1,931,117
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 22, cargo 122, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk
+ 1, container 15, liquefied gas tanker 9, oil tanker 45, passenger 1,
+ refrigerated cargo 7, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1,
+ specialized tanker 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 105
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 6
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 23
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 42
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 14
+
+@Thailand:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 739,500 telephones (1987); service to general public
+ inadequate; bulk of service to government activities provided by
+ multichannel cable and microwave radio relay network
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay and multichannel cable; domestic
+ satellite system being developed
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) earth
+ stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 200 (in government-controlled network), FM 100
+ (in government-controlled network), shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 11 (in government-controlled network)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Thailand:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes Royal Thai Marine
+ Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 17,297,854; males fit for
+ military service 10,489,564; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 585,009 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $4.0 billion, 2.5% of
+ GNP (FY94/95)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+TOGO
+
+@Togo:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
+ Benin and Ghana
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 56,790 sq km
+ land area: 54,390 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,647 km, Benin 644 km, Burkina 126 km, Ghana
+ 877 km
+
+ Coastline: 56 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 30 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
+
+ Terrain: gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern
+ plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes
+
+ Natural resources: phosphates, limestone, marble
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 25%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 4%
+ forest and woodland: 28%
+ other: 42%
+
+ Irrigated land: 70 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn
+ agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; recent droughts affecting
+ agriculture
+ natural hazards: hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in
+ north during winter; periodic droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the
+ Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
+ Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate
+ Change, Desertification, Tropical Timber 94
+
+@Togo:People
+
+ Population: 4,410,370 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 49% (female 1,069,171; male 1,079,999)
+ 15-64 years: 49% (female 1,121,685; male 1,043,000)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 51,392; male 45,123) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.58% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 46.78 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 11.01 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 86.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 57.42 years
+ male: 55.29 years
+ female: 59.6 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.83 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Togolese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Togolese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: 37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina,
+ and Kabye, European and Syrian-Lebanese under 1%
+
+ Religions: indigenous beliefs 70%, Christian 20%, Muslim 10%
+
+ Languages: French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and
+ Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Dagomba and Kabye
+ (the two major African languages in the north)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 43%
+ male: 56%
+ female: 31%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: agriculture 80%
+ note: about 88,600 wage earners, evenly divided between public and
+ private sectors
+
+@Togo:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Togo
+ conventional short form: Togo
+ local long form: Republique Togolaise
+ local short form: none
+ former: French Togo
+
+ Digraph: TO
+
+ Type: republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
+
+ Capital: Lome
+
+ Administrative divisions: 23 circumscriptions (circonscriptions,
+ singular - circonscription); Amlame (Amou), Aneho (Lacs), Atakpame
+ (Ogou), Badou (Wawa), Bafilo (Assoli), Bassar (Bassari), Dapango
+ (Tone), Kande (Keran), Klouto (Kloto), Pagouda (Binah), Lama-Kara
+ (Kozah), Lome (Golfe), Mango (Oti), Niamtougou (Doufelgou), Notse
+ (Haho), Pagouda, Sotouboua, Tabligbo (Yoto), Tchamba, Nyala,
+ Tchaoudjo, Tsevie (Zio), Vogan (Vo)
+ note: the 23 units may now be called prefectures (singular -
+ prefecture) and reported name changes for individual units are
+ included in parentheses
+
+ Independence: 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
+
+ Constitution: multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council
+ of the Republic 1 July 1992; adopted by public referendum 27 September
+ 1992
+
+ Legal system: French-based court system
+
+ Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA (since 14 April
+ 1967); election last held 25 August 1993 (next election to be held NA
+ 1998); all major opposition parties boycotted the election; Gen.
+ EYADEMA won 96.5% of the vote
+ head of government: Prime Minister Edem KODJO (since April 1994)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president and the
+ prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly: elections last held 6 and 20 February 1994 (next to
+ be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (81 total)
+ CAR 36, RPT 35, UTD 7, UJD 2, CFN 1
+ note: the Supreme Court ordered new elections for 3 seats of the
+ Action Committee for Renewal (CAR) and the Togolese Union for
+ Democracy (UTD), lowering their total to 34 and 6 seats, respectively;
+ the remaining 3 seats have not been filled
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel), Supreme Court (Cour
+ Supreme)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Rally of the Togolese People (RPT),
+ President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA; Coordination des Forces Nouvelles
+ (CFN), Joseph KOFFIGOH; The Togolese Union for Democracy (UTD), Edem
+ KODJO; The Action Committee for Renewal (CAR), Yao AGBOYIBOR; The
+ Union for Democracy and Solidarity (UDS), Antoine FOLLY; The
+ Pan-African Sociodemocrats Group (GSP), an alliance of three radical
+ parties: The Democratic Convention of African Peoples (CDPA), Leopold
+ GNININVI; The Party for Democracy and Renewal (PDR), Zarifou AYEVA;
+ The Pan-African Social Party (PSP), Francis AGBAGLI; The Union of
+ Forces for Change (UFC), Gilchrist OLYMPIO (in exile); Union of
+ Justice and Democracy (UJD), Lal TAXPANDJAN
+ note: Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) led by President EYADEMA was
+ the only party until the formation of multiple parties was legalized
+ 12 April 1991
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO (observer), ECA, ECOWAS,
+ Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
+ IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, MINURSO, NAM,
+ OAU, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
+ WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Edem Frederic HEGBE
+ chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212
+ FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Johnny YOUNG (since September 1994)
+ embassy: Rue Pelletier Caventou and Rue Vauban, Lome
+ mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome
+ telephone: [228] 21 77 17, 21 29 91 through 21 29 94
+ FAX: [228] 21 79 52
+
+ Flag: five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom)
+ alternating with yellow; there is a white five-pointed star on a red
+ square in the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African
+ colors of Ethiopia
+
+@Togo:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is heavily dependent on subsistence agriculture,
+ which accounts for about half of GDP and provides employment for 80%
+ of the labor force. Primary agricultural exports are cocoa, coffee,
+ and cotton, which together generate about 30% of total export
+ earnings. Togo is self-sufficient in basic foodstuffs when harvests
+ are normal. In the industrial sector phosphate mining is by far the
+ most important activity, although it has suffered from the collapse of
+ world phosphate prices and increased foreign competition. Togo serves
+ as a regional commercial and trade center. The government's
+ decade-long IMF and World Bank supported effort to implement economic
+ reform measures to encourage foreign investment and bring revenues in
+ line with expenditures has stalled. Political unrest, including
+ private and public sector strikes throughout 1992 and 1993, has
+ jeopardized the reform program, shrunk the tax base, and disrupted
+ vital economic activity. Although strikes had ended in 1994, political
+ unrest and lack of funds prevented the government from taking
+ advantage of the 50% currency devaluation of January 1994. Resumption
+ of World Bank and IMF flows will depend on implementation of several
+ controversial moves toward privatization and on downsizing the
+ military, on which the regime depends to stay in power.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.3 billion (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $800 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.5% (1991 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $284 million
+ expenditures: $407 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1991 est.)
+
+ Exports: $221 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: phosphates, cotton, cocoa, coffee
+ partners: EC 40%, Africa 16%, US 1% (1990)
+
+ Imports: $292 million (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemical
+ products
+ partners: EC 57%, Africa 17%, US 5%, Japan 4% (1990)
+
+ External debt: $1.3 billion (1991)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 9% (1991 est.); accounts for 20% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 30,000 kW
+ production: 60 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 83 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement,
+ handicrafts, textiles, beverages
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 49% of GDP; cash crops - coffee, cocoa,
+ cotton; food crops - yams, cassava, corn, beans, rice, millet,
+ sorghum; livestock production not significant; annual fish catch of
+ 10,000-14,000 tons
+
+ Illicit drugs: increasingly used as transit hub by heroin traffickers
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $142 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-90), $2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $35 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $51 million
+
+ Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1
+ - 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
+ 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)
+ note: the official rate is pegged to the French franc, and beginning
+ 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French
+ franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Togo:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 532 km
+ narrow gauge: 532 km 1.000-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 6,462 km
+ paved: 1,762 km
+ unpaved: unimproved earth 4,700 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 50 km Mono River
+
+ Ports: Kpeme, Lome
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 9
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
+
+@Togo:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; fair system based on network of radio
+ relay routes supplemented by open wire lines
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave radio relay and open wire lines
+ international: 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 SYMPHONIE earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 3 (relays 2)
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Togo:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 936,270; males fit for military
+ service 491,578 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $48 million, 2.9% of
+ GDP (1993)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+TOKELAU
+
+ (territory of New Zealand)
+
+@Tokelau:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
+ one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 10 sq km
+ land area: 10 sq km
+ comparative area: about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 101 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
+
+ Terrain: coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
+
+ Natural resources: negligible
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: very limited natural resources and overcrowding are
+ contributing to emigration to New Zealand
+ natural hazards: lies in Pacific typhoon belt
+ international agreements: NA
+
+@Tokelau:People
+
+ Population: 1,503 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: -1.3% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
+
+ Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
+
+ Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: NA years
+ male: NA years
+ female: NA years
+
+ Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Tokelauan(s)
+ adjective: Tokelauan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Polynesian
+
+ Religions: Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%,
+ other 2%
+ note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on
+ Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with the
+ Congregational Christian Church predominant
+
+ Languages: Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
+
+ Labor force: NA
+
+@Tokelau:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Tokelau
+
+ Digraph: TL
+
+ Type: territory of New Zealand
+
+ Capital: none; each atoll has its own administrative center
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (territory of New Zealand)
+
+ Independence: none (territory of New Zealand)
+
+ National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi
+ established British sovereignty over New Zealand)
+
+ Constitution: administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948, as
+ amended in 1970
+
+ Legal system: British and local statutes
+
+ Suffrage: NA
+
+ Executive branch:
+ Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
+ Head of Government: Administrator Graham ANSELL (since NA 1990;
+ appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in New Zealand); Official
+ Secretary Casimilo J. PEREZ (since NA), Office of Tokelau Affairs;
+ Tokelau's governing Council will elect its first head of government
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral Council of Elders (Taupulega) on each
+ atoll
+
+ Judicial branch: High Court in Niue, Supreme Court in New Zealand
+
+ Political parties and leaders: NA
+
+ Member of: SPC, WHO (associate)
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of New Zealand)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (territory of New Zealand)
+
+ Flag: the flag of New Zealand is used
+
+@Tokelau:Economy
+
+ Overview: Tokelau's small size, isolation, and lack of resources
+ greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the
+ subsistence level. The people must rely on aid from New Zealand to
+ maintain public services, annual aid being substantially greater than
+ GDP. The principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra,
+ postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also
+ remitted to families from relatives in New Zealand.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.5 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $1,000 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $430,830
+ expenditures: $2.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $37,300
+ (1987 est.)
+
+ Exports: $98,000 (f.o.b., 1983)
+ commodities: stamps, copra, handicrafts
+ partners: NZ
+
+ Imports: $323,400 (c.i.f., 1983)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
+ partners: NZ
+
+ External debt: $0
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 200 kW
+ production: 300,000 kWh
+ consumption per capita: 180 kWh (1990)
+
+ Industries: small-scale enterprises for copra production, wood work,
+ plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing
+
+ Agriculture: coconuts, copra; basic subsistence crops - breadfruit,
+ papaya, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $24 million
+
+ Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5601 (January
+ 1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), l.7265 (1991),
+ 1.6750 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@Tokelau:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: NA
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports: none; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from Western
+ Samoa
+
+@Tokelau:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: radiotelephone service between islands
+ international: radiotelephone service to Western Samoa
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Tokelau:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+TONGA
+
+@Tonga:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about
+ two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 748 sq km
+ land area: 718 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of
+ Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 419 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to
+ May), cool season (May to December)
+
+ Terrain: most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral
+ formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
+
+ Natural resources: fish, fertile soil
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 25%
+ permanent crops: 55%
+ meadows and pastures: 6%
+ forest and woodland: 12%
+ other: 2%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation results as more and more land is being
+ cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs
+ from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors;
+ overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations
+ natural hazards: cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic
+ activity on Fonuafo'ou
+ international agreements: party to - Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
+ Test Ban
+
+ Note: archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited)
+
+@Tonga:People
+
+ Population: 105,600 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.78% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 24.37 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.75 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -9.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 20.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 68.16 years
+ male: 65.8 years
+ female: 70.62 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.56 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Tongan(s)
+ adjective: Tongan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Polynesian, Europeans about 300
+
+ Religions: Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000
+ adherents)
+
+ Languages: Tongan, English
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write simple message in Tongan
+ or English (1976)
+ total population: 100%
+ male: 100%
+ female: 100%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: agriculture 70%, mining (600 engaged in mining)
+
+@Tonga:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
+ conventional short form: Tonga
+ former: Friendly Islands
+
+ Digraph: TN
+
+ Type: hereditary constitutional monarchy
+
+ Capital: Nuku'alofa
+
+ Administrative divisions: three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu,
+ Vava'u
+
+ Independence: 4 June 1970 (emancipation from UK protectorate)
+
+ National holiday: Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
+
+ Constitution: 4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
+
+ Legal system: based on English law
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991);
+ Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the king
+ Privy Council: consists of the king and the cabinet
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral; consists of twelve cabinet ministers
+ sitting ex-officio, nine nobles selected by the country's thirty-three
+ nobles, and nine people's representatives elected by the populace
+ Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea): elections last held 3-4 February
+ 1993 (next to be held NA February 1996); results - percent of vote NA;
+ seats - (30 total, 9 elected) 6 proreform, 3 traditionalist
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Tonga People's Party, Viliami FUKOFUKA
+
+ Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
+ IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL,
+ IOC, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: Ambassador Sione KITE, resides in
+ London
+ consulate(s) general: San Francisco
+
+ US diplomatic representation: the US has no offices in Tonga; the
+ ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
+
+ Flag: red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper
+ hoist-side corner
+
+@Tonga:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy's base is agriculture, which employs about 70%
+ of the labor force and contributes 40% to GDP. Squash, coconuts,
+ bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural
+ exports make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a
+ high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The
+ manufacturing sector accounts for only 11% of GDP. Tourism is the
+ primary source of hard currency earnings, but the country also remains
+ dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to offset its trade
+ deficit. The economy continued to grow in 1993-94 largely because of a
+ rise in squash exports, increased aid flows, and several large
+ construction projects. The government is now turning its attention to
+ further development of the private sector and the reduction of the
+ budget deficit.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $214 million (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,050 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1993)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $36.4 million
+ expenditures: $68.1 million, including capital expenditures of $33.2
+ million (1991 est.)
+
+ Exports: $11.3 million (f.o.b., FY92/93)
+ commodities: squash, vanilla, fish, root crops, coconut oil
+ partners: Japan 34%, US 17%, Australia 13%, NZ 13% (FY90/91)
+
+ Imports: $56 million (c.i.f., FY92/93)
+ commodities: food products, machinery and transport equipment,
+ manufactures, fuels, chemicals
+ partners: NZ 33%, Australia 22%, US 8%, Japan 8% (FY90/91)
+
+ External debt: $47.5 million (FY90/91)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 1.5% (FY91/92); accounts for 11% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 6,000 kW
+ production: 30 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 231 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tourism, fishing
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP; dominated by coconut, copra, and
+ banana production; vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $16 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $258 million
+
+ Currency: 1 pa'anga (T$) = 100 seniti
+
+ Exchange rates: pa'anga (T$) per US$1 - 1.2653 (January 1995), 1.3202
+ (1994), 1.3841 (1993), 1.3471 (1992), 1.2961 (1991), 1.2800 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Tonga:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 366 km
+ paved: 272 km (198 km on Tongatapu; 74 km on Vava'u)
+ unpaved: 94 km (usable only in dry weather)
+
+ Ports: Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,440 GRT/8,984 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 6
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+
+@Tonga:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 3,529 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: 66,000
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Tonga:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Tonga Defense Services, Maritime Division, Royal Tongan
+ Marines, Tongan Royal Guards, Police
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
+
+@Trinidad And Tobago:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North
+ Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 5,130 sq km
+ land area: 5,130 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Delaware
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 362 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental
+ margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to December)
+
+ Terrain: mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 14%
+ permanent crops: 17%
+ meadows and pastures: 2%
+ forest and woodland: 44%
+ other: 23%
+
+ Irrigated land: 220 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: water pollution from agricultural chemicals,
+ industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches;
+ deforestation; soil erosion
+ natural hazards: outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical
+ storms
+ international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered
+ Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation,
+ Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83,
+ Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity
+
+@Trinidad And Tobago:People
+
+ Population: 1,271,159 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 31% (female 191,627; male 198,225)
+ 15-64 years: 64% (female 399,726; male 407,495)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 40,577; male 33,509) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.12% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 16.62 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.88 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -8.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 18.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 70.14 years
+ male: 67.75 years
+ female: 72.6 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.01 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
+ adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: black 43%, East Indian (a local term - primarily
+ immigrants from northern India) 40%, mixed 14%, white 1%, Chinese 1%,
+ other 1%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 32.2%, Hindu 24.3%, Anglican 14.4%, other
+ Protestant 14%, Muslim 6%, none or unknown 9.1%
+
+ Languages: English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 97%
+ male: 98%
+ female: 96%
+
+ Labor force: 463,900
+ by occupation: construction and utilities 18.1%, manufacturing,
+ mining, and quarrying 14.8%, agriculture 10.9%, other 56.2% (1985
+ est.)
+
+@Trinidad And Tobago:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
+ conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago
+
+ Digraph: TD
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Port-of-Spain
+
+ Administrative divisions: 8 counties, 3 municipalities*, and 1 ward**;
+ Arima*, Caroni, Mayaro, Nariva, Port-of-Spain*, Saint Andrew, Saint
+ David, Saint George, Saint Patrick, San Fernando*, Tobago**, Victoria
+
+ Independence: 31 August 1962 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
+
+ Constitution: 1 August 1976
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of
+ legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Noor Mohammed HASSANALI (since 18 March
+ 1987)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Patrick Augustus Mervyn MANNING
+ (since 17 December 1991)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; responsible to parliament
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
+ Senate: consists of a 31-member body appointed by the president
+ House of Representatives: elections last held 16 December 1991 (next
+ to be held by December 1996); results - PNM 32%, UNC 13%, NAR 2%;
+ seats - (36 total) PNM 21, UNC 13, NAR 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: People's National Movement (PNM),
+ Patrick MANNING; United National Congress (UNC), Basdeo PANDAY;
+ National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), Selby WILSON; Movement for
+ Social Transformation (MOTION), David ABDULLAH; National Joint Action
+ Committee (NJAC), Makandal DAAGA; Republican Party, Nello MITCHELL;
+ National Development Party (NDP), Carson CHARLES; Movement for Unity
+ and Progress (MUP), Hulsie BHAGGAN
+
+ Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT,
+ IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Corinne Averille McKNIGHT
+ chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
+ telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490
+ FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Brian DONNELLY (since September 1994)
+ embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain
+ telephone: [1] (809) 622-6372 through 6376, 6176
+ FAX: [1] (809) 628-5462
+
+ Flag: red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist
+ side
+
+@Trinidad And Tobago:Economy
+
+ Overview: Trinidad and Tobago's petroleum-based economy still enjoys a
+ high per capita income by Latin American standards, even though output
+ and living standards are substantially below the boom years of
+ 1973-82. The country suffers from widespread unemployment, large
+ foreign-debt payments, and periods of low international oil prices.
+ The government has begun to make progress in its efforts to diversify
+ exports and to liberalize its trade regime, making 1994 the first year
+ of substantial growth since the early 1980s.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $15 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $11,280 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.1% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 18.1% (1994 )
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.6 billion
+ expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $158
+ million (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, steel
+ products, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers
+ partners: US 44%, CARICOM 15%, Latin America 9%, EC 5% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $996 million (c.i.f., 1994)
+ commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods,
+ food, live animals
+ partners: US 43%, Venezuela 10%, UK 8%, other EC 8% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $2 billion (1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 1% (1994 est.); accounts for 39% of
+ GDP, including petroleum
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,150,000 kW
+ production: 3.9 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,740 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement,
+ beverage, cotton textiles
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 3% of GDP; major crops - cocoa, sugarcane;
+ sugarcane acreage is being shifted into rice, citrus, coffee,
+ vegetables; poultry sector most important source of animal protein;
+ must import large share of food needs
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined
+ for the US and Europe and producer of cannabis
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $373 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $518 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TT$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TT$) per US$1 - 5.8758
+ (January 1995), 5.9160 (1994), 5.3511 (1993), 4.2500 (fixed rate
+ 1989-1992); note - effective 13 April 1993, the exchange rate of the
+ TT dollar is market-determined as opposed to the prior fixed
+ relationship to the US dollar
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Trinidad And Tobago:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ note: minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 8,000 km
+ paved: 4,000 km
+ unpaved: improved earth 1,000 km; unimproved earth 3,000 km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 1,032 km; petroleum products 19 km; natural gas
+ 904 km
+
+ Ports: Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain,
+ Scarborough, Tembladora
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,507 GRT/21,923
+ DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 6
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Trinidad And Tobago:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 109,000 telephones; excellent international service
+ via tropospheric scatter links to Barbados and Guyana; good local
+ service
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station; linked to
+ Barbados and Guyana by tropospheric scatter system
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 5
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Trinidad And Tobago:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (includes Ground Forces,
+ Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 347,841; males fit for military
+ service 249,904 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $83 million, 1.5% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+TROMELIN ISLAND
+
+ (possession of France)
+
+@Tromelin Island:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
+ Madagascar
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 1 sq km
+ land area: 1 sq km
+ comparative area: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 3.7 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 12 nm
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claimed by Madagascar, Mauritius, and
+ Seychelles
+
+ Climate: tropical
+
+ Terrain: sandy
+
+ Natural resources: fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100% (scattered bushes)
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones;
+ wildlife sanctuary
+
+@Tromelin Island:People
+
+ Population: uninhabited
+
+@Tromelin Island:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Tromelin Island
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: Ile Tromelin
+
+ Digraph: TE
+
+ Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic,
+ resident in Reunion
+
+ Capital: none; administered by France from Reunion
+
+ Independence: none (possession of France)
+
+@Tromelin Island:Economy
+
+ Overview: no economic activity
+
+@Tromelin Island:Transportation
+
+ Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+
+@Tromelin Island:Communications
+
+ Note: important meteorological station
+
+@Tromelin Island:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of France
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+TUNISIA
+
+@Tunisia:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
+ Algeria and Libya
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 163,610 sq km
+ land area: 155,360 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Georgia
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,424 km, Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,148 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Libya; land
+ boundary dispute with Algeria settled in 1993; Malta and Tunisia are
+ discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf
+ between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
+
+ Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry
+ summers; desert in south
+
+ Terrain: mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south
+ merges into the Sahara
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 20%
+ permanent crops: 10%
+ meadows and pastures: 19%
+ forest and woodland: 4%
+ other: 47%
+
+ Irrigated land: 2,750 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and
+ presents human health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited
+ natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil
+ erosion; desertification
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine
+ Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
+ Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Marine Life
+ Conservation
+
+ Note: strategic location in central Mediterranean
+
+@Tunisia:People
+
+ Population: 8,879,845 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 35% (female 1,507,866; male 1,563,411)
+ 15-64 years: 60% (female 2,665,586; male 2,672,712)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 226,201; male 244,069) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.69% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 22.52 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 4.86 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 32.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 73.25 years
+ male: 71.16 years
+ female: 75.44 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.73 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Tunisian(s)
+ adjective: Tunisian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Arab-Berber 98%, European 1%, Jewish less than 1%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish 1%
+
+ Languages: Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce),
+ French (commerce)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
+ total population: 57%
+ male: 69%
+ female: 45%
+
+ Labor force: 2.25 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 32%
+ note: shortage of skilled labor
+
+@Tunisia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Tunisia
+ conventional short form: Tunisia
+ local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
+ local short form: Tunis
+
+ Digraph: TS
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Tunis
+
+ Administrative divisions: 23 governorates; Beja, Ben Arous, Bizerte,
+ Gabes, Gafsa, Jendouba, Kairouan, Kasserine, Kebili, L'Ariana, Le Kef,
+ Mahdia, Medenine, Monastir, Nabeul, Sfax, Sidi Bou Zid, Siliana,
+ Sousse, Tataouine, Tozeur, Tunis, Zaghouan
+
+ Independence: 20 March 1956 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 20 March (1956)
+
+ Constitution: 1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988
+
+ Legal system: based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some
+ judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint
+ session
+
+ Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November
+ 1987); election last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999);
+ results - President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI was reelected without
+ opposition
+ head of government: Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September
+ 1989)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Chamber of Deputies (Majlis al-Nuwaab): elections last held 20 March
+ 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - RCD 97.7%, MDS 1.0%, others
+ 1.3%; seats - (163 total) RCD 144, MDS 10, others 9; note - the
+ government changed the electoral code to guarantee that the opposition
+ won seats
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Constitutional Democratic Rally Party
+ (RCD), President BEN ALI (official ruling party); Movement of
+ Democratic Socialists (MDS), Mohammed MOUAADA; five other political
+ parties are legal, including the Communist Party
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: the Islamic fundamentalist party,
+ An Nahda (Rebirth), is outlawed
+
+ Member of: ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO,
+ G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
+ IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU,
+ MINURSO, NAM, OAPEC (withdrew from active membership in 1986), OAS
+ (observer), OAU, OIC, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
+ UNITAR, UNMIH, UNPROFOR, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Azzouz ENNAIFER
+ chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
+ telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Ann CASEY
+ embassy: 144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [216] (1) 782-566
+ FAX: [216] (1) 789-719
+
+ Flag: red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent
+ nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are
+ traditional symbols of Islam
+
+@Tunisia:Economy
+
+ Overview: Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural,
+ mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Detailed
+ governmental control of economic affairs has gradually lessened over
+ the past decade, including increasing privatization of trade and
+ commerce, simplification of the tax structure, and a cautious approach
+ to debt. Real growth has averaged roughly 5% in 1991-94, and inflation
+ has been moderate. Growth in tourism and IMF support have been key
+ elements in this solid record. Further privatization and further
+ improvements in government administrative efficiency are among the
+ challenges for the future.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $37.1 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4.4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $4,250 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 16.2% (1993 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $4.3 billion
+ expenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures to $NA
+ (1993 est.)
+
+ Exports: $4.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: hydrocarbons, agricultural products, phosphates and
+ chemicals
+ partners: EC countries 75%, Middle East 10%, Algeria 2%, India 2%, US
+ 1%
+
+ Imports: $6.5 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
+ commodities: industrial goods and equipment 57%, hydrocarbons 13%,
+ food 12%, consumer goods
+ partners: EC countries 70%, US 5%, Middle East 2%, Japan 2%,
+ Switzerland 1%, Algeria 1%
+
+ External debt: $7.7 billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1989); accounts for 22% of GDP,
+ including petroleum
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,410,000 kW
+ production: 5.4 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 595 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore),
+ tourism, textiles, footwear, food, beverages
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 16% of GDP and one-third of labor force;
+ output subject to severe fluctuations because of frequent droughts;
+ export crops - olives, dates, oranges, almonds; other products -
+ grain, sugar beets, wine grapes, poultry, beef, dairy; not
+ self-sufficient in food
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $730 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89) $52 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $684 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $410 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1,000 millimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Tunisian dinars (TD) per US$1 - 0.9849 (January 1995),
+ 1.0116 (1994), 1.0037 (1993), 0.8844 (1992), 0.9246 (1991), 0.8783
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Tunisia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 2,260 km
+ standard gauge: 492 km 1.435-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 1,758 km 1.000-m gauge
+ dual gauge: 10 km 1.000-m and 1.435-m gauges
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 29,183 km
+ paved: bituminous 17,510 km
+ unpaved: improved, unimproved earth 11,673 km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 797 km; petroleum products 86 km; natural gas 742
+ km
+
+ Ports: Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Sfax, Sousse, Tunis, Zarzis
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 129,035 GRT/168,032 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 5, chemical tanker 4, oil tanker 1,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 31
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 8
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
+
+@Tunisia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 233,000 telephones; 28 telephones/1,000 persons; the
+ system is above the African average; key centers are Sfax, Sousse,
+ Bizerte, and Tunis
+ local: NA
+ intercity: facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial cable, and
+ microwave radio relay
+ international: 5 submarine cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) and 1
+ ARABSAT earth station with back-up control station; coaxial cable and
+ microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 8, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 19
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Tunisia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces, National Guard
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,294,912; males fit for
+ military service 1,317,642; males reach military age (20) annually
+ 93,601 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $549 million, 3% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+TURKEY
+
+@Turkey:Geography
+
+ Location: Southwestern Asia (that part west of the Bosporus is
+ sometimes included with Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between
+ Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the
+ Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria
+
+ Map references: Middle East
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 780,580 sq km
+ land area: 770,760 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Texas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,627 km, Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km,
+ Bulgaria 240 km, Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 331
+ km, Syria 822 km
+
+ Coastline: 7,200 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only - to the maritime boundary
+ agreed upon with the former USSR
+ territorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea, 12 nm in the Black Sea and in
+ the Mediterranean Sea
+
+ International disputes: complex maritime, air and territorial disputes
+ with Greece in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question; Hatay question with Syria;
+ ongoing dispute with downstream riparians (Syria and Iraq) over water
+ development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
+
+ Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher
+ in interior
+
+ Terrain: mostly mountains; narrow coastal plain; high central plateau
+ (Anatolia)
+
+ Natural resources: antimony, coal, chromium, mercury, copper, borate,
+ sulphur, iron ore
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 30%
+ permanent crops: 4%
+ meadows and pastures: 12%
+ forest and woodland: 26%
+ other: 28%
+
+ Irrigated land: 22,200 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: water pollution from dumping of chemicals and
+ detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation
+ natural hazards: very severe earthquakes, especially in northern
+ Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Hazardous Wastes,
+ Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands;
+ signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Desertification,
+ Environmental Modification
+
+ Note: strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus,
+ Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas
+
+@Turkey:People
+
+ Population: 63,405,526 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 35% (female 10,815,288; male 11,203,723)
+ 15-64 years: 60% (female 18,723,772; male 19,391,037)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 1,764,363; male 1,507,343) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.97% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 25.33 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.64 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 45.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 71.48 years
+ male: 69.11 years
+ female: 73.96 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.12 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Turk(s)
+ adjective: Turkish
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (Christian and
+ Jews)
+
+ Languages: Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 79%
+ male: 90%
+ female: 68%
+
+ Labor force: 20.4 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 44%, services 41%, industry 15%
+ note: between 1.5 million and 1.8 million Turks work abroad (1994)
+
+@Turkey:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Turkey
+ conventional short form: Turkey
+ local long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyeti
+ local short form: Turkiye
+
+ Digraph: TU
+
+ Type: republican parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Ankara
+
+ Administrative divisions: 73 provinces (iller, singular - il); Adana,
+ Adiyaman, Afyon, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya, Artvin,
+ Aydin, Balikesir, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik, Bingol, Bitlis, Bolu,
+ Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Edirne,
+ Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Gazi Antep, Giresun, Gumushane,
+ Hakkari, Hatay, Icel, Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir, Kahraman Maras,
+ Karaman, Kars, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir,
+ Kocaeli, Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mugla, Mus,
+ Nevsehir, Nigde, Ordu, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanli Urfa, Siirt,
+ Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon, Tunceli, Usak, Van,
+ Yozgat, Zonguldak
+
+ Independence: 29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)
+
+ National holiday: Anniversary of the Declaration of the Republic, 29
+ October (1923)
+
+ Constitution: 7 November 1982
+
+ Legal system: derived from various continental legal systems; accepts
+ compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Suleyman DEMIREL (since 16 May 1993)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Tansu CILLER (since 5 July 1993);
+ Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet CETIN (since 27 March 1995)
+ National Security Council: advisory body to the President and the
+ Cabinet
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on
+ nomination of the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Grand National Assembly of Turkey: (Turkiye Buyuk Millet Meclisi)
+ elections last held 20 October 1991 (next to be held NA October 1996);
+ results - DYP 27.03%, ANAP 24.01%, SHP 20.75%, RP 16.88%, DSP 10.75%,
+ SBP 0.44%, independent 0.14%; seats - (450 total) DYP 178, ANAP 115,
+ SHP 86, RP 40, MCP 19, DSP 7, other 5
+ note: seats held by various parties are subject to change due to
+ defections, creation of new parties, and ouster or death of sitting
+ deputies; present seats by party are as follows: DYP 183, ANAP 97, RP
+ 38, CHP 65, MHP 17, BBP 7, DSP 10, YP 3, MP 2, independents 6, vacant
+ 22
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Cassation
+
+ Political parties and leaders: True Path Party (DYP), Tansu CILLER;
+ Motherland Party (ANAP), Mesut YILMAZ; Welfare Party (RP), Necmettin
+ ERBAKAN; Democratic Left Party (DSP), Bulent ECEVIT; Nationalist
+ Action Party (MHP - members also regroup under the name of National
+ Labor Party or MCP), Alparslan TURKES; Socialist Unity Party (SBP),
+ Sadun AREN; New Party (YP), Yusuf Bozkurt OZAL; Republican People's
+ Party (CHP), Hikmet CETIN; note - Social Democrat Populist Party (SHP)
+ has merged with CHP; Workers Party (IP), Dogu PERINCEK; Nation Party
+ (MP), Aykut EDIBALI; Democrat Party (DP), Aydin MENDERES; Grand Unity
+ Party (BBP), Muhsin YAZICIOGLU; Rebirth Party (YDP), Hasan Celal
+ GUZEL; People's Democracy Party (HADEP), Murat BOZLAK; Main Path Party
+ (ANAYOL), Gurcan BASER; Democratic Target Party (DHP), Abdulkadir
+ Yasar TURK; Liberal Party (LP), Besim TIBUK; New Democracy Movement
+ (YDH), Cem BOYNER; Democracy and Change Party (DDP), Ibrahim AKSOY
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Turkish Confederation of Labor
+ (TURK-IS), Bayram MERAL; Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions
+ (DISK), Ridvan BUDAK; Moral Rights Workers Union (HAK-IS), Negati
+ CECIK; Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD),
+ Halis KOMILI; Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce and Commodity
+ Exchanges (TOBB), Yalim EREZ; Turkish Confederation of Employers'
+ Unions (TISK), Refik BAYDUR
+
+ Member of: AsDB, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN (observer), EBRD, ECE, ECO,
+ FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD,
+ IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM
+ (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, NATO, NEA, OECD, OIC, OSCE, PCA, UN,
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNRWA, UPU, WEU (associate),
+ WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Nuzhet KANDEMIR
+ chancery: 1714 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
+ telephone: [1] (202) 659-8200
+ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Marc GROSSMAN
+ embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Ankara
+ mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, Ankara; APO AE 09823
+ telephone: [90] (312) 468-6110 through 6128
+ FAX: [90] (312) 467-0019
+ consulate(s) general: Istanbul
+ consulate(s): Adana
+
+ Flag: red with a vertical white crescent (the closed portion is toward
+ the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside the
+ crescent opening
+
+@Turkey:Economy
+
+ Overview: In early 1995, after an impressive economic performance
+ through most of the 1980s, Turkey continues to suffer through its most
+ damaging economic crisis in the last 15 years. Sparked by the
+ downgrading in January 1994 of Turkey's international credit rating by
+ two US credit rating agencies, the crisis stems from years of loose
+ fiscal and monetary policies that had exacerbated inflation and
+ allowed the public debt, money supply, and current account deficit to
+ explode. In April 1994, Prime Minister CILLER introduced an austerity
+ package aimed at restoring domestic and international confidence in
+ her fragile coalition government. Three months later the IMF endorsed
+ the program, paving the way for a $740 million IMF standby loan.
+ Although the economy showed signs of improvement following the
+ stabilization measures, CILLER has been unable to overcome the
+ political obstacles to tough structural reforms necessary for
+ sustained, longer-term growth. As a consequence, the economy is
+ suffering the worst of both worlds: at the end of 1994, inflation hit
+ a record 126% (annual rate), and real GDP dropped an estimated 5% for
+ the year as a whole, the worst decline in Turkey's post-war history.
+ At the same time, the government missed key 1994 targets stipulated in
+ the IMF agreement: the budget deficit is estimated to have overshot
+ the government's goal by 47%; the total public sector borrowing
+ requirement likely reached 10%-12% of GDP, rather than 8.5% called for
+ in the program; and the Turkish lira's value fell 5% to 7% more than
+ expected. The unprecedented effort by the Kurdistan Workers' Party
+ (PKK) to raise the economic costs of its insurgency against the
+ Turkish state is adding to Turkey's economic problems. Attacks against
+ tourists have jeopardized tourist revenues, which account for about 3%
+ of GDP, while economic activity in southeastern Turkey, where most of
+ the violence occurs, has dropped considerably. Turkish officials are
+ now negotiating a new letter of intent with the IMF that will
+ stipulate more realistic macroeconomic goals for 1995 and allow the
+ release of remaining funds of the standby agreement.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $305.2 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $4,910 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 106% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 12.6% (1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $28.3 billion
+ expenditures: $33.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.2
+ billion (1995)
+
+ Exports: $15.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: manufactured products 72%, foodstuffs 23%, mining
+ products 4% (1993)
+ partners: Germany 24%, Russia 7%, US 7%, UK 6% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $27.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: manufactured products 71%, fuels 14%, foodstuffs 6%
+ (1993)
+ partners: Germany 15%, US 11%, Italy 9%, Russia 8% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $66.6 billion (1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 6.7% (1993); accounts for 26% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 18,710,000 kW
+ production: 71 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,079 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: textiles, food processing, mining (coal, chromite, copper,
+ boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 16% of GDP; products - tobacco, cotton,
+ grain, olives, sugar beets, pulses, citrus fruit, variety of animal
+ products; self-sufficient in food most years
+
+ Illicit drugs: major transit route for Southwest Asian heroin and
+ hashish to Western Europe and the US via air, land, and sea routes;
+ major Turkish, Iranian, and other international trafficking
+ organizations operate out of Istanbul; laboratories to convert
+ imported morphine base into heroin are in remote regions of Turkey as
+ well as near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls over areas
+ of legal opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2.3 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $10.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $665 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $4.5 billion
+ note: aid for Persian Gulf war efforts from coalition allies (1991),
+ $4.1 billion; aid pledged for Turkish Defense Fund, $2.5 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus
+
+ Exchange rates: Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 37,444.1 (December
+ 1994), 29,608.7 (1994), 10,984.6 (1993), 6,872.4 (1992), 4,171.8
+ (1991), 2,608.6 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Turkey:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 10,413 km
+ standard gauge: 10,413 km 1.435-m gauge (1,033 km electrified)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 320,611 km
+ paved: 29,915 km (including 862 km of expressways)
+ unpaved: 290,696 km (1992)
+
+ Inland waterways: about 1,200 km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 1,738 km; petroleum products 2,321 km; natural
+ gas 708 km
+
+ Ports: Gemlik, Hopa, Iskenderun, Istanbul, Izmir, Izmit, Mersin,
+ Samsun, Trabzon
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 423 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,014,004 GRT/8,695,636
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 113, cargo 203, chemical tanker 14, combination
+ bulk 7, combination ore/oil 12, container 2, liquefied gas tanker 4,
+ livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 46, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated
+ cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 9, short-sea passenger 7, specialized
+ tanker 2
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 116
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 16
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 21
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 34
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 11
+
+@Turkey:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 3,400,000 telephones; fair domestic and
+ international systems
+ local: NA
+ intercity: trunk radio relay microwave network; limited open wire
+ network
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 EUTELSAT earth
+ station; 1 submarine cable
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 15, FM 94, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 357
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Turkey:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Land Forces, Navy (includes Naval Air and Naval Infantry),
+ Air Force, Coast Guard, Gendarmerie
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 16,519,152; males fit for
+ military service 10,067,089; males reach military age (20) annually
+ 625,476 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $6.9 billion, 4.1% of
+ GDP (1993); note - figures do not include about $7 billion for the
+ government's counterinsurgency efforts against the separatist
+ Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+TURKMENISTAN
+
+@Turkmenistan:Geography
+
+ Location: Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and
+ Kazakhstan
+
+ Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian
+ States
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 488,100 sq km
+ land area: 488,100 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than California
+
+ Land boundaries: total 3,736 km, Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km,
+ Kazakhstan 379 km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km
+ note: Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined
+
+ Climate: subtropical desert
+
+ Terrain: flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains
+ in the south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian
+ Sea in west
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, sulphur, salt
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 2%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 69%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 29%
+
+ Irrigated land: 12,450 sq km (1990)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with
+ agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salinization, water-logging of
+ soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion
+ of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation
+ contributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea;
+ desertification
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Ozone Layer Protection
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Turkmenistan:People
+
+ Population: 4,075,316 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 40% (female 798,620; male 821,550)
+ 15-64 years: 56% (female 1,155,392; male 1,128,844)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 105,424; male 65,486) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.97% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 29.93 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.34 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -2.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 68.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 65.35 years
+ male: 61.85 years
+ female: 69.02 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.72 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Turkmen(s)
+ adjective: Turkmen
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Turkmen 73.3%, Russian 9.8%, Uzbek 9%, Kazakh 2%,
+ other 5.9%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 87%, Eastern Orthodox 11%, unknown 2%
+
+ Languages: Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
+ total population: 98%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 97%
+
+ Labor force: 1.642 million (January 1994)
+ by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry and construction
+ 20%, other 36% (1992)
+
+@Turkmenistan:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Turkmenistan
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: Turkmenistan
+ former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
+
+ Digraph: TX
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Ashgabat
+
+ Administrative divisions: 5 welayatlar (singular - welayat): Ahal
+ Welayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Nebitdag), Dashhowuz Welayaty
+ (formerly Tashauz), Lebap Welayaty (Charjew), Mary Welayaty
+ note: names in parentheses are administrative centers when name
+ differs from welayat name
+
+ Independence: 27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
+
+ Constitution: adopted 18 May 1992
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Saparmurad NIYAZOV (since NA October 1990);
+ election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA 2002); results -
+ Saparmurad NIYAZOV 99.5% (ran unopposed); note - a 15 January 1994
+ referendum extended NIYAZOV's term an additional five years until 2002
+ (99.99% approval)
+ head of government: Prime Minister (vacant); Deputy Prime Ministers
+ Orazgeldi AYDOGDIYEV (since NA), Babamurad BAZAROV (since NA), Khekim
+ ISHANOV (since NA), Valeriy OTCHERTSOV (since NA), Yagmur OVEZOV
+ (since NA), Matkarim RAJAPOV (since NA), Abad RIZAYEVA (since NA),
+ Rejep SAPAROV (since NA), Boris SHIKHMURADOV (since NA), Batyr
+ SARJAYEV (since NA)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers
+
+ Legislative branch: under 1992 constitution there are two
+ parliamentary bodies, a unicameral People's Council (Halk Maslahaty -
+ having more than 100 members and meeting infrequently) and a 50-member
+ unicameral Assembly (Majlis)
+ Assembly (Majlis): elections last held 11 December 1994 (next to be
+ held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (50 total)
+ Democratic Party 45, other 5; note - all 50 preapproved by President
+ NIYAZOV
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Turkmenistan,
+ Saparmurad NIYAZOV; Party for Democratic Development, Durdymurat
+ HOJA-MUKHAMMED, chairman; Agzybirlik, Nurberdy NURMAMEDOV, cochairman,
+ Hubayberdi HALLIYEV, cochairman
+ note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small
+ opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries
+
+ Member of: CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, ILO, IMF,
+ IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
+ NACC, OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Khalil UGUR
+ chancery: 1511 K Street NW, Suite 412, Washington, DC 20005
+ telephone: [1] (202) 737-4800
+ FAX: [1] (202) 737-1152
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph S. HULINGS III
+ embassy: 6 Teheran Street, Yubilenaya Hotel, Ashgabat
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [7] (3632) 24-49-25, 24-49-22
+ FAX: [7] (3632) 25-53-79
+
+ Flag: green field, including a vertical stripe on the hoist side, with
+ a claret vertical stripe in between containing five white, black, and
+ orange carpet guls (an assymetrical design used in producing rugs)
+ associated with five different tribes; a white crescent and five white
+ stars in the upper left corner to the right of the carpet guls
+
+@Turkmenistan:Economy
+
+ Overview: Turkmenistan is largely desert country with nomadic cattle
+ raising, intensive agriculture in irrigated oases, and huge gas and
+ oil resources. Half its irrigated land is planted in cotton making it
+ the world's tenth largest producer. It also has the world's fifth
+ largest reserves of natural gas and significant oil resources. Until
+ the end of 1993, Turkmenistan had experienced less economic disruption
+ than other former Soviet states because its economy received a boost
+ from higher prices for oil and gas and a sharp increase in hard
+ currency earnings. In 1994, Russia's refusal to export Turkmen gas to
+ hard currency markets and mounting debts of its major customers in the
+ former USSR for gas deliveries contributed to a sharp fall in
+ industrial production and caused the budget to shift from a surplus to
+ a slight deficit. Furthermore, with an authoritarian ex-Communist
+ regime in power and a tribally-based social structure, Turkmenistan
+ has taken a cautious approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas
+ and cotton sales to sustain its inefficient economy. With the onset of
+ economic hard times, even cautious moves toward economic restructuring
+ and privatization have slowed down. For 1995, Turkmenistan will face
+ continuing constraints on its earnings because of its customers'
+ inability to pay for their gas and a low average cotton crop in 1994.
+ Turkmenistan is working hard to open new gas export channels through
+ Iran and Turkey, but these may take many years to realize.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $13.1 billion (1994
+ estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -24% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $3,280 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25% per month (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $382 million to states outside the FSU (1994)
+ commodities: natural gas, cotton, petroleum products, electricity,
+ textiles, carpets
+ partners: Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia,
+ Azerbaijan, Armenia, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Argentina
+
+ Imports: $304 million from states outside the FSU (1994)
+ commodities: machinery and parts, grain and food, plastics and rubber,
+ consumer durables, textiles
+ partners: Russia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey
+
+ External debt: NEGL
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -25% (1994)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 2,480,000 kW
+ production: 10.5 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,600 kWh (1994)
+
+ Industries: natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food
+ processing
+
+ Agriculture: cotton, grain, animal husbandry
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly
+ for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; used as
+ transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia to Western
+ Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Turkmenistan has received about $200 million in bilateral
+ aid credits
+
+ Currency: Turkmenistan introduced its national currency, the manat, on
+ 1 November 1993
+
+ Exchange rates: manats per US$1 - multiple rate system: 10 (official)
+ and 230 (permitted in transactions between the government and
+ individuals)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Turkmenistan:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 2,120 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
+ lines
+ broad gauge: 2,120 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 23,000 km
+ paved and graveled: 18,300 km
+ unpaved: earth 4,700 km (1990)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; natural gas 4,400 km
+
+ Ports: Turkmenbashi (formerly Krasnowodsk)
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 64
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 35
+
+@Turkmenistan:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; only 7.5 telephones/100 persons
+ (1991); poorly developed
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: linked by cable and microwave to other CIS republics
+ and to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow
+ international gateway switch; a new telephone link from Ashgabat to
+ Iran has been established; a new exchange in Ashgabat switches
+ international traffic through Turkey via INTELSAT; 1 Orbita and 1
+ INTELSAT earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Turkmenistan:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: National Guard, Republic Security Forces (internal and
+ border troops), Joint Command Turkmenistan/Russia (Ground, Air, and
+ Air Defense)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 993,321; males fit for military
+ service 810,392; males reach military age (18) annually 40,430 (1995
+ est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
+
+ (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+@Turks And Caicos Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean,
+ southeast of The Bahamas
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 430 sq km
+ land area: 430 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 389 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and
+ relatively dry
+
+ Terrain: low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
+
+ Natural resources: spiny lobster, conch
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 2%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 98%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, private
+ cisterns collect rainwater
+ natural hazards: frequent hurricanes
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: 30 islands (eight inhabited)
+
+@Turks And Caicos Islands:People
+
+ Population: 13,941 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.41% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 13.46 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.16 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 15.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 12.63 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 75.37 years
+ male: 73.44 years
+ female: 77.04 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.3 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: none
+ adjective: none
+
+ Ethnic divisions: African
+
+ Religions: Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%, Seventh-Day
+ Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)
+
+ Languages: English (official)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970)
+ total population: 98%
+ male: 99%
+ female: 98%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: majority engaged in fishing and tourist industries;
+ some subsistence agriculture
+
+@Turks And Caicos Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
+
+ Digraph: TK
+
+ Type: dependent territory of the UK
+
+ Capital: Grand Turk
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ National holiday: Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
+
+ Constitution: introduced 30 August 1976, suspended in 1986, restored
+ and revised 5 March 1988
+
+ Legal system: based on laws of England and Wales with a small number
+ adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953),
+ represented by Governor Martin BOURKE (since NA February 1993)
+ head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January
+ 1995)
+ cabinet: Executive Council; consists of three ex-officio members and
+ five appointed by the governor from the Legislative Council
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Legislative Council: elections last held 31 January 1995 (next to be
+ held by NA 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (20
+ total, 13 elected) PDM 8, PNP 4, independent (Norman SAUNDERS) 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Progressive National Party (PNP),
+ Washington MISSICK; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Derek H.
+ TAYLOR; National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Ariel MISSICK
+
+ Member of: CARICOM (associate), CDB, INTERPOL (subbureau)
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
+
+ Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
+ and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the
+ shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus
+
+@Turks And Caicos Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is based on fishing, tourism, and offshore
+ banking. Only subsistence farming - corn, cassava, citrus, and beans -
+ exists on the Caicos Islands, so that most foods, as well as nonfood
+ products, must be imported.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $80.8 million (1992
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -1.5% (1992)
+
+ National product per capita: $6,000 (1992 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: 12% (1992)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $20.3 million
+ expenditures: $44 million, including capital expenditures of $23.9
+ million (1989 est.)
+
+ Exports: $6.8 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
+ partners: US, UK
+
+ Imports: $42.8 million (1993)
+ commodities: food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures,
+ construction materials
+ partners: US, UK
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 9,050 kW
+ production: 11.1 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 860 kWh (1992)
+
+ Industries: fishing, tourism, offshore financial services
+
+ Agriculture: subsistence farming prevails, based on corn and beans;
+ fishing more important than farming; not self-sufficient in food
+
+ Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics
+ destined for the US
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $110 million
+
+ Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: US currency is used
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Turks And Caicos Islands:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 121 km (including 24 km tarmac)
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: Cockburn Harbour, Grand Turk, Providenciales, Salt Cay
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 7
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+
+@Turks And Caicos Islands:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 1,446 telephones; fair cable and radio services
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 2 submarine cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth
+ station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Turks And Caicos Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+TUVALU
+
+@Tuvalu:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the
+ South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to
+ Australia
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 26 sq km
+ land area: 26 sq km
+ comparative area: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 24 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to
+ November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
+
+ Terrain: very low-lying and narrow coral atolls
+
+ Natural resources: fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+ note: Tuvalu's nine coral atolls have enough soil to grow coconuts and
+ support subsistence agriculture
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater
+ is not potable, all water needs must be met by catchment systems with
+ storage facilities; beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for
+ building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use
+ as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the crown of thorns
+ starfish
+ natural hazards: severe tropical storms are rare
+ international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered
+ Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution;
+ signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
+
+@Tuvalu:People
+
+ Population: 9,991 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 36% (female 1,787; male 1,852)
+ 15-64 years: 59% (female 3,105; male 2,764)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 258; male 225) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.58% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 24.82 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.01 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 27.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 63.15 years
+ male: 61.87 years
+ female: 64.34 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.11 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Tuvaluans(s)
+ adjective: Tuvaluan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Polynesian 96%
+
+ Religions: Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day
+ Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
+
+ Languages: Tuvaluan, English
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: NA
+
+@Tuvalu:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Tuvalu
+ former: Ellice Islands
+
+ Digraph: TV
+
+ Type: democracy; began debating republic status in 1992
+
+ Capital: Funafuti
+
+ Administrative divisions: none
+
+ Independence: 1 October 1978 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
+
+ Constitution: 1 October 1978
+
+ Legal system: NA
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
+ represented by Governor General Tulaga MANUELLA (since NA June 1994)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Kamuta LATASI (since 10 December
+ 1993); Deputy Prime Minister Otinielu TAUSI (since 10 December 1993)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on recommendation
+ of the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Parliament (Palamene): elections last held 25 November 1993 (next to
+ be held by NA 1997); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (12 total)
+
+ Judicial branch: High Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: none
+
+ Member of: ACP, AsDB, C (special), ESCAP, IFRCS (associate), INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: Tuvalu has no mission in the US
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none
+
+ Flag: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
+ quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country
+ with nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands
+
+@Tuvalu:Economy
+
+ Overview: Tuvalu consists of a scattered group of nine coral atolls
+ with poor soil. The country has no known mineral resources and few
+ exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are the primary economic
+ activities. The islands are too small and too remote for development
+ of a tourist industry. Government revenues largely come from the sale
+ of stamps and coins and worker remittances. Substantial income is
+ received annually from an international trust fund established in 1987
+ by Australia, NZ, and the UK and supported also by Japan and South
+ Korea.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $7.8 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $800 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1989)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $4.3 million
+ expenditures: $4.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1989 est.)
+
+ Exports: $165,000 (f.o.b., 1989)
+ commodities: copra
+ partners: Fiji, Australia, NZ
+
+ Imports: $4.4 million (c.i.f., 1989)
+ commodities: food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured
+ goods
+ partners: Fiji, Australia, NZ
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 2,600 kW
+ production: 3 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 330 kWh (1990)
+
+ Industries: fishing, tourism, copra
+
+ Agriculture: coconuts and fish
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $1 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $101 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Tuvaluan dollar ($T) or 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100
+ cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Tuvaluan dollars ($T) or Australian dollars ($A) per
+ US$1 - 1.3058 (January 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600
+ (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: NA
+
+@Tuvalu:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 8 km
+ unpaved: gravel 8 km
+
+ Ports: Funafuti, Nukufetau
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,473 GRT/73,652 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, oil tanker 1,
+ passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+
+@Tuvalu:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 108 telephones; 300 radiotelephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: 4,000
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Tuvalu:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: no military forces; Police Force
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+UGANDA
+
+@Uganda:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Africa, west of Kenya
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 236,040 sq km
+ land area: 199,710 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,698 km, Kenya 933 km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan
+ 435 km, Tanzania 396 km, Zaire 765 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to
+ February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
+
+ Terrain: mostly plateau with rim of mountains
+
+ Natural resources: copper, cobalt, limestone, salt
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 23%
+ permanent crops: 9%
+ meadows and pastures: 25%
+ forest and woodland: 30%
+ other: 13%
+
+ Irrigated land: 90 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: draining of wetlands for agricultural use;
+ deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching is widespread
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
+ Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
+ Environmental Modification
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Uganda:People
+
+ Population: 19,573,262 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 49% (female 4,792,164; male 4,834,757)
+ 15-64 years: 49% (female 4,802,650; male 4,704,159)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 215,648; male 223,884) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.25% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 48.03 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 24.35 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ note: Uganda is host to refugees from a number of neighboring
+ countries, including Zaire, Sudan, and Rwanda; probably in excess of
+ 100,000 southern Sudanese fled to Uganda during the past year; many of
+ the 8,000 Rwandans who took refuge in Uganda have returned home
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 112.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 36.58 years
+ male: 36.26 years
+ female: 36.91 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.7 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Ugandan(s)
+ adjective: Ugandan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Baganda 17%, Karamojong 12%, Basogo 8%, Iteso 8%,
+ Langi 6%, Rwanda 6%, Bagisu 5%, Acholi 4%, Lugbara 4%, Bunyoro 3%,
+ Batobo 3%, European, Asian, Arab 1%, other 23%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 16%, indigenous
+ beliefs 18%
+
+ Languages: English (official), Luganda, Swahili, Bantu languages,
+ Nilotic languages
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991)
+ total population: 56%
+ male: 68%
+ female: 45%
+
+ Labor force: 4.5 million (est.)
+ by occupation: agriculture over 80%
+
+@Uganda:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Uganda
+ conventional short form: Uganda
+
+ Digraph: UG
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Kampala
+
+ Administrative divisions: 39 districts; Apac, Arua, Bundibugyo,
+ Bushenyi, Gulu, Hoima, Iganga, Jinja, Kabale, Kabarole, Kalangala,
+ Kampala, Kamuli, Kapchorwa, Kasese, Kibale, Kiboga, Kisoro, Kitgum,
+ Kotido, Kumi, Lira, Luwero, Masaka, Masindi, Mbale, Mbarara, Moroto,
+ Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nebbi, Ntungamo, Pallisa, Rakai,
+ Rukungiri, Sototi, Tororo
+
+ Independence: 9 October 1962 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
+
+ Constitution: 8 September 1967, in process of constitutional revision
+
+ Legal system: government plans to restore system based on English
+ common law and customary law and reinstitute a normal judicial system;
+ accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since 29
+ January 1986); Vice President Dr. Specioza Wandira KAZIBWE (since 18
+ November 1994)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Kintu MUSOKE (since 18 November
+ 1994)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Resistance Council: elections last held 28 March 1993 (next
+ to be held end of 1995); results - 284 non-partisan delegates elected
+ to an interim Constituent Assembly with the principal task of writing
+ a final draft of a new constitution for Uganda on the basis of which a
+ regular Constituent Assembly will be elected
+ note: first free and fair election in 30 years is to be held by end of
+ 1995
+
+ Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: only party - National Resistance
+ Movement (NRM), Yoweri MUSEVENI
+ note: Ugandan People's Congress (UPC), Milton OBOTE; Democratic Party
+ (DP), Paul SSEMOGEERE; and Conservative Party (CP), Joshua S.
+ MAYANJA-NKANGI continue to exist but are all proscribed from
+ conducting public political activities
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Lord's Resistance Army (LRA);
+ Ruwenzori Movement
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC,
+ PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
+ WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen Kapimpina KATENTA-APULI
+ chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
+ telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100 through 7102, 0416
+ FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador E. Michael SOUTHWICK
+ embassy: Parliament Avenue, Kampala
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala
+ telephone: [256] (41) 259792, 259793, 259795
+ FAX: [256] (41) 259794
+
+ Flag: six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black,
+ yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and
+ depicts a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the staff
+ side
+
+@Uganda:Economy
+
+ Overview: Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile
+ soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper and
+ cobalt. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy,
+ employing over 80% of the work force. Coffee is the major export crop
+ and accounts for the bulk of export revenues. Since 1986 the
+ government - with the support of foreign countries and international
+ agencies - has acted to rehabilitate and stabilize the economy by
+ undertaking currency reform, raising producer prices on export crops,
+ increasing prices of petroleum products, and improving civil service
+ wages. The policy changes are especially aimed at dampening inflation
+ and boosting production and export earnings. In 1990-94, the economy
+ turned in a solid performance based on continued investment in the
+ rehabilitation of infrastructure, improved incentives for production
+ and exports, and gradually improving domestic security. The economy
+ again prospered in 1994 with rapid growth, low inflation, growing
+ foreign investment, a trimmed bureaucracy, and the continued return of
+ exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $16.2 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 6% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $850 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $365 million
+ expenditures: $545 million, including capital expenditures of $165
+ million (1989 est.)
+
+ Exports: $237 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: coffee 97%, cotton, tea
+ partners: US 25%, UK 18%, France 11%, Spain 10%
+
+ Imports: $696 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum products, machinery, cotton piece goods,
+ metals, transportation equipment, food
+ partners: Kenya 25%, UK 14%, Italy 13%
+
+ External debt: $2.9 billion (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 1.5% (1992); accounts for 5% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 160,000 kW
+ production: 780 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 32 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles, cement
+
+ Agriculture: mainly subsistence; accounts for 57% of GDP and over 80%
+ of labor force; cash crops - coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco; food crops
+ - cassava, potatoes, corn, millet, pulses; livestock products - beef,
+ goat meat, milk, poultry; self-sufficient in food
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1970-89), $145 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $1.4 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $60 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $169 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Ugandan shilling (USh) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Ugandan shillings (USh) per US$1 - 1,195 (December
+ 1994), 1,195.0 (1993), 1.133.8 (1992), 734.0 (1991), 428.85 (1990),
+ 223.1 (1989)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Uganda:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,300 km single track
+ narrow gauge: 1,300 km 1.000-m-gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 26,200 km
+ paved: 1,970 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 5,849 km; earth, tracks 18,381 km
+
+ Inland waterways: Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, Lake George,
+ Lake Edward; Victoria Nile, Albert Nile; principal inland water ports
+ are at Jinja and Port Bell, both on Lake Victoria
+
+ Ports: Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
+ 5,091 GRT/NA DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 29
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 9
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 6
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 9
+
+@Uganda:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; fair system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave and radio communications stations
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 9
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Uganda:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Wing
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,231,019; males fit for
+ military service 2,298,654 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $55 million, 1.7% of
+ budget (FY93/94)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+UKRAINE
+
+@Ukraine:Geography
+
+ Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland and
+ Russia
+
+ Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - European States
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 603,700 sq km
+ land area: 603,700 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 4,558 km, Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km,
+ Moldova 939 km, Poland 428 km, Romania (southwest) 169 km, Romania
+ (west) 362 km, Russia 1,576 km, Slovakia 90 km
+
+ Coastline: 2,782 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: undefined
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: certain territory of Moldova and Ukraine -
+ including Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina - are considered by
+ Bucharest as historically a part of Romania; this territory was
+ incorporated into the former Soviet Union following the
+ Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1940; potential dispute with Russia over
+ Crimea; has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved
+ the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other
+ nation
+
+ Climate: temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern
+ Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest
+ in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from
+ cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; summers are warm
+ across the greater part of the country, hot in the south
+
+ Terrain: most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and
+ plateaux, mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians),
+ and in the Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south
+
+ Natural resources: iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt,
+ sulphur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury,
+ timber
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 56%
+ permanent crops: 2%
+ meadows and pastures: 12%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 30%
+
+ Irrigated land: 26,000 sq km (1990)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water
+ pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast
+ from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty,
+ Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
+ Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Air
+ Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
+ Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and Asia;
+ second largest country in Europe
+
+@Ukraine:People
+
+ Population: 51,867,828 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 21% (female 5,217,850; male 5,407,450)
+ 15-64 years: 65% (female 17,563,924; male 16,334,299)
+ 65 years and over: 14% (female 4,976,893; male 2,367,412) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.04% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 12.31 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 12.67 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 20.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 70.11 years
+ male: 65.59 years
+ female: 74.87 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Ukrainian(s)
+ adjective: Ukrainian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Ukrainian 73%, Russian 22%, Jewish 1%, other 4%
+
+ Religions: Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian
+ Orthodox - Kiev Patriarchate, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox,
+ Ukrainian Catholic (Uniate), Protestant, Jewish
+
+ Languages: Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian, Polish, Hungarian
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
+ total population: 98%
+ male: 100%
+ female: 97%
+
+ Labor force: 23.55 million (January 1994)
+ by occupation: industry and construction 33%, agriculture and forestry
+ 21%, health, education, and culture 16%, trade and distribution 7%,
+ transport and communication 7%, other 16% (1992)
+
+@Ukraine:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Ukraine
+ local long form: none
+ local short form: Ukrayina
+ former: Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
+
+ Digraph: UP
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Kiev (Kyyiv)
+
+ Administrative divisions: 24 oblasti (singular - oblast'), 1
+ autonomous republic* (avtomnaya respublika), and 2 municipalites
+ (mista, singular - misto) with oblast status**; Cherkas'ka (Cherkasy),
+ Chernihivs'ka (Chernihiv), Chernivets'ka (Chernivtsi),
+ Dnipropetrovs'ka (Dnipropetrovs'k), Donets'ka (Donets'k),
+ Ivano-Frankivs'ka (Ivano-Frankivs'k), Kharkivs'ka (Kharkiv),
+ Khersons'ka (Kherson), Khmel'nyts'ka (Khmel'nyts'kyy), Kirovohrads'ka
+ (Kirovohrad), Kyyiv**, Kyyivs'ka (Kiev), Luhans'ka (Luhans'k),
+ L'vivs'ka (L'viv), Mykolayivs'ka (Mykolayiv), Odes'ka (Odesa),
+ Poltavs'ka (Poltava), Respublika Krym* (Simferopol'), Rivnens'ka
+ (Rivne), Sevastopol'**, Sums'ka (Sevastopol'), Ternopil's'ka
+ (Ternopil'), Vinnyts'ka (Vinnytsya), Volyns'ka (Luts'k), Zakarpats'ka
+ (Uzhhorod), Zaporiz'ka (Zaporizhzhya), Zhytomyrs'ka (Zhytomyr)
+ note: names in parentheses are administrative centers when name
+ differs from oblast' name
+
+ Independence: 1 December 1991 (from Soviet Union)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 24 August (1991)
+
+ Constitution: using 1978 pre-independence constitution; new
+ constitution currently being drafted
+
+ Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of
+ legislative acts
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Leonid D. KUCHMA (since 19 July 1994);
+ election last held 26 June and 10 July 1994 (next to be held NA 1999);
+ results - Leonid KUCHMA 52.15%, Leonid KRAVCHUK 45.06%
+ head of government: Acting Prime Minister Yeuben MARCHUK (since 3
+ March 1995); First Deputy Prime Ministers Yevhen MARCHUK and Viktor
+ PYNZENYK (since 31 October 1994) and six deputy prime ministers
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president and approved
+ by the Supreme Council
+ National Security Council: originally created in 1992, but
+ signficantly revamped and strengthened under President KUCHMA; members
+ include the president, prime minister, Ministers of Finance,
+ Environment, Justice, Internal Affairs, Foreign Economic Relations,
+ Economic and Foreign Affairs; the NSC staff is tasked with developing
+ national security policy on domestic and international matters and
+ advising the president
+ Presidential Administration: helps draft presidential edicts and
+ provides policy support to the president
+ Council of Regions: advisory body created by President KUCHMA in
+ September 1994; includes the Chairmen of Oblast and Kiev and
+ Sevastopol City Supreme Councils
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Supreme Council: elections last held 27 March 1994 with repeat
+ elections continuing through December 1998 to fill empty seats (next
+ to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (450
+ total) Communists 91, Rukh 22, Agrarians 18, Socialists 15,
+ Republicans 11, Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists 5, Labor 5, Party
+ of Democratic Revival 4, Democrats 2, Social Democrats 2, Civil
+ Congress 2, Conservative Republicans 1, Party of Economic Revival of
+ Crimea 1, Christian Democrats 1, independents 225; note - 405 deputies
+ have been elected; run-off elections for the remaining 45 seats to be
+ held by December 1998
+
+ Judicial branch: joint commission formed in April 1995 to define a
+ program of judicial reform by year-end
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Green Party of Ukraine, Vitaliy
+ KONONOV, leader; Liberal Party of Ukraine; Liberal Democratic Party of
+ Ukraine, Volodymyr KLYMCHUK, chairman; Democratic Party of Ukraine,
+ Volodymyr Oleksandrovych YAVORIVSKIY, chairman; People's Party of
+ Ukraine, Leopol'd TABURYANSKYY, chairman; Peasants' Party of Ukraine,
+ Serhiy DOVHRAN', chairman; Party of Democratic Rebirth (Revival) of
+ Ukraine, Volodymyr FILENKO, chairman; Social Democratic Party of
+ Ukraine, Yuriy VUZDUHAN, chairman; Socialist Party of Ukraine,
+ Oleksandr MOROZ, chairman; Ukrainian Christian Democratic Party,
+ Vitaliy ZHURAVSKYY, chairman; Ukrainian Conservative Republican Party,
+ Stepan KHMARA, chairman; Ukrainian Labor Party, Valentyn LANDYK,
+ chairman; Ukrainian Party of Justice, Mykhaylo HRECHKO, chairman;
+ Ukrainian Peasants' Democratic Party, Serhiy PLACHINDA, chairman;
+ Ukrainian Republican Party, Mykhaylo HORYN', chairman; Ukrainian
+ National Conservative Party, Viktor RADIONOV, chairman; Ukrainian
+ People's Movement for Restructuring (Rukh), Vyacheslav CHORNOVIL,
+ chairman; Ukrainian Communist Party, Petr SYMONENKO; Agrarian Party;
+ Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists, S. STESTKO; Civil Congress, O.
+ BAZYLUK; Party of Economic Revival of Crimea; Democratic Party Of
+ Ukraine, Serhiy DOVMAN', chairman
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: New Ukraine (Nova Ukrayina);
+ Congress of National Democratic Forces
+
+ Member of: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), CEI (associate members), CIS, EBRD,
+ ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT
+ (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC,
+ OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNPROFOR, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
+ WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Yuriy SHCHERBAK
+ chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
+ telephone: [1] (202) 333-0606
+ FAX: [1] (202) 333-0817
+ consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador William Green MILLER
+ embassy: 10 Yuria Kotsyubinskovo, 252053 Kiev 53
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [7] (044) 244-73-49, 244-37-45
+ FAX: [7] (044) 244-73-50
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow
+ represent grainfields under a blue sky
+
+@Ukraine:Economy
+
+ Overview: After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the
+ most important economic component of the former Soviet Union,
+ producing more than three times the output of the next-ranking
+ republic. Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of
+ Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial
+ quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics.
+ Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied equipment and raw
+ materials to industrial and mining sites in other regions of the
+ former USSR. In early 1992, the Ukrainian government liberalized most
+ prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread
+ resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon
+ stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Loose monetary
+ and fiscal policies pushed inflation to hyperinflationary levels in
+ late 1993. Greater monetary and fiscal restraint lowered inflation in
+ 1994, but also contributed to an accelerated decline in industrial
+ output. Since his election in July 1994, President KUCHMA has
+ developed - and parliament has approved - a comprehensive economic
+ reform program, maintained financial discipline, and reduced state
+ controls over prices, the exchange rate, and foreign trade.
+ Implementation of KUCHMA's economic agenda will encounter considerable
+ resistance from parliament, entrenched bureaucrats, and industrial
+ interests and will contribute to further declines in output and rising
+ unemployment which will sorely test the government's ability to stay
+ the course on reform in 1995.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $189.2 billion (1994
+ estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -19% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $3,650 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% per month (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 0.4% officially registered; large number of
+ unregistered or underemployed workers
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $11.8 billion (1994)
+ commodities: coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals,
+ chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, grain, meat
+ partners: FSU countries, China, Italy, Switzerland
+
+ Imports: $14.2 billion (1994)
+ commodities: energy, machinery and parts, transportation equipment,
+ chemicals, textiles
+ partners: FSU countries, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic
+
+ External debt: $7.5 billion (yearend 1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -28% (1994 est.); accounts for 50%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 54,380,000 kW
+ production: 182 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,200 kWh (1994)
+
+ Industries: coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals,
+ machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food-processing
+ (especially sugar)
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 25% of GDP; grain, vegetables, meat,
+ milk, sugar beets
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly
+ for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; used as
+ transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe
+
+ Economic aid: $550 million economic aid and $350 million to help
+ disassemble the atomic weapons from the US in 1994
+
+ Currency: Ukraine withdrew the Russian ruble from circulation on 12
+ November 1992 and declared the karbovanets (plural karbovantsi) sole
+ legal tender in Ukrainian markets; Ukrainian officials claim this is
+ an interim move toward introducing a new currency - the hryvnya -
+ possibly in mid-1995
+
+ Exchange rates: karbovantsi per 1$US - 107,900 (end December 1994),
+ 130,000 (April 1994)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Ukraine:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 23,350 km
+ broad gauge: 23,350 km 1.524-m gauge (8,600 km electrified)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 273,700 km
+ paved and graveled: 236,400 km
+ unpaved: earth 37,300 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 1,672 km perennially navigable (Pryp''yat' and
+ Dnipro Rivers)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 2,010 km; petroleum products 1,920 km; natural
+ gas 7,800 km (1992)
+
+ Ports: Berdyans'k, Illichivs'k, Izmayil, Kerch, Kherson, Kiev (Kyyiv),
+ Mariupol', Mykolayiv, Odesa, Pivdenne, Reni
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 379 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,799,253 GRT/5,071,175
+ DWT
+ ships by type: barge carrier 7, bulk 55, cargo 221, chemical tanker 2,
+ container 20, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 10,
+ passenger 12, passenger-cargo 5, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo
+ 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 32, short-sea passenger 7
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 706
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 14
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 55
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 57
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 7
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 16
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 37
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 476
+
+@Ukraine:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 7,886,000 telephone circuits; about 151.4 telephone
+ circuits/1,000 persons (1991); the telephone system is inadequate both
+ for business and for personal use; 3.56 million applications for
+ telephones had not been satisfied as of January 1991; electronic mail
+ services have been established in Kiev, Odesa, and Luhans'k by Sprint
+ local: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network operates in Kiev
+ (Kyyiv) and allows direct dialing of international calls through
+ Kiev's EWSD digital exchange
+ intercity: NA
+ international: calls to other CIS countries are carried by land line
+ or microwave; other international calls to 167 countries are carried
+ by satellite or by the 150 leased lines through the Moscow gateway
+ switch; INTELSAT, INMARSAT, and Intersputnik earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: 15 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: 20 million
+
+@Ukraine:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Republic Security
+ Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 12,324,832; males fit for
+ military service 9,667,642; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 359,546 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: 544.3 billion karbovantsi, less than 4% of GDP
+ (forecast for 1993); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US
+ dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading
+ results
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
+
+@United Arab Emirates:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian
+ Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
+
+ Map references: Middle East
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 75,581 sq km
+ land area: 75,581 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Maine
+
+ Land boundaries: total 867 km, Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,318 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: location and status of boundary with Saudi
+ Arabia is not final; no defined boundary with most of Oman, but
+ Administrative Line in far north; claims two islands in the Persian
+ Gulf occupied by Iran (Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg or Greater Tunb, and
+ Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek or Lesser Tunb); claims island in the Persian
+ Gulf jointly administered with Iran (Jazireh-ye Abu Musa or Abu Musa);
+ in 1992, the dispute over Abu Musa and the Tunb islands became more
+ acute when Iran unilaterally tried to control the entry of third
+ country nationals into the UAE portion of Abu Musa island, Tehran
+ subsequently backed off in the face of significant diplomatic support
+ for the UAE in the region
+
+ Climate: desert; cooler in eastern mountains
+
+ Terrain: flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of
+ vast desert wasteland; mountains in east
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 2%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 98%
+
+ Irrigated land: 50 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources being overcome by
+ desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills
+ natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
+ international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous
+ Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not
+ ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
+
+ Note: strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of
+ Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
+
+@United Arab Emirates:People
+
+ Population: 2,924,594 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 35% (female 499,559; male 521,415)
+ 15-64 years: 64% (female 643,819; male 1,229,730)
+ 65 years and over: 1% (female 10,296; male 19,775) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 4.55% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 27.02 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 3.03 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 21.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 21 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 72.51 years
+ male: 70.42 years
+ female: 74.71 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.53 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Emirian(s)
+ adjective: Emirian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Emirian 19%, other Arab 23%, South Asian 50%, other
+ expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982)
+ note: less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)
+
+ Religions: Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4%
+
+ Languages: Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write but definition of
+ literary not available (1985)
+ total population: 71%
+ male: 72%
+ female: 69%
+
+ Labor force: 580,000 (1986 est.)
+ by occupation: industry and commerce 85%, agriculture 5%, services 5%,
+ government 5%
+ note: 80% of labor force is foreign (est.)
+
+@United Arab Emirates:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: United Arab Emirates
+ conventional short form: none
+ local long form: Al Imarata al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
+ local short form: none
+ former: Trucial States
+
+ Abbreviation: UAE
+
+ Digraph: TC
+
+ Type: federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE central
+ government and other powers reserved to member emirates
+
+ Capital: Abu Dhabi
+
+ Administrative divisions: 7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu
+ Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Dubai, Ra's al Khaymah,
+ Sharjah, Umm al Qaywayn
+
+ Independence: 2 December 1971 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1971)
+
+ Constitution: 2 December 1971 (provisional)
+
+ Legal system: secular codes are being introduced by the UAE Government
+ and in several member emirates; Islamic law remains influential
+
+ Suffrage: none
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (since 2
+ December 1971), ruler of Abu Dhabi; Vice President Shaykh MAKTUM bin
+ Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy
+ head of government: Prime Minister Shaykh MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum
+ (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy; Deputy Prime Minister SULTAN
+ bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990)
+ Supreme Council of Rulers: composed of the seven emirate rulers, the
+ council is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE;
+ establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation, Abu
+ Dhabi and Dubayy rulers have veto power; council meets four times a
+ year
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral Federal National Council (Majlis Watani
+ Itihad); no elections
+
+ Judicial branch: Union Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: none
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: NA
+
+ Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GATT,
+ GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
+ IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM,
+ OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad bin Husayn al-SHAALI
+ chancery: Suite 600, 3000 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
+ telephone: [1] (202) 338-6500
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador William A. RUGH
+ embassy: Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi; American Embassy Abu
+ Dhabi, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6010 (pouch)
+ telephone: [971] (2) 436691, 436692
+ FAX: [971] (2) 434771
+ consulate(s) general: Dubayy (Dubai)
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black
+ with a thicker vertical red band on the hoist side
+
+@United Arab Emirates:Economy
+
+ Overview: The UAE has an open economy with one of the world's highest
+ incomes per capita and with a sizable annual trade surplus. Its wealth
+ is based on oil and gas output (about 40% of GDP), and the fortunes of
+ the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. Since
+ 1973, the UAE has undergone a profound transformation from an
+ impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state
+ with a high standard of living. At present levels of production, crude
+ oil reserves should last for over 100 years. Although much stronger
+ economically than most Gulf states, the UAE faces similar problems
+ with weak international oil prices and the pressures for cuts in OPEC
+ oil production quotas. The UAE government is encouraging increased
+ privatization within the economy.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $62.7 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -0.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $22,480 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.1% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1988)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $4.3 billion
+ expenditures: $4.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1993 est)
+
+ Exports: $24 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: crude oil 66%, natural gas, re-exports, dried fish, dates
+
+ partners: Japan 35%, South Korea 5%, Iran 4%, Oman 4%, Singapore 4%
+ (1993)
+
+ Imports: $20 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,
+ food
+ partners: Japan 12%, UK 10%, US 9%, Germany 7%, South Korea 5% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $11.6 billion (1994 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 1.7% (1992 est.); accounts for 50%
+ of GDP, including petroleum
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 4,760,000 kW
+ production: 16.5 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 5,796 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction
+ materials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 2% of GDP and 5% of labor force; cash crop -
+ dates; food products - vegetables, watermelons, poultry, eggs, dairy,
+ fish; only 25% self-sufficient in food
+
+ Illicit drugs: growing role as heroin transshipment and
+ money-laundering center
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: pledged in bilateral aid to less developed countries (1979-89)
+ $9.1 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 Emirian dirham (Dh) = 100 fils
+
+ Exchange rates: Emirian dirhams (Dh) per US$1 - 3.6710 (fixed rate)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@United Arab Emirates:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 2,000 km
+ paved: 1,800 km
+ unpaved: gravel, graded earth 200 km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 830 km; natural gas, including natural gas
+ liquids, 870 km
+
+ Ports: Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Das Island, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Jabal' Ali,
+ Mina' Khalid, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina' Zayid, Umm al Qiwain
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,128,253 GRT/1,938,770
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 18, chemical tanker 1, container 10,
+ liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 21,
+ refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 41
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 9
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 12
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 8
+
+@United Arab Emirates:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 386,600 telephones; modern system consisting of
+ microwave and coaxial cable; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubayy
+ local: NA
+ intercity: microwave and coaxial cable
+ international: 3 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1
+ ARABSAT earth station; submarine cables to Qatar, Bahrain, India, and
+ Pakistan; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to
+ Saudi Arabia
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 3, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 12
+ televisions: NA
+
+@United Arab Emirates:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes Federal Police
+ Force)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,072,261; males fit for
+ military service 583,967; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 19,266 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.59 billion, 4.3%
+ of GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+UNITED KINGDOM
+
+@United Kingdom:Geography
+
+ Location: Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of
+ the island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North
+ Sea, northwest of France
+
+ Map references: Europe
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 244,820 sq km
+ land area: 241,590 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon
+ note: includes Rockall and Shetland Islands
+
+ Land boundaries: total 360 km, Ireland 360 km
+
+ Coastline: 12,429 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or in
+ accordance with agreed upon boundaries
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: Northern Ireland question with Ireland;
+ Gibraltar question with Spain; Argentina claims Falkland Islands
+ (Islas Malvinas); Argentina claims South Georgia and the South
+ Sandwich Islands; Mauritius claims island of Diego Garcia in British
+ Indian Ocean Territory; Rockall continental shelf dispute involving
+ Denmark, Iceland, and Ireland (Ireland and the UK have signed a
+ boundary agreement in the Rockall area); territorial claim in
+ Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory)
+
+ Climate: temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the
+ North Atlantic Current; more than half of the days are overcast
+
+ Terrain: mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling
+ plains in east and southeast
+
+ Natural resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron
+ ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 29%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 48%
+ forest and woodland: 9%
+ other: 14%
+
+ Irrigated land: 1,570 sq km (1989)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants contribute
+ to air pollution; some rivers polluted by agricultural wastes and
+ coastal waters polluted because of large-scale disposal of sewage at
+ sea
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
+ Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
+ Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine
+ Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
+ Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
+ ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
+ Desertification
+
+ Note: lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France
+ and now linked by tunnel under the English Channel; because of heavily
+ indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters
+
+@United Kingdom:People
+
+ Population: 58,295,119 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 19% (female 5,572,189; male 5,843,192)
+ 15-64 years: 65% (female 18,723,583; male 18,935,931)
+ 65 years and over: 16% (female 5,471,383; male 3,748,841) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.27% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 13.18 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 10.66 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 77 years
+ male: 74.18 years
+ female: 79.95 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural)
+ adjective: British
+
+ Ethnic divisions: English 81.5%, Scottish 9.6%, Irish 2.4%, Welsh
+ 1.9%, Ulster 1.8%, West Indian, Indian, Pakistani, and other 2.8%
+
+ Religions: Anglican 27 million, Roman Catholic 9 million, Muslim 1
+ million, Presbyterian 800,000, Methodist 760,000, Sikh 400,000, Hindu
+ 350,000, Jewish 300,000 (1991 est.)
+ note: the UK does not include a question on religion in its census
+
+ Languages: English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales),
+ Scottish form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991 est.)
+ total population: 99%
+
+ Labor force: 28.048 million
+ by occupation: services 62.8%, manufacturing and construction 25.0%,
+ government 9.1%, energy 1.9%, agriculture 1.2% (June 1992)
+
+@United Kingdom:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
+ Ireland
+ conventional short form: United Kingdom
+
+ Abbreviation: UK
+
+ Digraph: UK
+
+ Type: constitutional monarchy
+
+ Capital: London
+
+ Administrative divisions: 47 counties, 7 metropolitan counties, 26
+ districts, 9 regions, and 3 islands areas
+ England: 39 counties, 7 metropolitan counties*; Avon, Bedford,
+ Berkshire, Buckingham, Cambridge, Cheshire, Cleveland, Cornwall,
+ Cumbria, Derby, Devon, Dorset, Durham, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucester,
+ Greater London*, Greater Manchester*, Hampshire, Hereford and
+ Worcester, Hertford, Humberside, Isle of Wight, Kent, Lancashire,
+ Leicester, Lincoln, Merseyside*, Norfolk, Northampton, Northumberland,
+ North Yorkshire, Nottingham, Oxford, Shropshire, Somerset, South
+ Yorkshire*, Stafford, Suffolk, Surrey, Tyne and Wear*, Warwick, West
+ Midlands*, West Sussex, West Yorkshire*, Wiltshire
+ Northern Ireland: 26 districts; Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena,
+ Ballymoney, Banbridge, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine,
+ Cookstown, Craigavon, Down, Dungannon, Fermanagh, Larne, Limavady,
+ Lisburn, Londonderry, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Mourne,
+ Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh, Strabane
+ Scotland: 9 regions, 3 islands areas*; Borders, Central, Dumfries and
+ Galloway, Fife, Grampian, Highland, Lothian, Orkney*, Shetland*,
+ Strathclyde, Tayside, Western Isles*
+ Wales: 8 counties; Clwyd, Dyfed, Gwent, Gwynedd, Mid Glamorgan, Powys,
+ South Glamorgan, West Glamorgan
+
+ Dependent areas: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory,
+ British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar,
+ Guernsey, Hong Kong (scheduled to become a Special Administrative
+ Region of China on 1 July 1997), Jersey, Isle of Man, Montserrat,
+ Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and the South Sandwich
+ Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
+
+ Independence: 1 January 1801 (United Kingdom established)
+
+ National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second
+ Saturday in June)
+
+ Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
+ practice
+
+ Legal system: common law tradition with early Roman and modern
+ continental influences; no judicial review of Acts of Parliament;
+ accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Heir
+ Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the Queen, born 14 November 1948)
+ head of government: Prime Minister John MAJOR (since 28 November 1990)
+
+ cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
+ House of Lords: consists of a 1,200-member body, four-fifths are
+ hereditary peers, 2 archbishops, 24 other senior bishops, serving and
+ retired Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, other life peers, Scottish peers
+ House of Commons: elections last held 9 April 1992 (next to be held by
+ NA April 1997); results - Conservative 41.9%, Labor 34.5%, Liberal
+ Democratic 17.9%, other 5.7%; seats - (651 total) Conservative 336,
+ Labor 271, Liberal Democratic 20, other 24
+
+ Judicial branch: House of Lords
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Conservative and Unionist Party, John
+ MAJOR; Labor Party, Anthony (Tony) Blair; Liberal Democrats (LD),
+ Jeremy (Paddy) ASHDOWN; Scottish National Party, Alex SALMOND; Welsh
+ National Party (Plaid Cymru), Dafydd Iwan WIGLEY; Ulster Unionist
+ Party (Northern Ireland), James MOLYNEAUX; Democratic Unionist Party
+ (Northern Ireland), Rev. Ian PAISLEY; Ulster Popular Unionist Party
+ (Northern Ireland); Social Democratic and Labor Party (SDLP, Northern
+ Ireland), John HUME; Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland), Gerry ADAMS
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Trades Union Congress;
+ Confederation of British Industry; National Farmers' Union; Campaign
+ for Nuclear Disarmament
+
+ Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC,
+ CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, EBRD, EC, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC,
+ EIB, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
+ ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO,
+ NEA, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD,
+ UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UNU, UPU, WCL,
+ WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Sir Robin William RENWICK
+ chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 462-1340
+ FAX: [1] (202) 898-4255
+ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston,
+ Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco,
+ consulate(s): Dallas, Miami, and Seattle
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Adm. William W. CROWE
+ embassy: 24/31 Grosvenor Square, London, W. 1A1AE
+ mailing address: PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040
+ telephone: [44] (71) 499-9000
+ FAX: [44] (71) 409-1637
+ consulate(s) general: Belfast, Edinburgh
+
+ Flag: blue with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of
+ England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of
+ Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) which is superimposed on the
+ diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); known
+ as the Union Flag or Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the
+ Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including
+ dependencies, Commonwealth countries, and others
+
+@United Kingdom:Economy
+
+ Overview: The UK is one of the world's great trading powers and
+ financial centers, and its economy ranks among the four largest in
+ Western Europe. The economy is essentially capitalistic; over the past
+ 13 years the ruling Tories have greatly reduced public ownership and
+ contained the growth of social welfare programs. Agriculture is
+ intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards,
+ producing about 60% of food needs with only 1% of the labor force. The
+ UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves, and primary energy
+ production accounts for 12% of GDP, one of the highest shares of any
+ industrial nation. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and
+ business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP
+ while industry continues to decline in importance, now employing only
+ 25% of the work force and generating only 21% of GDP. The economy
+ registered 4.2% GDP growth in 1994, its fastest annual rate for six
+ years. Exports and manufacturing output are the primary engines of
+ growth. Unemployment is gradually falling. Inflation is at the lowest
+ level in 27 years, but British monetary authorities raised interest
+ rates to 6.25% in 1994 in a preemptive strike on emerging inflationary
+ pressures such as higher taxes and rising manufacturing costs. The
+ combination of a buoyant economy and fiscal tightening is projected to
+ trim the FY94/95 budget shortfall to about $50 billion - down from
+ about $75 billion in FY93/94. The major economic policy question for
+ Britain in the 1990s is the terms on which it participates in the
+ financial and economic integration of Europe.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.0452 trillion
+ (1994 est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4.2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $17,980 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 9.3% (1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $325.5 billion
+ expenditures: $400.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $33
+ billion (FY93/94 est.)
+
+ Exports: $200 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, chemicals,
+ semifinished goods, transport equipment
+ partners: EU countries 56.7% (Germany 14.0%, France 11.1%, Netherlands
+ 7.9%), US 10.9%
+
+ Imports: $215 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: manufactured goods, machinery, semifinished goods,
+ foodstuffs, consumer goods
+ partners: EU countries 51.7% (Germany 14.9%, France 9.3%, Netherlands
+ 8.4%), US 11.6%
+
+ External debt: $16.2 billion (June 1992)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 5.6% (1994)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 65,360,000 kW
+ production: 303 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 5,123 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: production machinery including machine tools, electric
+ power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment,
+ shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and
+ communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper
+ and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, and other
+ consumer goods
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for only 1.5% of GDP; wide variety of crops and
+ livestock products
+
+ Illicit drugs: gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the
+ European market; producer of synthetic drugs; transshipment point for
+ Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering center
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1992-93), $3.2 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 British pound (#) = 100 pence
+
+ Exchange rates: British pounds (#) per US$1 - 0.6350 (January 1995),
+ 0.6529 (1994), 0.6033 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
+
+@United Kingdom:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 16,888 km; note - several additional small standard-gauge and
+ narrow-gauge lines are privately owned and operated
+ broad gauge: 330 km 1.600-m gauge (190 km double track)
+ standard gauge: 16,558 km 1.435-m gauge (4,950 km electrified; 12,591
+ km double or multiple track)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 360,047 km (includes Northern Ireland)
+ paved: 360,047 km (includes Northern Ireland; Great Britain has 3,100
+ km limited access divided highway)
+
+ Inland waterways: 2,291 total; British Waterways Board, 606 km; Port
+ Authorities, 706 km; other, 979 km
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil (almost all insignificant) 933 km; petroleum
+ products 2,993 km; natural gas 12,800 km
+
+ Ports: Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Grangemouth, Hull, Leith,
+ Liverpool, London, Manchester, Medway, Sullom Voe, Tees, Tyne
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 155 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,249,823 GRT/3,978,336
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 24, chemical tanker 2, container 23,
+ liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 56, passenger 7, passenger-cargo 1,
+ refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13, short-sea passenger
+ 13, specialized tanker 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 505
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 10
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 174
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 91
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 172
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 27
+
+@United Kingdom:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 30,200,000 telephones; technologically advanced
+ domestic and international system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA equal mix of buried cables, microwave and optical-fiber
+ systems
+ international: 40 coaxial submarine cables; 10 INTELSAT (7 Atlantic
+ Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), 1 INMARSAT, and 1 EUTELSAT earth satellite;
+ at least 8 large international switching centers
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 225, FM 525 (mostly repeaters), shortwave 0
+ radios: 70 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 207 (repeaters 3,210)
+ televisions: 20 million
+
+@United Kingdom:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Royal Navy (includes Royal Marines), Royal Air Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 14,429,485; males fit for
+ military service 12,041,935 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $35.1 billion, 3.1%
+ of GDP (FY95/96)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+UNITED STATES
+
+@United States:Geography
+
+ Location: North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and
+ the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
+
+ Map references: North America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 9,372,610 sq km
+ land area: 9,166,600 sq km
+ comparative area: about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths
+ the size of Africa; about one-half the size of South America (or
+ slightly larger than Brazil); slightly smaller than China; about two
+ and one-half times the size of Western Europe
+ note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia
+
+ Land boundaries: total 12,248 km, Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km
+ with Alaska), Cuba 29 km (US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay), Mexico
+ 3,326 km
+
+ Coastline: 19,924 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 12 nm
+ continental shelf: not specified
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: maritime boundary disputes with Canada (Dixon
+ Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island);
+ US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual
+ agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti
+ claims Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica
+ (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the
+ claims of any other nation; Republic of Marshall Islands claims Wake
+ Island
+
+ Climate: mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida and
+ arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi
+ River and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter
+ temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January
+ and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the
+ Rocky Mountains
+
+ Terrain: vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low
+ mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska;
+ rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii
+
+ Natural resources: coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates,
+ uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver,
+ tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 20%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 26%
+ forest and woodland: 29%
+ other: 25%
+
+ Irrigated land: 181,020 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US
+ and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide
+ from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of
+ pesticides and fertilizers; very limited natural fresh water resources
+ in much of the western part of the country require careful management;
+ desertification
+ natural hazards: tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around
+ Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic coast; tornadoes in the
+ midwest; mudslides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding;
+ permafrost in northern Alaska is a major impediment to development
+ international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
+ Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine
+ Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
+ Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
+ ratified - Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
+ Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Desertification,
+ Hazardous Wastes, Tropical Timber 94
+
+ Note: world's fourth-largest country (after Russia, Canada, and China)
+
+@United States:People
+
+ Population: 263,814,032 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 22% (female 28,391,451; male 29,845,630)
+ 15-64 years: 65% (female 86,454,415; male 85,474,002)
+ 65 years and over: 13% (female 19,949,978; male 13,698,559) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.02% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 15.25 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.38 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 3.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 7.88 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 75.99 years
+ male: 72.8 years
+ female: 79.7 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: American(s)
+ adjective: American
+
+ Ethnic divisions: white 83.4%, black 12.4%, Asian 3.3%, Native
+ American 0.8% (1992)
+
+ Religions: Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other 4%,
+ none 10% (1989)
+
+ Languages: English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of
+ schooling (1979)
+ total population: 97%
+ male: 97%
+ female: 97%
+
+ Labor force: 131.056 million (includes unemployed) (1994)
+ by occupation: managerial and professional 27.5%, technical, sales and
+ administrative support 30.3%, services 13.7%, manufacturing, mining,
+ transportation, and crafts 25.5%, farming, forestry, and fishing 2.9%
+
+@United States:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: United States of America
+ conventional short form: United States
+
+ Abbreviation: US or USA
+
+ Digraph: US
+
+ Type: federal republic; strong democratic tradition
+
+ Capital: Washington, DC
+
+ Administrative divisions: 50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska,
+ Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware,
+ District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois,
+ Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,
+ Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana,
+ Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York,
+ North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
+ Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah,
+ Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
+
+ Dependent areas: American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island,
+ Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa
+ Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin
+ Islands, Wake Island
+ note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US has administered
+ the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently entered into
+ a new political relationship with all four political units: the
+ Northern Mariana Islands is a Commonwealth in political union with the
+ US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free
+ Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994); the Federated
+ States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US
+ (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands
+ signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21 October
+ 1986)
+
+ Independence: 4 July 1776 (from England)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
+
+ Constitution: 17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of
+ legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
+ reservations
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President William Jefferson
+ CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr.
+ (since 20 January 1993); election last held 3 November 1992 (next to
+ be held 5 November 1996); results - William Jefferson CLINTON
+ (Democratic Party) 43.2%, George BUSH (Republican Party) 37.7%, Ross
+ PEROT (Independent) 19.0%, other 0.1%
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president with Senate approval
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Congress
+ Senate: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5
+ November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100
+ total) Republican Party 54, Democratic Party 46
+ House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to
+ be held 5 November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
+ - (435 total) Republican Party 231, Democratic Party 203, independent
+ 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Republican Party, Haley BARBOUR,
+ national committee chairman; Jeanie AUSTIN, co-chairman; Democratic
+ Party, David C. WILHELM, national committee chairman; several other
+ groups or parties of minor political significance
+
+ Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group,
+ BIS, CCC, CP, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP, FAO, G- 2, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8,
+ G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
+ IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM,
+ ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OSCE, PCA,
+ SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR,
+ UNMIH, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
+ WTO, ZC
+
+ Flag: thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom)
+ alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper
+ hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged
+ in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom)
+ alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50
+ states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as
+ Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of
+ other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
+
+@United States:Economy
+
+ Overview: The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically
+ advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $25,850, the
+ largest among major industrial nations. The economy is market oriented
+ with most decisions made by private individuals and business firms and
+ with government purchases of goods and services made predominantly in
+ the marketplace. In 1989 the economy enjoyed its seventh successive
+ year of substantial growth, the longest in peacetime history. The
+ expansion featured moderation in wage and consumer price increases and
+ a steady reduction in unemployment to 5.2% of the labor force. In
+ 1990, however, growth slowed to 1% because of a combination of
+ factors, such as the worldwide increase in interest rates, Iraq's
+ invasion of Kuwait in August, the subsequent spurt in oil prices, and
+ a general decline in business and consumer confidence. In 1991 output
+ fell by 0.6%, unemployment grew, and signs of recovery proved
+ premature. Growth picked up to 2.3% in 1992 and to 3.1% in 1993.
+ Unemployment, however, declined only gradually, the increase in GDP
+ being mainly attributable to gains in output per worker. The year 1994
+ witnessed a solid 4% gain in real output, a low inflation rate of
+ 2.6%, and a drop in unemployment below 6%. The capture of both houses
+ of Congress by the Republicans in the elections of 8 November 1994
+ means substantial changes are likely in US economic policy, including
+ changes in the ways the US will address its major economic problems in
+ 1995-96. These problems include inadequate investment in economic
+ infrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs of an aging population,
+ and sizable budget and trade deficits.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $6.7384 trillion
+ (1994)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4.1% (1994)
+
+ National product per capita: $25,850 (1994)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 5.5% (March 1995)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.258 trillion
+ expenditures: $1.461 trillion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1994)
+
+ Exports: $513 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
+ commodities: capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and raw
+ materials, consumer goods, agricultural products
+ partners: Western Europe 24.3%, Canada 22.1%, Japan 10.5% (1993)
+
+ Imports: $664 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
+ commodities: crude oil and refined petroleum products, machinery,
+ automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food and
+ beverages
+ partners: Canada, 19.3%, Western Europe 18.1%, Japan 18.1% (1993)
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 5.4% (1994 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 695,120,000 kW
+ production: 3.1 trillion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 11,236 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified
+ and technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles,
+ aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food
+ processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 2% of GDP and 2.9% of labor force; favorable
+ climate and soils support a wide variety of crops and livestock
+ production; world's second largest producer and number one exporter of
+ grain; surplus food producer; fish catch of 4.4 million metric tons
+ (1990)
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for domestic consumption
+ with 1987 production estimated at 3,500 metric tons or about 25% of
+ the available marijuana; ongoing eradication program aimed at small
+ plots and greenhouses has not reduced production
+
+ Economic aid:
+ donor: commitments, including ODA and OOF, (FY80-89), $115.7 billion
+
+ Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates:
+ British pounds: (#) per US$ - 0.6350 (January 1995), 0.6529 (1994),
+ 0.6033 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990)
+ Canadian dollars: (Can$) per US$ - 1.4129 (January 1995), 1.3656
+ (1994), 1.2901 (1993), 1.2087 (1992), 1.1457 (1991), 1.1668 (1990)
+ French francs: (F) per US$ - 5.2943 (January 1995), 5.5520 (1994),
+ 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990)
+ Italian lire: (Lit) per US$ - 1,609.5 (January 1995), 1,612.4 (1994),
+ 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990)
+ Japanese yen: (Y) per US$ - 99.75 (January 1995), 102.21 (1994),
+ 111.20 (1993), 126.65 (1992), 134.71 (1991), 144.79 (1990)
+ German deutsche marks: (DM) per US$ - 1.5313 (January 1995), 1.6228
+ (1994), 1.6533 (1993), 1.5617 (1992), 1.6595 (1991), 1.6157 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
+
+@United States:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 240,000 km mainline routes (nongovernment owned)
+ standard gauge: 240,000 km 1.435-m gauge (1989)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 6,243,163 km
+ paved: 3,633,520 km (including 84,865 km of expressways)
+ unpaved: 2,609,643 km (1990)
+
+ Inland waterways: 41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive of
+ the Great Lakes (est.)
+
+ Pipelines: petroleum 276,000 km; natural gas 331,000 km (1991)
+
+ Ports: Anchorage, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Duluth,
+ Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, New
+ Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Port Canaveral, Portland (Oregon),
+ Prudhoe Bay, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Toledo
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 354 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,462,000
+ GRT/16,477,000 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 22, cargo 28, chemical tanker 16, intermodal 130,
+ liquefied gas tanker 13, passenger-cargo 2, tanker 130, tanker
+ tug-barge 13
+ note: in addition, there are 189 government-owned vessels
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 15,032
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 181
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 208
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,242
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2,489
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 8,994
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 180
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1,730
+
+@United States:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 126,000,000 telephones; 7,557,000 cellular
+ telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay,
+ coaxial cable, and domestic satellites
+ international: 16 satellites and 24 ocean cable systems in use; 61
+ INTELSAT (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean) earth stations
+ (1990)
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 4,987, FM 4,932, shortwave 0
+ radios: 530 million
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 1,092 (about 9,000 cable TV systems)
+ televisions: 193 million
+
+@United States:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Department of the Army, Department of the Navy (includes
+ Marine Corps), Department of the Air Force
+
+ Defense expenditures: $284.4 billion, 4.2% of GDP (1994 est.)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+URUGUAY
+
+@Uruguay:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
+ between Argentina and Brazil
+
+ Map references: South America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 176,220 sq km
+ land area: 173,620 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Washington State
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,564 km, Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km
+
+ Coastline: 660 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ territorial sea: 200 nm; overflight and navigation guaranteed beyond
+ 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: short section of boundary with Argentina is in
+ dispute; two short sections of the boundary with Brazil are in dispute
+ - Arroyo de la Invernada (Arroio Invernada) area of the Rio Cuareim
+ (Rio Quarai) and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Cuareim (Rio
+ Quarai) and the Uruguay River
+
+ Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
+
+ Terrain: mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
+
+ Natural resources: soil, hydropower potential, minor minerals
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 8%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 78%
+ forest and woodland: 4%
+ other: 10%
+
+ Irrigated land: 1,100 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: substantial pollution from Brazilian industry along
+ border; one-fifth of country affected by acid rain generated by
+ Brazil; water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate
+ solid/hazardous waste disposal
+ natural hazards: seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and
+ occasional violent wind which blows north from the Argentine pampas),
+ droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as
+ weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid
+ changes in weather fronts
+ international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
+ Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
+ Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear
+ Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed,
+ but not ratified - Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
+
+@Uruguay:People
+
+ Population: 3,222,716 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 25% (female 392,262; male 409,580)
+ 15-64 years: 63% (female 1,026,314; male 995,492)
+ 65 years and over: 12% (female 233,377; male 165,691) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0.74% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 17.57 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.27 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -0.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 16.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 74.46 years
+ male: 71.24 years
+ female: 77.83 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.41 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Uruguayan(s)
+ adjective: Uruguayan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 66% (less than half adult population attends
+ church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, nonprofessing or other
+ 30%
+
+ Languages: Spanish, Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian
+ frontier)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 96%
+ male: 97%
+ female: 96%
+
+ Labor force: 1.355 million (1991 est.)
+ by occupation: government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%,
+ commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport, and communications
+ 12%, other services 21% (1988 est.)
+
+@Uruguay:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
+ conventional short form: Uruguay
+ local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay
+ local short form: Uruguay
+
+ Digraph: UY
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Montevideo
+
+ Administrative divisions: 19 departments (departamentos, singular -
+ departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno,
+ Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio
+ Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo, Treinta y
+ Tres
+
+ Independence: 25 August 1828 (from Brazil)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 25 August (1828)
+
+ Constitution: 27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended 27
+ June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980
+
+ Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory
+ ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Julio Maria
+ SANGUINETTI (since 1 March 1995); Vice President Hugo BATALLA (since 1
+ March 1995); election last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA
+ November 1999)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral General Assembly (Asamblea General)
+ Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores): elections last held 27
+ November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999); results - Colorado
+ 36%, Blanco 34 %, Encuentro Progresista 27%, New Sector 3%; seats -
+ (30 total) Colorado 11, Blanco 10, Encuentro Progresista 8, New Sector
+ 1
+ Chamber of Representatives (Camera de Representantes): elections last
+ held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999); results -
+ Colorado 32%, Blanco 31%, Encuentro Progresista 31%, New Sector 5%;
+ seats - (99 total) Colorado 32, Blanco 31, Encuentro Progresista 31,
+ New Sector 5
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National (Blanco) Party; Colorado
+ Party, Jorge BATLLE; Broad Front Coalition, Gen. Liber SEREGNI
+ Mosquera; New Sector Coalition, Hugo BATALLA; Encuentro Progresista
+
+ Member of: AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB,
+ IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
+ INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MERCOSUR, NAM
+ (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
+ UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOMIL, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Eduardo MACGILLYCUDDY
+ chancery: 1918 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
+ telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316
+ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York
+ consulate(s): New Orleans
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD
+ embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo
+ mailing address: APO AA 34035
+ telephone: [598] (2) 23 60 61, 48 77 77
+ FAX: [598] (2) 48 86 11
+
+ Flag: nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom)
+ alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side
+ corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May
+ and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy
+
+@Uruguay:Economy
+
+ Overview: Uruguay's economy is a small one with favorable climate,
+ good soils, and substantial hydropower potential. Economic development
+ has been restrained in recent years by excessive government regulation
+ of economic detail and 40% to 130% inflation. Although the GDP growth
+ rate slowed in 1993 to 1.7%, following a healthy expansion to 7.5% in
+ 1992, it rebounded in 1994 to an estimated 4%, spurred mostly by
+ increasing agricultural and other exports and a surprise reversal of
+ the downward trend in industrial production. In a major step toward
+ regional economic cooperation, Uruguay confirmed its commitment to the
+ Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR) customs union by implementing
+ MERCOSUR's common external tariff on most tradables on 1 January 1995.
+ Inflation in 1994 declined for the third consecutive year, yet, at
+ 44%, it remains the highest in the region; analysts predict that the
+ expanding fiscal deficit and wage indexation will force the inflation
+ rate back toward the 50% mark in 1995.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $23 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $7,200 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 44% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 9% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $2.9 billion
+ expenditures: $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $388
+ million (1991 est.)
+
+ Exports: $1.78 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: wool and textile manufactures, beef and other animal
+ products, leather, rice
+ partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, China, Italy
+
+ Imports: $2.461 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, minerals,
+ plastics
+ partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, Nigeria
+
+ External debt: $4.2 billion (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 3.9% (1992); accounts for 28% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 2,070,000 kW
+ production: 9 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,575 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles,
+ footwear, leather apparel, tires, cement, petroleum refining, wine
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 12% of GDP; large areas devoted to livestock
+ grazing; wheat, rice, corn, sorghum; fishing; self-sufficient in most
+ basic foodstuffs
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $105 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $420 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $69 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Uruguayan peso ($Ur) = 100 centesimos
+
+ Exchange rates: Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1 - 5.6 (January 1995),
+ 4.4710 (January 1994), 3.9484 (1993), 3.0270 (1992), 2.0188 (1991),
+ 1.1710 (1990)
+ note: on 1 March 1993 the former New Peso (N$Ur) was replaced as
+ Uruguay's unit of currency by the Peso which is equal to 1,000 of the
+ New Pesos
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Uruguay:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 3,000 km
+ standard gauge: 3,000 km 1.435-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 49,900 km
+ paved: 6,700 km
+ unpaved: gravel 3,000 km; earth 40,200 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river
+ craft
+
+ Ports: Fray Bentos, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Punta del
+ Este
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 71,405 GRT/110,939 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 1, container 1, oil tanker 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 85
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 8
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 54
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 14
+
+@Uruguay:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 337,000 telephones; telephone density 10/100
+ persons; some modern facilities
+ local: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo
+ intercity: new nationwide microwave network
+ international: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 99, FM 0, shortwave 9
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 26
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Uruguay:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard, Marines),
+ Air Force, Grenadier Guards, Coracero Guard, Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 775,060; males fit for military
+ service 629,385 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $216 million, 2.3% of
+ GDP (1991 est.)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+UZBEKISTAN
+
+@Uzbekistan:Geography
+
+ Location: Central Asia, north of Afghanistan
+
+ Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian
+ States
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 447,400 sq km
+ land area: 425,400 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than California
+
+ Land boundaries: total 6,221 km, Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203
+ km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km
+ note: Uzbekistan borders the Aral Sea (420 km)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters;
+ semiarid grassland in east
+
+ Terrain: mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat
+ intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya and
+ Sirdaryo Rivers; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous
+ Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west
+
+ Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium,
+ silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 10%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 47%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 42%
+
+ Irrigated land: 41,550 sq km (1990)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: drying up of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing
+ concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these
+ substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and
+ contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes
+ and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many
+ human health disorders; increasing soil salinization; soil
+ contamination from agricultural chemicals, including DDT
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Environmental
+ Modification, Ozone Layer Protection
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Uzbekistan:People
+
+ Population: 23,089,261 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 40% (female 4,553,432; male 4,670,496)
+ 15-64 years: 55% (female 6,400,578; male 6,384,862)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 656,933; male 422,960) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.08% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 29.45 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 6.44 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -2.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 52 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 68.79 years
+ male: 65.5 years
+ female: 72.24 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.67 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Uzbek(s)
+ adjective: Uzbek
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Uzbek 71.4%, Russian 8.3%, Tajik 4.7%, Kazakh 4.1%,
+ Tatar 2.4%, Karakalpak 2.1%, other 7%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
+
+ Languages: Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
+ total population: 97%
+ male: 98%
+ female: 96%
+
+ Labor force: 8.234 million
+ by occupation: agriculture and forestry 43%, industry and construction
+ 22%, other 35% (1992)
+
+@Uzbekistan:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan
+ conventional short form: Uzbekistan
+ local long form: Uzbekiston Respublikasi
+ local short form: none
+ former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
+
+ Digraph: UZ
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Tashkent (Toshkent)
+
+ Administrative divisions: 12 wiloyatlar (singular - wiloyat), 1
+ autonomous republic* (respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahri); Andijon
+ Wiloyati, Bukhoro Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati, Farghona Wiloyati,
+ Qoraqalpoghiston* (Nukus), Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Khorazm
+ Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati, Nawoiy Wiloyati, Samarqand
+ Wiloyati, Sirdaryo Wiloyati (Guliston), Surkhondaryo Wiloyati
+ (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Wiloyati
+ note: an administrative division has the same name as its
+ administrative center (exceptions have the administrative center name
+ following in parentheses)
+
+ Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
+
+ Constitution: new constitution adopted 8 December 1992
+
+ Legal system: evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent
+ judicial system
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Islam KARIMOV (since NA March 1990);
+ election last held 29 December 1991 (next to be held NA); results -
+ Islam KARIMOV 86%, Mukhammad SOLIKH 12%, other 2%; note - a 26 March
+ 1995 referendum extended KARIMOV's term until 2000 (99.6% approval)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Abdulhashim MUTALOV (since 13
+ January 1992), First Deputy Prime Minister Ismail DJURABEKOV (since
+ NA); Deputy Prime Ministers Viktor CHIZHEN, Bakhtiyar HAMIDOV, Kayim
+ KHAKKULOV, Yuriy PAYGIN, Saidmukhtar SAIDKASYMOV, Utkur SULTANOV,
+ Mirabror USMANOV, Murat SHARIFKHOJAYEV (since NA)
+ cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers; appointed by the president with
+ approval of the Supreme Assembly
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Supreme Council: elections last held 25 December 1994 (next to be held
+ NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (250 total)
+ People's Democratic Party 207, Fatherland Progress Party 12, other 31;
+ note - final runoffs were held 22 January 1995; seating was as
+ follows: People's Democratic Party 69, Fatherland Progress Party 14,
+ Social Democratic Party 47, local government 120
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Party (PDP;
+ formerly Communist Party), Islam A. KARIMOV, chairman; Fatherland
+ Progress Party (FPP), Anwar YULDASHEV, chairman; Social Democratic
+ Party, Anvar JORABAYEV, chairman; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party
+ (EDP), Muhammad SOLIKH, chairman (in exile); note - EDP was banned 9
+ December 1992
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: Birlik (Unity) People's Movement
+ (BPM), Abdul Rakhim PULATOV, chairman (in exile); Islamic Rebirth
+ Party (IRP), Abdullah UTAYEV, chairman; Adolat-94 (formed by former
+ Vice President Shukhrat MIRSAIDOV and Ibragim BURIEV
+ note: PULATOV (BPM) is in exile in the West; UTAYEV (IRP) is either in
+ prison or in exile
+
+ Member of: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
+ IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NACC, NAM, OSCE, PFP, UN,
+ UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Fatikh TESHABAYEV
+ chancery: (temporary) Suites 619 and 623, 1511 K Street NW,
+ Washington, DC 20005
+ telephone: [1] (202) 638-4266, 4267
+ FAX: [1] (202) 638-4268
+ consulate(s) general: New York
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Henry L. CLARKE
+ embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent
+ mailing address: use embassy street address
+ telephone: [7] (3712) 77-14-07, 77-10-81
+ FAX: [7] (3712) 77-69-53
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green
+ separated by red fimbriations with a crescent moon and 12 stars in the
+ upper hoist-side quadrant
+
+@Uzbekistan:Economy
+
+ Overview: Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 10%
+ consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. It is one
+ of the poorest states of the former USSR with 60% of its population
+ living in overpopulated rural communities. Nevertheless, Uzbekistan is
+ the world's third largest cotton exporter, a major producer of gold
+ and natural gas, and a regionally significant producer of chemicals
+ and machinery. Since independence, the government has sought to prop
+ up the Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls
+ on prices and production. Such policies have buffered the economy from
+ the sharp declines in output and high inflation experienced by many
+ other former Soviet republics. They had become increasingly
+ unsustainable, however, as inflation moves along at 14% per month and
+ as Russia has forced the Uzbek government to introduce its own
+ currency. Faced with mounting economic problems, the government has
+ begun to move on a reform agenda and cooperate with international
+ financial institutions, announced an acceleration of privatization,
+ and stepped up efforts to attract foreign investors. Nevertheless, the
+ regime is likely to find it difficult to sustain its drive for
+ economic reform.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $54.5 billion (1994
+ estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,400 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% per month (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 0.3% includes only officially registered
+ unemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers (December 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $943.7 million to outside the FSU countries (1994)
+ commodities: cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral fertilizers, ferrous
+ metals, textiles, food products
+ partners: Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, US
+
+ Imports: $1.15 billion from outside the FSU countries (1994)
+ commodities: grain, machinery and parts, consumer durables, other
+ foods
+ partners: principally other FSU countries, Czech Republic
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 1% (1994 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 11,690,000 kW
+ production: 47.5 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 2,130 kWh (1994)
+
+ Industries: textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy,
+ natural gas
+
+ Agriculture: cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain, livestock
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly
+ for CIS consumption; limited government eradication programs; used as
+ transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: the IMF has established a Systemic Transformation Facility
+ of $74 million and the World Bank has made a rehabilitation loan of
+ $160 million with other project loans pending; estimated annual
+ external financing requirements for 1995-96 of $600 million to $700
+ million
+
+ Currency: introduced provisional som-coupons 10 November 1993 which
+ circulated parallel to the Russian rubles; became the sole legal
+ currency 31 January 1994; was replaced in July 1994 by the som
+ currency
+
+ Exchange rates: soms per US$1 - 25 (yearend 1994)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Uzbekistan:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 3,460 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
+ lines
+ broad gauge: 3,460 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 78,400 km
+ paved and graveled: 67,000 km
+ unpaved: earth 11,400 km (1990)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 810
+ km (1992)
+
+ Ports: Termiz
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 261
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 6
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 14
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 8
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 216
+
+@Uzbekistan:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 1,458,000 telephones; 63 telephones/1,000 persons
+ (1995); poorly developed
+ local: NMT-450 analog cellular network established in Tashkent
+ intercity: NA
+ international: linked by landline or microwave with CIS member states
+ and by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch
+ to other countries; new INTELSAT links to Tokyo and Ankara give
+ Uzbekistan international access independent of Russian facilities;
+ Orbita and INTELSAT earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Uzbekistan:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense, Republic Security Forces
+ (internal and border troops), National Guard
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 5,567,580; males fit for
+ military service 4,537,455; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 222,506 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+VANUATU
+
+@Vanuatu:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
+ three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 14,760 sq km
+ land area: 14,760 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Connecticut
+ note: includes more than 80 islands
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 2,528 km
+
+ Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
+
+ Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
+
+ Natural resources: manganese, hardwood forests, fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 1%
+ permanent crops: 5%
+ meadows and pastures: 2%
+ forest and woodland: 1%
+ other: 91%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: a majority of the population does not have access to a
+ potable and reliable supply of water
+ natural hazards: tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April);
+ volcanism causes minor earthquakes
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
+ Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
+
+@Vanuatu:People
+
+ Population: 173,648 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 41% (female 34,819; male 36,128)
+ 15-64 years: 56% (female 47,320; male 50,456)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 2,217; male 2,708) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.22% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 31.26 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9.06 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 66.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 59.71 years
+ male: 57.9 years
+ female: 61.61 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.14 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
+
+ Ethnic divisions: indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese,
+ Chinese, Pacific Islanders
+
+ Religions: Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%, indigenous
+ beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other
+ 15.7%
+
+ Languages: English (official), French (official), pidgin (known as
+ Bislama or Bichelama)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1979)
+ total population: 53%
+ male: 57%
+ female: 48%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: NA
+
+@Vanuatu:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
+ conventional short form: Vanuatu
+ former: New Hebrides
+
+ Digraph: NH
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Port-Vila
+
+ Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa,
+ Tafea, Torba
+
+ Independence: 30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
+
+ Constitution: 30 July 1980
+
+ Legal system: unified system being created from former dual French and
+ British systems
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Jean Marie LEYE (since 2 March 1994)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Maxime CARLOT Korman (since 16
+ December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Sethy REGENVANU (since 17
+ December 1991)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister,
+ responsible to parliament
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Parliament: elections last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held NA
+ November 1995); note - after election, a coalition was formed by the
+ Union of Moderate Parties and the National United Party to form a new
+ government on 16 December 1991, but political party associations are
+ fluid; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (46 total) UMP
+ 19, NUP 10, VP 10, MPP 4, TUP 1, Nagriamel 1, Friend 1
+ note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and
+ land
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Vanuatu Party (VP), Donald KALPOKAS;
+ Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), Maxime CARLOT Korman; Melanesian
+ Progressive Party (MPP), Barak SOPE; National United Party (NUP),
+ Walter LINI; Tan Union Party (TUP), Vincent BOULEKONE; Nagriamel
+ Party, Jimmy STEVENS; Friend Melanesian Party, leader NA; People's
+ Democratic Party (PDP), Sethy REGENVANU
+ note: the VP, MPP, TUP, and Nagriamel Party have formed a coalition
+ called the United Front (UF) heading into the November 1995 elections
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
+ IDA, IFC, IFRCS (associate), IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user),
+ IOC, ITU, NAM, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
+ WHO, WMO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: Vanuatu does not have a mission in
+ the US
+
+ US diplomatic representation: the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is
+ accredited to Vanuatu
+
+ Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black
+ isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a
+ black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two
+ points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle);
+ centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed
+ namele leaves, all in yellow
+
+@Vanuatu:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is based primarily on subsistence farming which
+ provides a living for about 80% of the population. Fishing and tourism
+ are the other mainstays of the economy, with 43,000 visitors in 1992.
+ Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum
+ deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market.
+ Tax revenues come mainly from import duties.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $200 million (1993
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $1,200 (1993 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (1992 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $90 million
+ expenditures: $103 million, including capital expenditures of $45
+ million (1989 est.)
+
+ Exports: $14.9 million (f.o.b., 1991)
+ commodities: copra, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee
+ partners: Netherlands, Japan, France, New Caledonia, Belgium
+
+ Imports: $74 million (f.o.b., 1991)
+ commodities: machines and vehicles, food and beverages, basic
+ manufactures, raw materials and fuels, chemicals
+ partners: Australia 36%, Japan 13%, NZ 10%, France 8%, Fiji 8%
+
+ External debt: $40 million (yearend 1992)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 8.1% (1990); accounts for about 10%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 17,000 kW
+ production: 30 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 181 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
+
+ Agriculture: export crops - coconuts, cocoa, coffee, fish; subsistence
+ crops - taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $606 million
+
+ Currency: 1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: vatu (VT) per US$1 - 112.42 (December 1994), 116.41
+ (1994), 121.58 (1993), 113.39 (1992), 111.68 (1991), 116.57 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Vanuatu:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 1,027 km
+ paved: 240 km
+ unpaved: 787 km
+
+ Ports: Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 116 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,874,698 GRT/2,758,783
+ DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 52, cargo 18, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk
+ 1, container 4, liquefied gas tanker 5, livestock carrier 1, oil
+ tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 17, vehicle carrier 10
+ note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 21 countries among
+ which are ships of the US 117, Japan 39, Netherlands 12, China 11, UAE
+ 6, Greece 6, Canada 6, Hong Kong 4, Russia 2, Australia 2
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 31
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 17
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 11
+
+@Vanuatu:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 3,000 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Vanuatu:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF;
+ includes the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force or VMF)
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+VENEZUELA
+
+@Venezuela:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the
+ North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
+
+ Map references: South America
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 912,050 sq km
+ land area: 882,050 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of California
+
+ Land boundaries: total 4,993 km, Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km,
+ Guyana 743 km
+
+ Coastline: 2,800 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 15 nm
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo
+ River; maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of
+ Venezuela
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
+
+ Terrain: Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central
+ plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite,
+ other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 3%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 20%
+ forest and woodland: 39%
+ other: 37%
+
+ Irrigated land: 2,640 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban
+ pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban
+ and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast
+ natural hazards: subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic
+ droughts
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
+ Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
+ ratified - Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping
+
+ Note: on major sea and air routes linking North and South America
+
+@Venezuela:People
+
+ Population: 21,004,773 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 35% (female 3,650,705; male 3,795,032)
+ 15-64 years: 60% (female 6,350,466; male 6,313,887)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 486,020; male 408,663) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.1% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 25.11 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 4.57 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 26.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 73.31 years
+ male: 70.48 years
+ female: 76.29 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.97 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Venezuelan(s)
+ adjective: Venezuelan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: mestizo 67%, white 21%, black 10%, Amerindian 2%
+
+ Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%
+
+ Languages: Spanish (official), native dialects spoken by about 200,000
+ Amerindians in the remote interior
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
+ total population: 90%
+ male: 91%
+ female: 89%
+
+ Labor force: 7.6 million
+ by occupation: services 63%, industry 25%, agriculture 12% (1993)
+
+@Venezuela:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Venezuela
+ conventional short form: Venezuela
+ local long form: Republica de Venezuela
+ local short form: Venezuela
+
+ Digraph: VE
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Caracas
+
+ Administrative divisions: 21 states (estados, singular - estado), 1
+ territory* (territorio), 1 federal district** (distrito federal), and
+ 1 federal dependency*** (dependencia federal); Amazonas*, Anzoategui,
+ Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro,
+ Dependencias Federales***, Distrito Federal**, Falcon, Guarico, Lara,
+ Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira,
+ Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia
+ note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled
+ island groups with a total of 72 individual islands
+
+ Independence: 5 July 1811 (from Spain)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
+
+ Constitution: 23 January 1961
+
+ Legal system: based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative
+ acts in Cassation Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Rafael CALDERA
+ Rodriguez (since 2 February 1994); election last held 5 December 1993
+ (next to be held NA December 1998); results - Rafael CALDERA (National
+ Convergence) 30.45%, Claudio FERMIN (AD) 23.59%, Oswaldo ALVAREZ PAZ
+ (COPEI) 22.72%, Andres VELASQUEZ (Causa R) 21.94%, other 1.3%
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
+
+ Legislative branch: bicameral Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la
+ Republica)
+ Senate (Senado): elections last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held
+ NA December 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (53
+ total) AD 18, COPEI 15, Causa R 9, MAS 5, National Convergence 6; note
+ - 3 former presidents (2 from AD, 1 from COPEI) hold lifetime senate
+ seats
+ Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): elections last held 5
+ December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1998); results - AD 27.9%,
+ COPEI 26.9%, MAS 12.4%, National Convergence 12.9%, Causa R 19.9%;
+ seats - (203 total) AD 55, COPEI 53, MAS 24, National Convergence 26,
+ Causa R 40, other 5
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
+ Roberto YEPES, President
+
+ Political parties and leaders: National Convergence (Convergencia),
+ Jose Miguel UZCATEGUI, president, Juan Jose CALDERA, national
+ coordinator; Social Christian Party (COPEI), Luis HERRERA Campins,
+ president, and Donald RAMIREZ, secretary general; Democratic Action
+ (AD), Pedro PARIS Montesinos, president, and Luis ALFARO Ucero,
+ secretary general; Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), Gustavo MARQUEZ,
+ president, and Enrique OCHOA Antich, secretary general; Radical Cause
+ (La Causa R), Pablo MEDINA, secretary general
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: FEDECAMARAS, a conservative
+ business group; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers (CTV, labor
+ organization dominated by the Democratic Action); VECINOS groups
+
+ Member of: AG, BCIE, CARICOM (observer), CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11,
+ G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
+ ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM,
+ ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MINURSO, NAM, OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, OPEC, PCA,
+ RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIH, UNPROFOR, UNU,
+ UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Pedro Luis ECHEVERRIA
+ chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
+ telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214
+ consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans,
+ New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffrey DAVIDOW
+ embassy: Avenida Francisco de Miranda and Avenida Principal de la
+ Floresta, Caracas
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037
+ telephone: [58] (2) 285-2222, 3111
+ FAX: [58] (2) 285-0366
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with
+ the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of
+ seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band
+
+@Venezuela:Economy
+
+ Overview: Despite efforts to broaden the base of the economy,
+ petroleum continues to play a dominant role. In 1994, as GDP declined
+ 3.3%, the oil sector - which accounts for 24% of the total - enjoyed a
+ 6% expansion, provided 45% of the budget revenues, and generated 70%
+ of the export earnings. President CALDERA, who assumed office in
+ February 1994, has used an interventionist, reactive approach to
+ managing the economy, instituting price and foreign exchange controls
+ in mid-year to slow inflation and stop the loss of foreign exchange
+ reserves. The government claims it will remove these controls once
+ inflationary pressures abate, but the $8 billion bailout of the
+ banking sector in 1994 has made it difficult for the government to
+ make good on its promise. Economic controls, coupled with political
+ uncertainty driven by recurrent coup rumors, continue to deter foreign
+ and domestic investment; private forecasters see the recession
+ persisting for a third year in 1995.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $178.3 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -3.3% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $8,670 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 71% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 9% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $10.3 billion
+ expenditures: $14.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $103
+ million (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $15.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum 72%, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals,
+ agricultural products, basic manufactures
+ partners: US and Puerto Rico 55%, Japan, Netherlands, Italy
+
+ Imports: $7.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport
+ equipment, construction materials
+ partners: US 40%, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Canada
+
+ External debt: $40.1 billion (1994)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -1.4% (1993 est.); accounts for 41%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 18,740,000 kW
+ production: 72 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 3,311 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: petroleum, iron-ore mining, construction materials, food
+ processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 6% of GDP; products - corn, sorghum,
+ sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee, beef, pork, milk, eggs,
+ fish; not self-sufficient in food other than meat
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, opium, and coca leaf for
+ the international drug trade on a small scale; however, large
+ quantities of cocaine and heroin transit the country from Colombia;
+ important money-laundering hub
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-86), $488 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $10 million
+
+ Currency: 1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos
+
+ Exchange rates: bolivares (Bs) per US$1 - 169.570 (January 1995),
+ 148.503 (1994), 90.826 (1993), 68.38 (1992), 56.82 (1991), 46.90
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Venezuela:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 542 km (363 km single track; 179 km privately owned)
+ standard gauge: 542 km 1.435-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 81,000 km
+ paved: 31,200 km
+ unpaved: gravel 24,800 km; earth and unimproved earth 25,000 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 7,100 km; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept
+ oceangoing vessels
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 6,370 km; petroleum products 480 km; natural gas
+ 4,010 km
+
+ Ports: Amuay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, La Salina,
+ Maracaibo, Matanzas, Palua, Puerto Cabello, Puerto la Cruz, Puerto
+ Ordaz, Puerto Sucre, Punta Cardon
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 39 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 686,811 GRT/1,110,829 DWT
+
+ ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 11, combination bulk 1, liquefied gas
+ tanker 2, oil tanker 15, passenger-cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4,
+ short-sea passenger 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 431
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 4
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 65
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 191
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 12
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 114
+
+@Venezuela:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 1,440,000 telephones; modern and expanding
+ local: NA
+ intercity: 3 domestic satellite earth stations
+ international: 3 submarine coaxial cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean)
+ earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 181, FM 0, shortwave 26
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 59
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Venezuela:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or FAN)
+ includes Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval
+ Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada), Air Force (Fuerzas Aereas or
+ Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or National Guard (Fuerzas
+ Armadas de Cooperation or Guardia Nacional)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 5,491,524; males fit for
+ military service 3,981,190; males reach military age (18) annually
+ 227,292 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.95 billion, 4% of
+ GDP (1991)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+VIETNAM
+
+@Vietnam:Geography
+
+ Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of
+ Tonkin, and South China Sea, between China and Cambodia
+
+ Map references: Southeast Asia
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 329,560 sq km
+ land area: 325,360 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico
+
+ Land boundaries: total 3,818 km, Cambodia 982 km, China 1,281 km, Laos
+ 1,555 km
+
+ Coastline: 3,444 km (excludes islands)
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: maritime boundary with Cambodia not defined;
+ involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China,
+ Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and possibly Brunei; unresolved
+ maritime boundary with Thailand; maritime boundary dispute with China
+ in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied by China but claimed
+ by Vietnam and Taiwan
+
+ Climate: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season
+ (mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to
+ mid-March)
+
+ Terrain: low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly,
+ mountainous in far north and northwest
+
+ Natural resources: phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate,
+ offshore oil deposits, forests
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 22%
+ permanent crops: 2%
+ meadows and pastures: 1%
+ forest and woodland: 40%
+ other: 35%
+
+ Irrigated land: 18,300 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices are
+ contributing to deforestation; soil degradation; water pollution and
+ overfishing threatening marine life populations; inadequate supplies
+ of potable water because of groundwater contamination
+ natural hazards: occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive
+ flooding
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone
+ Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
+ Nuclear Test Ban
+
+@Vietnam:People
+
+ Population: 74,393,324 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 36% (female 13,225,916; male 13,918,321)
+ 15-64 years: 59% (female 22,353,710; male 21,223,739)
+ 65 years and over: 5% (female 2,236,453; male 1,435,185) (July 1995
+ est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.71% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 26.25 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 7.6 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -1.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 44.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 65.72 years
+ male: 63.66 years
+ female: 67.91 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.21 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)
+ adjective: Vietnamese
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Vietnamese 85%-90%, Chinese 3%, Muong, Thai, Meo,
+ Khmer, Man, Cham
+
+ Religions: Buddhist, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs,
+ Islam, Protestant
+
+ Languages: Vietnamese (official), French, Chinese, English, Khmer,
+ tribal languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
+ total population: 88%
+ male: 93%
+ female: 83%
+
+ Labor force: 32.7 million
+ by occupation: agricultural 65%, industrial and service 35% (1990
+ est.)
+
+@Vietnam:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
+ conventional short form: Vietnam
+ local long form: Cong Hoa Chu Nghia Viet Nam
+ local short form: Viet Nam
+
+ Abbreviation: SRV
+
+ Digraph: VM
+
+ Type: Communist state
+
+ Capital: Hanoi
+
+ Administrative divisions: 50 provinces (tinh, singular and plural), 3
+ municipalities* (thu do, singular and plural); An Giang, Ba Ria-Vung
+ Tau, Bac Thai, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, Can Tho, Cao Bang, Dac
+ Lac, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Bac, Ha Giang, Ha Noi*, Ha Tay,
+ Ha Tinh, Hai Hung, Hai Phong*, Ho Chi Minh*, Hoa Binh, Khanh Hoa, Kien
+ Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Minh
+ Hai, Nam Ha, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Yen, Quang Binh,
+ Quang Nam-Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son
+ La, Song Be, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien
+ Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phu, Yen Bai
+
+ Independence: 2 September 1945 (from France)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
+
+ Constitution: 15 April 1992
+
+ Legal system: based on Communist legal theory and French civil law
+ system
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Le Duc ANH (since 23 September 1992)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Vo Van KIET (since 9 August 1991);
+ First Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 10 August 1991);
+ Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen KHANH (since NA February 1987); Deputy
+ Prime Minister Tran Duc LUONG (since NA February 1987)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on proposal of the prime
+ minister and ratification of the Assembly
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly (Quoc-Hoi): elections last held 19 July 1992 (next
+ to be held NA July 1997); results - VCP is the only party; seats -
+ (395 total) VCP or VCP-approved 395
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: only party - Vietnam Communist Party
+ (VCP), DO MUOI, general secretary
+
+ Member of: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
+ IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
+ INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
+ UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Liaison Officer Le Van BANG
+ liaison office: address NA, Washington, DC
+ mailing address: NA
+ telephone: NA
+ FAX: NA
+ note: negotiations between representatives of the US and Vietnam
+ concluded 28 January 1995 with the signing of an agreement to
+ establish liaison offices in Hanoi and Washington
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Liaison Officer James HALL
+ liaison office: address NA, Hanoi
+ mailing address: NA
+ telephone: NA
+ FAX: NA
+ note: negotiations between representatives of the US and Vietnam
+ concluded 28 January 1995 with the signing of an agreement to
+ establish liaison offices in Hanoi and Washington
+
+ Flag: red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center
+
+@Vietnam:Economy
+
+ Overview: Vietnam has made significant progress in recent years moving
+ away from the planned economic model toward a more effective
+ market-based economic system. Most prices are now fully decontrolled,
+ and the Vietnamese currency has been effectively devalued and floated
+ at world market rates. In addition, the scope for private sector
+ activity has been expanded, primarily through decollectivization of
+ the agricultural sector and introduction of laws giving legal
+ recognition to private business. Nearly three-quarters of export
+ earnings are generated by only two commodities, rice and crude oil.
+ Led by industry and construction, the economy did well in 1993 and
+ 1994 with output rising 7% and 9% respectively. However, the
+ industrial sector remains burdened by noncompetitive state-owned
+ enterprises the government is unwilling or unable to privatize.
+ Unemployment looms as a serious problem with roughly 20% of the work
+ force without jobs and with population growth swelling the ranks of
+ the labor force yearly.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $83.5 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 8.8% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,140 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.4% (1994)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 20% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $3.6 billion
+ expenditures: $4.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $3.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum, rice, agricultural products, marine products,
+ coffee
+ partners: Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, France, South Korea
+
+ Imports: $4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: petroleum products, machinery and equipment, steel
+ products, fertilizer, raw cotton, grain
+ partners: Singapore, Japan, South Korea, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan
+
+ External debt: $4 billion Western countries; $4.5 billion CEMA debts
+ primarily to Russia;
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 13% (1994 est.); accounts for 21%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 2,200,000 kW
+ production: 9.7 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 125 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: food processing, textiles, machine building, mining,
+ cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 36% of GDP; paddy rice, corn, potatoes make
+ up 50% of farm output; commercial crops (rubber, soybeans, coffee,
+ tea, bananas) and animal products 50%; since 1989 self-sufficient in
+ food staple rice; fish catch of 943,100 metric tons (1989 est.); note
+ - the third largest exporter of rice in the World, behind the US and
+ Thailand
+
+ Illicit drugs: opium producer and increasingly important transit point
+ for Southeast Asian heroin destined for the US and Europe; growing
+ opium addiction; small-scale heroin producer
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: $2 billion in credits and grants pledged by international
+ donors for 1995, Japan largest contributor with $650 million pledged
+ for 1995
+
+ Currency: 1 new dong (D) = 100 xu
+
+ Exchange rates: new dong (D) per US$1 - 11,000 (October 1994), 10,800
+ (November 1993), 8,100 (July 1991), 7,280 (December 1990), 3,996
+ (March 1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Vietnam:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 3,059 km (including 224 km not restored to service after war
+ damage)
+ standard gauge: 151 km 1.435-m gauge
+ narrow gauge: 2,454 km 1.000-m gauge
+ other gauge: 230 km NA-m dual gauge (three rails)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 85,000 km
+ paved: 9,400 km
+ unpaved: gravel, improved earth 48,700 km; unimproved earth 26,900 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 17,702 km navigable; more than 5,149 km navigable at
+ all times by vessels up to 1.8 meter draft
+
+ Pipelines: petroleum products 150 km
+
+ Ports: Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City, Hon Gai, Qui Nhon, Nha
+ Trang
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 109 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 449,963 GRT/932,837 DWT
+ ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 92, oil tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 3,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 48
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 8
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 13
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 7
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
+ with unpaved runways under 914 m: 5
+
+@Vietnam:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; 2 telephones/1,000 persons; the
+ inadequacies of the obsolete switching equipment and cable system are
+ a serious constraint on the business sector and on economic growth,
+ and restrict access to the international links that Vietnam has
+ established with most major countries; the telephone system is not
+ generally available for private use
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 3 satellite earth stations
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM 228, shortwave 0
+ radios: 7 million (1991)
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 36 (repeaters 77)
+ televisions: 2.5 million (1991)
+
+@Vietnam:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN; includes Ground forces, Navy
+ (includes Naval Infantry), and Air Force
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 18,799,370; males fit for
+ military service 11,913,116; males reach military age (17) annually
+ 742,394 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $435 million, 2.5% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+VIRGIN ISLANDS
+
+ (territory of the US)
+
+@Virgin Islands:Geography
+
+ Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North
+ Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
+
+ Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 352 sq km
+ land area: 349 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 188 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly tradewinds, relatively low
+ humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to
+ November
+
+ Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
+
+ Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 15%
+ permanent crops: 6%
+ meadows and pastures: 26%
+ forest and woodland: 6%
+ other: 47%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources
+ natural hazards: rarely affected by hurricanes; frequent and severe
+ droughts, floods, and earthquakes
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping
+ lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural,
+ deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
+
+@Virgin Islands:People
+
+ Population: 97,229 (July 1995 est.)
+ note: West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born
+ elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%,
+ other 8%
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: -0.29% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 18.49 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -16.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 12.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 75.29 years
+ male: 73.6 years
+ female: 77.2 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 2.41 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Virgin Islander(s)
+ adjective: Virgin Islander
+
+ Ethnic divisions: black 80%, white 15%, other 5%
+
+ Religions: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
+
+ Languages: English (official), Spanish, Creole
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: 45,500 (1988)
+ by occupation: tourism 70%
+
+@Virgin Islands:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United States
+ conventional short form: Virgin Islands
+
+ Digraph: VQ
+
+ Type: organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by
+ the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of
+ the Interior
+
+ Capital: Charlotte Amalie
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
+
+ National holiday: Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark to US)
+
+ Constitution: Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
+
+ Legal system: based on US
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants
+ are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January
+ 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
+ head of government: Governor Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (since 5 January
+ 1995); Lieutenant Governor Kenneth E. MAPP (since 5 January 1995);
+ election last held 22 November 1994 (next to be held NA November
+ 1998); results - Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (Independent) 54.7%, former
+ Lieutenant Governor Derek HODGE 42.6%
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Senate: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5
+ November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15
+ total) Democrats 7, Independents 7, Republican 1
+ US House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next
+ to be held 5 November 1996); results - Victor O. FRAZER (Independent)
+ 54.5%, Eileen R. PETERSON (Democrat) 45.5%; seats - (1 total)
+ Independent 1; note - the Virgin Islands elects one representative to
+ the US House of Representatives
+
+ Judicial branch:
+ US District Court: handles civil matters over $50,000, felonies
+ (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases
+ Territorial Court: handles civil matters up to $50,000, small claims,
+ juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party, Marilyn STAPLETON;
+ Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM), Virdin C. BROWN; Republican
+ Party, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS
+
+ Member of: ECLAC (associate), IOC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of the US)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)
+
+ Flag: white with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the
+ large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows an eagle holding
+ an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a
+ superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue
+ panel
+
+@Virgin Islands:Economy
+
+ Overview: Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for
+ more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The manufacturing sector
+ consists of textile, electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly
+ plants. The agricultural sector is small, most food being imported.
+ International business and financial services are a small but growing
+ component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum
+ refineries is at Saint Croix.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1987
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $11,000 (1987)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: 3.7% (1992)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $364.4 million
+ expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1990 est.)
+
+ Exports: $2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
+ commodities: refined petroleum products
+ partners: US, Puerto Rico
+
+ Imports: $3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
+ commodities: crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
+
+ partners: US, Puerto Rico
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 12% (year NA); accounts for NA% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 320,000 kW
+ production: 970 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 9,172 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum
+ distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
+
+ Agriculture: truck gardens, food crops (small scale), fruit, sorghum,
+ Senepol cattle
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $42 million
+
+ Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: US currency is used
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
+
+@Virgin Islands:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 856 km
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
+ note: international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix
+
+@Virgin Islands:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 58,931 telephones; modern telephone system using
+ fiber-optic cable, submarine cable, microwave radio, and satellite
+ facilities
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 8, shortwave 0 (1988)
+ radios: 98,000
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 4 (1988)
+ televisions: 63,000
+
+@Virgin Islands:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+WAKE ISLAND
+
+ (territory of the US)
+
+@Wake Island:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds
+ of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 6.5 sq km
+ land area: 6.5 sq km
+ comparative area: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
+ DC
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 19.3 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: claimed by the Republic of the Marshall
+ Islands
+
+ Climate: tropical
+
+ Terrain: atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater
+ volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim;
+ average elevation less than 4 meters
+
+ Natural resources: none
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 100%
+
+ Irrigated land: 0 sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: occasional typhoons
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing
+ location for transpacific flights
+
+@Wake Island:People
+
+ Population: 302 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 0% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
+
+ Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
+
+ Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: NA years
+ male: NA years
+ female: NA years
+
+ Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
+
+@Wake Island:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Wake Island
+
+ Digraph: WQ
+
+ Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Army
+ and Strategic Defense Command since 1 October 1994
+
+ Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
+
+ Independence: none (territory of the US)
+
+ Flag: the US flag is used
+
+@Wake Island:Economy
+
+ Overview: Economic activity is limited to providing services to US
+ military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and
+ manufactured goods must be imported.
+
+ Electricity: supplied by US military
+
+@Wake Island:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Ports: none; two offshore anchorages for large ships
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+
+ Note: formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used by US
+ military, some commercial cargo planes, as well as the US Army Space
+ and Strategic Defense Command for missile launches
+
+@Wake Island:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; satellite communications; 1 Autovon
+ circuit off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS)
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+ note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio and
+ television service provided by satellite
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+ note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio and
+ television service provided by satellite
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+ note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio and
+ television service provided by satellite
+
+ Note: formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used by US
+ military, as well as the US Army Space and Strategic Defense Command
+ for missile launches
+
+@Wake Island:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+WALLIS AND FUTUNA
+
+ (overseas territory of France)
+
+@Wallis And Futuna:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
+ two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 274 sq km
+ land area: 274 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
+ note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island),
+ Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 129 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry
+ season (May to October)
+
+ Terrain: volcanic origin; low hills
+
+ Natural resources: negligible
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 5%
+ permanent crops: 20%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 75%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation (only small portions of the original
+ forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as
+ the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests,
+ the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion;
+ there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of
+ natural fresh water resources
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: both island groups have fringing reefs
+
+@Wallis And Futuna:People
+
+ Population: 14,499 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.11% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 25.06 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.14 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -8.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 24.92 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 72.24 years
+ male: 71.62 years
+ female: 72.9 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.11 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
+ adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Polynesian
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic
+
+ Languages: French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1969)
+ total population: 50%
+ male: 50%
+ female: 51%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4%
+ (est.)
+
+@Wallis And Futuna:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
+ conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna
+ local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna
+ local short form: Wallis et Futuna
+
+ Digraph: WF
+
+ Type: overseas territory of France
+
+ Capital: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France)
+
+ Independence: none (overseas territory of France)
+
+ Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
+
+ Legal system: French legal system
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
+ head of government: High Administrator Philippe LEGRIX (since NA);
+ President of the Territorial Assembly Soane Mani UHILA (since NA March
+ 1992)
+ cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of 3 kings and 3 members
+ appointed by the high administrator on advice of the Territorial
+ Assembly
+ note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Territorial Assembly (Assemblee Territoriale): elections last held 15
+ March 1987 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party
+ NA; seats - (20 total) RPR 7, UPL 5, UDF 4, UNF 4
+ French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held
+ by NA September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
+ (1 total) RPR 1
+ French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1992
+ (next to be held by NA September 1996); results - percent of vote by
+ party NA; seats - (1 total) MRG 1; note - Wallis and Futuna elect one
+ deputy
+
+ Judicial branch: none; justice generally administered under French law
+ by the chief administrator, but the three traditional kings administer
+ customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR); Union
+ Populaire Locale (UPL); Union Pour la Democratie Francaise (UDF); Lua
+ kae tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche (MRG)
+
+ Member of: FZ, SPC
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas territory of France)
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none (overseas territory of France)
+
+ Flag: the flag of France is used
+
+@Wallis And Futuna:Economy
+
+ Overview: The economy is limited to traditional subsistence
+ agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force earning its livelihood
+ from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs),
+ and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed in government.
+ Revenues come from French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing
+ rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from
+ expatriate workers in New Caledonia. Wallis and Futuna imports food -
+ particularly sugar and beef - fuel, clothing, machinery, and transport
+ equipment, but its exports are negligible, consisting of copra and
+ handicrafts.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $28.7 million (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $2,000 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $2.7 million
+ expenditures: $2.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1983 est.)
+
+ Exports: $6.6 million (f.o.b., 1986)
+ commodities: copra, handicrafts
+ partners: NA
+
+ Imports: $13.3 million (c.i.f., 1984)
+ commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment,
+ fuel, clothing
+ partners: France, Australia, New Zealand
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 1,200 kW
+ production: 1 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 70 kWh (1990)
+
+ Industries: copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
+
+ Agriculture: dominated by coconut production, with subsistence crops
+ of yams, taro, bananas, and herds of pigs and goats
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
+ commitments (1970-89), $118 million
+
+ Currency: 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1
+ - 96.25 (January 1995), 100.94 (1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992),
+ 102.57 (1991), 99.0 (1990); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the
+ French franc
+
+ Fiscal year: NA
+
+@Wallis And Futuna:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 120 km (Ile Uvea 100 km, Ile Futuna 20km)
+ paved: 16 km (on Il Uvea)
+ unpaved: 104 km (Ile Uvea 84 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)
+
+ Inland waterways: none
+
+ Ports: Leava, Mata-Utu
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 26,000 GRT/40,000 DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+
+@Wallis And Futuna:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 225 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Wallis And Futuna:Defense Forces
+
+ Note: defense is the responsibility of France
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+WEST BANK
+
+ Note--The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim
+ Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13
+ September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding five
+ years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the
+ West Bank. Under the DOP, final status negotiations are to begin no
+ later than the beginning of the third year of the transitional period.
+
+@West Bank:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle East, west of Jordan
+
+ Map references: Middle East
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 5,860 sq km
+ land area: 5,640 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Delaware
+ note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter of
+ the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and Jerusalem No
+ Man's Land are also included only as a means of depicting the entire
+ area occupied by Israel in 1967
+
+ Land boundaries: total 404 km, Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli occupied
+ with interim status subject to Israeli/Palestinian negotiations -
+ final status to be determined
+
+ Climate: temperate, temperature and precipitation vary with altitude,
+ warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters
+
+ Terrain: mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but
+ barren in east
+
+ Natural resources: negligible
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 27%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 32%
+ forest and woodland: 1%
+ other: 40%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: NA
+ natural hazards: NA
+ international agreements: NA
+
+ Note: landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's
+ coastal aquifers; there are 199 Jewish settlements and civilian land
+ use sites in the West Bank and 25 in East Jerusalem (August 1994 est.)
+
+@West Bank:People
+
+ Population: 1,319,991 (July 1995 est.)
+ note: in addition, there are 122,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank
+ and 149,000 in East Jerusalem (August 1994 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 46% (female 293,269; male 308,775)
+ 15-64 years: 51% (female 335,193; male 337,722)
+ 65 years and over: 3% (female 25,759; male 19,273) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.5% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 39.83 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 4.84 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 29.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 71.42 years
+ male: 69.91 years
+ female: 73 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 5.34 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: NA
+ adjective: NA
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%
+
+ Religions: Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian and
+ other 8%
+
+ Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers), English
+ (widely understood)
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: construction 28.2%, agriculture 21.8%, industry 14.5%,
+ commerce, restaurants, and hotels 12.6%, other services 22.9% (1991)
+ note: excluding Jewish settlers
+
+@West Bank:Government
+
+ Note: Under the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim
+ Self-Government Arragements ("the DOP"), Israel agreed to transfer
+ certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, and
+ subsequently to an elected Palestinian Council, as part of interim
+ self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A
+ transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho
+ has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement
+ on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area. A transfer of powers and
+ responsibilities in certain spheres for the rest of the West Bank has
+ taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 29 August 1994 Agreement on
+ Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities. The DOP provides
+ that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period
+ for external security and for internal security and public order of
+ settlements and Israelis. Final status is to be determined through
+ direct negotiations within five years.
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: West Bank
+
+ Digraph: WE
+
+@West Bank:Economy
+
+ Overview: Economic progress in the West Bank has been hampered by
+ Israeli military administration and the effects of the Palestinian
+ uprising (intifadah). Industries using advanced technology or
+ requiring sizable investment have been discouraged by a lack of local
+ capital and restrictive Israeli policies. Capital investment consists
+ largely of residential housing, not productive assets that would
+ enable local Palestinian firms to compete with Israeli industry. GDP
+ has been substantially supplemented by remittances of workers employed
+ in Israel and Persian Gulf states. Such transfers from the Gulf
+ dropped after Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990. In the wake of the
+ Persian Gulf crisis, many Palestinians have returned to the West Bank,
+ increasing unemployment, and export revenues have dropped because of
+ the decline of markets in Jordan and the Gulf states. Israeli measures
+ to curtail the intifadah also have added to unemployment and lowered
+ living standards. The area's economic situation has worsened since
+ Israel's partial closure of the territories in 1993.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $2,800 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.8% (1993)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 35% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $43.4 million
+ expenditures: $43.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (FY89/90)
+
+ Exports: $217 million (f.o.b., 1992)
+ commodities: olives, fruit, vegetables
+ partners: Jordan, Israel
+
+ Imports: $867 million (c.i.f., 1992)
+ commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials
+ partners: Jordan, Israel
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: NA kW
+ production: NA kWh
+ consumption per capita: NA kWh
+ note: most electricity imported from Israel; East Jerusalem Electric
+ Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East
+ Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank; the Israel Electric
+ Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and
+ military facilities; at the same time, some Palestinian
+ municipalities, such as Nabulus and Janin, generate their own
+ electricity from small power plants
+
+ Industries: generally small family businesses that produce cement,
+ textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs;
+ the Israelis have established some small-scale modern industries in
+ the settlements and industrial centers
+
+ Agriculture: olives, citrus and other fruits, vegetables, beef, and
+ dairy products
+
+ Economic aid: $NA
+
+ Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot; 1 Jordanian
+ dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils
+
+ Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 3.0270 (December
+ 1994), 3.0111 (1994), 2.8301 (1993), 2.4591 (1992), 2.2791 (1991),
+ 2.0162 (1990); Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - 0.6995 (January 1995),
+ 0.6987 (1994), 0.6928 (1993), 0.6797 (1992), 0.6808 (1991), 0.6636
+ (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
+
+@West Bank:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: NA
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+ note: small road network; Israelis have developed many highways to
+ service Jewish settlements
+
+ Ports: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 1
+
+@West Bank:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; note - 8% of Palestinian households
+ have telephones (1992 est.)
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+ note: Israeli company BEZEK is responsible for communication services
+ in the West Bank
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA; note - 82% of Palestinian households have radios (1992
+ est.)
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0; note - 1 planned for Jericho
+ televisions: NA; note - 54% of Palestinian households have televisions
+ (1992 est.)
+
+@West Bank:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: NA
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+WESTERN SAHARA
+
+@Western Sahara:Geography
+
+ Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
+ Mauritania and Morocco
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 266,000 sq km
+ land area: 266,000 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Colorado
+
+ Land boundaries: total 2,046 km, Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km,
+ Morocco 443 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,110 km
+
+ Maritime claims: contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
+
+ International disputes: claimed and administered by Morocco, but
+ sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a
+ referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been
+ currently in effect since September 1991
+
+ Climate: hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents
+ produce fog and heavy dew
+
+ Terrain: mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy
+ surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
+
+ Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 0%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 19%
+ forest and woodland: 0%
+ other: 81%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: sparse water and arable land
+ natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur
+ during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of
+ time, often severely restricting visibility
+ international agreements: NA
+
+@Western Sahara:People
+
+ Population: 217,211 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: NA
+ 15-64 years: NA
+ 65 years and over: NA
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.48% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 46.9 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 18.52 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 148.95 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 46.31 years
+ male: 45.34 years
+ female: 47.59 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.91 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
+ adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Arab, Berber
+
+ Religions: Muslim
+
+ Languages: Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
+
+ Literacy: NA%
+
+ Labor force: 12,000
+ by occupation: animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%
+
+@Western Sahara:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: none
+ conventional short form: Western Sahara
+
+ Digraph: WI
+
+ Type: legal status of territory and question of sovereignty
+ unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front
+ (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de
+ Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a government in exile
+ of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR); territory partitioned
+ between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring
+ northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario
+ guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979;
+ Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since
+ asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government in exile
+ was seated as an OAU member in 1984; guerrilla activities continued
+ sporadically, until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented 6
+ September 1991
+
+ Capital: none
+
+ Administrative divisions: none (under de facto control of Morocco)
+
+ Executive branch: none
+
+ Member of: none
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US: none
+
+ US diplomatic representation: none
+
+@Western Sahara:Economy
+
+ Overview: Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and
+ having little rainfall, depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and
+ phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the
+ population. Most of the food for the urban population must be
+ imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by
+ the Moroccan Government. Incomes and standards of living are
+ substantially below the Moroccan level.
+
+ National product: GDP $NA
+
+ National product real growth rate: NA%
+
+ National product per capita: $NA
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $8 million (f.o.b., 1982 est.)
+ commodities: phosphates 62%
+ partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade
+ partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
+
+ Imports: $30 million (c.i.f., 1982 est.)
+ commodities: fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
+ partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade
+ partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
+
+ External debt: $NA
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 60,000 kW
+ production: 79 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 339 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: phosphate mining, handicrafts
+
+ Agriculture: limited largely to subsistence agriculture and fishing;
+ some barley is grown in nondrought years; fruit and vegetables are
+ grown in the few oases; food imports are essential; camels, sheep, and
+ goats are kept by the nomadic natives; cash economy exists largely for
+ the garrison forces
+
+ Economic aid: $NA
+
+ Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
+
+ Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 8.892 (January 1995),
+ 9.203 (1994), 9.299 (1993), 8.538 (1992), 8.707 (1991), 8.242 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: NA
+
+@Western Sahara:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 6,200 km
+ unpaved: gravel 1,450 km; improved, unimproved earth, tracks 4,750 km
+
+ Ports: Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, El Aaiun
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 14
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 3
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
+
+@Western Sahara:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 2,000 telephones; sparse and limited system
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay,
+ troposcatter, and 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations linked to
+ Rabat, Morocco
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 2
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Western Sahara:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: NA
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+WESTERN SAMOA
+
+@Western Samoa:Geography
+
+ Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
+ one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
+
+ Map references: Oceania
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 2,860 sq km
+ land area: 2,850 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
+
+ Land boundaries: 0 km
+
+ Coastline: 403 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: none
+
+ Climate: tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to
+ October)
+
+ Terrain: narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains
+ in interior
+
+ Natural resources: hardwood forests, fish
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 19%
+ permanent crops: 24%
+ meadows and pastures: 0%
+ forest and woodland: 47%
+ other: 10%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: soil erosion
+ natural hazards: occasional typhoons; active volcanism
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified -
+ Law of the Sea
+
+@Western Samoa:People
+
+ Population: 209,360 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 40% (female 41,503; male 42,844)
+ 15-64 years: 56% (female 55,683; male 61,065)
+ 65 years and over: 4% (female 4,323; male 3,942) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.37% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 31.74 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 5.88 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -2.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 35.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 68.38 years
+ male: 65.99 years
+ female: 70.88 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.04 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Western Samoan(s)
+ adjective: Western Samoan
+
+ Ethnic divisions: Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European
+ and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4%
+
+ Religions: Christian 99.7% (about one-half of population associated
+ with the London Missionary Society; includes Congregational, Roman
+ Catholic, Methodist, Latter Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist)
+
+ Languages: Samoan (Polynesian), English
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1971)
+ total population: 97%
+ male: 97%
+ female: 97%
+
+ Labor force: NA
+ by occupation: agriculture 60%
+
+@Western Samoa:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Independent State of Western Samoa
+ conventional short form: Western Samoa
+
+ Digraph: WS
+
+ Type: constitutional monarchy under native chief
+
+ Capital: Apia
+
+ Administrative divisions: 11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua,
+ Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea,
+ Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
+
+ Independence: 1 January 1962 (from UN trusteeship administered by New
+ Zealand)
+
+ National holiday: National Day, 1 June (1962)
+
+ Constitution: 1 January 1962
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law and local customs; judicial
+ review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the
+ citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: Chief Susuga Malietoa TANUMAFILI II (Co-Chief of State
+ from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole Chief of State on 5 April
+ 1963)
+ head of government: Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana (since 7 April
+ 1988)
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the head of state with the prime
+ minister's advice
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Legislative Assembly (Fono): elections last held 5 April 1991 (next to
+ be held by NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
+ (47 total) HRPP 28, SNDP 18, independents 1
+ note: only matai (head of family) are able to run for the Legislative
+ Assembly
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Court of Appeal
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP),
+ TOFILAU Eti Alesana, chairman; Samoan National Development Party
+ (SNDP), TAPUA Tamasese Efi, chairman
+
+ Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
+ IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU,
+ SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE
+ chancery: 820 Second Avenue, Suite 800, New York, NY 10017
+ telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196, 6197
+ FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: the ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to
+ Western Samoa
+ embassy: 5th floor, Beach Road, Apia
+ mailing address: P.O. Box 3430, Apia
+ telephone: [685] 21631
+ FAX: [685] 22030
+
+ Flag: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant
+ bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross
+ constellation
+
+@Western Samoa:Economy
+
+ Overview: Agriculture employs more than half of the labor force,
+ contributes 50% to GDP, and furnishes 90% of exports. The bulk of
+ export earnings comes from the sale of coconut oil and copra. The
+ economy depends on emigrant remittances and foreign aid to support a
+ level of imports much greater than export earnings. Tourism has become
+ the most important growth industry. The economy continued to falter in
+ 1994, as remittances and tourist earnings remained low. Production of
+ taro, the primary food export crop, has dropped 97% since a fungal
+ disease struck the crop in 1993. The rapid growth in 1994 of the giant
+ African snail population in Western Samoa is also threatening the
+ country's basic food crops, such as bananas and coconuts.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $400 million (1992
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -4.3% (1992 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $2,000 (1992 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $95.3 million
+ expenditures: $76.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
+ (1994 est.)
+
+ Exports: $6.4 million (f.o.b., 1993)
+ commodities: coconut oil and cream, taro, copra, cocoa
+ partners: New Zealand 34%, American Samoa 21%, Germany 18%, Australia
+ 11%
+
+ Imports: $11.5 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
+ commodities: intermediate goods 58%, food 17%, capital goods 12%
+ partners: New Zealand 37%, Australia 25%, Japan 11%, Fiji 9%
+
+ External debt: $141 million (June 1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -0.3% (1992 est.); accounts for 16%
+ of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 29,000 kW
+ production: 50 million kWh
+ consumption per capita: 200 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: timber, tourism, food processing, fishing
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for about 50% of GDP; coconuts, fruit (including
+ bananas, taro, yams)
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $18 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $306 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $4 million
+
+ Currency: 1 tala (WS$) = 100 sene
+
+ Exchange rates: tala (WS$) per US$1 - 2.4600 (January 1995), 2.5349
+ (1994), 2.5681 (1993), 2.4655 (1992), 2.3975 (1991), 2.3095 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Western Samoa:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 2,042 km
+ paved: 375 km
+ unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 1,667 km
+
+ Ports: Apia, Asau, Mulifanua, Salelologa
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
+ 3,838 GRT/5,536 DWT
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 3
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 2
+
+@Western Samoa:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 7,500 telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
+ radios: 70,000
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 0
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Western Samoa:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: no regular armed services; Western Samoa Police Force
+
+ Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+WORLD
+
+@World:Geography
+
+ Map references: World, Time Zones
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 510.072 million sq km
+ land area: 148.94 million sq km
+ water area: 361.132 million sq km
+ comparative area: land area about 16 times the size of the US
+ note: 70.8% of the world is water, 29.2% is land
+
+ Land boundaries: the land boundaries in the world total 250,883.64 km
+ (not counting shared boundaries twice)
+
+ Coastline: 356,000 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 24 nm claimed by most but can vary
+ continental shelf: 200-m depth claimed by most or to depth of
+ exploitation, others claim 200 nm or to the edge of the continental
+ margin
+ exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm claimed by most but can vary
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm claimed by most but can vary
+ territorial sea: 12 nm claimed by most but can vary
+ note: boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many
+ countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200
+ nm; 43 nations and other areas that are landlocked include
+ Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan,
+ Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad,
+ Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary,
+ Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
+ Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Paraguay, Rwanda, San
+ Marino, Slovakia, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tajikistan, The Former
+ Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, West
+ Bank, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+ Climate: two large areas of polar climates separated by two rather
+ narrow temperate zones from a wide equatorial band of tropical to
+ subtropical climates
+
+ Terrain: highest elevation is Mt. Everest at 8,848 meters and lowest
+ depression is the Dead Sea at 392 meters below sea level; greatest
+ ocean depth is the Marianas Trench at 10,924 meters
+
+ Natural resources: the rapid using up of nonrenewable mineral
+ resources, the depletion of forest areas and wetlands, the extinction
+ of animal and plant species, and the deterioration in air and water
+ quality (especially in Eastern Europe and the former USSR) pose
+ serious long-term problems that governments and peoples are only
+ beginning to address
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 10%
+ permanent crops: 1%
+ meadows and pastures: 24%
+ forest and woodland: 31%
+ other: 34%
+
+ Irrigated land: NA sq km
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial
+ disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss
+ of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of
+ wildlife, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion
+ natural hazards: large areas subject to severe weather (tropical
+ cyclones), natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis,
+ volcanic eruptions)
+ international agreements: 23 selected international environmental
+ agreements included under the Environment entry for each country and
+ in Appendix E: Selected International Environmental Agreements
+
+@World:People
+
+ Population: 5,733,687,096 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 31.6% (female 882,809,689; male 928,121,801)
+ 15-64 years: 62% (female 1,752,393,539; male 1,802,004,124)
+ 65 years and over: 6.4% (female 209,437,234; male 158,246,581) (July
+ 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.5% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 24 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 64 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 62 years
+ male: 61 years
+ female: 64 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Labor force: 2.24 billion (1992)
+ by occupation: NA
+
+@World:Government
+
+ Digraph: XX
+
+ Administrative divisions: 265 nations, dependent areas, other, and
+ miscellaneous entries
+
+ Legal system: varies by individual country; 186 (note including
+ Yugoslavia) are parties to the United Nations International Court of
+ Justice (ICJ or World Court)
+
+@World:Economy
+
+ Overview: Led by recovery in Western Europe and strong performances by
+ the US, Canada, and key Third World countries, real global output -
+ gross world product (GWP) - rose 3% in 1994 compared with 2% in 1993.
+ Results varied widely among regions and countries. Average growth of
+ 3% in the GDP of industrialized countries (60% of GWP in 1994) and
+ average growth of 6% in the GDP of less developed countries (34% of
+ GWP) were partly offset by a further 11% drop in the GDP of the former
+ USSR/Eastern Europe area (now only 6% of GWP). With the notable
+ exception of Japan at 2.9%, unemployment was typically 5%-12% in the
+ industrial world. The US accounted for 22% of GWP in 1994; Western
+ Europe accounted for another 22%; and Japan accounted for 8%. These
+ are the three "economic superpowers" which are presumably destined to
+ compete for mastery in international markets on into the 21st century.
+ As for the less developed countries, China, India, and the Four
+ Dragons - South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore - once again
+ posted records of 5% growth or better; however, many other countries,
+ especially in Africa, continued to suffer from drought, rapid
+ population growth, inflation, and civil strife. Central Europe made
+ considerable progress in moving toward "market-friendly" economies,
+ whereas the 15 ex-Soviet countries (with the notable exceptions of the
+ three Baltic states) typically experienced further declines in output,
+ sometimes as high as 30%. Externally, the nation-state, as a bedrock
+ economic-political institution, is steadily losing control over
+ international flows of people, goods, funds, and technology.
+ Internally, the central government in a number of cases is losing
+ control over resources as separatist regional movements - typically
+ based on ethnicity - gain momentum, e.g., in the successor states of
+ the former Soviet Union, in the former Yugoslavia, and in India. In
+ Western Europe, governments face the difficult political problem of
+ channeling resources away from welfare programs in order to increase
+ investment and strengthen incentives to seek employment. The addition
+ of nearly 100 million people each year to an already overcrowded globe
+ is exacerbating the problems of pollution, desertification,
+ underemployment, epidemics, and famine. Because of their own internal
+ problems, the industrialized countries have inadequate resources to
+ deal effectively with the poorer areas of the world, which, at least
+ from the economic point of view, are becoming further marginalized.
+ (For the specific economic problems of each country, see the
+ individual country entries in this volume.)
+
+ National product: GWP (gross world product) - purchasing power parity
+ - $30.7 trillion (1994 est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3.2% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $5,400 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices):
+ all countries: 25%
+ developed countries: 5%
+ developing countries: 50% (1994 est.)
+ note: national inflation rates vary widely in individual cases, from
+ stable prices to hyperinflation
+
+ Unemployment rate: 30% combined unemployment and underemployment in
+ many non-industrialized countries; developed countries typically
+ 5%-12% unemployment
+
+ Exports: $4 trillion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and
+ services
+ partners: in value, about 75% of exports from the developed countries
+
+ Imports: $4.1 trillion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and
+ services
+ partners: in value, about 75% of imports by the developed countries
+
+ External debt: $1 trillion for less developed countries (1993 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1994 est.)
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 2,773,000,000 kW
+ production: 11.601 trillion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 1,937 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: industry worldwide is dominated by the onrush of
+ technology, especially in computers, robotics, telecommunications, and
+ medicines and medical equipment; most of these advances take place in
+ OECD nations; only a small portion of non-OECD countries have
+ succeeded in rapidly adjusting to these technological forces, and the
+ technological gap between the industrial nations and the
+ less-developed countries continues to widen; the rapid development of
+ new industrial (and agricultural) technology is complicating already
+ grim environmental problems
+
+ Agriculture: the production of major food crops has increased
+ substantially in the last 20 years; the annual production of cereals,
+ for instance, has risen by 50%, from about 1.2 billion metric tons to
+ about 1.8 billion metric tons; production increases have resulted
+ mainly from increased yields rather than increases in planted areas;
+ while global production is sufficient for aggregate demand, about
+ one-fifth of the world's population remains malnourished, primarily
+ because local production cannot adequately provide for large and
+ rapidly growing populations, which are too poor to pay for food
+ imports; conditions are especially bad in Africa where drought in
+ recent years has intensified the consequences of overpopulation
+
+ Economic aid: $NA
+
+@World:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,201,337 km includes about 190,000 to 195,000 km of
+ electrified routes of which 147,760 km are in Europe, 24,509 km in the
+ Far East, 11,050 km in Africa, 4,223 km in South America, and 4,160 km
+ in North America; note - fastest speed in daily service is 300 km/hr
+ attained by France's SNCF TGV-Atlantique line
+ broad gauge: 251,153 km
+ standard gauge: 710,754 km
+ narrow gauge: 239,430 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: NA
+ paved: NA
+ unpaved: NA
+
+ Ports: Chiba, Houston, Kawasaki, Kobe, Marseille, Mina' al Ahmadi
+ (Kuwait), New Orleans, New York, Rotterdam, Yokohama
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 25,364 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 435,458,296
+ GRT/697,171,651 DWT
+ ships by type: barge carrier 39, bulk 5,202, cargo 8,121, chemical
+ tanker 911, combination bulk 293, combination ore/oil 290, container
+ 1,903, liquefied gas 675, livestock carrier 48, multifunction
+ large-load carrier 53, oil tanker 4,332, passenger 287,
+ passenger-cargo 114, railcar carrier 24, refrigerated cargo 1,023,
+ roll-on/roll-off cargo 1,047, short-sea passenger 465, specialized
+ tanker 77, vehicle carrier 460 (April 1995)
+
+@World:Communications
+
+ Telephone system:
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA
+ international: NA
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: NA
+ televisions: NA
+
+@World:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: ground, maritime, and air forces at all levels of technology
+
+ Defense expenditures: a further decline in 1994, by perhaps 5%-10%, to
+ roughly three-quarters of a trillion dollars, or 2.5% of gross world
+ product (1994 est.)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+YEMEN
+
+@Yemen:Geography
+
+ Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and
+ Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
+
+ Map references: Middle East
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 527,970 sq km
+ land area: 527,970 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
+ note: includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR or
+ North Yemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen
+ (PDRY or South Yemen)
+
+ Land boundaries: total 1,746 km, Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km
+
+ Coastline: 1,906 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ contiguous zone: 18 nm in the North; 24 nm in the South
+ continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
+ exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: undefined section of boundary with Saudi
+ Arabia; a treaty with Oman defining the Yemeni-Omani boundary was
+ ratified in December 1992
+
+ Climate: mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in
+ western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot,
+ dry, harsh desert in east
+
+ Terrain: narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged
+ mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the
+ desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula
+
+ Natural resources: petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble, small deposits
+ of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper, fertile soil in west
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 6%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 30%
+ forest and woodland: 7%
+ other: 57%
+
+ Irrigated land: 3,100 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate
+ supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
+ natural hazards: sandstorms and dust storms in summer
+ international agreements: party to - Environmental Modification, Law
+ of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
+ Climate Change
+
+ Note: controls Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the
+ Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes
+
+@Yemen:People
+
+ Population: 14,728,474 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 50% (female 3,551,953; male 3,776,358)
+ 15-64 years: 48% (female 3,505,735; male 3,508,229)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 216,210; male 169,989) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 4.02% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 44.85 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 8.01 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: 3.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 58.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 62.51 years
+ male: 61.57 years
+ female: 63.5 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 7.15 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Yemeni(s)
+ adjective: Yemeni
+
+ Ethnic divisions: predominantly Arab; Afro-Arab concentrations in
+ western coastal locations; South Asians in southern regions; small
+ European communities in major metropolitan areas
+
+ Religions: Muslim including Sha'fi (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shi'a), small
+ numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu
+
+ Languages: Arabic
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 38%
+ male: 53%
+ female: 26%
+
+ Labor force: no reliable estimates exist, most people are employed in
+ agriculture and herding or as expatriate laborers; services,
+ construction, industry, and commerce account for less than half of the
+ labor force
+
+@Yemen:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Yemen
+ conventional short form: Yemen
+ local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah
+ local short form: Al Yaman
+
+ Digraph: YM
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Sanaa
+
+ Administrative divisions: 17 governorates (muhafazat, singular -
+ muhafazah); Abyan, Adan, Al Bayda, Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al
+ Mahwit, Dhamar, Hadramaut, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Marib, Sadah, Sana,
+ Shabwah, Taizz
+ note: there may be a new governorate for the capital city of Sanaa
+
+ Independence: 22 May 1990 Republic of Yemen was established on 22 May
+ 1990 with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic {Yemen (Sanaa) or
+ North Yemen} and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of
+ Yemen {Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen}; previously North Yemen had become
+ independent on NA November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and South
+ Yemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)
+
+ National holiday: Proclamation of the Republic, 22 May (1990)
+
+ Constitution: 16 May 1991
+
+ Legal system: based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law,
+ and local tribal customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ
+ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Ali Abdallah SALIH (since 22 May 1990, the
+ former president of North Yemen); Vice President Abd al-Rab Mansur
+ al-HADI (since NA October 1994)
+ head of government: Prime Minister Abd al-Aziz ABD AL-GHANI (since NA
+ October 1994)
+ cabinet: Council of Ministers
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ House of Representatives: elections last held 27 April 1993 (next to
+ be held NA 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (301
+ total) GPC 124, Islaah 61, YSP 55, others 13, independents 47,
+ election nullified 1
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: over 40 political parties are active in
+ Yemen, but only three project significant influence; since the
+ May-July 1994 civil war, President SALIH's General People's Congress
+ (GPC) and Shaykh Abdallah bin Husayn al-AHMAR's Yemeni Grouping for
+ Reform, or Islaah, have joined to form a coalition government; the
+ Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP), headed by Ali Salih UBAYD, has regrouped
+ as a loyal opposition
+
+ Other political or pressure groups: NA
+
+ Member of: ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IBRD,
+ ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
+ INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
+ WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Muhsin Ahmad al-AYNI
+ chancery: Suite 705, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
+ telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760, 4761
+ FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador David NEWTON
+ embassy: Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, Sanaa
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 22347 Sanaa; Sanaa, Department of State,
+ Washington, DC 20521-6330
+ telephone: [967] (1) 238843 through 238852
+ FAX: [967] (1) 251563
+
+ Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;
+ similar to the flag of Syria which has two green stars and of Iraq
+ which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a
+ horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag
+ of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
+
+@Yemen:Economy
+
+ Overview: Whereas the northern city Sanaa is the political capital of
+ a united Yemen, the southern city Aden, with its refinery and port
+ facilities, is the economic and commercial capital. Future economic
+ development depends heavily on Western-assisted development of the
+ country's moderate oil resources. Former South Yemen's willingness to
+ merge stemmed partly from the steady decline in Soviet economic
+ support. The low level of domestic industry and agriculture has made
+ northern Yemen dependent on imports for practically all of its
+ essential needs. Once self-sufficient in food production, northern
+ Yemen has become a major importer. Land once used for export crops -
+ cotton, fruit, and vegetables - has been turned over to growing a
+ shrub called qat, whose leaves are chewed for their stimulant effect
+ by Yemenis and which has no significant export market. Economic growth
+ in former South Yemen has been constrained by a lack of incentives,
+ partly stemming from centralized control over production decisions,
+ investment allocation, and import choices. Yemen's large trade
+ deficits have been compensated for by remittances from Yemenis working
+ abroad and by foreign aid. Since the Gulf crisis, remittances have
+ dropped substantially. Growth in 1994-95 is constrained by low oil
+ prices, rapid inflation, and political deadlock that are causing a
+ lack of economic cooperation and leadership. However, a peace
+ agreement with Saudi Arabia in February 1995 and the expectation of a
+ rise in oil prices brighten Yemen's economic prospects.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $23.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: -1.4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,955 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 145% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: 30% (December 1994)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $1.75 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: crude oil, cotton, coffee, hides, vegetables, dried and
+ salted fish
+ partners: Germany 28%, Japan 15%, UK 9%, Austria 7%, China 7% (1992)
+
+ Imports: $2.65 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: textiles and other manufactured consumer goods, petroleum
+ products, sugar, grain, flour, other foodstuffs, cement, machinery,
+ chemicals
+ partners: US 16%, UK 7%, Japan 6%, France 6%, Italy 6% (1992)
+
+ External debt: $7 billion (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate NA%, accounts for 18% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 810,000 kW
+ production: 1.8 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 149 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale
+ production of cotton textiles and leather goods; food processing;
+ handicrafts; small aluminum products factory; cement
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 26% of GDP; products - grain, fruits,
+ vegetables, qat (mildly narcotic shrub), coffee, cotton, dairy,
+ poultry, meat, fish; not self-sufficient in grain
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $389 million;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $3.2 billion;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $2.4 billion
+
+ Currency: Yemeni rial (new currency); 1 North Yemeni riyal (YR) = 100
+ fils; 1 South Yemeni dinar (YD) = 1,000 fils
+ note: following the establishment of the Republic of Yemen on 22 May
+ 1990, the North Yemeni riyal and the South Yemeni dinar are to be
+ replaced with a new Yemeni rial
+
+ Exchange rates: Yemeni rials per US$1 - 12.0 (official); 90 (market
+ rate, December 1994)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Yemen:Transportation
+
+ Railroads: 0 km
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 51,390 km
+ paved: 4,830 km
+ unpaved: 46,560 km (1992 est.)
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 644 km; petroleum products 32 km
+
+ Ports: Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla, Mocha, Nishtun
+
+ Merchant marine:
+ total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,059 GRT/18,563 DWT
+ ships by type: cargo 1, oil tanker 2
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 46
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 4
+ with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 10
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 12
+
+@Yemen:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 65,000 telephones; since unification in 1990,
+ efforts are still being made to create a national domestic civil
+ telecommunications network
+ local: NA
+ intercity: the network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, and
+ troposcatter
+ international: 3 INTELSAT (2 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 1
+ Intersputnik, and 2 ARABSAT earth stations; microwave radio relay to
+ Saudi Arabia and Djibouti
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 10
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Yemen:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes Police)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 3,135,649; males fit for
+ military service 1,771,226; males reach military age (14) annually
+ 181,057 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.65 billion, 7.1%
+ of GDP (1993)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ZAIRE
+
+@Zaire:Geography
+
+ Location: Central Africa, northeast of Angola
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 2,345,410 sq km
+ land area: 2,267,600 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly more than one-quarter the size of US
+
+ Land boundaries: total 10,271 km, Angola 2,511 km, Burundi 233 km,
+ Central African Republic 1,577 km, Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km,
+ Sudan 628 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km
+
+ Coastline: 37 km
+
+ Maritime claims:
+ exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors
+ territorial sea: 12 nm
+
+ International disputes: Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake
+ Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it is reported that the
+ indefinite section of the Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled; long
+ section with Congo along the Congo River is indefinite (no division of
+ the river or its islands has been made)
+
+ Climate: tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and
+ drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands;
+ north of Equator - wet season April to October, dry season December to
+ February; south of Equator - wet season November to March, dry season
+ April to October
+
+ Terrain: vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east
+
+ Natural resources: cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and
+ gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium,
+ radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower potential
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 3%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 4%
+ forest and woodland: 78%
+ other: 15%
+
+ Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: poaching threatens wildlife populations; water
+ pollution; deforestation; 1.2 million Rwandan refugees are responsible
+ for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching in
+ eastern Zaire
+ natural hazards: periodic droughts in south; volcanic activity
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
+ Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed,
+ but not ratified - Desertification, Environmental Modification
+
+ Note: straddles Equator; very narrow strip of land that controls the
+ lower Congo River and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense
+ tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands
+
+@Zaire:People
+
+ Population: 44,060,636 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 48% (female 10,522,368; male 10,527,451)
+ 15-64 years: 50% (female 11,211,353; male 10,630,118)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 647,307; male 522,039) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 3.18% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 48.33 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 16.57 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ note: in 1994, more than one million refugees fled into Zaire to
+ escape the fighting between the Hutus and the Tutsis in Rwanda and
+ Burundi; a small number of these are returning to their homes in 1995
+ despite fear of the ongoing violence; additionally, Zaire is host to
+ 105,000 Angolan, more than 250,000 Burundian and 100,000 Sudanese
+ refugees; repatriation of Angolan refugees was suspended in May 1994
+ because of the recurrence of fighting in Angola; if present peace
+ accords hold, repatriation of Angolans may recommence
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 108.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 47.54 years
+ male: 45.68 years
+ female: 49.46 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.7 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Zairian(s)
+ adjective: Zairian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: over 200 African ethnic groups, the majority are
+ Bantu; four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the
+ Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population
+
+ Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim
+ 10%, other syncretic sects and traditional beliefs 10%
+
+ Languages: French, Lingala, Swahili, Kingwana, Kikongo, Tshiluba
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 72%
+ male: 84%
+ female: 61%
+
+ Labor force: 15 million (25% of the labor force comprises wage
+ earners)
+ by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry 13%, services 12% (1985)
+
+@Zaire:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Zaire
+ conventional short form: Zaire
+ local long form: Republique du Zaire
+ local short form: Zaire
+ former: Belgian Congo Congo/Leopoldville Congo/Kinshasa
+
+ Digraph: CG
+
+ Type: republic with a strong presidential system
+
+ Capital: Kinshasa
+
+ Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regions, singular - region) and
+ 1 town* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Zaire, Equateur, Haut-Zaire,
+ Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu,
+ Shaba, Sud-Kivu
+
+ Independence: 30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
+
+ National holiday: Anniversary of the Regime (Second Republic), 24
+ November (1965)
+
+ Constitution: 24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February
+ 1978; amended April 1990; new transitional constitution promulgated in
+ April 1994
+
+ Legal system: based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has
+ not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state: President Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za
+ Banga (since 24 November 1965) election last held 29 July 1984 (next
+ to be held by 9 July 1995); results - President MOBUTU was reelected
+ without opposition
+ head of government: Prime Minister Leon KENGO wa Dondo (since 14 June
+ 1994)
+ cabinet: National Executive Council; appointed by mutual agreement of
+ the president and the prime minister
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ parliament: a single body consisting of the High Council of the
+ Republic and the Parliament of the Transition with membership equally
+ divided between presidential supporters and opponents
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
+
+ Political parties and leaders: sole legal party until January 1991 -
+ Popular Movement of the Revolution (MPR); other parties include Union
+ for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa
+ Mulumba; Democratic Social Christian Party (PDSC); Union of
+ Federalists and Independent Republicans (UFERI); Unified Lumumbast
+ Party (PALU), Antoine GIZENGA; Union of Independent Democrats (UDI),
+ Leon KENGO wa Dondo
+
+ Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24,
+ G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
+ IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
+ UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador TATANENE Manata
+ chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
+ telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires John M. YATES
+ embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
+ mailing address: Unit 31550, Kinshasha; APO AE 09828
+ telephone: [243] (12) 21532, 21628
+ FAX: [243] (12) 21534 ext. 2308, 21535 ext. 2308; (88) 43805, 43467
+
+ Flag: light green with a yellow disk in the center bearing a black arm
+ holding a red flaming torch; the flames of the torch are blowing away
+ from the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
+
+@Zaire:Economy
+
+ Overview: Zaire's economy has continued to disintegrate although Prime
+ Minister KENGO has had some success in slowing the rate of economic
+ decline. While meaningful economic figures are difficult to come by,
+ Zaire's hyperinflation, chronic large government deficits, and
+ plunging mineral production have made the country one of the world's
+ poorest. Most formal transactions are conducted in hard currency as
+ indigenous bank notes have lost almost all value, and a barter economy
+ now flourishes in all but the largest cities. Most individuals and
+ families hang on grimly through subsistence farming and petty trade.
+ The government has not been able to meet its financial obligations to
+ the International Monetary Fund or put in place the financial measures
+ advocated by the IMF. Although short-term prospects for improvement
+ are dim, improved political stability would boost Zaire's long-term
+ potential to effectively exploit its vast wealth of mineral and
+ agricultural resources.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $18.8 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $440 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 40% per month (1993 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $NA
+ expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
+
+ Exports: $362 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: copper, coffee, diamonds, cobalt, crude oil
+ partners: US, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, UK, Japan, South Africa
+
+ Imports: $356 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: consumer goods, foodstuffs, mining and other machinery,
+ transport equipment, fuels
+ partners: South Africa, US, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK
+
+ External debt: $9.2 billion (May 1992 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -20% (1993); accounts for 16% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 2,830,000 kW
+ production: 6.2 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 133 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: mining, mineral processing, consumer products (including
+ textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages),
+ cement, diamonds
+
+ Agriculture: cash crops - coffee, palm oil, rubber, quinine; food
+ crops - cassava, bananas, root crops, corn
+
+ Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic
+ consumption
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.1 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $6.9 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $35 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $263 million
+ note: except for humanitarian aid to private organizations, no US
+ assistance has been given to Zaire since 1992
+
+ Currency: 1 zaire (Z) = 100 makuta
+
+ Exchange rates: new zaires (Z) per US$1 - 3,275.71 (December 1994),
+ 1,194.12 (1994), 2.51 (1993); zaire (Z) per US$1 - 645,549 (1992),
+ 15,587 (1991), 719 (1990)
+ note: on 22 October 1993 the new zaire, equal to 3,000,000 old zaires,
+ was introduced
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Zaire:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 5,138 km; note - severely reduced trackage in use because of
+ civil strife
+ narrow gauge: 3,987 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km
+ 1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 146,500 km
+ paved: 2,800 km
+ unpaved: gravel, improved earth 46,200 km; unimproved earth 97,500 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 15,000 km including the Congo, its tributaries, and
+ unconnected lakes
+
+ Pipelines: petroleum products 390 km
+
+ Ports: Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa,
+ Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka
+
+ Merchant marine: none
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 270
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 4
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 97
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 22
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 127
+
+@Zaire:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones
+ local: NA
+ intercity: NA barely adequate wire and microwave service in and
+ between urban areas; 14 domestic earth stations
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 4, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 18
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Zaire:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, paramilitary
+ Civil Guard, Special Presidential Division
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 9,479,245; males fit for
+ military service 4,828,367 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $46 million, 1.5% of
+ GDP (1990)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ZAMBIA
+
+@Zambia:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, east of Angola
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 752,610 sq km
+ land area: 740,720 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Texas
+
+ Land boundaries: total 5,664 km, Angola 1,110 km, Malawi 837 km,
+ Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zaire 1,930 km,
+ Zimbabwe 797 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and
+ Zimbabwe is in disagreement; Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake
+ Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it is reported that the
+ indefinite section of the Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled
+
+ Climate: tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to
+ April)
+
+ Terrain: mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
+
+ Natural resources: copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold,
+ silver, uranium, hydropower potential
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 7%
+ permanent crops: 0%
+ meadows and pastures: 47%
+ forest and woodland: 27%
+ other: 19%
+
+ Irrigated land: 320 sq km (1989 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral
+ extraction and refining region; poaching seriously threatens
+ rhinoceros and elephant populations; deforestation; soil erosion;
+ desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human
+ health risks
+ natural hazards: tropical storms (November to April)
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
+ Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
+ Desertification
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Zambia:People
+
+ Population: 9,445,723 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 50% (female 2,331,820; male 2,363,319)
+ 15-64 years: 48% (female 2,332,798; male 2,193,363)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 112,484; male 111,939) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 2.7% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 45.47 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 18.42 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: -0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 86 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 42.88 years
+ male: 42.74 years
+ female: 43.03 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 6.62 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Zambian(s)
+ adjective: Zambian
+
+ Ethnic divisions: African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%
+
+ Religions: Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous
+ beliefs 1%
+
+ Languages: English (official)
+ note: about 70 indigenous languages
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
+ total population: 73%
+ male: 81%
+ female: 65%
+
+ Labor force: 3.4 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 85%, mining, manufacturing, and
+ construction 6%, transport and services 9%
+
+@Zambia:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Zambia
+ conventional short form: Zambia
+ former: Northern Rhodesia
+
+ Digraph: ZA
+
+ Type: republic
+
+ Capital: Lusaka
+
+ Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern,
+ Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
+
+ Independence: 24 October 1964 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
+
+ Constitution: 2 August 1991
+
+ Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; judicial
+ review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has
+ not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: President Frederick CHILUBA
+ (since 31 October 1991); Vice President General Godfrey MIYANDA (since
+ NA August 1994; he replaced Levy MWANAWASA who was elected 31 October
+ 1991 and resigned in NA August 1994) election last held 31 October
+ 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Frederick CHILUBA 84%,
+ Kenneth KAUNDA 16%
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from members of the
+ National Assembly
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ National Assembly: elections last held 31 October 1991 (next to be
+ held NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (150
+ total) MMD 125, UNIP 25; note - the MMD's majority was weakened by the
+ defection of 13 of its parliamentary members during 1993 and the
+ defeat of its candidates in 4 of the resulting by-elections
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Movement for Multiparty Democracy
+ (MMD), Frederick CHILUBA; United National Independence Party (UNIP),
+ Kebby MUSOKATWANE; National Party (NP), Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA;
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-19, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
+ IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT,
+ INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
+ UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Dunstan Weston KAMANA
+ chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
+ telephone: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719
+ FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Roland K. KUCHEL
+ embassy: corner of Independence Avenue and United Nations Avenue,
+ Lusaka
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
+ telephone: [260] (1) 228595, 228601, 228602, 228603
+ FAX: [260] (1) 261538
+
+ Flag: green with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side),
+ black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of
+ the flag
+
+@Zambia:Economy
+
+ Overview: Prior to 1993 the economy had been in decline for more than
+ a decade with falling imports and growing foreign debt. Economic
+ difficulties stemmed largely from a chronically depressed level of
+ copper production and weak copper prices, generally ineffective
+ economic policies, and high inflation. An annual population growth of
+ 3% brought a decline in per capita GDP of 50% over the decade.
+ However, economic reforms enacted since 1992 have helped reduce
+ inflation, have begun to strengthen the social safety net, and have
+ been accompanied by GDP growth at an estimated 6.8% in 1993 and 4% in
+ 1994. The huge external debt remains a key problem.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $7.9 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $860 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 89% (1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: NA%
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $665 million
+ expenditures: $767 million, including capital expenditures of $300
+ million (1991 est.)
+
+ Exports: $1.01 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: copper, zinc, cobalt, lead, tobacco
+ partners: EC countries, Japan, South Africa, US, India
+
+ Imports: $1.13 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
+ commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, foodstuffs, fuels,
+ manufactures
+ partners: EC countries, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, US
+
+ External debt: $7.3 billion (1993)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate -1% (1992); accounts for 42% of GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 2,440,000 kW
+ production: 7.8 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 650 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs,
+ beverages, chemicals, textiles, and fertilizer
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 12% of GDP and 85% of labor force; crops -
+ corn (food staple), sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower, tobacco,
+ cotton, sugarcane, cassava; cattle, goats, beef, eggs
+
+ Illicit drugs: increasingly a regional transshipment center for
+ methaqualone and heroin
+
+ Economic aid:
+ recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1970-89), $4.8 billion;
+ Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
+ (1970-89), $4.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $60 million;
+ Communist countries (1970-89), $533 million
+
+ Currency: 1 Zambian kwacha (ZK) = 100 ngwee
+
+ Exchange rates: Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1 - 672.8 (September 1994),
+ 434.78 (1993), 156.25 (1992), 61.7284 (1991), 28.9855 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: calendar year
+
+@Zambia:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 1,273 km
+ narrow gauge: 1,273 km 1.067-m gauge (13 km double track)
+ note: not a part of Zambia Railways is the Tanzania-Zambia Railway
+ Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge
+ track between Dar es Salaam and New Kapiri M'poshi where it connects
+ to the Zambia Railways system; 891 km of the TAZARA line transit
+ Zambia
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 36,370 km
+ paved: 6,500 km
+ unpaved: crushed stone, gravel, stabilized earth 7,000 km; improved,
+ unimproved earth 22,870 km
+
+ Inland waterways: 2,250 km, including Zambezi and Luapula Rivers, Lake
+ Tanganyika
+
+ Pipelines: crude oil 1,724 km
+
+ Ports: Mpulungu
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 113
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 39
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 4
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 57
+
+@Zambia:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: NA telephones; facilities are among the best in
+ Sub-Saharan Africa
+ local: NA
+ intercity: high capacity micrwave radio relay connects most larger
+ towns and cities
+ international: 2 INTELSAT earth stations (1 Indian Ocean and 1
+ Atlantic Ocean)
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 5, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 9
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Zambia:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Army, Air Force, Police
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,953,967; males fit for
+ military service 1,028,113 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $45 million, 1.4% of
+ GDP (1994)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+ZIMBABWE
+
+@Zimbabwe:Geography
+
+ Location: Southern Africa, northeast of Botswana
+
+ Map references: Africa
+
+ Area:
+ total area: 390,580 sq km
+ land area: 386,670 sq km
+ comparative area: slightly larger than Montana
+
+ Land boundaries: total 3,066 km, Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km,
+ South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km
+
+ Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
+
+ Maritime claims: none; landlocked
+
+ International disputes: quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia
+ is in disagreement
+
+ Climate: tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to
+ March)
+
+ Terrain: mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld);
+ mountains in east
+
+ Natural resources: coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper,
+ iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals
+
+ Land use:
+ arable land: 7.25%
+ permanent crops: 0.25% (coffee is a permanent crop)
+ meadows and pastures: 12.5%
+ forest and woodland: 49%
+ other: 31%
+
+ Irrigated land: 2,250 sq km (1993 est.)
+
+ Environment:
+ current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and
+ water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest
+ concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly
+ reduced by poaching
+ natural hazards: recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare
+
+ international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
+ Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed,
+ but not ratified - Desertification
+
+ Note: landlocked
+
+@Zimbabwe:People
+
+ Population: 11,139,961 (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Age structure:
+ 0-14 years: 47% (female 2,588,193; male 2,617,485)
+ 15-64 years: 51% (female 2,915,697; male 2,723,511)
+ 65 years and over: 2% (female 151,635; male 143,440) (July 1995 est.)
+
+ Population growth rate: 1.78% (1995 est.)
+
+ Birth rate: 36.35 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Death rate: 18.54 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+
+ Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
+ note: following the settlement of hostilities in Mozambique in 1992,
+ refugees from the fighting there began to return to their homes; this
+ process continues at a lesser rate in 1995; there is a small but
+ steady flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa in search of better paid
+ employment
+
+ Infant mortality rate: 72.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
+
+ Life expectancy at birth:
+ total population: 41.35 years
+ male: 39.73 years
+ female: 43.01 years (1995 est.)
+
+ Total fertility rate: 4.93 children born/woman (1995 est.)
+
+ Nationality:
+ noun: Zimbabwean(s)
+ adjective: Zimbabwean
+
+ Ethnic divisions: African 98% (Shona 71%, Ndebele 16%, other 11%),
+ white 1%, mixed and Asian 1%
+
+ Religions: syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%,
+ Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%
+
+ Languages: English (official), Shona, Sindebele
+
+ Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
+ total population: 78%
+ male: 84%
+ female: 72%
+
+ Labor force: 3.1 million
+ by occupation: agriculture 74%, transport and services 16%, mining,
+ manufacturing, construction 10% (1987)
+
+@Zimbabwe:Government
+
+ Names:
+ conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe
+ conventional short form: Zimbabwe
+ former: Southern Rhodesia
+
+ Digraph: ZI
+
+ Type: parliamentary democracy
+
+ Capital: Harare
+
+ Administrative divisions: 8 provinces; Manicaland, Mashonaland
+ Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo (Victoria),
+ Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands
+
+ Independence: 18 April 1980 (from UK)
+
+ National holiday: Independence Day, 18 April (1980)
+
+ Constitution: 21 December 1979
+
+ Legal system: mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law
+
+ Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
+
+ Executive branch:
+ chief of state and head of government: Executive President Robert
+ Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Co-Vice President Simon
+ Vengai MUZENDA (since 31 December 1987); Co-Vice President Joshua M.
+ NKOMO (since 6 August 1990); election last held 28-30 March 1990 (next
+ to be held NA March 1996); results - Robert MUGABE 78.3%, Edgar TEKERE
+ 21.7%
+ cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president; responsible to
+ Parliament
+
+ Legislative branch: unicameral
+ Parliament: elections last held 8-9 April 1995 (next to be held NA
+ March 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (150
+ total, 120 elected) ZANU-PF 118, ZANU-S 2
+
+ Judicial branch: Supreme Court
+
+ Political parties and leaders: Zimbabwe African National
+ Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Robert MUGABE; Zimbabwe African
+ National Union-Sithole (ZANU-S), Ndabaningi SITHOLE; Zimbabwe Unity
+ Movement (ZUM), Edgar TEKERE; Democratic Party (DP), Emmanuel MAGOCHE;
+ Forum Party of Zimbabwe, Enock DUMBUTSHENA; United Parties, Abel
+ MUZOREWA
+
+ Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-15, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
+ IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT,
+ INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, SADC, UN,
+ UNAMIR, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMUR, UNOSOM, UPU, WCL,
+ WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
+
+ Diplomatic representation in US:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Amos Bernard Muvengwa MIDZI
+ chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
+ telephone: [1] (202) 332-7100
+ FAX: [1] (202) 483-9326
+
+ US diplomatic representation:
+ chief of mission: Ambassador Johnny CARSON
+ embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare
+ mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare
+ telephone: [263] (4) 794521
+ FAX: [263] (4) 796488
+
+ Flag: seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red,
+ yellow, and green with a white equilateral triangle edged in black
+ based on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird is superimposed on a
+ red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle
+
+@Zimbabwe:Economy
+
+ Overview: Agriculture employs three-fourths of the labor force and
+ supplies almost 40% of exports. The manufacturing sector, based on
+ agriculture and mining, produces a variety of goods and contributes
+ 35% to GDP. Mining accounts for only 5% of both GDP and employment,
+ but minerals and metals account for about 40% of exports. Severe
+ drought caused GDP to drop 8% in 1992, with growth rebounding to 2% in
+ 1993 and 3.5% in 1994. Despite the lingering effects of the drought on
+ economic and social conditions, the government is continuing to push
+ its IMF/World Bank structural adjustment program aimed at encouraging
+ exports and foreign investment.
+
+ National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $17.4 billion (1994
+ est.)
+
+ National product real growth rate: 3.5% (1994 est.)
+
+ National product per capita: $1,580 (1994 est.)
+
+ Inflation rate (consumer prices): 22% (December 1994 est.)
+
+ Unemployment rate: at least 45% (1994 est.)
+
+ Budget:
+ revenues: $1.7 billion
+ expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $253
+ million (FY92/93)
+
+ Exports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
+ commodities: agricultural 35% (tobacco 30%, other 5%), manufactures
+ 25%, gold 12%, ferrochrome 10%, textiles 8% (1992)
+ partners: UK 14%, Germany 11%, South Africa 10%, Japan 7%, US 5%
+ (1991)
+
+ Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
+ commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 41%, other
+ manufactures 23%, chemicals 16%, fuels 12% (1991)
+ partners: South Africa 25%, UK 15%, Germany 9%, US 6%, Japan 5% (1991)
+
+ External debt: $3.5 billion (December 1992 est.)
+
+ Industrial production: growth rate 2.3% (1992); accounts for 35% of
+ GDP
+
+ Electricity:
+ capacity: 2,040,000 kW
+ production: 9 billion kWh
+ consumption per capita: 913 kWh (1993)
+
+ Industries: mining, steel, clothing and footwear, chemicals,
+ foodstuffs, fertilizer, beverage, transportation equipment, wood
+ products
+
+ Agriculture: accounts for 20% of GDP; 40% of land area divided into
+ 4,500 large commercial farms and 42% in communal lands; crops - corn
+ (food staple), cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts;
+ livestock - cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; self-sufficient in food
+
+ Economic aid: NA
+
+ Currency: 1 Zimbabwean dollar (Z$) = 100 cents
+
+ Exchange rates: Zimbabwean dollars (Z$) per US$1 - 8.3752 (January
+ 1995), 8.1500 (1994), 6.4725 (1993), 5.1046 (1992), 3.4282 (1991),
+ 2.4480 (1990)
+
+ Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
+
+@Zimbabwe:Transportation
+
+ Railroads:
+ total: 2,745 km
+ narrow gauge: 2,745 km 1.067-m gauge (355 km electrified; 42 km double
+ track)
+
+ Highways:
+ total: 85,237 km
+ paved: 15,800 km
+ unpaved: crushed stone, gravel, stabilized earth 39,090 km; improved
+ earth 23,097 km; unimproved earth 7,250 km
+
+ Inland waterways: Lake Kariba is a potential line of communication
+
+ Pipelines: petroleum products 212 km
+
+ Ports: Binga, Kariba
+
+ Airports:
+ total: 471
+ with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3
+ with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
+ with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
+ with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 13
+ with paved runways under 914 m: 222
+ with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
+ with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 223
+
+@Zimbabwe:Communications
+
+ Telephone system: 247,000 telephones; system was once one of the best
+ in Africa, but now suffers from poor maintenance
+ local: NA
+ intercity: consists of microwave links, open-wire lines, and radio
+ communications stations
+ international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
+
+ Radio:
+ broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 18, shortwave 0
+ radios: NA
+
+ Television:
+ broadcast stations: 8
+ televisions: NA
+
+@Zimbabwe:Defense Forces
+
+ Branches: Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
+ Republic Police (includes Police Support Unit, Paramilitary Police)
+
+ Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,435,931; males fit for
+ military service 1,514,068 (1995 est.)
+
+ Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $175 million, 3.1% of
+ GDP (FY94/95)
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+APPENDIX B
+
+Abbreviations for International Organizations and Groups
+
+ Note: Not all international organizations and groups have
+ abbreviations.
+
+A
+
+     ABEDA -- Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
+
+     ACC -- Arab Cooperation Council
+
+     ACCT -- Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique; see Agency
+     for Cultural and Technical Cooperation
+
+     ACP -- African, Caribbean, and Pacific Countries
+
+     AfDB -- African Development Bank
+
+     AFESD -- Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development
+
+     AG -- Andean Group
+
+     AL -- Arab League
+
+     ALADI -- Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion; see Latin
+     American Integration Association (LAIA)
+
+     AMF -- Arab Monetary Fund
+
+     AMU -- Arab Maghreb Union
+
+     ANZUS -- Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty
+
+     APEC -- Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
+
+     AsDB -- Asian Development Bank
+
+     ASEAN -- Association of Southeast Asian Nations
+
+B
+
+     BAD -- Banque Africaine de Developpement; see African Development
+     Bank (AfDB)
+
+     BADEA -- Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique; see
+     Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA)
+
+     BCIE -- Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico; see
+     Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE)
+
+     BDEAC -- Banque de Developpment des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale;
+     see Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC)
+
+     Benelux -- Benelux Economic Union
+
+     BID -- Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo; see Inter-American
+     Development Bank (IADB)
+
+     BIS -- Bank for International Settlements
+
+     BOAD -- Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement; see West African
+     Development Bank (WADB)
+
+     BSEC -- Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone
+
+C
+
+     C -- Commonwealth
+
+     CACM -- Central American Common Market
+
+     CAEU -- Council of Arab Economic Unity
+
+     CARICOM -- Caribbean Community and Common Market
+
+     CBSS -- Council of the Baltic Sea States
+
+     CCC -- Customs Cooperation Council
+
+     CDB -- Caribbean Development Bank
+
+     CE -- Council of Europe
+
+     CEAO -- Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest; see West
+     African Economic Community (CEAO)
+
+     CEEAC -- Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale;
+     see Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC)
+
+     CEI -- Central European Initiative
+
+     CEMA -- Council for Mutual Economic Assistance; also known as CMEA
+     or Comecon; abolished 1 January 1991
+
+     CEPGL -- Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs; see
+     Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL)
+
+     CERN -- Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire; see European
+     Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
+
+     CG -- Contadora Group
+
+     CIS -- Commonwealth of Independent States
+
+     CMEA -- Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA); also known
+     as Comecon; abolished 1 January 1991
+
+     COCOM -- Coordinating Committee on Export Controls
+
+     Comecon -- Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA); also
+     known as CMEA; abolished 1 January 1991
+
+     CP -- Colombo Plan
+
+     CSCE -- Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
+
+D
+
+     DC -- developed country
+
+E
+
+     EADB -- East African Development Bank
+
+     EBRD -- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
+
+     EC -- European Community; see European Union (EU)
+
+     ECA -- Economic Commission for Africa
+
+     ECAFE -- Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East; see
+     Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
+
+     ECE -- Economic Commission for Europe
+
+     ECLA -- Economic Commission for Latin America; see Economic
+     Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
+
+     ECLAC -- Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
+
+     ECO -- Economic Cooperation Organization
+
+     ECOSOC -- Economic and Social Council
+
+     ECOWAS -- Economic Community of West African States
+
+     ECSC -- European Coal and Steel Community
+
+     ECWA -- Economic Commission for Western Asia; see Economic and
+     Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
+
+     EEC -- European Economic Community
+
+     EFTA -- European Free Trade Association
+
+     EIB -- European Investment Bank
+
+     Entente -- Council of the Entente
+
+     ESA -- European Space Agency
+
+     ESCAP -- Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
+
+     ESCWA -- Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
+
+     EU -- European Union
+
+     Euratom -- European Atomic Energy Community
+
+F
+
+     FAO -- Food and Agriculture Organization
+
+     FLS -- Front Line States
+
+     FZ -- Franc Zone
+
+G
+
+     G-2 -- Group of 2
+
+     G-3 -- Group of 3
+
+     G-5 -- Group of 5
+
+     G-6 -- Group of 6 (not to be confused with the Big Six)
+
+     G-7 -- Group of 7
+
+     G-8 -- Group of 8
+
+     G-9 -- Group of 9
+
+     G-10 -- Group of 10
+
+     G-11 -- Group of 11
+
+     G-15 -- Group of 15
+
+     G-19 -- Group of 19
+
+     G-24 -- Group of 24
+
+     G-30 -- Group of 30
+
+     G-33 -- Group of 33
+
+     G-77 -- Group of 77
+
+     GATT -- General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
+
+     GCC -- Gulf Cooperation Council
+
+H
+
+     Habitat -- Commission on Human Settlements
+
+I
+
+     IADB -- Inter-American Development Bank
+
+     IAEA -- International Atomic Energy Agency
+
+     IBEC -- International Bank for Economic Cooperation
+
+     IBRD -- International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
+
+     ICAO -- International Civil Aviation Organization
+
+     ICC -- International Chamber of Commerce
+
+     ICEM -- Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration; see
+     International Organization for Migration (IOM)
+
+     ICFTU -- International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
+
+     ICJ -- International Court of Justice
+
+     ICM -- Intergovernmental Committee for Migration; see
+     International Organization for Migration (IOM)
+
+     ICRC -- International Committee of the Red Cross
+
+     ICRM -- International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
+
+     IDA -- International Development Association
+
+     IDB -- Islamic Development Bank
+
+     IEA -- International Energy Agency
+
+     IFAD -- International Fund for Agricultural Development
+
+     IFC -- International Finance Corporation
+
+     IFCTU -- International Federation of Christian Trade Unions
+
+     IFRCS -- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
+     Societies
+
+     IGADD -- Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development
+
+     IIB -- International Investment Bank
+
+     ILO -- International Labor Organization
+
+     IMCO -- Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization; see
+     International Maritime Organization (IMO)
+
+     IMF -- International Monetary Fund
+
+     IMO -- International Maritime Organization
+
+     INMARSAT -- International Maritime Satellite Organization
+
+     INTELSAT -- International Telecommunications Satellite
+     Organization
+
+     INTERPOL -- International Criminal Police Organization
+
+     IOC -- International Olympic Committee
+
+     IOM -- International Organization for Migration
+
+     ISO -- International Organization for Standardization
+
+     ITU -- International Telecommunication Union
+
+L
+
+     LAES -- Latin American Economic System
+
+     LAIA -- Latin American Integration Association
+
+     LAS -- League of Arab States; see Arab League (AL)
+
+     LDC -- less developed country
+
+     LLDC -- least developed country
+
+     LORCS -- League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
+
+M
+
+     MERCOSUR -- Mercado Comun del Cono Sur; see Southern Cone Common
+     Market
+
+     MINURSO -- United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western
+     Sahara
+
+     MTCR -- Missile Technology Control Regime
+
+N
+
+     NACC -- North Atlantic Cooperation Council
+
+     NAM -- Nonaligned Movement
+
+     NATO -- North Atlantic Treaty Organization
+
+     NC -- Nordic Council
+
+     NEA -- Nuclear Energy Agency
+
+     NIB -- Nordic Investment Bank
+
+     NIC -- newly industrializing country; see newly industrializing
+     economy (NIE)
+
+     NIE -- newly industrializing economy
+
+     NSG -- Nuclear Suppliers Group
+
+O
+
+     OAPEC -- Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries
+
+     OAS -- Organization of American States
+
+     OAU -- Organization of African Unity
+
+     OECD -- Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
+
+     OECS -- Organization of Eastern Caribbean States
+
+     OIC -- Organization of the Islamic Conference
+
+     ONUMOZ -- see UNOMOZ
+
+     ONUSAL -- United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador
+
+     OPANAL -- Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en
+     la America Latina y el Caribe; see Agency for the Prohibition of
+     Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean
+
+     OPEC -- Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
+
+     OSCE -- Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe
+
+P
+
+     PCA -- Permanent Court of Arbitration
+
+     PFP -- Partnership for Peace
+
+R
+
+     RG -- Rio Group
+
+S
+
+     SAARC -- South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
+
+     SACU -- Southern African Customs Union
+
+     SADC -- Southern African Development Community
+
+     SADCC -- Southern African Development Coordination Conference
+
+     SELA -- Sistema Economico Latinoamericana; see Latin American
+     Economic System (LAES)
+
+     SPARTECA -- South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation
+     Agreement
+
+     SPC -- South Pacific Commission
+
+     SPF -- South Pacific Forum
+
+U
+
+     UDEAC -- Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale; see
+     Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)
+
+     UN -- United Nations
+
+     UNAVEM II -- United Nations Angola Verification Mission
+
+     UNAMIR -- United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda
+
+     UNCTAD -- United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
+
+     UNDOF -- United Nations Disengagement Observer Force
+
+     UNDP -- United Nations Development Program
+
+     UNEP -- United Nations Environment Program
+
+     UNESCO -- United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
+     Organization
+
+     UNFICYP -- United Nations Force in Cyprus
+
+     UNFPA -- United Nations Fund for Population Activities; see UN
+     Population Fund (UNFPA)
+
+     UNHCR -- United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for
+     Refugees
+
+     UNICEF -- United Nations Children's Fund
+
+     UNIDO -- United Nations Industrial Development Organization
+
+     UNIFIL -- United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
+
+     UNIKOM -- United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission
+
+     UNITAR -- United Nations Institute for Training and Research
+
+     UNMIH -- United Nations Mission in Haiti
+
+     UNMOGIP -- United Nations Military Observer Group in India and
+     Pakistan
+
+     UNOMIG -- United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
+
+     UNOMIL -- United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia
+
+     UNOMOZ -- United Nations Operation in Mozambique
+
+     UNOMUR -- United Nations Observer Mission Uganda-Rwanda (ONUMOZ)
+
+     UNOSOM -- United Nations Operation in Somalia
+
+     UNPROFOR -- United Nations Protection Force
+
+     UNRISD -- United Nations Research Institute for Social Development
+
+     UNRWA -- United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
+     Refugees in the Near East
+
+     UNTAC -- United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia
+
+     UNTSO -- United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
+
+     UNU -- United Nations University
+
+     UPU -- Universal Postal Union
+
+     USSR/EE -- USSR/Eastern Europe
+
+W
+
+     WADB -- West African Development Bank
+
+     WCL -- World Confederation of Labor
+
+     WEU -- Western European Union
+
+     WFC -- World Food Council
+
+     WFP -- World Food Program
+
+     WFTU -- World Federation of Trade Unions
+
+     WHO -- World Health Organization
+
+     WIPO -- World Intellectual Property Organization
+
+     WMO -- World Meteorological Organization
+
+     WP -- Warsaw Pact (members met 1 July 1991 to dissolve the
+     alliance)
+
+     WTO -- see WToO
+
+     WToO -- World Tourism Organization
+
+     WTrO -- World Trade Organization (will be added in The World
+     Factbook 1996)
+
+Z
+
+     ZC -- Zangger Committee
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+APPENDIX C
+
+International Organizations and Groups
+
+ Note: The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has
+ dissolved and ceases to exist. None of the successor states of the
+ former Yugoslavia, including Serbia and Montenegro, have been
+ permitted to participate solely on the basis of the membership of the
+ former Yugoslavia in the United Nations General Assembly and Economic
+ and Social Council and their subsidiary bodies and in various United
+ Nations specialized agencies. The United Nations, however, permits the
+ seat and nameplate of the SFRY to remain, permits the SFRY mission to
+ continue to function, and continues to fly the flag of the former
+ Yugoslavia. For a variety of reasons, a number of other organizations
+ have not yet taken action with regard to the membership of the former
+ Yugoslavia. The World Factbook therefore continues to list Yugoslavia
+ under international organizations where the SFRY seat remains or where
+ no action has yet been taken.
+
+advanced developing countries
+
+ another term for those less developed countries (LDCs) with
+ particularly rapid industrial development; see newly industrializing
+ economies (NIEs)
+
+African, Caribbean, and Pacific Countries (ACP)
+
+ address -- Avenue Georges Henri 451, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
+
+ telephone -- [32] (2) 733 96 00
+
+ FAX -- [32] (2) 735 55 73
+
+ established -- 1 April 1976
+
+ aim -- to manage their preferential economic and aid relationship with
+ the EU
+
+ members -- (70) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados,
+ Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde,
+ Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire,
+ Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
+ Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea,
+ Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho,
+ Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique,
+ Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and
+ Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and
+ Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia,
+ Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and
+ Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Zaire, Zambia,
+ Zimbabwe
+
+African Development Bank (AfDB)
+
+ note -- also known as Banque Africaine de Developpement (BAD)
+
+ address -- 01 BP 1387, Abidjan 01, Cote dIvoire
+
+ telephone -- [225] 20 44 44
+
+ FAX -- [225] 21 77 53, 20 49 01, 20 49 09
+
+ established -- 4 August 1963
+
+ aim -- to promote economic and social development
+
+ regional members -- (51) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina,
+ Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,
+ Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea,
+ Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya,
+ Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania,
+ Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao
+ Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan,
+ Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+ nonregional members -- (26) Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil,
+ Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan,
+ South Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia,
+ Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, Yugoslavia
+
+Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique (ACCT)
+
+ see -- Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT)
+
+Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT)
+
+ note -- acronym from Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique
+
+ address -- 13 quai Andre-Citroen, F-75015 Paris, France
+
+ telephone -- [33] (1) 44 37 33 00
+
+ FAX -- [33] (1) 45 79 14 98
+
+ established -- 21 March 1970
+
+ aim -- to promote cultural and technical cooperation among
+ French-speaking countries
+
+ members -- (37) Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia,
+ Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote
+ d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon,
+ Guinea, Haiti, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius,
+ Monaco, Niger, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Togo, Tunisia,
+ Vanuatu, Vietnam, Zaire
+
+ associate members -- (5) Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Morocco,
+ Saint Lucia
+
+ participating governments -- (2) New Brunswick (Canada), Quebec
+ (Canada)
+
+Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the
+
+ Caribbean (OPANAL)
+
+ note -- acronym from Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas
+ Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL)
+
+ address -- Temistocles 78, Col Polanco, CP 011560, Mexico City 5 DF,
+ Mexico
+
+ telephone -- [52] (5) 280 4923, 280 5064
+
+ FAX -- [52] (5) 280 2965
+
+ established -- 14 February 1967
+
+ aim -- to encourage the peaceful uses of atomic energy and prohibit
+ nuclear weapons
+
+ members -- (28) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados,
+ Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican
+ Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras,
+ Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Vincent and
+ the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela
+
+Andean Group (AG)
+
+ address -- c\o JUNAC, Paseo de la Republica 3895, Casilla 18-1177,
+ Lima 27, Peru
+
+ telephone -- [51] (14) 414212
+
+ FAX -- [51] (14) 420911
+
+ established -- 26 May 1969
+
+ effective -- 16 October 1969
+
+ aim -- to promote harmonious development through economic integration
+
+ members -- (5) Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
+
+ associate member -- (1) Panama
+
+ observers -- (26) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil,
+ Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, India,
+ Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Spain, Sweden,
+ Switzerland, UK, US, Uruguay, Yugoslavia
+
+Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA)
+
+ note -- also known as Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en
+ Afrique (BADEA)
+
+ address -- Sayed Abdel Rahman El Mahdi Avenue, P.O. Box 2640,
+ Khartoum, Sudan
+
+ telephone -- [249] (11) 73646, 73498, 73709
+
+ FAX -- [249] (11) 70600
+
+ established -- 18 February 1974
+
+ effective -- 16 September 1974
+
+ aim -- to promote economic development
+
+ members -- (17 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria,
+ Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania,
+ Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE,
+ Palestine Liberation Organization; note - these are all the members of
+ the Arab League except for Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia, and Yemen
+
+Arab Cooperation Council (ACC)
+
+ established -- 16 February 1989
+
+ aim -- to promote economic cooperation and integration, possibly
+ leading to an Arab Common Market
+
+ members -- (4) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen
+
+Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD)
+
+ address -- P.O. Box 21923, Safat 13080, Kuwait
+
+ telephone -- [965] 2451580, 2451588
+
+ FAX -- [965] 2416758
+
+ established -- 16 May 1968
+
+ aim -- to promote economic and social development
+
+ members -- (20 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria,
+ Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt (suspended from 1979 to 1988), Iraq, Jordan,
+ Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi
+ Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine
+ Liberation Organization
+
+Arab League (AL)
+
+ note -- also known as League of Arab States (LAS)
+
+ address -- Midan Attahrir, Tahrir Square, P.O. Box 11642, Cairo, Egypt
+
+ telephone -- [20] (2) 750 511
+
+ FAX -- [20] (2) 740 331
+
+ established -- 22 March 1945
+
+ aim -- to promote economic, social, political, and military
+ cooperation
+
+ members -- (21 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria,
+ Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon,
+ Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan,
+ Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
+
+Arab Maghreb Union (AMU)
+
+ address -- 27 avenue Okba Agdal, Rabat, Morocco
+
+ established -- 17 February 1989
+
+ aim -- to promote cooperation and integration among the Arab states of
+ northern Africa
+
+ members -- (5) Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia
+
+Arab Monetary Fund (AMF)
+
+ address -- P.O. Box 2818, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
+
+ telephone -- [971] (2) 215000
+
+ FAX -- [971] (2) 326454
+
+ established -- 27 April 1976
+
+ effective -- 2 February 1977
+
+ aim -- to promote Arab cooperation, development, and integration in
+ monetary and economic affairs
+
+ members -- (19 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria,
+ Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania,
+ Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia,
+ UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
+
+Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
+
+ address -- Ministry of Trade and Industry, Public Relations, 8 Shenton
+ Way No 48-01, Treasury Building, Singapore, Singapore
+
+ established -- 7 November 1989
+
+ aim -- to promote trade and investment in the Pacific basin
+
+ members -- (18) all ASEAN members (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia,
+ Philippines, Singapore, Thailand) plus Australia, Canada, Chile,
+ China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, NZ, Papua New Guinea,
+ Taiwan, US
+
+ observers -- (3) Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Pacific
+ Economic Cooperation Conference, South Pacific Forum
+
+Asian Development Bank (AsDB)
+
+ address -- 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong, METRO Manila, Philippines
+
+ telephone -- [63] (2) 711 3851
+
+ FAX -- [63] (2) 741 7961, 631 6816
+
+ established -- 19 December 1966
+
+ aim -- to promote regional economic cooperation
+
+ regional members -- (40) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
+ Burma, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, Hong Kong, India,
+ Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
+ Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia,
+ Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,
+ Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga,
+ Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa
+
+ nonregional members -- (16) Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark,
+ Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden,
+ Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
+
+Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI)
+
+ see -- Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)
+
+Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
+
+ address -- Jalan Sisingamangaraja 70A, Kebayoran Baru, P.O. Box 2072,
+ Jakarta 12110, Indonesia
+
+ telephone -- [62] (21) 71 22 72, 71 19 88
+
+ FAX -- [62] (21) 739 82 34
+
+ established -- 9 August 1967
+
+ aim -- to encourage regional economic, social, and cultural
+ cooperation among the non-Communist countries of Southeast Asia
+
+ members -- (6) Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore,
+ Thailand
+
+ observers -- (3) Laos, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam
+
+Australia Group
+
+ established -- 1984
+
+ aim -- to consult on and coordinate export controls related to
+ chemical and biological weapons
+
+ members -- (28) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech
+ Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
+ Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland,
+ Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
+
+ observer -- (1) Singapore
+
+Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty (ANZUS)
+
+ address -- c/o Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bag 8, Queen
+ Victoria Terrace, Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
+
+ telephone -- [61] (62) 61 91 11
+
+ FAX -- [61] (62) 61 21 51
+
+ established -- 1 September 1951
+
+ effective -- 29 April 1952
+
+ aim -- to implement a trilateral mutual security agreement, although
+ the US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986
+
+ members -- (3) Australia, NZ, US
+
+Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico (BCIE)
+
+ see -- Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE)
+
+Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID)
+
+ see -- Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
+
+Bank for International Settlements (BIS)
+
+ address -- Centralbahnplatz 2, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (61) 280 80 80
+
+ FAX -- [41] (61) 280 91 00
+
+ established -- 20 January 1930
+
+ effective -- 17 March 1930
+
+ aim -- to promote cooperation among central banks in international
+ financial settlements
+
+ members -- (33) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech
+ Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
+ Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands,
+ Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain,
+ Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, Yugoslavia
+
+Banque Africaine de Developpement (BAD)
+
+ see -- African Development Bank (AfDB)
+
+Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA)
+
+ see -- Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA)
+
+Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale (BDEAC)
+
+ see -- Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC)
+
+Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD)
+
+ see -- West African Development Bank (WADB)
+
+Benelux Economic Union (Benelux)
+
+ note -- acronym from Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg
+
+ address -- Rue de la Regence 39, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
+
+ telephone -- [32] (2) 519 38 11
+
+ FAX -- [32] (2) 513 42 06
+
+ established -- 3 February 1958
+
+ effective -- 1 November 1960
+
+ aim -- to develop closer economic cooperation and integration
+
+ members -- (3) Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands
+
+Big Seven
+
+ note -- membership is the same as the Group of 7
+
+ established -- NA 1975
+
+ aim -- to discuss and coordinate major economic policies
+
+ members -- (7) Big Six (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK)
+ plus the US
+
+Big Six
+
+ note -- not to be confused with the Group of 6
+
+ established -- NA 1967
+
+ aim -- to foster economic cooperation
+
+ members -- (6) Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK
+
+Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone (BSEC)
+
+ established -- 25 June 1992
+
+ aim -- to enhance regional stability through economic cooperation
+
+ members -- (11) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia,
+ Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine
+
+ observer -- (1) Poland
+
+Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)
+
+ address -- CARICOM, P.O. Box 10827, Bank of Guyana Building, 3rd
+ floor, Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, Guyana
+
+ telephone -- [592] (2) 69281 through 69289
+
+ FAX -- [592] (2) 66091, 67816, 57341
+
+ established -- 4 July 1973
+
+ effective -- 1 August 1973
+
+ aim -- to promote economic integration and development, especially
+ among the less developed countries
+
+ members -- (14) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,
+ Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
+ Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and
+ Tobago
+
+ associate members -- (2) British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos
+ Islands
+
+ observers -- (9) Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominican
+ Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Venezuela
+
+Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
+
+ address -- P.O. Box 408, Wildey, St. Michael, Barbados
+
+ telephone -- [1] (809) 431 1600
+
+ FAX -- [1] (809) 426 7269
+
+ established -- 18 October 1969
+
+ effective -- 26 January 1970
+
+ aim -- to promote economic development and cooperation
+
+ regional members -- (20) Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas,
+ Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia,
+ Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Saint Kitts
+ and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and
+ Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Venezuela
+
+ nonregional members -- (5) Canada, France, Germany, Italy, UK
+
+Cartagena Group
+
+ see -- Group of 11
+
+Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)
+
+ note -- acronym from Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique
+ Centrale
+
+ address -- BP 969, Bangui, Central African Republic
+
+ telephone -- [236] 61 09 22, 61 45 77
+
+ FAX -- [236] 61 21 35
+
+ established -- 8 December 1964
+
+ effective -- 1 January 1966
+
+ aim -- to promote the establishment of a Central African Common Market
+
+ members -- (6) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo,
+ Equatorial Guinea, Gabon
+
+Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC)
+
+ note -- acronym from Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique
+ Centrale
+
+ address -- BDEAC, Place du Gouvernement, BP 1177, Brazzaville, Congo
+
+ telephone -- [242] 83 01 26, 83 01 49, 81 02 12, 81 02 21
+
+ FAX -- [242] 83 02 66
+
+ established -- 3 December 1975
+
+ aim -- to provide loans for economic development
+
+ members -- (9) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo,
+ Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Germany, Kuwait
+
+Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE)
+
+ note -- acronym from Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico
+
+ address -- Apartado Postal 772, Tegucigalpa DC, Honduras
+
+ telephone -- [504] 372230 through 372239, 371184 through 371188
+
+ FAX -- [504] 370793
+
+ established -- 13 December 1960
+
+ aim -- to promote economic integration and development
+
+ members -- (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
+
+ nonregional members -- (4) Argentina, Mexico, Taiwan, Venezuela
+
+Central American Common Market (CACM)
+
+ address -- 4A Avda 10-25, Zona 14, Apdo Postal 1237, 01901 Guatemala
+ City, Guatemala
+
+ telephone -- [502] (2) 682151
+
+ FAX -- [502] (2) 681071
+
+ established -- 13 December 1960
+
+ effective -- 3 June 1961
+
+ aim -- to promote establishment of a Central American Common Market
+
+ members -- (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
+
+Central European Initiative (CEI)
+
+ note -- evolved from the Hexagonal Group
+
+ address -- Chairman of the National Coordinators, Ministry for Foreign
+ Affairs, Bem rakpart 47, Budapest II, Hungary
+
+ established -- 27 July 1991
+
+ aim -- to form an economic and political cooperation group for the
+ region between the Adriatic and the Baltic Seas
+
+ members -- (10) Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech
+ Republic, Hungary, Italy, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
+ Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia
+
+ associate members -- (4) Bulgaria, Belarus, Romania, Ukraine
+
+centrally planned economies
+
+ a term applied mainly to the traditionally Communist states that
+ looked to the former USSR for leadership; most are now evolving toward
+ more democratic and market-oriented systems; also known formerly as
+ the Second World or as the Communist countries; through the 1980s,
+ this group included Albania, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cuba,
+ Czechoslovakia, GDR, Hungary, North Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Poland,
+ Romania, USSR, Vietnam, Yugoslavia
+
+Colombo Plan (CP)
+
+ address -- Colombo Plan Bureau, P.O. Box 596, 12 Melbourne Avenue,
+ Colombo 4, Sri Lanka
+
+ telephone -- [94] (1) 581813, 581853, 581754
+
+ FAX -- [94] (1) 580721
+
+ established -- 1 July 1951
+
+ aim -- to promote economic and social development in Asia and the
+ Pacific
+
+ members -- (24) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma,
+ Cambodia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Laos,
+ Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea,
+ Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, US
+
+Commission for Social Development
+
+ note -- formerly Social Commission
+
+ address -- c/o ECOSOC/DPCSD, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 963 2320
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 963 5935
+
+ established -- 21 June 1946 as the Social Commission, renamed 29 July
+ 1966
+
+ aim -- to deal, as part of the Economic and Social Council, with
+ social development programs of UN
+
+ members -- (32) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
+
+Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
+
+ established -- 6 February 1992
+
+ aim -- to provide guidance, as part of the Economic and Social
+ Council, on crime prevention and criminal justice
+
+ members -- (40) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
+
+Commission on Human Rights
+
+ address -- c/o United Nationas Office, Centre for Human Rights, Palais
+ des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (22) 917 12 34, 907 12 34
+
+ FAX -- [41] (22) 733 32 46
+
+ established -- 18 February 1946
+
+ aim -- to assist, as part of the Economic and Social Council, with
+ human rights programs of UN
+
+ members -- (53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
+
+Commission on Human Settlements (Habitat)
+
+ address -- c/o HABITAT, P.O. Box 30030, Nairobi, Kenya
+
+ telephone -- [254] (2) 621234
+
+ FAX -- [254] (2) 226473, 226479
+
+ established -- 12 October 1978
+
+ aim -- to assist, as part of the Economic and Social Council, in
+ solving human settlement problems of UN
+
+ members -- (58) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
+
+Commission on Narcotic Drugs
+
+ address -- c/o International Drug Control Programme, Treaty
+ Implementation and Legal Affairs Division, P.O. Box 500, A-1400
+ Vienna, Austria
+
+ telephone -- [43] (1) 211 310
+
+ FAX -- [43] (1) 230 7002
+
+ established -- 16 February 1946
+
+ aim -- Economic and Social Council organization dealing with illicit
+ drugs programs of UN
+
+ members -- (53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions with
+ emphasis on producing and processing countries
+
+Commission on Science and Technology for Development
+
+ established -- 30 April 1992
+
+ aim -- to promote international cooperation, as part of the Economic
+ and Social Council, in the field of science and technology
+
+ members -- (53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
+
+Commission on the Status of Women
+
+ address -- c/o Economic and Social Council, Affairs Division,
+ Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, Room
+ S-2963, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ established -- 21 June 1946
+
+ aim -- to deal, as part of the Economic and Social Council, with
+ women's rights goals of UN
+
+ members -- (45) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
+
+Commission on Sustainable Development
+
+ established -- 12 February 1993
+
+ aim -- to monitor, as part of the Economic and Social Council,
+ implementation of agreements reached at the UN Conference on
+ Environment and Development
+
+ members -- (53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
+
+Commonwealth (C)
+
+ address -- c/o Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, Pall Mall,
+ London SW1Y5HX, UK
+
+ telephone -- [44] (71) 839 3411
+
+ FAX -- [44] (71) 930 0827
+
+ established -- 31 December 1931
+
+ aim -- to foster multinational cooperation and assistance, as a
+ voluntary association that evolved from the British Empire
+
+ members -- (49) Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas,
+ Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus,
+ Dominica, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya,
+ Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius,
+ Namibia, NZ, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and
+ Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles,
+ Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
+ Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, Vanuatu,
+ Western Samoa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+ special members -- (2) Nauru, Tuvalu
+
+Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
+
+ address -- Kirov Street 17, 220000 Minsk, Belarus
+
+ telephone -- [7] (172) 293434, 293517
+
+ FAX -- [7] (172) 261894, 261944
+
+ established -- 8 December 1991
+
+ effective -- 21 December 1991
+
+ aim -- to coordinate intercommonwealth relations and to provide a
+ mechanism for the orderly dissolution of the USSR
+
+ members -- (12) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
+ Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,
+ Uzbekistan
+
+Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEAO)
+
+ see -- West African Economic Community (CEAO)
+
+Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale (CEEAC)
+
+ see -- Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC)
+
+Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs (CEPGL)
+
+ see -- Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL)
+
+Communist countries
+
+ traditionally the Marxist-Leninist states with authoritarian
+ governments and command economies based on the Soviet model; most of
+ the original and the successor states are no longer Communist; see
+ centrally planned economies
+
+Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE)
+
+ see -- Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
+
+Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire (CERN)
+
+ see -- European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
+
+Contadora Group (CG)
+
+ was established 5 January 1983 (on the Panamanian island of Contadora)
+ to reduce tensions and conflicts in Central America; has evolved into
+ the Rio Group (RG); members included Colombia, Mexico, Panama,
+ Venezuela
+
+Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf
+
+ see -- Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
+
+Coordinating Committee on Export Controls (COCOM)
+
+ established in 1949 to control the export of strategic products and
+ technical data from member countries to proscribed destinations;
+ members were Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany,
+ Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,
+ Spain, Turkey, UK, US; was abolished 31 March 1994; COCOM members are
+ working on a new organization with expanded membership which focuses
+ on nonproliferation export controls as opposed to East-West control of
+ advanced technology
+
+Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA)
+
+ note -- also known as CMEA or Comecon established 25 January 1949 to
+ promote the development of socialist economies and was abolished 1
+ January 1991; members included Afghanistan (observer), Albania (had
+ not participated since 1961 break with USSR), Angola (observer),
+ Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia (observer), GDR, Hungary,
+ Laos (observer), Mongolia, Mozambique (observer), Nicaragua
+ (observer), Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam, Yemen (observer),
+ Yugoslavia (associate)
+
+Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU)
+
+ address -- BP 925100, Amman, Jordan
+
+ telephone -- [962] (6) 66 43 26, 66 43 27, 66 43 28
+
+ FAX -- [962] (6) 66 33 43
+
+ established -- 3 June 1957
+
+ effective -- 30 May 1964
+
+ aim -- to promote economic integration among Arab nations
+
+ members -- (11 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Egypt,
+ Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, UAE,
+ Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
+
+Council of Europe (CE)
+
+ address -- Palais de lEurope, F-67075 Strasbourg CEDEX, France
+
+ telephone -- [33] 88 41 20 00
+
+ FAX -- [33] 88 41 27 81, 88 41 27 82
+
+ established -- 5 May 1949
+
+ effective -- 3 August 1949
+
+ aim -- to promote increased unity and quality of life in Europe
+
+ members -- (32) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
+ Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
+ Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
+ Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia,
+ Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK
+
+ guests -- (9) Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,
+ Latvia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Russia,
+ Ukraine
+
+ observer -- (1) Israel
+
+Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS)
+
+ established -- 5 March 1992
+
+ aim -- to promote cooperation among the Baltic Sea states in the areas
+ of aid to new democratic institutions, economic development,
+ humanitarian aid, energy and the environment, cultural programs and
+ education, and transportation and communication
+
+ members -- (10) Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania,
+ Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden
+
+Council of the Entente (Entente)
+
+ address -- BP 3734, Abidjan 01, Cote dIvoire
+
+ telephone -- [225] 33 10 01, 33 28 35
+
+ FAX -- [225] 33 11 49
+
+ established -- 29 May 1959
+
+ aim -- to promote economic, social, and political coordination
+
+ members -- (5) Benin, Burkina, Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Togo
+
+Customs Cooperation Council (CCC)
+
+ address -- Rue de lIndustrie 26-38, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium
+
+ telephone -- [32] (2) 508 42 11
+
+ FAX -- [32] (2) 508 42 40
+
+ established -- 15 December 1950
+
+ aim -- to promote international cooperation in customs matters
+
+ members -- (136) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia,
+ Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus,
+ Belgium, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi,
+ Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China,
+ Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
+ Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon,
+ The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea,
+ Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
+ Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,
+ Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
+ Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
+ Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,
+ Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
+ Netherlands, NZ, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru,
+ Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi
+ Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South
+ Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
+ Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
+ Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
+ Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+developed countries (DCs)
+
+ the top group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former
+ USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries
+ (LDCs); includes the market-oriented economies of the mainly
+ democratic nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
+ Development (OECD), Bermuda, Israel, South Africa, and the European
+ ministates; also known as the First World, high-income countries, the
+ North, industrial countries; generally have a per capita GDP in excess
+ of $10,000 although four OECD countries and South Africa have figures
+ well under $10,000 and two of the excluded OPEC countries have figures
+ of more than $10,000; the 35 DCs are: Andorra, Australia, Austria,
+ Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France,
+ Germany, Greece, Holy See, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan,
+ Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, NZ,
+ Norway, Portugal, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, Sweden,
+ Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
+
+developing countries
+
+ an imprecise term for the less developed countries with growing
+ economies;
+
+ see -- less developed countries (LDCs)
+
+East African Development Bank (EADB)
+
+ address -- 4 Nile Avenue, P.O. Box 7128, Kampala, Uganda
+
+ telephone -- [256] (41) 230021, 230825
+
+ FAX -- [256] (41) 259763
+
+ established -- 6 June 1967
+
+ effective -- 1 December 1967
+
+ aim -- to promote economic development
+
+ members -- (3) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
+
+Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
+
+ address -- United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Avenue, Bangkok 10200,
+ Thailand
+
+ telephone -- [66] (2) 2829161 through 2829200, 2829381 through 2829389
+
+ FAX -- [66] (2) 2811743
+
+ established -- 28 March 1947 as Economic Commission for Asia and the
+ Far East (ECAFE)
+
+ aim -- to carryout the commitment of the Economic and Social Council
+ of the UN to promote economic development
+
+ members -- (49) Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan,
+ Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Fiji, France,
+ India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, North Korea,
+ South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands,
+ Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands,
+ NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Singapore,
+ Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Turkmenistan,
+ Tuvalu, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa
+
+ associate members -- (10) American Samoa, Cook Islands, French
+ Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern
+ Mariana Islands, Palau
+
+Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
+
+ address -- (temporary) P.O. Box 927115, Amman, Jordan
+
+ telephone -- [962] (6) 694351
+
+ FAX -- [962] (6) 694981, 694982
+
+ established -- 9 August 1973 as Economic Commission for Western Asia
+ (ECWA)
+
+ aim -- to promote economic development as a regional commission for
+ the UN's Economic and Social Council
+
+ members -- (12 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Bahrain,
+ Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
+ Syria, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
+
+Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
+
+ address -- United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 758 2718
+
+ established -- 26 June 1945
+
+ effective -- 24 October 1945
+
+ aim -- to coordinate the economic and social work of the UN; includes
+ five regional commissions (see Economic Commission for Africa,
+ Economic Commission for Europe, Economic Commission for Latin America
+ and the Caribbean, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
+ Pacific, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) and 10
+ functional commissions (see Commission for Social Development,
+ Commission on Human Rights, Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Commission
+ on the Status of Women, Population Commission, Statistical Commission,
+ Commission on Science and Technology for Development, Commission on
+ Sustainable Development, Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal
+ Justice, and Commission on Transnational Corporations)
+
+ members -- (54) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
+
+Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
+
+ address -- P.O. Box 3001-3005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
+
+ telephone -- [251] (1) 51 72 00
+
+ FAX -- [251] (1) 51 44 16
+
+ established -- 29 April 1958
+
+ aim -- to promote economic development as a regional commission of the
+ UN's Economic and Social Council
+
+ members -- (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi,
+ Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo,
+ Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia,
+ Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho,
+ Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius,
+ Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and
+ Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa,
+ Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia,
+ Zimbabwe
+
+ associate members -- (2) France, UK
+
+Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE)
+
+ see -- Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
+
+Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)
+
+ address -- Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (22) 917 1234, 907 2893
+
+ FAX -- [41] (22) 917 0036
+
+ established -- 28 March 1947
+
+ aim -- to promote economic development as a regional commission of the
+ UN's Economic and Social Council
+
+ members -- (54) Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
+ Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia,
+ Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia,
+ Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan,
+ Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former
+ Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands,
+ Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia,
+ Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,
+ UK, US, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia
+
+Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA)
+
+ see -- Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
+
+Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
+
+ address -- Edificio Naciones Unidas, Avenida Dag Hammarskjold, Casilla
+ 179 D, Santiago, Chile
+
+ telephone -- [56] (2) 2102000 FAX [56] (2) 2080252, 2081946
+
+ established -- 25 February 1948 as Economic Commission for Latin
+ America (ECLA)
+
+ aim -- to promote economic development as a regional commission of the
+ UN's Economic and Social Council
+
+ members -- (41) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados,
+ Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba,
+ Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Grenada,
+ Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico,
+ Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Saint Kitts
+ and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Spain,
+ Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
+
+ associate members -- (6) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat,
+ Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
+
+Economic Commission for Western Asia (ECWA)
+
+ see -- Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
+
+Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC)
+
+ note -- acronym from Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique
+ Centrale
+
+ address -- CEEAC, BP 2112, Libreville, Gabon
+
+ telephone -- [241] 73 35 47, 73 35 48, 73 36 77
+
+ established -- 18 October 1983
+
+ aim -- to promote regional economic cooperation and establish a
+ Central African Common Market
+
+ members -- (10) Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad,
+ Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Zaire
+
+ observer -- (1) Angola
+
+Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL)
+
+ note -- acronym from Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs
+
+ address -- B.O. Box 58, Gisenyi, Rwanda
+
+ telephone -- [250] 40228
+
+ FAX -- [250] 40785
+
+ established -- 26 September 1976
+
+ aim -- to promote regional economic cooperation and integration
+
+ members -- (3) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire
+
+Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
+
+ address -- 6 King George V Road, PMB 12745, Lagos, Nigeria
+
+ telephone -- [234] (1) 636839, 636841, 636064, 630398
+
+ FAX -- [234] (1) 636822
+
+ established -- 28 May 1975
+
+ aim -- to promote regional economic cooperation
+
+ members -- (16) Benin, Burkina, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia,
+ Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger,
+ Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
+
+Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
+
+ address -- 5 Hejab Avenue, Bd Keshavarz, P.O. Box 14155-6176, Teheran,
+ Iran Islamic Republic
+
+ telephone -- [98] (21) 658614, 656152, 658045
+
+ FAX -- [98] (21) 658046
+
+ established -- NA 1985
+
+ aim -- to promote regional cooperation in trade, transportation,
+ communications, tourism, cultural affairs, and economic development
+
+ members -- (10) Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
+ Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
+
+ associate member -- (1) "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus"
+
+European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
+
+ address -- One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2EH, UK
+
+ telephone -- [44] (71) 338 6000
+
+ FAX -- [44] (71) 338 6100
+
+ established -- 15 April 1991
+
+ aim -- to facilitate the transition of seven centrally planned
+ economies in Europe (Bulgaria, former Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland,
+ Romania, former USSR, and former Yugoslavia) to market economies by
+ committing 60% of its loans to privatization
+
+ members -- (59) Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
+ Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
+ Denmark, Egypt, European Union (EU), European Investment Bank (EIB),
+ Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
+ Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan,
+ Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
+ Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands,
+ NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,
+ Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,
+ UK, US, Uzbekistan; note - includes all 25 members of the OECD; also
+ includes the EU as a single entity
+
+European Community (or European Communities, EC)
+
+ was established 8 April 1965 to integrate the European Atomic Energy
+ Community (Euratom), the European Coal and Steel Community (ESC), the
+ European Economic Community (EEC or Common Market), and to establish a
+ completely integrated common market and an eventual federation of
+ Europe; merged into the European Union (EU) on 7 February 1992; member
+ states at the time of merger were Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany,
+ Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK
+
+European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
+
+ address -- 9-11 rue de Varembe, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (22) 749 11 11
+
+ FAX -- [41] (22) 733 92 91
+
+ established -- 4 January 1960
+
+ effective -- 3 May 1960
+
+ aim -- to promote expansion of free trade
+
+ members -- (7) Austria, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway,
+ Sweden, Switzerland
+
+European Investment Bank (EIB)
+
+ address -- Bd Konrad Adenauer 100, L-2950 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
+
+ telephone -- [352] 43791
+
+ FAX -- [352] 437704
+
+ established -- 25 March 1957
+
+ effective -- 1 January 1958
+
+ aim -- to promote economic development of the EU
+
+ members -- (12) Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland,
+ Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK
+
+European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
+
+ note -- acronym retained from the predecessor organization Conseil
+ Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire
+
+ address -- CH-1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (22) 767 61 11
+
+ FAX -- [41] (22) 767 65 55
+
+ established -- 1 July 1953
+
+ effective -- 29 September 1954
+
+ aim -- to foster nuclear research for peaceful purposes only
+
+ members -- (19) Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland,
+ France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
+ Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
+
+ observers -- (6) EC, Israel, Russia, Turkey, United Nations
+ Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),
+ Yugoslavia
+
+European Space Agency (ESA)
+
+ address -- 8-10 rue Mario Nikis, F-75738 Paris CEDEX 15, France
+
+ telephone -- [33] (1) 42 73 76 54
+
+ FAX -- [33] (1) 42 73 75 60
+
+ established -- 31 July 1973
+
+ effective -- 1 May 1975
+
+ aim -- to promote peaceful cooperation in space research and
+ technology
+
+ members -- (13) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland,
+ Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
+
+ associate member -- (1) Finland
+
+ cooperating state -- (1) Canada
+
+European Union (EU)
+
+ note -- evolved from the European Community (EC)
+
+ address -- c/o European Commission, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049
+ Brussels, Belgium
+
+ telephone -- [32] (2) 299 11 11 FAX [32] (2) 295 01 38 through 295 01
+ 40
+
+ established -- 7 February 1992
+
+ effective -- 1 November 1993
+
+ aim -- to coordinate policy among the 15 members in three fields:
+ economics, building on the European Economic Community's (EEC) efforts
+ to establish a common market and eventually a common currency;
+ defense, within the concept of a Common Foreign and Security Policy
+ (CFSP); and justice and home affairs, including immigration, drugs,
+ terrorism, and improved living and working conditions
+
+ members -- (15) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
+ Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain,
+ Sweden, UK
+
+First World
+
+ another term for countries with advanced, industrialized economies;
+ this term is fading from use; see developed countries (DCs)
+
+Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
+
+ address -- Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, I-00100 Rome, Italy
+
+ telephone -- [39] (6) 52251 FAX [39] (6) 5225 3152, 5225 5155, 578
+ 2610
+
+ established -- 16 October 1945
+
+ aim -- to raise living standards and increase availability of
+ agricultural products, as a UN specialized agency
+
+ members -- (170) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
+ Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
+ Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia
+ and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma,
+ Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African
+ Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica,
+ Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
+ Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
+ Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland,
+ France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,
+ Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,
+ India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
+ Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
+ Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The
+ Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
+ Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia,
+ Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,
+ Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
+ Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda,
+ Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
+ Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra
+ Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa,
+ Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
+ Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
+ Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,
+ Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+ associate member -- (1) Puerto Rico
+
+Former USSR
+
+ /Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE) the middle group in the hierarchy of
+ developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former
+ USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); these countries are in
+ political and economic transition and may well be grouped differently
+ in the near future; this group of 27 countries consists of Albania,
+ Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
+ Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan,
+ Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
+ Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro,
+ Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
+
+Four Dragons
+
+ the four small Asian less developed countries (LDCs) that have
+ experienced unusually rapid economic growth; also known as the Four
+ Tigers; this group includes Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan
+
+Four Tigers
+
+ another term for the Four Dragons; see Four Dragons
+
+Franc Zone (FZ)
+
+ address -- Direction Generale des Service Etrangers (Service de la
+ Zone Franc), Banque de France, 39 rue Crois-des-Petits-Champs, BP
+ 140-01, Paris Cedex 01, France
+
+ telephone -- [33] (1) 42 92 31 26
+
+ FAX -- [33] (1) 42 92 39 88
+
+ established -- 20 December 1945
+
+ aim -- to form a monetary union among countries whose currencies are
+ linked to the French franc
+
+ members -- (15) Benin, Burkina, Cameroon, Central African Republic,
+ Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon,
+ Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo; note - France includes metropolitan
+ France, the four overseas departments of France (French Guiana,
+ Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion), the two territorial collectivities
+ of France (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon), and the three overseas
+ territories of France (French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and
+ Futuna)
+
+Front Line States (FLS)
+
+ established to achieve black majority rule in South Africa; members
+ included Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia,
+ Zimbabwe
+
+General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
+
+ note -- was subsumed by the World Trade Organization (WTrO) on 1
+ January 1995
+
+ address -- rue de Lausanne 154, CH-1211 Geneva 21, Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (22) 739 51 11
+
+ FAX -- [41] (22) 731 42 06
+
+ established -- 30 October 1947
+
+ effective -- 1 January 1948
+
+ aim -- to promote the expansion of international trade on a
+ nondiscriminatory basis
+
+ members -- (123) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia,
+ Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin,
+ Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon,
+ Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa
+ Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica,
+ Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon,
+ The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau,
+ Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India,
+ Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, South Korea,
+ Kuwait, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi,
+ Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
+ Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
+ Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
+ Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
+ Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore,
+ Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
+ Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
+ Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia
+ (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+Group of 2 (G-2)
+
+ established -- informal term that came into use about 1986
+
+ aim -- to facilitate bilateral economic cooperation between the two
+ most powerful economic giants
+
+ members -- (2) Japan, US
+
+Group of 3 (G-3)
+
+ established -- NA October 1990
+
+ aim -- mechanism for policy coordination
+
+ members -- (3) Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela
+
+Group of 5 (G-5)
+
+ established -- 22 September 1985
+
+ aim -- to coordinate the economic policies of the five major
+ non-Communist economic powers
+
+ members -- (5) France, Germany, Japan, UK, US
+
+Group of 6 (G-6)
+
+ note -- also known as Groupe des Six Sur le Desarmement not to be
+ confused with the Big Six
+
+ established -- 22 May 1984
+
+ aim -- to achieve nuclear disarmament
+
+ members -- (6) Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden, Tanzania
+
+Group of 7 (G-7)
+
+ note -- membership is the same as the Big Seven
+
+ established -- 22 September 1985
+
+ aim -- to facilitate economic cooperation among the seven major non-
+ Communist economic powers
+
+ members -- (7) Group of 5 (France, Germany, Japan, UK, US) plus Canada
+ and Italy
+
+Group of 8 (G-8)
+
+ established -- NA October 1975
+
+ aim -- to facilitate economic cooperation among the developed
+ countries (DCs) that participated in the Conference on International
+ Economic Cooperation (CIEC), held in several sessions between NA
+ December 1975 and 3 June 1977
+
+ members -- (8) Australia, Canada, EU (as one member), Japan, Spain,
+ Sweden, Switzerland, US
+
+Group of 9 (G-9)
+
+ established -- NA
+
+ aim -- to discuss matters of mutual interest on an informal basis
+
+ members -- (9) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Hungary,
+ Romania, Sweden, Yugoslavia
+
+Group of 10 (G-10)
+
+ note -- also known as the Paris Club; includes the wealthiest members
+ of the IMF who provide most of the money to be loaned and act as the
+ informal steering committee; name persists in spite of the addition of
+ Switzerland on NA April 1984
+
+ address -- c/o IMF Office in Europe, 64-66 ave dIena, F-75116 Paris,
+ France
+
+ telephone -- [33] (1) 40 69 30 80
+
+ FAX -- [33] (1) 47 23 40 89
+
+ established -- NA October 1962
+
+ aim -- to coordinate credit policy
+
+ members -- (11) Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
+ Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
+
+ nonstate participants -- (4) BIS, EU, IMF, OECD
+
+Group of 11 (G-11)
+
+ note -- also known as the Cartagena Group
+
+ established -- 22 June 1984, in Cartagena, Colombia
+
+ aim -- to provide a forum for largest debtor nations in Latin America
+
+ members -- (11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican
+ Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
+
+Group of 15 (G-15)
+
+ note -- byproduct of the Non-Aligned Movement
+
+ address -- Technical Support Facility, Ch du Champ dAncier 17, Case
+ postale 326, CH-1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (22) 798 42 10
+
+ FAX -- [41] (22) 798 38 49
+
+ established -- September 1989
+
+ aim -- to promote economic cooperation among developing nations; to
+ act as the main political organ for the Non-Aligned Movement
+
+ members -- (15) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia,
+ Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Venezuela,
+ Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe
+
+Group of 19 (G-19)
+
+ established -- NA October 1975
+
+ aim -- to represent the interests of the less developed countries
+ (LDCs) that participated in the Conference on International Economic
+ Cooperation (CIEC) held in several sessions between NA December 1975
+ and 3 June 1977
+
+ members -- (19) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Cameroon, Egypt, India,
+ Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi
+ Arabia, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia
+
+Group of 24 (G-24)
+
+ address -- c/o European Commission, DGI, G-24 Coordination Unit, Rue
+ de la Science 29, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium
+
+ telephone -- [32] (2) 299 22 44
+
+ FAX -- [32] (2) 299 06 02
+
+ established -- NA January 1972
+
+ aim -- to promote the interests of developing countries in Africa,
+ Asia, and Latin America within the IMF
+
+ members -- (24) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire,
+ Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Iran, Lebanon,
+ Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria,
+ Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire
+
+Group of 30 (G-30)
+
+ address -- 1990 M Street NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20036, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (202) 331 2472
+
+ established -- NA 1979
+
+ aim -- to discuss and propose solutions to the world's economic
+ problems
+
+ members -- (30) informal group of 30 leading international bankers,
+ economists, financial experts, and businessmen organized by Johannes
+ Witteveen (former managing director of the IMF)
+
+Group of 33 (G-33)
+
+ established -- NA 1987
+
+ aim -- to promote solutions to international economic problems
+
+ members -- (33) leading economists from 13 countries
+
+Group of 77 (G-77)
+
+ established -- NA October 1967
+
+ aim -- to promote economic cooperation among developing countries;
+ name persists in spite of increased membership
+
+ members -- (127 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)
+ Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The
+ Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
+ Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
+ Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia,
+ Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti,
+ Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial
+ Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala,
+ Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia,
+ Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,
+ Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
+ Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia,
+ Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman,
+ Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
+ Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
+ Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
+ Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands,
+ Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania,
+ Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, UAE,
+ Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen,
+ Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization
+
+Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
+
+ note -- also known as the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of
+ the Gulf
+
+ address -- P.O. Box 7431, Riyadh 11462 Saudi Arabia
+
+ telephone -- [966] (1) 4827777
+
+ FAX -- [966] (1) 4829089
+
+ established -- 25 May 1981
+
+ aim -- to promote regional cooperation in economic, social, political,
+ and military affairs
+
+ members -- (6) Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE
+
+Habitat
+
+ see -- Commission on Human Settlements
+
+Hexagonal Group
+
+ see -- Central European Initiative (CEI)
+
+high-income countries
+
+ another term for the industrialized countries with high per capita
+ GDPs;
+
+ see -- developed countries (DCs)
+
+industrial countries
+
+ another term for the developed countries; see developed countries
+ (DCs)
+
+Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
+
+ note -- also known as Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID)
+
+ address -- 1300 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 10577, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (202) 632 1000
+
+ FAX -- [1] (202) 789 2835
+
+ established -- 8 April 1959
+
+ effective -- 30 December 1959
+
+ aim -- to promote economic and social development in Latin America
+
+ members -- (46) Argentina, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium,
+ Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia,
+ Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France,
+ Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
+ Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
+ Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and
+ Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
+
+Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD)
+
+ address -- BP 2653, Djibouti, Djibouti
+
+ telephone -- [253] 354050, 352880
+
+ FAX -- [253] 356994
+
+ established -- 15-16 January 1986
+
+ aim -- to promote cooperation on drought-related matters
+
+ members -- (7) Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan,
+ Uganda
+
+International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
+
+ address -- Wagramerstrasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
+
+ telephone -- [43] (1) 2360 2045 FAX [43] (1) 234564
+
+ established -- 26 October 1956
+
+ effective -- 29 July 1957
+
+ aim -- to promote peaceful uses of atomic energy
+
+ members -- (121) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia,
+ Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil,
+ Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia,
+ Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
+ Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia,
+ Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala,
+ Haiti, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
+ Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
+ South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,
+ Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
+ Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico,
+ Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
+ Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
+ Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
+ Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
+ Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia,
+ Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela,
+ Vietnam, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+International Bank for Economic Cooperation (IBEC)
+
+ was established on 22 October 1963 to promote economic cooperation and
+ development; members were Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, East
+ Germany, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam; now it is
+ a Russian bank with a new charter
+
+International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
+
+ note -- also known as the World Bank
+
+ address -- 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (202) 477 1234
+
+ FAX -- [1] (202) 477 6391
+
+ established -- 22 July 1944
+
+ effective -- 27 December 1945
+
+ aim -- to provide economic development loans; a UN specialized agency
+
+ members -- (178) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
+ Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The
+ Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
+ Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma,
+ Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African
+ Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica,
+ Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
+ Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial
+ Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The
+ Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
+ Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
+ Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
+ Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
+ Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The
+ Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
+ Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
+ Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco,
+ Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
+ Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
+ Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
+ Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
+ Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra
+ Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South
+ Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
+ Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
+ Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine,
+ UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western
+ Samoa, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
+
+ address -- 38 Cours Albert 1st, F-75008 Paris, France
+
+ telephone -- [33] (1) 49 53 28 75
+
+ FAX -- [33] (1) 49 53 29 42
+
+ established -- NA 1919
+
+ aim -- to promote free trade and private enterprise and to represent
+ business interests at national and international levels
+
+ members -- (59 national councils) Argentina, Australia, Austria,
+ Belgium, Brazil, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire,
+ Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany,
+ Greece, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
+ Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar,
+ Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal,
+ Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
+ Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, UK, US,
+ Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire
+
+International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
+
+ address -- 1000 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 327, Montreal PQ H3A
+ 2R2, Canada
+
+ telephone -- [1] (514) 285 8219
+
+ FAX -- [1] (514) 288 4772
+
+ established -- 7 December 1944
+
+ effective -- 4 April 1947
+
+ aim -- to promote international cooperation in civil aviation; a UN
+ specialized agency
+
+ members -- (183) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
+ Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The
+ Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
+ Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
+ Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
+ Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
+ Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia,
+ Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic,
+ Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia,
+ Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany,
+ Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
+ Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
+ Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
+ Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia,
+ Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former
+ Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
+ Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
+ Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
+ Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
+ Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
+ Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,
+ Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San
+ Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
+ Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia,
+ South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
+ Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
+ Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine,
+ UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
+ Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
+
+ address -- ICRC, 19 av de la Paix, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (22) 734 60 01
+
+ FAX -- [41] (22) 733 82 80
+
+ established -- NA 1863
+
+ aim -- to provide humanitarian aid in wartime
+
+ members -- (25 individuals) all Swiss nationals
+
+International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
+
+ address -- International Trade Union House, Bd Emile Jacqmain 155,
+ B-1210 Brussels, Belgium
+
+ telephone -- [32] (2) 224 02 11
+
+ FAX -- [32] (2) 218 84 15, 219 75 03
+
+ established -- NA December 1949
+
+ aim -- to promote the trade union movement
+
+ members -- (164 national organizations in the following 118 areas)
+ Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas,
+ Bangladesh, Barbados, Basque Country, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda,
+ Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
+ Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Curacao,
+ Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
+ Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland,
+ France, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
+ Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland,
+ India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati,
+ South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar,
+ Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, Morocco,
+ Netherlands, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama,
+ Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
+ Puerto Rico, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
+ Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal,
+ Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka,
+ Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
+ Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela,
+ Western Samoa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+International Court of Justice (ICJ)
+
+ note -- also known as the World Court
+
+ address -- Peace Palace, NL-2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands
+
+ telephone -- [31] (70) 302 23 23
+
+ FAX -- [31] (70) 364 99 28
+
+ established -- 26 June 1945
+
+ effective -- 24 October 1945
+
+ aim -- primary judicial organ of the UN
+
+ members -- (15 judges) elected by the UN General Assembly and Security
+ Council to represent all principal legal systems
+
+International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)
+
+ address -- BP 6041, F-69411 Lyon CEDEX 06, France
+
+ telephone -- [33] 71 44 70 00
+
+ FAX -- [33] 72 44 71 63
+
+ established -- 13 June 1956
+
+ aim -- to promote international cooperation among police authorities
+ in fighting crime
+
+ members -- (176) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and
+ Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
+ The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
+ Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,
+ Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape
+ Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo,
+ Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
+ Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
+ Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France,
+ Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,
+ Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,
+ Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
+ Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea,
+ Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,
+ Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
+ Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,
+ Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,
+ Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles,
+ NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua
+ New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar,
+ Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
+ Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
+ Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
+ Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,
+ Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad
+ and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
+ Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+ subbureaus -- (13) American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin
+ Islands, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau,
+ Montserrat, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos
+ Islands
+
+International Development Association (IDA)
+
+ address -- 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (202) 477 12 34
+
+ established -- 26 January 1960
+
+ effective -- 24 September 1960
+
+ aim -- UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate that provides economic
+ loans for low income countries
+
+ members -- (157)
+
+ Part I -- (24 more economically advanced countries) Australia,
+ Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland,
+ Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway,
+ Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, UK, US
+
+ Part II -- (133 less developed nations) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria,
+ Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
+ Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
+ Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
+ Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus,
+ Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
+ Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon,
+ The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
+ Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia,
+ Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea,
+ Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, The Former
+ Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
+ Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
+ Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco,
+ Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,
+ Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
+ Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
+ Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra
+ Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka,
+ Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
+ Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
+ Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+International Energy Agency (IEA)
+
+ address -- 2 rue Andre Pascal, F-75775 Paris CEDEX 16, France
+
+ telephone -- [33] (1) 45 24 82 00
+
+ FAX -- [33] (1) 45 24 99 88
+
+ established -- 15 November 1974
+
+ aim -- to promote cooperation on energy matters, especially emergency
+ oil sharing and relations between oil consumers and oil producers;
+ established by the OECD
+
+ members -- (23) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland,
+ France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,
+ Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey,
+ UK, US
+
+International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)
+
+ note -- formerly known as League of Red Cross and Red Crescent
+ Societies (LORCS)
+
+ established -- 5 May 1919
+
+ aim -- to provide humanitarian aid in peacetime
+
+ members -- (151) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,
+ Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
+ Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina,
+ Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central
+ African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica,
+ Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,
+ Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji,
+ Finland, France, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,
+ Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,
+ Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
+ Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia,
+ Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
+ Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius,
+ Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
+ Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
+ Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,
+ Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao
+ Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore,
+ Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
+ Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania,
+ Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,
+ UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen,
+ Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+ associate members -- (13) Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Comoros,
+ Cyprus, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kiribati, Namibia, Saint Kitts and
+ Nevis, Seychelles, Suriname, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
+
+International Finance Corporation (IFC)
+
+ address -- 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (202) 477 1234
+
+ FAX -- [1] (202) 477 6391
+
+ established -- 25 May 1955
+
+ effective -- 20 July 1956
+
+ aim -- to support private enterprise in international economic
+ development; a UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate
+
+ members -- (161) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
+ Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh,
+ Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil,
+ Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
+ Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo,
+ Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
+ Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
+ Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon,
+ The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
+ Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
+ Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
+ Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
+ Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The
+ Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
+ Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
+ Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
+ Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
+ Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
+ Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia,
+ Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
+ Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
+ Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,
+ Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,
+ US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa,
+ Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
+
+ address -- Via del Serafico 107, I-00142 Rome, Italy
+
+ telephone -- [39] (6) 54591
+
+ FAX -- [39] (6) 5043463
+
+ established -- NA November 1974
+
+ aim -- to promote agricultural development; a UN specialized agency
+
+ members -- (157)
+
+ Category I -- (21 industrialized aid contributors) Australia, Austria,
+ Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland,
+ Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Spain, Sweden,
+ Switzerland, UK, US
+
+ Category II -- (12 petroleum-exporting aid contributors) Algeria,
+ Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi
+ Arabia, UAE, Venezuela
+
+ Category III -- (124 aid recipients) Afghanistan, Albania, Angola,
+ Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh,
+ Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
+ Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape
+ Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
+ Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia,
+ Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,
+ El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia,
+ Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea- Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
+ Honduras, India, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South
+ Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, The Former
+ Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
+ Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia,
+ Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan,
+ Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal,
+ Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and
+ the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra
+ Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
+ Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
+ Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam,
+ Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+International Investment Bank (IIB)
+
+ established on 7 July 1970; to promote economic development; members
+ were Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Mongolia,
+ Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam; now it is a Russian bank with a new
+ charter
+
+International Labor Organization (ILO)
+
+ address -- International Labor Office, 4 route des Morillons, CH-1211
+ Geneva 22, Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (22) 799 61 11
+
+ FAX -- [41] (22) 798 86 85
+
+ established -- 11 April 1919 (affiliated with the UN 14 December 1946)
+
+ aim -- UN specialized agency concerned with world labor issues
+
+ members -- (171) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
+ Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The
+ Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
+ Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,
+ Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
+ Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,
+ Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
+ Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
+ Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia,
+ Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
+ Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,
+ Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel,
+ Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait,
+ Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania,
+ Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,
+ Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova,
+ Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
+ Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
+ Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,
+ Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi
+ Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
+ Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
+ Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
+ Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
+ Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
+ Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia,
+ Zimbabwe
+
+International Maritime Organization (IMO)
+
+ note -- name changed from Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative
+ Organization (IMCO) on 22 May 1982
+
+ address -- 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, UK
+
+ telephone -- [44] (71) 735 7611
+
+ FAX -- [44] (71) 587 3210
+
+ established -- 17 March 1958
+
+ aim -- to deal with international maritime affairs; a UN specialized
+ agency
+
+ members -- (149) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,
+ Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
+ Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
+ Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape
+ Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,
+ Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,
+ Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
+ Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia,
+ Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
+ Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
+ Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,
+ Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia,
+ Libya, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
+ Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,
+ Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
+ Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
+ Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,
+ Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe,
+ Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
+ Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
+ Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and
+ Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
+ Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire
+
+ associate members -- (2) Hong Kong, Macau
+
+International Maritime Satellite Organization (INMARSAT)
+
+ address -- 99 City Road, London EC1Y 1AX, UK
+
+ telephone -- [44] (71) 728 1000
+
+ FAX -- [44] (71) 728 1044
+
+ established -- 3 September 1976
+
+ effective -- 26 July 1979
+
+ aim -- to provide worldwide communications for maritime shipping and
+ other applications
+
+ members -- (75) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
+ Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cameroon,
+ Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
+ Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece,
+ Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, South
+ Korea, Kuwait, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco,
+ Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,
+ Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi
+ Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
+ Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Yugoslavia
+
+International Monetary Fund (IMF)
+
+ address -- 700 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20431, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (202) 623 7000
+
+ FAX -- [1] (202) 623 4661, 623 7491, 623 4662
+
+ established -- 22 July 1944
+
+ effective -- 27 December 1945
+
+ aim -- to promote world monetary stability and economic development; a
+ UN specialized agency
+
+ members -- (179) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
+ Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The
+ Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
+ Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma,
+ Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African
+ Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica,
+ Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
+ Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial
+ Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The
+ Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
+ Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
+ Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
+ Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
+ Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The
+ Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
+ Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
+ Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco,
+ Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
+ Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
+ Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
+ Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
+ San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
+ Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia,
+ South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
+ Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
+ Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine,
+ UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western
+ Samoa, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+International Olympic Committee (IOC)
+
+ note -- there are 194 National Olympic Committees of which 185 are
+ recognized by the International Olympic Committee
+
+ address -- Chateau de Vidy, CH-1007 Lausanne, Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (21) 621 61 11
+
+ FAX -- [41] (21) 621 62 16
+
+ established -- 23 June 1894
+
+ aim -- to promote the Olympic ideals and administer the Olympic games:
+ 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States (20 July-4 August);
+ 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan (date NA); 2000 Summer Olympics
+ in Sydney, Australia (date NA)
+
+ National Olympic Committees -- (193 and the Palestine Liberation
+ Organization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra,
+ Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia,
+ Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
+ Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and
+ Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei,
+ Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
+ Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
+ Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,
+ Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,
+ Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
+ Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
+ Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana,
+ Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
+ Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazahkstan,
+ Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia,
+ Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
+ Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,
+ Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,
+ Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
+ Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
+ Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
+ Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania,
+ Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and
+ the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
+ Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
+ Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
+ Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan,
+ Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
+ Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
+ Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Western Samoa, Yemen,
+ Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine
+ Liberation Organization ----- International Organization for Migration
+ (IOM)
+
+ note -- established as Provisional Intergovernmental Committee for the
+ Movement of Migrants from Europe; renamed Intergovernmental Committee
+ for European Migration (ICEM) on 15 November 1952; renamed
+ Intergovernmental Committee for Migration (ICM) in November 1980;
+ current name adopted 14 November 1989
+
+ address -- 17 route des Morillons, CP 71, CH-1211 Geneva 19,
+ Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (22) 717 91 11
+
+ FAX -- [41] (22) 798 61 50
+
+ established -- 5 December 1951
+
+ aim -- to facilitate orderly international emigration and immigration
+
+ members -- (52) Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,
+ Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa
+ Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
+ Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras,
+ Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Luxembourg,
+ Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
+ Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland,
+ Thailand, Uganda, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia
+
+ observers -- (44) Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria,
+ Cape Verde, Czech Republic, Federation of Ethnic Communities' Council
+ of Australia Inc., Georgia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, India,
+ Indonesia, Iran, Japan International Friendship and Welfare
+ Foundation, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco,
+ Mozambique, Namibia, NZ, Niwano Peace Foundation, Partnership with the
+ Children of the Third World, Presiding Bishop's Fund for World
+ Relief/Episcopal Church, Refugee Council of Australia, Romania,
+ Russia, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Slovakia,
+ Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, Vietnam,
+ Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe
+
+International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
+
+ address -- CP 56, 1 rue de Varembe, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (22) 749 01 11
+
+ FAX -- [41] (22) 733 34 30
+
+ established -- NA February 1947
+
+ aim -- to promote the development of international standards
+
+ members -- (76 national standards organizations) Albania, Algeria,
+ Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil,
+ Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
+ Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
+ Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
+ Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Libya, Malaysia,
+ Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Pakistan,
+ Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia,
+ Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden,
+ Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
+ Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam,
+ Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe
+
+ correspondent members -- (19) Bahrain, Barbados, Brunei, Estonia, Hong
+ Kong, Jordan, Kuwait, Lithuania, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Nepal,
+ Oman, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Qatar, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE
+
+ subscriber members -- (4) Antigua and Barbuda, Burundi, Grenada, Saint
+ Lucia
+
+International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM)
+
+ address -- CICR, 19 Av de la Paix, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (22) 734 60 01
+
+ FAX -- [41] (22) 733 20 57
+
+ established -- NA 1928
+
+ aim -- to promote worldwide humanitarian aid through the International
+ Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in wartime, and International
+ Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS; formerly
+ League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies or LORCS) in peacetime
+
+ National Societies -- (161 countries) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria,
+ Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The
+ Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin,
+ Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi,
+ Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,
+ Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,
+ Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
+ Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,
+ Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,
+ Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,
+ India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
+ Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,
+ Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
+ Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,
+ Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
+ Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama,
+ Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
+ Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
+ Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe,
+ Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
+ Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
+ Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania,
+ Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,
+ Ukraine, UAR, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western
+ Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
+
+ address -- Place des Nations, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (22) 730 51 11
+
+ FAX -- [41] (22) 733 72 56
+
+ established -- 9 December 1932
+
+ effective -- 1 January 1934
+
+ affiliated with the UN -- 15 November 1947
+
+ aim -- to deal with world telecommunications issues; UN specialized
+ agency
+
+ members -- (184) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,
+ Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria,
+ Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
+ Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
+ Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
+ Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
+ China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia,
+ Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic,
+ Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia,
+ Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany,
+ Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
+ Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
+ Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,
+ Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
+ Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
+ Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,
+ Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,
+ Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
+ Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
+ Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
+ Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,
+ Russia, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome
+ and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore,
+ Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
+ Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
+ Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
+ Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
+ Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen,
+ Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT)
+
+ address -- INTELSAT, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC
+ 20008-3098, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (202) 944 6800
+
+ FAX -- [1] (202) 944 7860
+
+ established -- 20 August 1971
+
+ effective -- 12 February 1973
+
+ aim -- to develop and operate a global commercial telecommunications
+ satellite system
+
+ members -- (134) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia,
+ Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
+ Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina,
+ Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
+ China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus,
+ Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
+ Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana,
+ Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary,
+ Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
+ Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait,
+ Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar,
+ Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated
+ States of Micronesia, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
+ Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan,
+ Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
+ Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
+ Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland,
+ Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and
+ Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela,
+ Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+ nonsignatory users -- (50) Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus,
+ Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burma, Burundi,
+ Cambodia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Cuba, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea,
+ Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Kiribati, North Korea, Laos,
+ Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
+ Macedonia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Mongolia,
+ Nauru, Niue, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
+ Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and
+ the Grenadines, Suriname, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu,
+ Ukraine, Vanuatu, Western Samoa
+
+Islamic Development Bank (IDB)
+
+ address -- P.O. Box 5925, Jeddah 21432, Saudi Arabia
+
+ telephone -- [966] (2) 6361400
+
+ FAX -- [966] (2) 6366871
+
+ established -- 15 December 1973
+
+ aim -- to promote Islamic economic aid and social development
+
+ members -- (48 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)
+ Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin,
+ Brunei, Burkina, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The
+ Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait,
+ Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania,
+ Morocco, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra
+ Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey,
+ Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
+
+Latin American Economic System (LAES)
+
+ note -- also known as Sistema Economico Latinoamericana (SELA)
+
+ address -- SELA, Avda Francisco de Miranda, Torre Europa, piso 4,
+ Chacaito, Apartado de Correos 17035, Caracas 1010-A, Venezuela
+
+ telephone -- [58] (2) 905 5111
+
+ FAX -- [58] (2) 951 6953, 951 7246
+
+ established -- 17 October 1975
+
+ aim -- to promote economic and social development through regional
+ cooperation
+
+ members -- (27) Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,
+ Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador,
+ Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico,
+ Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago,
+ Uruguay, Venezuela
+
+Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)
+
+ note -- also known as Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion
+ (ALADI)
+
+ address -- Calle Cebollati 1461, Casilla de Correo 577, 11000
+ Montevideo, Uruguay
+
+ telephone -- [598] (2) 40 11 21, 49 59 15
+
+ FAX -- [598] (2) 49 06 49
+
+ established -- 12 August 1980
+
+ effective -- 18 March 1981
+
+ aim -- to promote freer regional trade
+
+ members -- (11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador,
+ Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
+
+ observers -- (16) Commission of the European Communities, Costa Rica,
+ Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,
+ Inter-American Development Bank, Italy, Nicaragua, Organization of
+ American States, Panama, Portugal, Spain, United Nations Development
+ Program, United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the
+ Caribbean
+
+League of Arab States (LAS)
+
+ see -- Arab League (AL)
+
+League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (LORCS)
+
+ see -- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
+ Societies (IFRCS)
+
+least developed countries (LLDCs)
+
+ that subgroup of the less developed countries (LDCs) initially
+ identified by the UN General Assembly in 1971 as having no significant
+ economic growth, per capita GDPs normally less than $1,000, and low
+ literacy rates; also known as the undeveloped countries. The 42 LLDCs
+ are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina, Burma,
+ Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros,
+ Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Guinea,
+ Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Mali,
+ Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe,
+ Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu,
+ Western Samoa, Yemen
+
+less developed countries (LDCs)
+
+ the bottom group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former
+ USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries
+ (LDCs); mainly countries and dependent areas with low levels of
+ output, living standards, and technology; per capita GDPs are
+ generally below $5,000 and often less than $1,500; however, the group
+ also includes a number of countries with high per capita incomes,
+ areas of advanced technology, and rapid rates of growth; includes the
+ advanced developing countries, developing countries, Four Dragons
+ (Four Tigers), least developed countries (LLDCs), low-income
+ countries, middle-income countries, newly industrializing economies
+ (NIEs), the South, Third World, underdeveloped countries, undeveloped
+ countries; the 172 LDCs are: Afghanistan, Algeria, American Samoa,
+ Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas,
+ Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,
+ Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Burkina, Burma,
+ Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central
+ African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands,
+ Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,
+ Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,
+ El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands,
+ Fiji, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Gaza Strip,
+ Ghana, Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala,
+ Guernsey, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong,
+ India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jersey, Jordan, Kenya,
+ Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho,
+ Liberia, Libya, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
+ Isle of Man, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius,
+ Mayotte, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Montserrat,
+ Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, New
+ Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern
+ Mariana Islands, Oman, Palau, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
+ Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Qatar,
+ Reunion, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
+ Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome
+ and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
+ Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
+ Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga,
+ Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, UAE,
+ Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wallis
+ and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara, Western Samoa, Yemen, Zaire,
+ Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+low-income countries
+
+ another term for those less developed countries with below-average per
+ capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)
+
+London Suppliers Group
+
+ see -- Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
+
+Mercado Comun del Cono Sur (MERCOSUR)
+
+ see -- Southern Cone Common Market
+
+middle-income countries
+
+ another term for those less developed countries with above-average per
+ capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)
+
+Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)
+
+ established -- April 1987
+
+ aim -- to arrest missile proliferation by controlling the export of
+ key missile technologies and equipment
+
+ members -- (25) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada,
+ Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
+ Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain,
+ Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
+
+Near Abroad
+
+ the 14 non-Russian successor states of the USSR, in which 25 million
+ ethnic Russians live and in which Moscow has expressed a strong
+ national security interest
+
+newly industrializing countries (NICs)
+
+ former term for the newly industrializing economies; see newly
+ industrializing economies (NIEs)
+
+newly industrializing economies (NIEs)
+
+ that subgroup of the less developed countries (LDCs) that has
+ experienced particularly rapid industrialization of their economies;
+ formerly known as the newly industrializing countries (NICs); also
+ known as advanced developing countries; usually includes the Four
+ Dragons (Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan), and Brazil
+
+Nonaligned Movement (NAM)
+
+ address -- c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jalan Taman Pejambon 6,
+ Jakarta PUSAT, Indonesia
+
+ established -- 1-6 September 1961
+
+ aim -- to establish political and military cooperation apart from the
+ traditional East or West blocs
+
+ members -- (110 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)
+ Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
+ Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina,
+ Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African
+ Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba,
+ Cyprus, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon,
+ The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
+ Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North
+ Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar,
+ Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,
+ Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger,
+ Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines,
+ Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
+ Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa,
+ Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand,
+ Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
+ Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
+ Palestine Liberation Organization
+
+ observers -- (19) Afro-Asian Solidarity Organization, Antigua and
+ Barbuda, Arab League, Armenia, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Croatia,
+ Dominica, El Salvador, Kanaka Socialist National Liberation Front (New
+ Caledonia), Mexico, Mongolia, Organization of African Unity,
+ Organization of the Islamic Conference, Papua New Guinea, Socialist
+ Party of Puerto Rico, UN, Uruguay
+
+ guests -- (21) Australia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
+ Canada, Dominican Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
+ Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino,
+ Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
+
+Nordic Council (NC)
+
+ address -- Tyrgatan 7, Box 19506, S-104 32 Stockholm, Sweden
+
+ telephone -- [46] (8) 453 47 00
+
+ FAX -- [46] (8) 411 75 36
+
+ established -- 16 March 1952
+
+ effective -- 12 February 1953
+
+ aim -- to promote regional economic, cultural, and environmental
+ cooperation
+
+ members -- (5) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland),
+ Finland (including Aland Islands), Iceland, Norway, Sweden
+
+ observers -- the Sami (Lapp) local parliaments of Finland, Norway, and
+ Sweden
+
+Nordic Investment Bank (NIB)
+
+ address -- Fabiansgatan 34, PB 249 SF-00171 Helsinki, Finland
+
+ telephone -- [358] (0) 18001
+
+ FAX -- [358] (0) 1800309
+
+ established -- 4 December 1975
+
+ effective -- 1 June 1976
+
+ aim -- to promote economic cooperation and development
+
+ members -- (5) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland),
+ Finland (including Aland Islands), Iceland, Norway, Sweden
+
+North
+
+ a popular term for the rich industrialized countries generally located
+ in the northern portion of the Northern Hemisphere; the counterpart of
+ the South; see developed countries (DCs)
+
+North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC)
+
+ note -- an extension of NATO
+
+ address -- c/o NATO, B-1110 Brussels, Belgium
+
+ telephone -- [32] (2) 728 41 11
+
+ FAX -- [32] (2) 728 45 79
+
+ established -- 8 November 1991
+
+ effective -- 20 December 1991
+
+ aim -- to discuss cooperation on mutual political and security issues
+
+ members -- (38) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium,
+ Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia,
+ Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
+ Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
+ Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey,
+ Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan
+
+ observer -- (1) Finland
+
+North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
+
+ address -- B-110 Brussels, Belgium
+
+ telephone -- [32] (2) 728 41 11
+
+ FAX -- [32] (2) 728 45 79
+
+ established -- 17 September 1949
+
+ aim -- to promote mutual defense and cooperation
+
+ members -- (16) Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece,
+ Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain,
+ Turkey, UK, US
+
+Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)
+
+ address -- Le Seine St. Germain, 12 bd des Iles, F-92130 Issy-les-
+ Moulineaux, France
+
+ telephone -- [33] (1) 45 24 10 10
+
+ FAX -- [33] (1) 45 24 11 10
+
+ established -- NA 1958
+
+ aim -- to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy; associated with
+ OECD
+
+ members -- (23) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland,
+ France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,
+ Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK,
+ US
+
+Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
+
+ note -- also known as the London Suppliers Group
+
+ address -- c/o IAEA, Wagramerstrasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna,
+ Austria
+
+ telephone -- [43] (1) 2360 2045
+
+ FAX -- [43] (1) 234564
+
+ established -- 1974
+
+ aim -- to establish guidelines for exports of technical information,
+ processing equipment for uranium enrichment and nuclear materials to
+ countries of proliferation concern and regions of conflict and
+ instability
+
+ members -- (28) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech
+ Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland,
+ Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
+ Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
+
+ observers -- (2) Argentina, European Commission
+
+Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la America Latina y
+el Caribe (OPANAL)
+
+ see -- Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America
+ and the Caribbean (OPANAL)
+
+Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
+
+ address -- 2 rue Andre Pascal, F-75775 Paris CEDEX 16, France
+
+ telephone -- [33] (1) 45 24 82 00
+
+ FAX -- [33] (1) 45 24 85 00, 45 24 81 76
+
+ established -- 14 December 1960
+
+ effective -- 30 September 1961
+
+ aim -- to promote economic cooperation and development
+
+ members -- (25) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland,
+ France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,
+ Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
+ Turkey, UK, US
+
+ special member -- (1) EU
+
+Organization of African Unity (OAU)
+
+ address -- P. O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
+
+ telephone -- [251] (1) 517700
+
+ FAX -- [251] (1) 512622
+
+ established -- 25 May 1963
+
+ aim -- to promote unity and cooperation among African states
+
+ members -- (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi,
+ Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo,
+ Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia,
+ Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho,
+ Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius,
+ Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Democratic
+ Republic, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
+ Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia,
+ Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+Organization of American States (OAS)
+
+ address -- corner of 17th Street and Constitution Avenue NW,
+ Washington, DC 20006, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (202) 458 3000 FAX [1] (202) 458 3967
+
+ established -- 30 April 1948
+
+ effective -- 13 December 1951
+
+ aim -- to promote regional peace and security as well as economic and
+ social development
+
+ members -- (35) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados,
+ Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba
+ (excluded from formal participation since 1962), Dominica, Dominican
+ Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti,
+ Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint
+ Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
+ Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
+
+ observers -- (31) Algeria, Angola, Austria, Belgium, Central American
+ Parliament, Commission of the European Communities, Cyprus, Egypt,
+ Equatorial Guinea, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See,
+ Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Morocco,
+ Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi
+ Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia
+
+Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC)
+
+ address -- POB 20501, Safat 13066, Kuwait
+
+ telephone -- [965] 5340713
+
+ FAX -- [965] 5340694
+
+ established -- 9 January 1968
+
+ aim -- to promote cooperation in the petroleum industry
+
+ members -- (10) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar,
+ Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE
+
+Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
+
+ address -- P.O. Box 179, The Morne, Castries, St. Lucia
+
+ telephone -- [1] (809) 452 2537
+
+ FAX -- [1] (809) 453 1628
+
+ established -- 18 June 1981
+
+ effective -- 4 July 1981
+
+ aim -- to promote political, economic, and defense cooperation
+
+ members -- (7) Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat,
+ Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
+
+ associate member -- (1) British Virgin Islands
+
+Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
+
+ address -- Obere Donaustrasse 93, A-1020 Vienna, Austria
+
+ telephone -- [43] (1) 21 11 20
+
+ FAX -- [43] (1) 26 43 20
+
+ established -- 14 September 1960
+
+ aim -- to coordinate petroleum policies
+
+ members -- (12) Algeria, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya,
+ Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela
+
+Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
+
+ address -- Kilo 6, Mecca Road, P.O. Box 178, Jeddah 21411, Saudi
+ Arabia
+
+ telephone -- [966] (2) 680-0800
+
+ FAX -- [966] (2) 687-3568
+
+ established -- 22-25 September 1969
+
+ aim -- to promote Islamic solidarity in economic, social, cultural,
+ and political affairs
+
+ members -- (48 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)
+ Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin,
+ Brunei, Burkina, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The
+ Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait,
+ Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania,
+ Morocco, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra
+ Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey,
+ Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
+
+ observers -- (3) Kazakhstan, Mozambique, "Turkish Republic of Northern
+ Cyprus"
+
+Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
+
+ note -- formerly the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
+ (CSCE)
+
+ address -- Thunovska 12, Mala Strana, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic
+
+ telephone -- [422] (2) 24311069
+
+ FAX -- [422] (2) 24310629
+
+ established -- 1 January 1995
+
+ aim -- to discuss issues of mutual concern and to review
+ implementation of the Helsinki Agreement
+
+ members -- (53) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
+ Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus,
+ Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany,
+ Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan,
+ Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
+ Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
+ Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
+ Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan,
+ Yugoslavia (suspended)
+
+ observer -- (1) The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
+
+Paris Club
+
+ see -- Group of 10
+
+Partnership for Peace (PFP)
+
+ established -- 10-11 January 1994
+
+ aim -- to expand and intensify political and military cooperation
+ throughout Europe, increase stability, diminish threats to peace, and
+ build relationships by promoting the spirit of practical cooperation
+ and commitment to democratic principles that underpin NATO; program
+ under the auspices of NATO
+
+ members -- (24) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech
+ Republic, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
+ Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia,
+ Slovenia, Sweden, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
+
+Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
+
+ address -- Peace Palace, Carnegieplein 2, NL-2517 KJ The Hague,
+ Netherlands
+
+ telephone -- [31] (70) 346 96 80
+
+ FAX -- [31] (70) 356 13 38
+
+ established -- 29 July 1899
+
+ aim -- to facilitate the settlement of international disputes
+
+ members -- (80) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium,
+ Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile,
+ China, Colombia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican
+ Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany,
+ Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran,
+ Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon,
+ Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,
+ Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal,
+ Romania, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka,
+ Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey,
+ Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zaire, Zimbabwe
+
+Population Commission
+
+ address -- c/o ECOSOC, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 754 1234
+
+ established -- 3 October 1946
+
+ aim -- to deal with population matters of importance to the UN, as
+ part of Economic and Social Council organization
+
+ members -- (27) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
+
+Rio Group (RG)
+
+ note -- formerly known as Grupo de los Ocho, established in December
+ 1986
+
+ established -- NA 1988
+
+ aim -- to consult on regional Latin American issues
+
+ members -- (11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador,
+ Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela; note - Panama was expelled
+ in 1988
+
+Second World
+
+ another term for the traditionally Marxist-Leninist states of the USSR
+ and Eastern Europe, with authoritarian governments and command
+ economies based on the Soviet model; the term is fading from use; see
+ centrally planned economies
+
+Social Commission
+
+ see -- Commission for Social Development
+
+socialist countries
+
+ in general, countries in which the government owns and plans the use
+ of the major factors of production; note - the term is sometimes used
+ incorrectly as a synonym for Communist countries
+
+South
+
+ a popular term for the poorer, less industrialized countries generally
+ located south of the developed countries; the counterpart of the
+ North; see less developed countries (LDCs)
+
+South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
+
+ address -- P.O. Box 4222, Kathmandu, Nepal
+
+ telephone -- [977] (1) 221785, 221787, 221794
+
+ FAX -- [977] (1) 227033
+
+ established -- 8 December 1985
+
+ aim -- to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation
+
+ members -- (7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan,
+ Sri Lanka
+
+South Pacific Commission (SPC)
+
+ address -- Anse Vata, BP D5 Noumea CEDEX, New Caledonia
+
+ telephone -- [687] 26 20 00 FAX [687] 26 38 18
+
+ established -- 6 February 1947
+
+ effective -- 29 July 1948
+
+ aim -- to promote regional cooperation in economic and social matters
+
+ members -- (27) American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, France,
+ French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States
+ of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, NZ, Niue, Northern Mariana
+ Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Solomon Islands,
+ Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, UK, US, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, Western
+ Samoa
+
+South Pacific Forum (SPF)
+
+ address -- c/o forum Secretariat, Ratu Sukuna Road GPO Box 856, Suva,
+ Fiji
+
+ telephone -- [679] 312 600, 303 106
+
+ FAX -- [679] 302 204
+
+ established -- 5 August 1971
+
+ aim -- to promote regional cooperation in political matters
+
+ members -- (15) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall
+ Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Papua New
+ Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa
+
+ observer -- (1) Palau
+
+South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (SPARTECA)
+
+ address -- (see South Pacific Forum)
+
+ established -- NA 1981
+
+ aim -- to redress unequal trade relationship of Australia and New
+ Zealand with small island economies in Pacific region
+
+ members -- (15) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall
+ Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Papua New
+ Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa
+
+Southern African Customs Union (SACU)
+
+ address -- Director General, Trade and Industry, Private Bag X84,
+ Pretoria 0001, South Africa
+
+ established -- 11 December 1969
+
+ aim -- to promote free trade and cooperation in customs matters
+
+ members -- (9) Bophuthatswana, Botswana, Ciskei, Lesotho, Namibia,
+ South Africa, Swaziland, Transkei, Venda
+
+Southern African Development Community (SADC)
+
+ note -- evolved from the Southern African Development Coordination
+ Conference (SADCC)
+
+ address -- Private Bag 008, Gaborone, Botswana
+
+ telephone -- [267] (31) 51863, 51864, 51865
+
+ FAX -- [267] (31) 372848
+
+ established -- 17 August 1992
+
+ aim -- to promote regional economic development and integration
+
+ members -- (11) Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique,
+ Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR)
+
+ address -- c/o Cancilleria de la Republica de Argentina, Buenos Aires,
+ Argentina
+
+ established -- 26 March 1991
+
+ aim -- to increase regional economic cooperation
+
+ members -- (4) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
+
+Statistical Commission
+
+ address -- c/o ECOSOC, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 758 2718
+
+ established -- 21 June 1946
+
+ aim -- to deal with development and standardization of national
+ statistics of interest to the UN, as part of the Economic and Social
+ Council organization
+
+ members -- (24) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
+
+Third World
+
+ another term for the less developed countries; the term is fading from
+ use;
+
+ see -- less developed countries (LDCs)
+
+underdeveloped countries
+
+ refers to those less developed countries with the potential for above-
+ average economic growth; see less developed countries (LDCs)
+
+undeveloped countries
+
+ refers to those extremely poor less developed countries (LDCs) with
+ little prospect for economic growth; see least developed countries
+ (LLDCs)
+
+Union Douaniere et Economique de l
+
+ 'Afrique Centrale (UDEAC)
+
+ see -- Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)
+
+United Nations (UN)
+
+ address -- United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 758 2718
+
+ established -- 26 June 1945
+
+ effective -- 24 October 1945
+
+ aim -- to maintain international peace and security and to promote
+ cooperation involving economic, social, cultural and humanitarian
+ problems
+
+ members -- (184 excluding Yugoslavia) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria,
+ Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,
+ Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
+ Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and
+ Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma,
+ Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African
+ Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica,
+ Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
+ Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
+ Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France,
+ Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,
+ Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,
+ Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
+ Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea,
+ Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
+ Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
+ Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
+ Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of
+ Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
+ Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,
+ Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
+ Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint
+ Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San
+ Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
+ Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia,
+ South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
+ Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago,
+ Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
+ Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen,
+ Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - all UN members
+ are represented in the General Assembly
+
+ observers -- (2 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Holy See,
+ Switzerland, Palestine Liberation Organization
+
+United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM II)
+
+ note -- successor to original UNAVEM
+
+ address -- c/o United Nations, UNAVEM II, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 758 2718
+
+ established -- 20 December 1988
+
+ aim -- to verify the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola;
+ established by the UN Security Council
+
+ members -- (16) Argentina, Brazil, Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary,
+ India, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway,
+ Slovakia, Sweden, Zimbabwe
+
+United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR)
+
+ established -- 5 October 1993
+
+ aim -- to monitor ceasefire agreement, to support and provide safe
+ conditions for displaced persons; established by the UN Security
+ Council
+
+ members -- (17) Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, Congo, Egypt, Fiji,
+ Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia,
+ Uruguay, Zimbabwe
+
+United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
+
+ note -- acronym retained from the predecessor organization UN
+ International Children's Emergency Fund
+
+ address -- UNICEF House, Three United Nations Plaza, New York, NY
+ 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 326 7000
+
+ established -- 11 December 1946
+
+ aim -- to help establish child health and welfare services
+
+ members -- (41) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
+
+United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
+
+ address -- Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (22) 917 12 34, 907 12 34
+
+ FAX -- [41] (22) 907 00 57
+
+ established -- 30 December 1964
+
+ aim -- to promote international trade
+
+ members -- (187) all UN members plus Holy See, Switzerland, Tonga
+
+United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
+
+ address -- One United National Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 906 5788, 906 500 FAX [1] (212) 906 5365
+
+ established -- 22 November 1965
+
+ aim -- to provide technical assistance to stimulate economic and
+ social development
+
+ members -- (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
+
+United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)
+
+ address -- c/o UNDOF, P.O. Box 5368, Damascus, Syrian AR
+
+ established -- 31 May 1974
+
+ aim -- to observe the 1973 Arab-Israeli ceasefire; established by the
+ UN Security Council
+
+ members -- (4) Austria, Canada, Finland, Poland
+
+United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
+
+ address -- 7 place de Fontenoy, F-75700 Paris, France
+
+ telephone -- [33] (1) 45 68 10 00
+
+ FAX -- [33] (1) 45 67 16 90
+
+ established -- 16 November 1945
+
+ effective -- 4 November 1946
+
+ aim -- to promote cooperation in education, science, and culture
+
+ members -- (182) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,
+ Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria,
+ Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
+ Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
+ Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
+ Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
+ China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote
+ d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
+ Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial
+ Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The
+ Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
+ Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
+ Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
+ Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,
+ Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania,
+ Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,
+ Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,
+ Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
+ Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman,
+ Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
+ Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and
+ Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao
+ Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
+ Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
+ Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,
+ Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
+ Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
+ Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia
+ (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+ associate members -- (3) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Netherlands
+ Antilles
+
+United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
+
+ address -- One United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 906 5000
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 826 2057
+
+ established -- 15 December 1972
+
+ aim -- to promote international cooperation on all environmental
+ matters
+
+ members -- (58) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
+
+United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)
+
+ address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political
+ Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879
+
+ established -- 4 March 1964
+
+ aim -- to serve as a peacekeeping force between Greek Cypriots and
+ Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus; established by the UN Security Council
+
+ members -- (8) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark,
+ Finland, Ireland, UK
+
+United Nations General Assembly
+
+ address -- see United Nations
+
+ established -- 26 June 1945
+
+ effective -- 24 October 1945
+
+ aim -- to function as the primary deliberative organ of the UN
+
+ members -- (185) all UN members are represented in the General
+ Assembly
+
+United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
+
+ address -- Vienna International Center, P.O. Box 300, A-1400 Vienna,
+ Austria
+
+ telephone -- [43] (1) 211 310
+
+ FAX -- [43] (1) 23 21 56
+
+ established -- 17 November 1966
+
+ effective -- 1 January 1967
+
+ aim -- UN specialized agency that promotes industrial development
+ especially among the members
+
+ members -- (166) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,
+ Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
+ Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and
+ Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi,
+ Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
+ China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia,
+ Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
+ Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia,
+ Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
+ Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
+ Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel,
+ Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea,
+ Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
+ Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,
+ Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,
+ Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
+ Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan,
+ Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
+ Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
+ Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi
+ Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia,
+ Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
+ Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
+ Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
+ Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia
+ (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
+
+ established -- 11 December 1963
+
+ aim -- to help the UN become more effective through training and
+ research members (Board of Trustees) - (24) Argentina, Belgium,
+ Canada, China, Cote d'Ivoire, France, Germany, India, Italy, Jamaica,
+ Japan, Libya, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Sweden,
+ Switzerland, Tunisia, Uganda, UK, US, Yugoslavia
+
+United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
+
+ address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political
+ Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879
+
+ established -- 19 March 1978
+
+ aim -- to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, restore peace, and
+ reestablish Lebanese authority in southern Lebanon; established by the
+ UN Security Council
+
+ members -- (9) Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Nepal,
+ Norway, Poland
+
+United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM)
+
+ address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Mission, Office for Special Political
+ Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone [1] (212)
+ 963 1234
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879
+
+ established -- 9 April 1991
+
+ aim -- to observe and monitor the demilitarized zone established
+ between Iraq and Kuwait; established by the UN Security Council
+
+ members -- (33) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, China,
+ Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India,
+ Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,
+ Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey,
+ UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
+
+United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)
+
+ address -- c/o OUSGSPA, Room 3853, United Nations, New York, NY 10017,
+ USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 963 4457
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 758 2718
+
+ established -- 13 August 1948
+
+ aim -- to observe the 1949 India-Pakistan ceasefire; established by
+ the UN Security Council
+
+ members -- (8) Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway,
+ Sweden, Uruguay
+
+United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH)
+
+ established -- 23 September 1993
+
+ aim -- to assist in implementing the agreement to transfer power back
+ into the civilian government; established by the UN Security Council
+
+ members -- (14) Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Canada, France,
+ Indonesia, Madagascar, Russia, Senegal, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia,
+ US, Venezuela
+
+United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL)
+
+ established -- 22 September 1993
+
+ aim -- to assist in the implementation of the peace agreement;
+ established by the UN Security Council
+
+ members -- (13) Austria, Bangladesh, China, Czech Republic, Egypt,
+ Guinea- Bissau, India, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Slovakia,
+ Uruguay
+
+United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)
+
+ address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political
+ Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879
+
+ established -- 29 April 1991
+
+ aim -- to supervise the referendum in Western Sahara; established by
+ the UN Security Council
+
+ members -- (27) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium,
+ Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea,
+ Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland,
+ Russia, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, US, Venezuela
+
+United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL)
+
+ address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political
+ Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879
+
+ established -- 20 May 1991
+
+ aim -- to verify ceasefire arrangements and to monitor the maintenance
+ of public order pending the organization of a new National Civil
+ Police; established by the UN Security Council
+
+ members -- (14) Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia,
+ France, Guyana, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, Venezuela
+
+United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG)
+
+ address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political
+ Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879
+
+ established -- 1993 for a period of six months
+
+ aim -- to verify compliance with the cease-fire agreement reached 27
+ July 1993 and investigate reports of violations of that agreement;
+ established by the UN Security Council
+
+ members -- (7) Bangladesh, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Sweden,
+ Switzerland
+
+United Nations Observer Mission Uganda-Rwanda (UNOMUR)
+
+ address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political
+ Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879
+
+ established -- 1993 for six months
+
+ aim -- to monitor the Uganda/Rwanda border to verify that no military
+ assistance reaches Rwanda across the border; established by the UN
+ Security Council
+
+ members -- (8) Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Hungary, Netherlands,
+ Senegal, Slovakia, Zimbabwe
+
+United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
+
+ address -- Case postale 2500, Depot, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (22) 739 81 11
+
+ FAX -- [41] (22) 731 95 46
+
+ established -- 3 December 1949
+
+ effective -- 1 January 1951
+
+ aim -- to ensure the humanitarian treatment of refugees and find
+ permanent solutions to refugee problems
+
+ members -- (47) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium,
+ Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, France,
+ Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan,
+ Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands,
+ Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, Spain,
+ Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey,
+ Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire
+
+United Nations Operation in Mozambique (UNOMOZ)
+
+ note -- supposed to shut down 31 January 1995
+
+ address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political
+ Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879
+
+ established -- 16 December 1992
+
+ aim -- to supervise the ceasefire; established by the UN Security
+ Council
+
+ members -- (27) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil,
+ Canada, Cape Verde, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau,
+ Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Netherlands,
+ Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, US, Uruguay, Zambia
+
+United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II)
+
+ note -- UN peacekeepers left Somalia on 1 March 1995; some UN
+ personnel remain in Somalia engaged in humanitarian work
+
+ address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political
+ Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879
+
+ established -- 24 April 1992
+
+ aim -- to facilitate an immediate cessation of hostilities, to
+ maintain a ceasefire in order to promote a political settlement, and
+ to provide urgent humanitarian assistance; established by the UN
+ Security Council
+
+ members -- (14) Australia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Canada, Egypt, India,
+ Ireland, Malaysia, Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Zimbabwe
+
+United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
+
+ note -- acronym retained from predecessor organization UN Fund for
+ Population Activities
+
+ address -- 220 E. 42nd Street, 19th Floor, Room DN-1901, New York, NY
+ 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 297 5000
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 557 6416
+
+ established -- NA July 1967
+
+ aim -- to assist both developed and developing countries to deal with
+ their population problems
+
+ members -- (52) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
+
+United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR)
+
+ address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Mission, Office for Special Political
+ Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879
+
+ established -- 28 February 1992
+
+ aim -- to create conditions for peace and security required for the
+ negotiation of an overall settlement of the "Yugoslav" crisis;
+ established by the UN Security Council
+
+ members -- (35) Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada,
+ Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Ghana,
+ Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
+ Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Spain,
+ Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, US, Venezuela
+
+United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near
+
+ East (UNRWA)
+
+ address -- Vienna International Center, P. O. Box 700, A-1400 Vienna,
+ Austria
+
+ telephone -- [43] (1) 211 31, ext. 4530
+
+ FAX -- [43] (1) 230 7487
+
+ established -- 8 December 1949
+
+ aim -- to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees
+
+ members -- (10) Belgium, Egypt, France, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria,
+ Turkey, UK, US
+
+United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)
+
+ established -- 1 July 1964
+
+ aim -- to conduct research into the problems of economic development
+ during different phases of economic growth
+
+ members -- no country members, but a Board of Directors consisting of
+ a chairman appointed by the UN secretary general and 10 individual
+ members
+
+United Nations Secretariat
+
+ address -- see United Nations
+
+ established -- 26 June 1945
+
+ effective -- 24 October 1945
+
+ aim -- to serve as the primary administrative organ of the UN; a
+ Secretary General is appointed for a five-year term by the General
+ Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council
+
+ members -- the UN secretary general and staff
+
+United Nations Security Council
+
+ address -- c/o United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA
+
+ telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234
+
+ FAX -- [1] (212) 758 2718
+
+ established -- 26 June 1945
+
+ effective -- 24 October 1945
+
+ aim -- to maintain international peace and security
+
+ permanent members -- (5) China, France, Russia, UK, US
+
+ nonpermanent members -- (10) elected for two-year terms by the UN
+ General Assembly; Argentina (1994-95), Brazil (1993-94), Czech
+ Republic (1994-95), Djibouti (1993-94), NZ (1993-94), Nigeria
+ (1994-95), Oman (1994-95), Pakistan (1993-94), Rwanda (1994-95), Spain
+ (1993-94)
+
+United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC)
+
+ established by the UN Security Council on 28 February 1992 to
+ contribute to the restoration and maintenance of peace and to the
+ holding of free elections; disbanded sometime after the UN-supervised
+ election in May 1993; members were Algeria, Argentina, Australia,
+ Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada,
+ Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary,
+ India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia,
+ Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,
+ Philippines, Poland, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand,
+ Tunisia, UK, US, Uruguay
+
+United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)
+
+ address -- Government House, P.O. Box 490, Jerusalem, Israel
+
+ telephone -- [972] (2) 734 223
+
+ established -- NA May 1948
+
+ aim -- to supervise the 1948 Arab-Israeli ceasefire and subsequently
+ extended to work in the Sinai, Lebanon, Jordan, Afghanistan, and
+ Pakistan; initially established by the UN Security Council
+
+ members -- (19) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile,
+ China, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, NZ,
+ Norway, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, US
+
+United Nations Trusteeship Council
+
+ established on 26 June 1945, effective on 24 October 1945, to
+ supervise the administration of the 11 UN trust territories; members
+ were China, France, Russia, UK, US; its mandate ended on 1 October
+ 1994 when the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau) became
+ the Republic of Palau, a self-governing territory in free association
+ with the US
+
+United Nations University (UNU)
+
+ established -- 6 December 1973
+
+ aim -- to conduct research in development, welfare, and human survival
+ and to train scholars
+
+ members (associated institutes) -- (32) Argentina, Australia,
+ Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica,
+ Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Japan,
+ Kenya, South Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Philippines, Spain,
+ Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US,
+ Venezuela
+
+Universal Postal Union (UPU)
+
+ address -- Bureau International de lUPU, Weltpoststrasse 4, CH-3000
+ Berne 15, Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (31) 350 31 11
+
+ FAX -- [41] (31) 350 31 10
+
+ established -- 9 October 1874, affiliated with the UN 15 November 1947
+
+ effective -- 1 July 1948
+
+ aim -- to promote international postal cooperation; a UN specialized
+ agency
+
+ members -- (189) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
+ Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The
+ Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
+ Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
+ Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
+ Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
+ Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
+ Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
+ Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia,
+ Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany,
+ Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
+ Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
+ Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,
+ Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
+ Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
+ Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,
+ Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,
+ Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
+ Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
+ Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Overseas Territories of the UK, Pakistan,
+ Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
+ Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
+ Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and
+ Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore,
+ Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
+ Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
+ Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
+ Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
+ Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa,
+ Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe ------ Warsaw
+ Pact (WP) established 14 May 1955 to promote mutual defense; members
+ met 1 July 1991 to dissolve the alliance; member states at the time of
+ dissolution were Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania,
+ and the USSR; earlier members included East Germany and Albania
+
+West African Development Bank (WADB)
+
+ note -- also known as Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD)
+
+ address -- BOAD, BP 1172, 68 av de la liberation, Lome, Togo
+
+ telephone -- [228] 21 59 06, 21 42 44, 21 01 13
+
+ FAX -- [228] 21 52 67, 21 72 69
+
+ established -- 14 November 1973
+
+ aim -- to promote regional economic development and integration
+
+ members -- (7) Benin, Burkina, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal,
+ Togo
+
+West African Economic Community (CEAO)
+
+ note -- acronym from Communaute Economique de lAfrique de lOuest
+ established on 3 June 1972 to promote regional economic development;
+ its members were Benin, Burkina, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania,
+ Niger, Senegal; it was disbanded in 1994
+
+Western European Union (WEU)
+
+ address -- Rue de la Regence 4, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
+
+ telephone -- [32] (2) 500 44 11
+
+ FAX -- [32] (2) 511 35 19
+
+ established -- 23 October 1954
+
+ effective -- 6 May 1955
+
+ aim -- to provide mutual defense and to move toward political
+ unification
+
+ members -- (10) Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg,
+ Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK
+
+ associate members -- (3) Iceland, Norway, Turkey
+
+ associate partners -- (9) Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary,
+ Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia
+
+ observers -- (2) Denmark, Ireland
+
+World Bank
+
+ see -- International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
+
+World Bank Group
+
+ includes International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD),
+ International Development Association (IDA), and International Finance
+ Corporation (IFC)
+
+World Confederation of Labor (WCL)
+
+ address -- Rue de Treves 33, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium
+
+ telephone -- [32] (2) 230 62 95
+
+ FAX -- [32] (2) 230 87 22
+
+ established -- 19 June 1920 as the International Federation of
+ Christian Trade Unions (IFCTU), renamed 4 October 1968
+
+ aim -- to promote the trade union movement
+
+ members -- (99 national organizations) Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
+ Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize,
+ Benin, Bolivia, Bonaire Island, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Cameroon,
+ Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia,
+ Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican
+ Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, French Guiana, Gabon, The
+ Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti,
+ Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho,
+ Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,
+ Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, Namibia, Netherlands,
+ Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
+ Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Rwanda, Saint
+ Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the
+ Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sri Lanka,
+ Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, UK, US,
+ Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+World Court
+
+ see -- International Court of Justice (ICJ)
+
+World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)
+
+ address -- Branicka 112, Branik, CS-14700 Prague 4, Czech Republic
+
+ telephone -- [42] (2) 46 21 40
+
+ FAX -- [42] (2) 46 13 78
+
+ established -- 3 October 1945
+
+ aim -- to promote the trade union movement
+
+ members -- (116) Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,
+ Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia,
+ Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
+ Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
+ Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
+ Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, The
+ Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
+ Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
+ Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho,
+ Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Martinique,
+ Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, New Caledonia, NZ,
+ Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
+ Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Romania,
+ Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the
+ Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands,
+ Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syria,
+ Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
+ Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire, Zimbabwe
+
+World Food Council (WFC)
+
+ address -- c/o FAO, Via Terme di Caracalla, I-00100 Rome, Italy
+
+ telephone -- [39] (6) 522821
+
+ FAX -- [39] (6) 574 5091
+
+ established -- 17 December 1974
+
+ aim -- to study world food problems and to recommend solutions; ECOSOC
+ organization
+
+ members -- (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
+
+World Food Program (WFP)
+
+ address -- Via Cristoforo Colombo 426, I-00145 Rome, Italy
+
+ telephone -- [39] (6) 522821
+
+ FAX -- [39] (6) 5123700, 5133537, 52282840
+
+ established -- 24 November 1961
+
+ aim -- to provide food aid in support of economic development or
+ disaster relief; an ECOSOC organization
+
+ members -- (41) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
+
+World Health Organization (WHO)
+
+ address -- CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (22) 791 21 11, 791 32 23
+
+ FAX -- [41] (22) 791 07 46
+
+ established -- 22 July 1946
+
+ effective -- 7 April 1948
+
+ aim -- UN specialized agency concerned with health matters
+
+ members -- (189) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
+ Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The
+ Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
+ Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
+ Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
+ Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
+ Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia,
+ Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
+ Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia,
+ Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany,
+ Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
+ Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
+ Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
+ Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia,
+ Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former
+ Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
+ Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
+ Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
+ Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niue,
+ Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
+ Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,
+ Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
+ Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
+ Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon
+ Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
+ Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand,
+ Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
+ Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
+ Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended),
+ Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+ associate members -- (2) Puerto Rico, Tokelau
+
+World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
+
+ address -- 34 chemin des Colombettes, Case Postale 18, CH-1211 Geneva
+ 20, Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (22) 730 9111
+
+ FAX -- [41] (22) 733 5428
+
+ established -- 14 July 1967
+
+ effective -- 26 April 1970
+
+ aim -- to furnish protection for literary, artistic, and scientific
+ works; a UN specialized agency
+
+ members -- (147) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia,
+ Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
+ Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil,
+ Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African
+ Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote
+ d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador,
+ Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia,
+ Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
+ Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq,
+ Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
+ North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,
+ Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former
+ Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
+ Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco,
+ Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway,
+ Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
+ Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia,
+ Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South
+ Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
+ Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and
+ Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
+ Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire,
+ Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
+
+ address -- Case Postale 2300, 41 Av Giuseppe-Motta, CH-1211 Geneva 2,
+ Switzerland
+
+ telephone -- [41] (22) 730 81 11
+
+ FAX -- [41] (22) 734 23 26
+
+ established -- 11 October 1947
+
+ effective -- 4 April 1951
+
+ aim -- to sponsor meteorological cooperation; a specialized UN agency
+
+ members -- (175) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
+ Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The
+ Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,
+ Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Caribbean Territories,
+ Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
+ Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
+ Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
+ Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
+ Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,
+ Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
+ Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
+ Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
+ Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,
+ Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,
+ Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
+ Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
+ Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
+ Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, NZ,
+ Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
+ Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,
+ Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
+ Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
+ Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
+ Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,
+ Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
+ Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
+ Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+World Tourism Organization (WTO or WToO)
+
+ address -- Calle Capitan Haya 41, 28020 Madrid, Spain
+
+ telephone -- [34] (1) 571 06 28
+
+ FAX -- [34] (1) 571 37 33
+
+ established -- 2 January 1975
+
+ aim -- to promote tourism as a means of contributing to economic
+ development, international understanding, and peace
+
+ members -- (121) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,
+ Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
+ Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad,
+ Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
+ Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
+ Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
+ Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary,
+ India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
+ Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
+ Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
+ Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco,
+ Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama,
+ Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino,
+ Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia,
+ Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo,
+ Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
+ Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia,
+ Zimbabwe
+
+ associate members -- (4) Aruba, Macau, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto
+ Rico
+
+ observer -- (1) Holy See
+
+World Trade Organization (WTrO)
+
+ will be added in The World Factbook 1996
+
+Zangger Committee (ZC)
+
+ established -- early 1970s
+
+ aim -- to establish guidelines for the export control provisions of
+ the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
+
+ members -- (29) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech
+ Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland,
+ Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
+ Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
+ UK, US
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+APPENDIX D
+
+Abbreviations for Selected International Environmental Agreements
+
+A
+
+     Air Pollution -- Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
+     Pollution
+
+     Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides -- Protocol to the 1979 Convention
+     on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control
+     of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes
+
+     Air Pollution-Sulphur 85 -- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on
+     Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur
+     Emissions or their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30%
+
+     Air Pollution-Sulphur 94 -- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on
+     Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of
+     Sulphur Emissions
+
+     Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds -- Protocol to the 1979
+     Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning
+     the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their
+     Transboundary Fluxes
+
+     Antarctic-Environmental Protocol -- Protocol on Environmental
+     Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
+
+B
+
+     Biodiversity -- Convention on Biological Diversity
+
+C
+
+     Climate Change -- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
+     Change
+
+D
+
+     Desertification -- United Nations Convention to Combat
+     Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought
+     and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa
+
+E
+
+     Endangered Species -- Convention on the International Trade in
+     Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)
+
+     Environmental Modification -- Convention on the Prohibition of
+     Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification
+     Techniques
+
+H
+
+     Hazardous Wastes -- Basel Convention on the Control of
+     Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
+
+L
+
+     Law of the Sea -- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
+     (LOS)
+
+M
+
+     Marine Dumping -- Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution
+     by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter; note - also known as the
+     London Convention
+
+     Marine Life Conservation -- Convention on Fishing and Conservation
+     of Living Resources of the High Seas
+
+N
+
+     Nuclear Test Ban -- Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the
+     Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water
+
+O
+
+     Ozone Layer Protection -- Montreal Protocol on Substances That
+     Deplete the Ozone Layer
+
+S
+
+     Ship Pollution -- Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International
+     Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973
+     (MARPOL)
+
+T
+
+     Tropical Timber 83 -- International Tropical Timber Agreement,
+     1983
+
+     Tropical Timber 94 -- International Tropical Timber Agreement,
+     1994
+
+W
+
+     Wetlands -- Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
+     Especially As Waterfowl Habitat; note - also known as Ramsar
+
+     Whaling -- International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
+
+ Note: Not all of the selected international environmental agreements
+ have abbreviations.
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+APPENDIX E
+
+Selected International Environmental Agreements
+
+Air Pollution
+
+ see -- Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
+
+Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides
+
+ see -- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
+ Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or
+ Their Transboundary Fluxes
+
+Air Pollution-Sulphur 85
+
+ see -- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
+ Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or their Transboundary
+ Fluxes by at least 30%
+
+Air Pollution-Sulphur 94
+
+ see -- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
+ Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions
+
+Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
+
+ see -- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
+ Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic
+ Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes
+
+Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
+
+ see -- Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
+
+Antarctic Treaty
+
+ opened for signature -- 1 December 1959
+
+ entered into force -- 23 June 1961
+
+ objective -- to ensure that Antarctica is used for peaceful purposes,
+ such as, for international cooperation in scientific research, and
+ that it does not become the scene or object of international discord
+
+ parties -- (42) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil,
+ Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic,
+ Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala,
+ Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Netherlands,
+ New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia,
+ Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United
+ Kingdom, United States, Uruguay
+
+Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous
+Wastes and Their Disposal
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Hazardous Wastes
+
+ opened for signature -- 22 March 1989
+
+ entered into force -- 5 May 1992
+
+ objective -- to reduce transboundary movements of wastes subject to
+ the Convention to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound
+ and efficient management of such wastes; to minimize the amount and
+ toxicity of wastes generated and ensure their environmentally sound
+ management as closely as possible to the source of generation; and to
+ assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and
+ other wastes they generate
+
+ parties -- (81) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria,
+ The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile,
+ China, Comoros, Cote dIvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
+ Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, European Union,
+ Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,
+ Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon,
+ Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius,
+ Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,
+ Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint
+ Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
+ Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden,
+ Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Arab
+ Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Zaire, Zambia
+
+ countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (9) Afghanistan,
+ Bolivia, Colombia, Germany, Guatemala, Haiti, Thailand, United States,
+ Venezuela
+
+Biodiversity
+
+ see -- Convention on Biological Diversity
+
+Convention on Biological Diversity
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Biodiversity
+
+ opened for signature -- 5 June 1992
+
+ entered into force -- 29 December 1993
+
+ objective -- to develop national strategies for the conservation and
+ sustainable use of biological diversity
+
+ parties -- (111) Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,
+ Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
+ Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina, Burma, Cameroon, Canada,
+ Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote
+ dIvoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador,
+ Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, European
+ Union, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
+ Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy,
+ Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea,
+ South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives,
+ Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia,
+ Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria,
+ Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
+ Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
+ San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Spain, Sri
+ Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uganda, United
+ Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Zaire,
+ Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+ countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (64) Afghanistan,
+ Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Botswana,
+ Bulgaria, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo,
+ Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau,
+ Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Kuwait, Latvia, Liberia,
+ Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,
+ Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Poland,
+ Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Singapore, Slovenia,
+ Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tanzania,
+ Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United
+ Arab Emirates, United States, Yemen, former Yugoslavia
+
+Climate Change
+
+ see -- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
+
+Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Marine Life Conservation
+
+ opened for signature -- 29 April 1958
+
+ entered into force -- 20 March 1966
+
+ objective -- to solve through international cooperation the problems
+ involved in the conservation of living resources of the high seas,
+ considering that because of the development of modern technology some
+ of these resources are in danger of being overexploited
+
+ parties -- (37) Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina,
+ Cambodia, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Finland,
+ France, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
+ Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, Sierra
+ Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand,
+ Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States,
+ Venezuela, former Yugoslavia
+
+ countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (21) Afghanistan,
+ Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ghana, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran,
+ Ireland, Israel, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan,
+ Panama, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (Canada signed on behalf of Taiwan),
+ Tunisia, Uruguay
+
+Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Air Pollution
+
+ opened for signature -- 13 November 1979
+
+ entered into force -- 16 March 1983
+
+ objective -- to protect the human environment against air pollution
+ and to gradually reduce and prevent air pollution, including
+ long-range transboundary air pollution
+
+ parties -- (39) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
+ Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, European
+ Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
+ Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands,
+ Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
+ Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States,
+ former Yugoslavia
+
+ countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (2) Holy See, San
+ Marino
+
+Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and
+Fauna (CITES)
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Endangered Species
+
+ opened for signature -- 3 March 1973
+
+ entered into force -- 1 July 1975
+
+ objective -- to protect certain endangered species from
+ overexploitation by means of a system of import/export permits
+
+ parties -- (130) Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria,
+ The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia,
+ Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon,
+ Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
+ Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote dIvoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
+ Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
+ Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland,
+ France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea,
+ Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran,
+ Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea,
+ Liechtenstein, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
+ Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
+ Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
+ Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
+ Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
+ Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles,
+ Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
+ Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,
+ Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates,
+ United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,
+ Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+ countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (5) Cambodia,
+ Ireland, Kuwait, Lesotho, Vietnam
+
+Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other
+Matter (London Convention)
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Marine Dumping
+
+ opened for signature -- 29 December 1972
+
+ entered into force -- 30 August 1975
+
+ objective -- to control pollution of the sea by dumping and to
+ encourage regional agreements supplementary to the Convention
+
+ parties -- (76) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
+ Australia, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
+ Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,
+ Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, European
+ Union, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti,
+ Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
+ Kenya, Kiribati, Libya, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco,
+ Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua
+ New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saint Lucia,
+ Seychelles, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname,
+ Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates,
+ United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, former Yugoslavia, Zaire
+
+Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of
+Environmental Modification Techniques
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Environmental Modification
+
+ opened for signature -- 10 December 1976
+
+ entered into force -- 5 October 1978
+
+ objective -- to prohibit the military or other hostile use of
+ environmental modification techniques in order to further world peace
+ and trust among nations
+
+ parties -- (63) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
+ Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil,
+ Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
+ Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala,
+ Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea,
+ Kuwait, Laos, Malawi, Mauritius, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand,
+ Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, Russia,
+ Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain,
+ Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom,
+ United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen
+
+ countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (17) Bolivia,
+ Ethiopia, Holy See, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg,
+ Morocco, Nicaragua, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Syria, Turkey, Uganda,
+ Zaire
+
+Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl
+Habitat (Ramsar)
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Wetlands
+
+ opened for signature -- 2 February 1971
+
+ entered into force -- 21 December 1975
+
+ objective -- to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of
+ wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological
+ functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and
+ recreational value
+
+ parties -- (83) Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria,
+ Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Canada, Chad,
+ Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador,
+ Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
+ Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
+ Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho,
+ Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco,
+ Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
+ Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal,
+ Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden,
+ Switzerland, Trinadad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United
+ Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, former
+ Yugoslavia, Zambia
+
+Desertification
+
+ see -- United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those
+ Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification,
+ Particularly in Africa
+
+Endangered Species
+
+ see -- Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of
+ Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)
+
+Environmental Modification
+
+ see -- Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile
+ Use of Environmental Modification Techniques
+
+Hazardous Wastes
+
+ see -- Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of
+ Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
+
+International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Whaling
+
+ opened for signature -- 2 December 1946
+
+ entered into force -- 10 November 1948
+
+ objective -- to protect all species of whales from overfishing; to
+ establish a system of international regulation for the whale fisheries
+ to ensure proper conservation and development of whale stocks; and to
+ safeguard for future generations the great natural resources
+ represented by whale stocks
+
+ parties -- (39) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Brazil,
+ Chile, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominica, Finland, France, Germany,
+ Grenada, India, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Mexico, Monaco,
+ Netherlands (Netherlands also extended the convention to Netherlands
+ Antilles), New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Peru, Russia, Saint Kitts and
+ Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal,
+ Seychelles (withdrawing effective 30 June 1995), Solomon Islands,
+ South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United
+ States, Venezuela
+
+ countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (1) Austria
+
+ former parties -- (10) Belize, Canada, Ecuador, Egypt, Iceland,
+ Jamaica, Mauritius, Panama, Philippines, Uruguay
+
+International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Tropical Timber 83
+
+ opened for signature -- 18 November 1983
+
+ entered into force -- 1 April 1985; this agreement will expire when
+ the International Tropical Timber Ageement, 1994 goes into force
+
+ objective -- to provide an effective framework for cooperation between
+ tropical timber producers and consumers and to encourage the
+ development of national policies aimed at sustainable utilization and
+ conservation of tropical forests and their genetic resources
+
+ parties -- (52) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma,
+ Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Congo, Cote dIvoire, Denmark,
+ Ecuador, Egypt, European Union, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany,
+ Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy,
+ Japan, South Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands,
+ New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines,
+ Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad
+ and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, Zaire
+
+International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Tropical Timber 94
+
+ opened for signature -- 26 January 1994, but not yet in force
+
+ objective -- to ensure that by the year 2000 exports of tropical
+ timber originate from sustainably managed sources; to establish a fund
+ to assist tropical timber producers in obtaining the resources
+ necessary to reach this objective
+
+ parties -- (3) Fiji, Japan, Liberia
+
+ countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (11) Cameroon,
+ Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, Indonesia, Norway, Panama, Peru, Togo,
+ United States
+
+Law of the Sea
+
+ see -- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)
+
+Marine Dumping
+
+ see -- Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping
+ Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention)
+
+Marine Life Conservation
+
+ see -- Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of
+ the High Seas
+
+Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Ozone Layer Protection
+
+ opened for signature -- 16 September 1987
+
+ entered into force -- 1 January 1989
+
+ objective -- to protect the ozone layer by controling emissions of
+ substances that deplete it
+
+ parties -- (148) Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia,
+ Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium,
+ Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,
+ Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic,
+ Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote
+ d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica,
+ Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, European
+ Union, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana,
+ Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary,
+ Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
+ Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,
+ Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The
+ Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives,
+ Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco,
+ Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua,
+ Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
+ Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal (Portugal has also extended the
+ protocol to Macau), Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
+ Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia,
+ Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
+ Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,
+ Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda,
+ Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay,
+ Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, former
+ Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+ countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (1) Morocco
+
+Nuclear Test Ban
+
+ see -- Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in
+ Outer Space, and Under Water
+
+Ozone Layer Protection
+
+ see -- Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
+
+Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention
+of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Ship Pollution
+
+ opened for signature -- 17 February 1978
+
+ entered into force -- 2 October 1983
+
+ objective -- to preserve the marine environment through the complete
+ elimination of pollution by oil and other harmful substances and the
+ minimization of accidental discharge of such substances
+
+ parties -- (91) Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia,
+ Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria,
+ Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire,
+ Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador,
+ Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany,
+ Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy,
+ Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia,
+ Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands,
+ Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,
+ Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint
+ Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
+ South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Togo,
+ Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States,
+ Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, former Yugoslavia
+
+Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
+
+ opened for signature -- 4 October 1991, but not yet in force
+
+ objective -- to enhance the protection of the Antarctic environment
+ and dependent and associated ecosystems
+
+ parties -- (14) Argentina, Australia, Chile, China, Ecuador, France,
+ Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Spain, Sweden,
+ Uruguay
+
+ countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (27) Austria,
+ Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic,
+ Denmark, Finland, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan,
+ North Korea, South Korea, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, Russia,
+ Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States
+
+Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
+concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary
+Fluxes
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides
+
+ opened for signature -- 31 October 1988
+
+ entered into force -- 14 February 1991
+
+ objective -- to provide for the control or reduction of nitrogen
+ oxides and their transboundary fluxes
+
+ parties -- (25) Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic,
+ Denmark, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland,
+ Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia,
+ Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United
+ States
+
+ countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (3) Belgium,
+ Greece, Poland
+
+Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
+concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their
+Transboundary Fluxes
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
+
+ opened for signature -- 18 November 1991, but not yet in force
+
+ objective -- to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of
+ volatile organic compounds in order to reduce their transboundary
+ fluxes so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse
+ effects
+
+ parties -- (11) Austria, Finland, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
+ Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
+
+ countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (12) Belgium,
+ Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, European Union, France, Greece, Hungary,
+ Italy, Portugal, Ukraine, United States
+
+Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on
+Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 94
+
+ opened for signature -- 14 June 1994, but not yet in force
+
+ objective -- to provide for a further reduction in sulfur emissions or
+ transboundary fluxes
+
+ parties -- (0)
+
+ countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (28) Austria,
+ Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, European
+ Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,
+ Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia,
+ Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United
+ Kingdom
+
+Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on
+the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or their Transboundary Fluxes by at least
+30%
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 85
+
+ opened for signature -- 8 July 1985
+
+ entered into force -- 2 September 1987
+
+ objective -- to provide for a 30% reduction in sulfur emissions or
+ transboundary fluxes by 1993
+
+ parties -- (21) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech
+ Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy,
+ Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia,
+ Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine
+
+Ship Pollution
+
+ see -- Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for
+ the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)
+
+Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and
+Under Water
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Nuclear Test Ban
+
+ opened for signature -- 5 August 1963
+
+ entered into force -- 10 October 1963
+
+ objective -- to obtain an agreement on general and complete
+ disarmament under strict international control in accordance with the
+ objectives of the United Nations; to put an end to the armaments race
+ and eliminate incentives for the production and testing of all kinds
+ of weapons, including nuclear weapons
+
+ parties -- (125) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,
+ Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin,
+ Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,
+ Burma, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
+ China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech
+ Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
+ Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana,
+ Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
+ Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
+ Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg,
+ Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
+ Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger,
+ Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru,
+ Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal,
+ Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa,
+ Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
+ Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
+ Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Ukraine, Uruguay,
+ Venezuela, Western Samoa, Yemen, former Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia
+
+ countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (11) Algeria,
+ Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Haiti, Mali, Paraguay, Portugal,
+ Somalia, Vietnam
+
+Tropical Timber 83
+
+ see -- International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983
+
+Tropical Timber 94
+
+ see -- International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994
+
+United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Law of the Sea
+
+ opened for signature -- 10 December 1982
+
+ entered into force -- 16 November 1994
+
+ objective -- to set up a comprehensive new legal regime for the sea
+ and oceans; to include rules concerning environmental standards as
+ well as enforcement provisions dealing with pollution of the marine
+ environment
+
+ parties -- (72) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas,
+ Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
+ Cameroon, Cape Verde, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba,
+ Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Fiji, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana,
+ Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia,
+ Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, The Former Yugoslav
+ Republic of Macedonia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius,
+ Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman,
+ Paraguay, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
+ Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal,
+ Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
+ Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay,
+ Vietnam, Yemen, former Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+ countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (91) Afghanistan,
+ Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin,
+ Bhutan, Bolivia, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
+ Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo,
+ Cook Islands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El
+ Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, European Union, Finland,
+ France, Gabon, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, India, Iran,
+ Ireland, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia,
+ Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
+ Maldives, Mauritania, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru,
+ Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, Norway,
+ Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,
+ Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, South Africa,
+ Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tuvalu,
+ Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Western Samoa
+
+United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries
+Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Desertification
+
+ opened for signature -- 14 October 1994, but not yet in force
+
+ objective -- to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of
+ drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term
+ strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership
+ arrangements
+
+ parties -- (1) Mexico
+
+ countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (104) Algeria,
+ Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,
+ Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia,
+ Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
+ China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote dIvoire, Croatia,
+ Cuba, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
+ Ethiopia, European Union, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany,
+ Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, India,
+ Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,
+ Kenya, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar,
+ Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Mongolia,
+ Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
+ Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Saint Vincent
+ and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa,
+ Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia,
+ Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States,
+ Uzbekistan, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - some late changes not
+ included under country entries
+
+United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
+
+ note -- abbreviated as Climate Change
+
+ opened for signature -- 9 May 1992
+
+ entered into force -- 21 March 1994
+
+ objective -- to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations
+ in the atmosphere at a low enough level to prevent dangerous
+ anthropogenic interference with the climate system
+
+ parties -- (119) Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
+ Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
+ Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burma,
+ Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa
+ Rica, Cote dIvoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador,
+ Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, European Union, Fiji, Finland, France,
+ Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary,
+ Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
+ Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Liechtenstein,
+ Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,
+ Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco,
+ Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway,
+ Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
+ Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, San
+ Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Solomon Islands,
+ Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and
+ Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvulu, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States,
+ Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa,
+ Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
+
+ countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (54) Afghanistan,
+ Angola, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cape
+ Verde, Central African Republic, Colombia, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus,
+ Djibouti, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala,
+ Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kiribati,
+ Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Madagascar, Moldova,
+ Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Panama, Rwanda,
+ Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, South
+ Africa, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Ukraine, Yemen, former
+ Yugoslavia
+
+Wetlands
+
+ see -- Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially
+ As Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)
+
+Whaling
+
+ see -- International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+APPENDIX F:
+
+Weights and Measures
+
+Mathematical Notation
+
+ Exponents immediately follow the ^ symbol throughout this appendix.
+
+Mathematical Power                             Name
+
+10^18 or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000             one quintillion
+
+10^15 or 1,000,000,000,000,000                 one quadrillion
+
+10^12 or 1,000,000,000,000                     one trillion
+
+10^9 or 1,000,000,000                          one billion
+
+10^6 or 1,000,000                              one million
+
+10^3 or 1,000                                  one thousand
+
+10^2 or 100                                    one hundred
+
+10^1 or 10                                     ten
+
+10^0 or 1                                      one
+
+10-^1 or 0.1                                   one-tenth
+
+10-^2 or 0.01                                  one-hundredth
+
+10-^3 or 0.001                                 one-thousandth
+
+10-^6 or 0.000 001                             one-millionth
+
+10-^9 or 0.000 000 001                         one-billionth
+
+10-^12 or 0.000 000 000 001                    one-trillionth
+
+10-^15 or 0.000 000 000 000 001                one-quadrillionth
+
+10-^18 or 0.000 000 000 000 000 00             one-quintillionth
+
+Metric Interrelationships
+
+ Conversions from a multiple or submultiple to the basic units of
+ meters, liters, or grams can be done using the table. For example, to
+ convert from kilometers to meters, multiply by 1,000 (9.26 kilometers
+ equals 9,260 meters) or to convert from meters to kilometers, multiply
+ by 0.001 (9,260 meters equals 9.26 kilometers).
+
+Prefix      Symbol         Length, weight,
+                         or capacity         Area         Volume
+
+exa         E              10^18               10^36        10^54
+
+peta        P              10^15               10^30        10^45
+
+tera        T              10^12               10^24        10^36
+
+giga        G              10^9                10^18        10^27
+
+mega        M              10^6                10^12        10^18
+
+hectokilo   hk             10^5                10^10        10^15
+
+myria       ma             10^4                10^8         10^12
+
+kilo        k              10^3                10^6         10^9
+
+hecto       h              10^2                10^4         10^6
+
+basic unit  -              1 meter,            1 meter^2    1 meter^3
+                         1 gram,
+                         1 liter
+
+deci        d              10-^1               10-^2        10-^3
+
+centi       c              10-^2               10-^4        10-^6
+
+milli       m              10-^3               10-^6        10-^9
+
+decimilli   dm             10-^4               10-^8        10-^12
+
+centimilli  cm             10-^5               10-^10       10-^15
+
+micro       u              10-^6               10-^12       10-^18
+
+nano        n              10-^9               10-^18       10-^27
+
+pico        p              10-^12              10-^24       10-^36
+
+femto       f              10-^15              10-^30       10-^45
+
+atto        a              10-^18              10-^36       10-^54
+
+Equivalents
+
+Units                  Metric Equivalent        US Equivalent
+
+acre                   0.404 685 64 hectares    43,560 feet^2
+
+acre                   4,046,856 4 meters^2     4,840 yards^2
+
+acre                   0.004 046 856 4          0.001 562 5 miles^2,
+                       kilometers^2             statute
+
+are                    100 meters^2             119.599 yards^2
+
+barrel
+ (petroleum, US)       158.987 29 liters        42 gallons
+
+ (proof spirits, US)   151.416 47 liters        40 gallons
+
+ (beer, US)            117.347 77 liters        31 gallons
+
+bushel                 35.239 07 liters         4 pecks
+
+cable                  219.456 meters           120 fathoms
+
+chain (surveyor's)     20.116 8 meters          66 feet
+
+cord (wood)            3.624 556 meters^3       128 feet^3
+
+cup                    0.236 588 2 liters       8 ounces, liquid (US)
+
+degrees, Celsius       (water boils at 100      multiply by 1.8 and add 32
+                      degrees C, freezes at   to obtain degrees F
+                      0 degrees C)
+
+degrees, Fahrenheit    subtract 32 and divide   water boils at 212 degrees
+                      by 1.8 to obtain        F, freezes at 32 degrees F)
+                      degrees C
+
+dram, avdp.            1.771 845 2 grams        0.0625 5 ounces, avdp.
+
+dram, troy             3.887 934 6 grams        0.125 ounces, troy
+
+dram, liquid  (US)     3.696 69 milliliters     0.125 ounces, liquid
+
+fathom                 1.828 8 meters           6 feet
+
+foot                   30.48 centimeters        12 inches
+
+foot                   0.304 8 meters           0.333 333 3 yards
+
+foot                   0.000 304 8 kilometers   0.000 189 39 miles, statute
+
+foot^2                 929.030 4 centimeters^2  144 inches^2
+
+foot^2                 0.092 903 04 meters^2    0.111 111 1 yards^2
+
+foot^3                 28.316 846 592 liters    7.480 519 gallons
+
+foot^3                 0.028 316 847 meters^3   1,728 inches^3
+
+furlong                201.168 meters           220 yards
+
+gallon, liquid (US)    3.785 411 784 liters     4 quarts, liquid
+
+gill (US)              118.294 118 milliliters  4 ounces, liquid
+
+grain                  64.798 91 milligrams     0.002 285 71 ounces, avdp.
+
+gram                   1,000 milligrams         0.035 273 96 ounces, avdp.
+
+hand (height of horse) 10.16 centimeters        4 inches
+
+hectare                10,000 meters^2          2.471 053 8 acres
+
+hundredweight, long    50.802 345 kilograms     112 pounds, avdp.
+
+hundredweight, short   45.359 237 kilograms     100 pounds, avdp.
+
+inch                   2.54 centimeters         0.083 333 33 feet
+
+inch^2                 6.451 6 centimeters^2    0.006 944 44 feet^2
+
+inch^3                 16.387 064 centimeters^3 0.000 578 7 feet^3
+
+inch^3                 16.387 064 milliliters   0.029 761 6 pints, dry
+
+inch^3                 16.387 064 milliliters   0.034 632 0 pints, liquid
+
+kilogram               0.001 tons, metric       2.204 623 pounds, avdp.
+
+kilometer              1,000 meters             0.621 371 19 miles, statute
+
+kilometer^2            100 hectares             247.105 38 acres
+
+kilometer^2            1,000,000 meters^2       0.386 102 16 miles^2,
+                                                statute
+
+knot (1 nautical       1.852 kilometers/hour    1.151 statute miles/hour
+mi/hr)
+
+league, nautical       5.556 kilometers     3 miles, nautical
+
+league, statute        4.828.032 kilometers     3 miles, statute
+
+link (surveyor's)      20.116 8 centimeters     7.92 inches
+
+liter                  0.001 meters^3           61.023 74 inches^3
+
+liter                  0.1 dekaliter            0.908 083 quarts, dry
+
+liter                  1,000 milliliters        1.056 688 quarts, liquid
+
+meter                  100 centimeters          1.093 613 yards
+
+meter^2                10,000 centimeters^2     1.195 990 yards^2
+
+meter^3                1,000 liters             1.307 951 yards^3
+
+micron                 0.000 001 meter          0.000 039 4 inches
+
+mil                    0.025 4 millimeters      0.001 inch
+
+mile, nautical         1.852 kilometers         1.150 779 4 miles, statute
+
+mile^2, nautical       3.429 904 kilometers^2   1.325 miles^2, statute
+
+mile, statute          1.609 344 kilometers     5,280 feet or 8 furlongs
+
+mile^2, statute        258.998 811 hectares     640 acres or 1 section
+
+mile^2, statute        2.589 988 11             0.755 miles^2, nautical
+                       kilometers^2
+
+minim (US)             0.061 611 52 milliliters 0.002 083 33 ounces, liquid
+                                                or one-sixtieth of a dram
+
+ounce, avdp.           28.349 523 125 grams     437.5 grains
+
+ounce, liquid (US)     29.573 53 milliliters    0.062 5 pints, liquid
+
+ounce, troy            31.103 476 8 grams       480 grains
+
+pace                   76.2 centimeters         30 inches
+
+peck                   8.809 767 5 liters       8 quarts, dry
+
+pennyweight            1.555 173 84 grams       24 grains
+
+pint, dry (US)         0.550 610 47 liters      0.5 quarts, dry
+
+pint, liquid (US)      0.473 176 473 liters     0.5 quarts, liquid
+
+point (typographical)  0.351 459 8 millimeters  0.013 837 inches
+
+pound, avdp            453.592 37 grams         16 ounces, avdp
+
+pound, troy            373.241 721 6 grams      12 ounces, troy
+
+quart, dry (US)        1.101 221 liters         2 pints, dry
+
+quart, liquid (US)     0.946 352 946 liters     2 pints, liquid
+
+quintal                100 kilograms            220.462 26 pounds, avdp.
+
+rod                    5.029 2 meters           5.5 yards
+
+scruple                1.295 978 2 grams        20 grains
+
+section (US)           2.589 988 1 kilometers^2 1 mile^2, statute
+                                                or 640 acres
+
+span                   22.86 centimeters        9 inches
+
+stere                  1 meter^3                1.307 95 yards^3
+
+tablespoon             14.786 76 milliliters    3 teaspoons
+
+teaspoon               4.928 922 milliliters    0.333 333 tablespoons
+
+ton, long or           1,016.046 909 kilograms  2,240 pounds, avdp.
+deadweight
+
+ton, metric            1,000 kilograms          2,204.623 pounds, avdp.
+
+ton, metric            1,000 kilograms          32,150.75 ounces, troy
+
+ton, register          2.831 684 7 meters^3     100 feet^3
+
+ton, short             907.184 74 kilograms     2,000 pounds, avdp.
+
+township (US)          93.239 572 kilometers^2  36 miles^2, statute
+
+yard                   0.914 4 meters           3 feet
+
+yard^2                 0.836 127 36 meters^2    9 feet^2
+
+yard^3                 0.764 554 86 meters^3    27 feet^3
+
+yard^3                 764.554 857 984 liters   201.974 gallons
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+APPENDIX G:
+
+Estimates of Gross Domestic Product on an Exchange Rate Basis
+
+ These estimates of gross domestic product on an exchange rate basis
+ are based on official data from national statistical offices.
+
+Country                                     Million US$     Year
+
+Afghanistan                                         ---      ---
+
+Albania                                             ---      ---
+
+Algeria                                          46,823     1993
+
+American Samoa                                      ---      ---
+
+Andorra                                             ---      ---
+
+Angola                                              ---      ---
+
+Anguilla                                            ---      ---
+
+Antigua and Barbuda                                 374     1992
+
+Argentina                                           ---      ---
+
+Armenia                                             ---      ---
+
+Aruba                                               ---      ---
+
+Australia                                       284,293     1993
+
+Austria                                         181,367     1993
+
+Azerbaijan                                          ---      ---
+
+The Bahamas                                         ---      ---
+
+Bahrain                                           3,903     1990
+
+Bangladesh                                       23,957     1993
+
+Barbados                                          1,574     1992
+
+Belarus                                             ---      ---
+
+Belgium                                         207,500     1993
+
+Belize                                              524     1993
+
+Benin                                             1,898     1991
+
+Bermuda                                             ---      ---
+
+Bhutan                                              245     1992
+
+Bolivia                                           6,058     1991
+
+Bosnia and Herzegovina                              ---      ---
+
+Botswana                                          3,702     1992
+
+Brazil                                              ---      ---
+
+British Virgin Islands                              ---      ---
+
+Brunei                                              ---      ---
+
+Bulgaria                                            ---      ---
+
+Burkina                                             ---      ---
+
+Burma                                            55,073     1993
+
+Burundi                                             923     1993
+
+Cambodia                                            ---      ---
+
+Cameroon                                         10,918     1992
+
+Canada                                          551,645     1993
+
+Cape Verde                                          286     1988
+
+Cayman Islands                                      ---      ---
+
+Central African Republic                          1,339     1992
+
+Chad                                              1,383     1992
+
+Chile                                            43,684     1993
+
+China                                           544,603     1993
+
+Christmas Island                                    ---      ---
+
+Cocos (Keeling) Islands                             ---      ---
+
+Colombia                                            ---      ---
+
+Comoros                                          43,546     1992
+
+Congo                                               ---      ---
+
+Cook Island                                         ---      ---
+
+Costa Rica                                        6,722     1992
+
+Cote d'Ivoire                                    10,492     1992
+
+Croatia                                             ---      ---
+
+Cuba                                                ---      ---
+
+Cyprus                                            6,700     1992
+
+Czech Republic                                   31,664     1993
+
+Denmark                                         135,998     1993
+
+Djibouti                                            494     1990
+
+Dominica                                            189     1992
+
+Dominican Republic                                8,796     1992
+
+Ecuador                                          14,304     1993
+
+Egypt                                            41,855     1992
+
+El Salvador                                       7,625     1993
+
+Equatorial Guinea                                   181     1992
+
+Eritrea                                             ---      ---
+
+Estonia                                             ---      ---
+
+Ethiopia                                          3,362     1993
+
+Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)                   ---      ---
+
+Faroe Islands                                       ---      ---
+
+Fiji                                              1,490     1991
+
+Finland                                          83,795     1993
+
+France                                        1,252,560     1993
+
+French Guiana                                       ---      ---
+
+French Polynesia                                    ---      ---
+
+Gabon                                             5,913     1992
+
+The Gambia                                          332     1992
+
+Gaza Strip                                          ---      ---
+
+Georgia                                             ---      ---
+
+Germany                                       1,880,000     1993
+
+Ghana                                             6,884     1992
+
+Gibraltar                                           ---      ---
+
+Greece                                           73,100     1993
+
+Greenland                                           ---      ---
+
+Grenada                                             214     1992
+
+Guadeloupe                                          ---      ---
+
+Guam                                                ---      ---
+
+Guatemala                                        11,279     1993
+
+Guernsey                                            ---      ---
+
+Guinea                                              ---      ---
+
+Guinea-Bissau                                       221     1992
+
+Guyana                                              447     1993
+
+Haiti                                             2,502     1990
+
+Honduras                                          3,343     1993
+
+Hong Kong                                           ---      ---
+
+Hungary                                          36,113     1993
+
+Iceland                                           6,076     1993
+
+India                                           272,231     1992
+
+Indonesia                                       142,794     1993
+
+Iran                                          1,013,890     1992
+
+Iraq                                                ---      ---
+
+Ireland                                          47,678     1993
+
+Israel                                           65,043     1993
+
+Italy                                           999,700     1993
+
+Jamaica                                           3,839     1993
+
+Japan                                         4,215,546     1993
+
+Jersey                                              ---      ---
+
+Jordan                                            5,190     1993
+
+Kazakhstan                                          ---      ---
+
+Kenya                                             5,569     1993
+
+Kiribati                                            ---      ---
+
+Korea, North                                        ---      ---
+
+Korea, South                                        ---      ---
+
+Kuwait                                           22,416     1993
+
+Kyrgyzstan                                          ---      ---
+
+Laos                                                ---      ---
+
+Latvia                                              ---      ---
+
+Lebanon                                             ---      ---
+
+Lesotho                                             710     1992
+
+Liberia                                           1,183     1989
+
+Libya                                            21,864     1986
+
+Liechtenstein                                       ---      ---
+
+Lithuania                                           ---      ---
+
+Luxembourg                                       10,600     1993
+
+Macau                                               ---      ---
+
+Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of          ---      ---
+
+Madagascar                                        3,371     1993
+
+Malawi                                            2,017     1993
+
+Malaysia                                         64,434     1993
+
+Maldives                                            ---      ---
+
+Mali                                              2,451     1991
+
+Malta                                             2,743     1992
+
+Man, Isle of                                        ---      ---
+
+Marshall Islands                                    ---      ---
+
+Martinique                                          ---      ---
+
+Mauritania                                        1,136     1993
+
+Mauritius                                         3,112     1993
+
+Mayotte                                             ---      ---
+
+Mexico                                          286,631     1991
+
+Micronesia, Federated States of                     ---      ---
+
+Moldova                                             ---      ---
+
+Monaco                                              ---      ---
+
+Mongolia                                          1,111     1992
+
+Montserrat                                          ---      ---
+
+Morocco                                          28,762     1992
+
+Mozambique                                        1,410     1993
+
+Namibia                                           2,508     1993
+
+Nauru                                               ---      ---
+
+Nepal                                             3,387     1993
+
+Netherlands                                     308,995     1993
+
+Netherlands Antilles                                ---      ---
+
+New Caledonia                                       ---      ---
+
+New Zealand                                      43,698     1993
+
+Nicaragua                                         2,214     1990
+
+Niger                                             2,506     1990
+
+Nigeria                                          37,250     1993
+
+Niue                                                ---      ---
+
+Norfolk Island                                      ---      ---
+
+Northern Mariana Islands                            ---      ---
+
+Norway                                          103,418     1993
+
+Oman                                             11,489     1992
+
+Pakistan                                         48,363     1993
+
+Palau                                               ---      ---
+
+Panama                                            6,565     1993
+
+Papua New Guinea                                  4,292     1992
+
+Paraguay                                          6,446     1992
+
+Peru                                             39,760     1989
+
+Philippines                                      54,068     1992
+
+Pitcairn Islands                                    ---      ---
+
+Poland                                           85,898     1993
+
+Portugal                                         75,100     1993
+
+Puerto Rico                                         ---      ---
+
+Qatar                                             7,473     1992
+
+Reunion                                             ---      ---
+
+Romania                                          24,781     1993
+
+Russia                                              ---      ---
+
+Rwanda                                            1,630     1992
+
+Saint Helena                                        ---      ---
+
+Saint Kitts and Nevis                               158     1990
+
+Saint Lucia                                         393     1992
+
+Saint Pierre and Miquelon                           ---      ---
+
+Saint Vincent and the Grenadines                    192     1992
+
+San Marino                                          ---      ---
+
+Sao Tome and Principe                               ---      ---
+
+Saudi Arabia                                    121,530     1992
+
+Senegal                                           4,627     1989
+
+Serbia and Montenegro                               ---      ---
+
+Seychelles                                          434     1992
+
+Sierra Leone                                        ---      ---
+
+Singapore                                        55,086     1993
+
+Slovakia                                            ---      ---
+
+Slovenia                                            ---      ---
+
+Solomon Islands                                     ---      ---
+
+Somalia                                             ---      ---
+
+South Africa                                    117,442     1993
+
+Spain                                           478,391     1993
+
+Sri Lanka                                        10,274     1993
+
+Sudan                                            27,697     1991
+
+Suriname                                          1,872     1991
+
+Svalbard                                            ---      ---
+
+Swaziland                                           874     1991
+
+Sweden                                          186,224     1993
+
+Switzerland                                     232,133     1993
+
+Syria                                            33,050     1992
+
+Tajikistan                                          ---      ---
+
+Tanzania                                          2,086     1993
+
+Thailand                                        110,429     1992
+
+Togo                                              1,237     1987
+
+Tokelau                                             ---      ---
+
+Tonga                                               145     1993
+
+Trinidad and Tobago                               4,538     1993
+
+Tunisia                                          14,634     1993
+
+Turkey                                          138,400     1993
+
+Turkmenistan                                        ---      ---
+
+Turks and Caicos Islands                            ---      ---
+
+Tuvalu                                              ---      ---
+
+Uganda                                            5,608     1988
+
+Ukraine                                             ---      ---
+
+United Arab Emirates                             34,977     1992
+
+United Kingdom                                  944,902     1993
+
+United States                                 6,738,400     1994
+
+Uruguay                                          13,144     1993
+
+Uzbekistan                                          ---      ---
+
+Vanuatu                                             153     1990
+
+Venezuela                                        59,183     1993
+
+Vietnam                                             ---      ---
+
+Virgin Islands                                      ---      ---
+
+Wallis and Futuna                                   ---      ---
+
+West Bank                                           ---      ---
+
+Western Sahara                                      ---      ---
+
+Western Samoa                                       ---      ---
+
+World                                               ---      ---
+
+Yemen                                               ---      ---
+
+Zaire                                             9,078     1991
+
+Zambia                                            3,302     1992
+
+Zimbabwe                                          6,189     1990
+
+Taiwan                                              ---      ---
+
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+APPENDIX H
+
+Cross-Reference List of Geographic Items
+
+ This list indicates where various geographic items - including the
+ location of all United States Foreign Service Posts, alternate names
+ of countries, former names, and political or geographical portions of
+ larger entities - can be found in The World Factbook. Spellings are
+ normally, but not always, those approved by the United States Board on
+ Geographic Names (BGN). Alternate names are included in parentheses;
+ additional information is included in brackets.
+
+ Name -- Entry in The World Factbook
+
+A
+
+     Abidjan [US Embassy] -- Cote d'Ivoire
+
+     Abu Dhabi [US Embassy] -- United Arab Emirates
+
+     Abuja [US Embassy Branch Office] -- Nigeria
+
+     Acapulco [US Consular Agency] -- Mexico
+
+     Accra [US Embassy] -- Ghana
+
+     Adamstown -- Pitcairn Islands
+
+     Adana [US Consulate] -- Turkey
+
+     Addis Ababa [US Embassy] -- Ethiopia
+
+     Adelie Land (Terre Adelie) -- Antarctica [claimed by France]
+
+     Aden -- Yemen
+
+     Aden, Gulf of -- Indian Ocean
+
+     Admiralty Islands -- Papua New Guinea
+
+     Adriatic Sea -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Aegean Islands -- Greece
+
+     Aegean Sea -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Afars and Issas, French Territory -- Djibouti of the (F.T.A.I.)
+
+     Agalega Islands -- Mauritius
+
+     Agana -- Guam
+
+     Aland Islands -- Finland
+
+     Alaska -- United States
+
+     Alaska, Gulf of -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Aldabra Islands -- Seychelles
+
+     Alderney -- Guernsey
+
+     Aleutian Islands -- United States
+
+     Alexander Island -- Antarctica
+
+     Alexandria -- Egypt
+
+     Algiers [US Embassy] -- Algeria
+
+     Alhucemas, Penon de -- Spain
+
+     Alma-Ata (see Almaty) -- Kazakhstan
+
+     Almaty (Alma-Ata) [US Embassy] -- Kazakhstan
+
+     Alofi -- Niue
+
+     Alphonse Island -- Seychelles
+
+     Amami Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Amindivi Islands -- India
+
+     Amirante Isles -- Seychelles
+
+     Amman [US Embassy] -- Jordan
+
+     Amsterdam [US Consulate General] -- Netherlands
+
+     Amsterdam Island (Ile Amsterdam) -- French Southern and Antarctic
+     Lands
+
+     Amundsen Sea -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Amur -- China; Russia
+
+     Andaman Islands -- India
+
+     Andaman Sea -- Indian Ocean
+
+     Andorra la Vella -- Andorra
+
+     Anegada Passage -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Anglo-Egyptian Sudan -- Sudan
+
+     Anjouan -- Comoros
+
+     Ankara [US Embassy] -- Turkey
+
+     Annobon -- Equatorial Guinea
+
+     Antananarivo [US Embassy] -- Madagascar
+
+     Antipodes Islands -- New Zealand
+
+     Antwerp [European Logistical -- Belgium Support Office]
+
+     Aozou Strip -- Chad
+
+     Apia [US Embassy] -- Western Samoa
+
+     Aqaba, Gulf of -- Indian Ocean
+
+     Arabian Sea -- Indian Ocean
+
+     Arafura Sea -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Argun -- China; Russia
+
+     Ascension Island -- Saint Helena
+
+     Ashgabat [US Embassy] -- Turkmenistan
+
+     Ashkhabad (see Ashgabat) -- Turkmenistan
+
+     Asmara [US Embassy] -- Eritrea
+
+     Asmera (see Asmara) -- Eritrea
+
+     Assumption Island -- Seychelles
+
+     Asuncion [US Embassy] -- Paraguay
+
+     Asuncion Island -- Northern Mariana Islands
+
+     Atacama -- Chile
+
+     Athens [US Embassy] -- Greece
+
+     Attu -- United States
+
+     Auckland [US Consulate General] -- New Zealand
+
+     Auckland Islands -- New Zealand
+
+     Australes Iles (Iles Tubuai) -- French Polynesia
+
+     Avarua -- Cook Islands
+
+     Axel Heiberg Island -- Canada
+
+     Azores -- Portugal
+
+     Azov, Sea of -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+B
+
+     Bab el Mandeb -- Indian Ocean
+
+     Babuyan Channel -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Babuyan Islands -- Philippines
+
+     Baffin Bay -- Arctic Ocean
+
+     Baffin Island -- Canada
+
+     Baghdad [US Embassy temporarily -- Iraq suspended; US Interests
+     Section located in Poland's embassy in Baghdad]
+
+     Baki (Baku) -- Azerbaijan
+
+     Baku [US Embassy] -- Azerbaijan
+
+     Baky (Baku) -- Azerbaijan
+
+     Balabac Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Balearic Islands -- Spain
+
+     Balearic Sea (Iberian Sea) -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Bali Sea -- Indian Ocean
+
+     Balintang Channel -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Balintang Islands -- Philippines
+
+     Balleny Islands -- Antarctica
+
+     Balochistan -- Pakistan
+
+     Baltic Sea -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Bamako [US Embassy] -- Mali
+
+     Banaba (Ocean Island) -- Kiribati
+
+     Bandar Seri Begawan [US Embassy] -- Brunei
+
+     Banda Sea -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Bangkok [US Embassy] -- Thailand
+
+     Bangui [US Embassy] -- Central African Republic
+
+     Banjul [US Embassy] -- Gambia, The
+
+     Banks Island -- Canada
+
+     Banks Islands (Iles Banks) -- Vanuatu
+
+     Barcelona [US Consulate General] -- Spain
+
+     Barents Sea -- Arctic Ocean
+
+     Barranquilla [US Consulate] -- Colombia
+
+     Bashi Channel -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Basilan Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Bass Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Basse-Terre -- Guadeloupe
+
+     Basseterre -- Saint Kitts and Nevis
+
+     Basutoland -- Lesotho
+
+     Batan Islands -- Philippines
+
+     Bavaria (Bayern) -- Germany
+
+     Beagle Channel -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Bear Island (Bjornoya) -- Svalbard
+
+     Beaufort Sea -- Arctic Ocean
+
+     Bechuanaland -- Botswana
+
+     Beijing [US Embassy] -- China
+
+     Beirut [US Embassy] -- Lebanon
+
+     Belau -- Palau
+
+     Belem [US Consular Agency] -- Brazil
+
+     Belep Islands (Iles Belep) -- New Caledonia
+
+     Belfast [US Consulate General] -- United Kingdom
+
+     Belgian Congo -- Zaire
+
+     Belgrade [US Embassy; US does not -- Serbia and Montenegro
+     maintain full diplomatic relations with Serbia and Montenegro]
+
+     Belize City [US Embassy] -- Belize
+
+     Belle Isle, Strait of -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Bellingshausen Sea -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Belmopan -- Belize
+
+     Belorussia -- Belarus
+
+     Bengal, Bay of -- Indian Ocean
+
+     Bering Sea -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Bering Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Berkner Island -- Antarctica
+
+     Berlin [US Branch Office] -- Germany
+
+     Berlin, East -- Germany
+
+     Berlin, West -- Germany
+
+     Bern [US Embassy] -- Switzerland
+
+     Bessarabia -- Romania; Moldova
+
+     Bijagos, Arquipelago dos -- Guinea-Bissau
+
+     Bikini Atoll -- Marshall Islands
+
+     Bilbao [US Consulate] -- Spain
+
+     Bioko -- Equatorial Guinea
+
+     Biscay, Bay of -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Bishkek [US Embassy] -- Kyrgyzstan
+
+     Bishop Rock -- United Kingdom
+
+     Bismarck Archipelago -- Papua New Guinea
+
+     Bismarck Sea -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Bissau [US Embassy] -- Guinea-Bissau
+
+     Bjornoya (Bear Island) -- Svalbard
+
+     Black Rock -- Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
+
+     Black Sea -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Bloemfontein -- South Africa
+
+     Boa Vista -- Cape Verde
+
+     Bogota [US Embassy] -- Colombia
+
+     Bombay [US Consulate General] -- India
+
+     Bonaire -- Netherlands Antilles
+
+     Bonifacio, Strait of -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Bonin Islands -- Japan
+
+     Bonn [US Embassy] -- Germany
+
+     Bophuthatswana -- South Africa
+
+     Bora-Bora -- French Polynesia
+
+     Bordeaux [US Consulate General] -- France
+
+     Borneo -- Brunei; Indonesia; Malaysia
+
+     Bornholm -- Denmark
+
+     Bosporus -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Bothnia, Gulf of -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Bougainville Island -- Papua New Guinea
+
+     Bougainville Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Bounty Islands -- New Zealand
+
+     Brasilia [US Embassy] -- Brazil
+
+     Bratislava [US Embassy] -- Slovakia
+
+     Brazzaville [US Embassy] -- Congo
+
+     Bridgetown [US Embassy] -- Barbados
+
+     Brisbane [US Consulate] -- Australia
+
+     British East Africa -- Kenya
+
+     British Guiana -- Guyana
+
+     British Honduras -- Belize
+
+     British Solomon Islands -- Solomon Islands
+
+     British Somaliland -- Somalia
+
+     Brussels [US Embassy, US Mission -- Belgium to European Union
+     (USEU), US Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
+     (USNATO)]
+
+     Bucharest [US Embassy] -- Romania
+
+     Budapest [US Embassy] -- Hungary
+
+     Buenos Aires [US Embassy] -- Argentina
+
+     Bujumbura [US Embassy] -- Burundi
+
+     Burnt Pine -- Norfolk Island
+
+     Byelorussia -- Belarus
+
+C
+
+     Cabinda -- Angola
+
+     Cabot Strait -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Caicos Islands -- Turks and Caicos Islands
+
+     Cairo [US Embassy] -- Egypt
+
+     Calcutta [US Consulate General] -- India
+
+     Calgary [US Consulate General] -- Canada
+
+     California, Gulf of -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Campbell Island -- New Zealand
+
+     Canal Zone -- Panama
+
+     Canary Islands -- Spain
+
+     Canberra [US Embassy] -- Australia
+
+     Canton (Guangzhou) -- China
+
+     Canton Island (Kanton Island) -- Kiribati
+
+     Cape Town [US Consulate General] -- South Africa
+
+     Caracas [US Embassy] -- Venezuela
+
+     Cargados Carajos Shoals -- Mauritius
+
+     Caroline Islands -- Micronesia, Federated States of;
+
+ -- Palau
+
+ Caribbean Sea -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Carpentaria, Gulf of -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Casablanca [US Consulate General] -- Morocco
+
+ Castries -- Saint Lucia
+
+ Cato Island -- Australia
+
+ Cayenne -- French Guiana
+
+ Cebu [US Consulate] -- Philippines
+
+ Celebes -- Indonesia
+
+ Celebes Sea -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Celtic Sea -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Central African Empire -- Central African Republic
+
+ Ceuta -- Spain
+
+ Ceylon -- Sri Lanka
+
+ Chafarinas, Islas -- Spain
+
+ Chagos Archipelago (Oil Islands) -- British Indian Ocean Territory
+
+ Channel Islands -- Guernsey; Jersey
+
+ Charlotte Amalie -- Virgin Islands
+
+ Chatham Islands -- New Zealand
+
+ Cheju-do -- Korea, South
+
+ Cheju Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Chengdu [US Consulate General] -- China
+
+ Chesterfield Islands -- New Caledonia (Iles Chesterfield)
+
+ Chiang Mai [US Consulate General] -- Thailand
+
+ Chihli, Gulf of (see Bo Hai) -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ China, People's Republic of -- China
+
+ China, Republic of -- Taiwan
+
+ Chisinau [US Embassy] -- Moldova
+
+ Choiseul -- Solomon Islands
+
+ Christmas Island [Indian Ocean] -- Australia
+
+ Christmas Island [Pacific Ocean] -- Kiribati (Kiritimati)
+
+ Chukchi Sea -- Arctic Ocean
+
+ Ciskei -- South Africa
+
+ Ciudad Juarez [US Consulate General] -- Mexico
+
+ Cluj-Napoca [US Branch Office] -- Romania
+
+ Coco, Isla del -- Costa Rica
+
+ Cocos Islands -- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
+
+ Colombo [US Embassy] -- Sri Lanka
+
+ Colon, Archipielago de -- Ecuador (Galapagos Islands)
+
+ Commander Islands -- Russia (Komandorskiye Ostrova)
+
+ Conakry [US Embassy] -- Guinea
+
+ Congo (Brazzaville) -- Congo
+
+ Congo (Kinshasa) -- Zaire
+
+ Congo (Leopoldville) -- Zaire
+
+ Con Son Islands -- Vietnam
+
+ Cook Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Copenhagen [US Embassy] -- Denmark
+
+ Coral Sea -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Corn Islands (Islas del Maiz) -- Nicaragua
+
+ Corsica -- France
+
+ Cosmoledo Group -- Seychelles
+
+ Cotonou [US Embassy] -- Benin
+
+ Crete -- Greece
+
+ Crooked Island Passage -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Crozet Islands (Iles Crozet) -- French Southern and Antarctic Lands
+
+ Curacao [US Consulate General] -- Netherlands Antilles
+
+ Czechoslovakia -- Czech Republic; Slovakia
+
+D
+
+     Dahomey -- Benin
+
+     Daito Islands -- Japan
+
+     Dakar [US Embassy] -- Senegal
+
+     Daman (Damao) -- India
+
+     Damascus [US Embassy] -- Syria
+
+     Danger Atoll -- Cook Islands
+
+     Danish Straits -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Danzig (Gdansk) -- Poland
+
+     Dao Bach Long Vi -- Vietnam
+
+     Dardanelles -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Dar es Salaam [US Embassy] -- Tanzania
+
+     Davis Strait -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Deception Island -- Antarctica
+
+     Denmark Strait -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     D'Entrecasteaux Islands -- Papua New Guinea
+
+     Devon Island -- Canada
+
+     Dhahran [US Consulate General] -- Saudi Arabia
+
+     Dhaka [US Embassy] -- Bangladesh
+
+     Diego Garcia -- British Indian Ocean Territory
+
+     Diego Ramirez -- Chile
+
+     Diomede Islands -- Russia [Big Diomede]; United States
+
+ -- [Little Diomede]
+
+ Diu -- India
+
+ Djibouti [US Embassy] -- Djibouti
+
+ Dodecanese -- Greece
+
+ Dodoma -- Tanzania
+
+ Doha [US Embassy] -- Qatar
+
+ Douala -- Cameroon
+
+ Douglas -- Man, Isle of
+
+ Dover, Strait of -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Drake Passage -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Dubai (see Dubayy) -- United Arab Emirates
+
+ Dubayy [US Consulate General] -- United Arab Emirates
+
+ Dublin [US Embassy] -- Ireland
+
+ Durban [US Consulate General] -- South Africa
+
+ Dushanbe [US Embassy] -- Tajikistan
+
+ Dutch East Indies -- Indonesia
+
+ Dutch Guiana -- Suriname
+
+E
+
+     East China Sea -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) -- Chile
+
+     Eastern Channel (East Korea Strait -- Pacific Ocean or Tsushima
+     Strait)
+
+     East Germany (German Democratic -- Germany Republic)
+
+     East Korea Strait (Eastern Channel -- Pacific Ocean or Tsushima
+     Strait)
+
+     East Pakistan -- Bangladesh
+
+     East Siberian Sea -- Arctic Ocean
+
+     East Timor (Portuguese Timor) -- Indonesia
+
+     Edinburgh [US Consulate General] -- United Kingdom
+
+     Elba -- Italy
+
+     Ellef Ringnes Island -- Canada
+
+     Ellesmere Island -- Canada
+
+     Ellice Islands -- Tuvalu
+
+     Elobey, Islas de -- Equatorial Guinea
+
+     Enderbury Island -- Kiribati
+
+     Enewetak Atoll (Eniwetok Atoll) -- Marshall Islands
+
+     England -- United Kingdom
+
+     English Channel -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Eniwetok Atoll -- Marshall Islands
+
+     Epirus, Northern -- Albania; Greece
+
+     Essequibo [claimed by Venezuela] -- Guyana
+
+     Etorofu -- Russia [de facto]
+
+F
+
+     Farquhar Group -- Seychelles
+
+     Fernando de Noronha -- Brazil
+
+     Fernando Po (Bioko) -- Equatorial Guinea
+
+     Finland, Gulf of -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Florence [US Consulate General] -- Italy
+
+     Florida, Straits of -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Formosa -- Taiwan
+
+     Formosa Strait (Taiwan Strait) -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Fortaleza [US Consular Agency] -- Brazil
+
+     Fort-de-France -- Martinique
+
+     Frankfurt am Main [US -- Germany Consulate General]
+
+     Franz Josef Land -- Russia
+
+     Freetown [US Embassy] -- Sierra Leone
+
+     French Cameroon -- Cameroon
+
+     French Indochina -- Cambodia; Laos; Vietnam
+
+     French Guinea -- Guinea
+
+     French Sudan -- Mali
+
+     French Territory of the Afars -- Djibouti and Issas (F.T.A.I.)
+
+     French Togo -- Togo
+
+     Friendly Islands -- Tonga
+
+     Frunze (Bishkek) -- Kyrgyzstan
+
+     Fukuoka [US Consulate] -- Japan
+
+     Funafuti -- Tuvalu
+
+     Fundy, Bay of -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Futuna Islands (Hoorn Islands) -- Wallis and Futuna
+
+G
+
+     Gaborone [US Embassy] -- Botswana
+
+     Galapagos Islands (Archipielago -- Ecuador de Colon)
+
+     Galleons Passage -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Gambier Islands (Iles Gambier) -- French Polynesia
+
+     Gaspar Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Geneva [Branch Office of the -- Switzerland US Embassy, US Mission
+     to European Office of the UN and Other International
+     Organizations]
+
+     Genoa -- Italy
+
+     George Town [US Consular Agency] -- Cayman Islands
+
+     Georgetown [US Embassy] -- Guyana
+
+     German Democratic Republic -- Germany (East Germany)
+
+     Gibraltar -- Gibraltar
+
+     Gibraltar, Strait of -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Gilbert Islands -- Kiribati
+
+     Goa -- India
+
+     Gold Coast -- Ghana
+
+     Golan Heights -- Syria
+
+     Good Hope, Cape of -- South Africa
+
+     Goteborg -- Sweden
+
+     Gotland -- Sweden
+
+     Gough Island -- Saint Helena
+
+     Grand Banks -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Grand Cayman -- Cayman Islands
+
+     Grand Turk -- Turks and Caicos Islands
+
+     Great Australian Bight -- Indian Ocean
+
+     Great Belt (Store Baelt) -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Great Britain -- United Kingdom
+
+     Great Channel -- Indian Ocean
+
+     Greater Sunda Islands -- Brunei; Indonesia; Malaysia
+
+     Green Islands -- Papua New Guinea
+
+     Greenland Sea -- Arctic Ocean
+
+     Grenadines, Northern -- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
+
+     Grenadines, Southern -- Grenada
+
+     Grytviken -- Georgia
+
+     Guadalajara [US Consulate General] -- Mexico
+
+     Guadalcanal -- Solomon Islands
+
+     Guadalupe, Isla de -- Mexico
+
+     Guangzhou [US Consulate General] -- China
+
+     Guantanamo Bay [US Naval Base] -- Cuba
+
+     Guatemala [US Embassy] -- Guatemala
+
+     Gubal, Strait of -- Indian Ocean
+
+     Guinea, Gulf of -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Guayaquil [US Consulate General] -- Ecuador
+
+H
+
+     Ha'apai Group -- Tonga
+
+     Habomai Islands -- Russia [de facto]
+
+     Hague, The [US Embassy] -- Netherlands
+
+     Hainan Dao -- China
+
+     Halifax [US Consulate General] -- Canada
+
+     Halmahera -- Indonesia
+
+     Hamburg [US Consulate General] -- Germany
+
+     Hamilton [US Consulate General] -- Bermuda
+
+     Hanoi [US Liaison Office] -- Vietnam
+
+     Harare [US Embassy] -- Zimbabwe
+
+     Hatay -- Turkey
+
+     Havana [US post not maintained; -- Cuba representation by US
+     Interests Section (USINT) of the Swiss Embassy]
+
+     Hawaii -- United States
+
+     Heard Island -- Heard Island and McDonald Islands
+
+     Helsinki [US Embassy] -- Finland
+
+     Hermosillo [US Consulate] -- Mexico
+
+     Hispaniola -- Dominican Republic; Haiti
+
+     Hokkaido -- Japan
+
+     Hong Kong [US Consulate General] -- Hong Kong
+
+     Honiara -- Solomon Islands
+
+     Honshu -- Japan
+
+     Hormuz, Strait of -- Indian Ocean
+
+     Horn, Cape (Cabo de Hornos) -- Chile
+
+     Horne, Iles de -- Wallis and Futuna
+
+     Horn of Africa -- Ethiopia; Somalia
+
+     Hudson Bay -- Arctic Ocean
+
+     Hudson Strait -- Arctic Ocean
+
+I
+
+     Inaccessible Island -- Saint Helena
+
+     Indochina -- Cambodia; Laos; Vietnam
+
+     Inner Mongolia (Nei Mongol) -- China
+
+     Ionian Islands -- Greece
+
+     Ionian Sea -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Irian Jaya -- Indonesia
+
+     Irish Sea -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Islamabad [US Embassy] -- Pakistan
+
+     Islas Malvinas -- Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
+
+     Istanbul [US Consulate General] -- Turkey
+
+     Italian Somaliland -- Somalia
+
+     Ivory Coast -- Cote d'Ivoire
+
+     Iwo Jima -- Japan
+
+J
+
+     Jakarta [US Embassy] -- Indonesia
+
+     Jamestown -- Saint Helena
+
+     Japan, Sea of -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Java -- Indonesia
+
+     Java Sea -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Jeddah (see Jiddah) -- Saudi Arabia
+
+     Jerusalem [US Consulate General] -- Israel; West Bank
+
+     Jiddah [US Consulate General] -- Saudi Arabia
+
+     Johannesburg [US Consulate General] -- South Africa
+
+     Juan de Fuca, Strait of -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Juan Fernandez, Isla de -- Chile
+
+     Juventud, Isla de la (Isle of Youth) -- Cuba
+
+K
+
+     Kabul [US Embassy now closed] -- Afghanistan
+
+     Kaduna [US Consulate General] -- Nigeria
+
+     Kalimantan -- Indonesia
+
+     Kamchatka Peninsula -- Russia (Poluostrov Kamchatka)
+
+     Kampala [US Embassy] -- Uganda
+
+     Kampuchea -- Cambodia
+
+     Kanton Island -- Kiribati Karachi [US Consulate General]
+
+ -- Pakistan
+
+ Kara Sea -- Arctic Ocean
+
+ Karimata Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Kathmandu [US Embassy] -- Nepal
+
+ Kattegat -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Kauai Channel -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Keeling Islands -- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
+
+ Kerguelen, Iles -- French Southern and Antarctic Lands
+
+ Kermadec Islands -- New Zealand
+
+ Khabarovsk -- Russia
+
+ Khartoum [US Embassy] -- Sudan
+
+ Khmer Republic -- Cambodia
+
+ Khuriya Muriya Islands (Kuria -- Oman Muria Islands)
+
+ Khyber Pass -- Pakistan
+
+ Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee Kanal) -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Kiev [US Embassy] -- Ukraine
+
+ Kigali [US Embassy] -- Rwanda
+
+ Kingston [US Embassy] -- Jamaica
+
+ Kingston -- Norfolk Island
+
+ Kingstown -- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
+
+ Kinshasa [US Embassy] -- Zaire
+
+ Kirghiziya -- Kyrgyzstan
+
+ Kiritimati (Christmas Island) -- Kiribati
+
+ Kishinev (Chisinau) -- Moldova
+
+ Kithira Strait -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Kodiak Island -- United States
+
+ Kola Peninsula (Kol'skiy Poluostrov) -- Russia
+
+ Kolonia [US Embassy] -- Micronesia, Federated States of
+
+ Korea Bay -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Korea, Democratic People's -- Korea, North Republic of
+
+ Korea, Republic of -- Korea, South
+
+ Korea Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Koror [US Liaison Office] -- Palau
+
+ Kosovo -- Serbia and Montenegro
+
+ Kowloon -- Hong Kong
+
+ Krakow [US Consulate General] -- Poland
+
+ Kuala Lumpur [US Embassy] -- Malaysia
+
+ Kunashiri (Kunashir) -- Russia [de facto]
+
+ Kuril Islands -- Russia [de facto]
+
+ Kuwait [US Embassy] -- Kuwait
+
+ Kwajalein Atoll -- Marshall Islands
+
+ Kyushu -- Japan
+
+ Kyyiv (Kiev) -- Ukraine
+
+L
+
+     Labrador -- Canada
+
+     Laccadive Islands -- India
+
+     Laccadive Sea -- Indian Ocean
+
+     Lagos [US Embassy] -- Nigeria
+
+     Lahore [US Consulate General] -- Pakistan
+
+     Lakshadweep -- India
+
+     La Paz [US Embassy] -- Bolivia
+
+     La Perouse Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Laptev Sea -- Arctic Ocean
+
+     Las Palmas -- Spain
+
+     Lau Group -- Fiji
+
+     Lefkosa (Nicosia) -- Cyprus
+
+     Leipzig [US Consulate General] -- Germany
+
+     Leningrad (see Saint Petersburg) -- Russia
+
+     Lesser Sunda Islands -- Indonesia
+
+     Leyte -- Philippines
+
+     Liancourt Rocks [claimed by Japan] -- Korea, South
+
+     Libreville [US Embassy] -- Gabon
+
+     Ligurian Sea -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Lilongwe [US Embassy] -- Malawi
+
+     Lima [US Embassy] -- Peru
+
+     Lincoln Sea -- Arctic Ocean
+
+     Line Islands -- Kiribati; Palmyra Atoll
+
+     Lisbon [US Embassy] -- Portugal
+
+     Ljubljana [US Embassy] -- Slovenia
+
+     Lobamba -- Swaziland
+
+     Lombok Strait -- Indian Ocean
+
+     Lome [US Embassy] -- Togo
+
+     London [US Embassy] -- United Kingdom
+
+     Longyearbyen -- Svalbard
+
+     Lord Howe Island -- Australia
+
+     Louisiade Archipelago -- Papua New Guinea
+
+     Loyalty Islands (Iles Loyaute) -- New Caledonia
+
+     Luanda [US Embassy] -- Angola
+
+     Lubumbashi -- Zaire
+
+     Lusaka [US Embassy] -- Zambia
+
+     Luxembourg [US Embassy] -- Luxembourg
+
+     Luzon -- Philippines
+
+     Luzon Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+M
+
+     Macao -- Macau
+
+     Macau -- Macau
+
+     Macedonia -- Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav
+
+ -- Republic of
+
+ Macquarie Island -- Australia
+
+ Madeira Islands -- Portugal
+
+ Madras [US Consulate General] -- India
+
+ Madrid [US Embassy] -- Spain
+
+ Magellan, Strait of -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Maghreb -- Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, -- Tunisia
+
+ Mahe Island -- Seychelles
+
+ Maiz, Islas del (Corn Islands) -- Nicaragua
+
+ Majorca (Mallorca) -- Spain
+
+ Majuro [US Embassy] -- Marshall Islands
+
+ Makassar Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Malabo [US Embassy] -- Equatorial Guinea
+
+ Malacca, Strait of -- Indian Ocean
+
+ Malagasy Republic -- Madagascar
+
+ Male [US Consular Agency] -- Maldives
+
+ Mallorca (Majorca) -- Spain
+
+ Malpelo, Isla de -- Colombia
+
+ Malta Channel -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Malvinas, Islas -- Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
+
+ Mamoutzou -- Mayotte
+
+ Managua [US Embassy] -- Nicaragua
+
+ Manama [US Embassy] -- Bahrain
+
+ Manaus [US Consular Agency] -- Brazil
+
+ Manchukuo -- China
+
+ Manchuria -- China
+
+ Manila [US Embassy] -- Philippines
+
+ Manipa Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Mannar, Gulf of -- Indian Ocean
+
+ Manua Islands -- American Samoa
+
+ Maputo [US Embassy] -- Mozambique
+
+ Marcus Island (Minami-tori-shima) -- Japan
+
+ Mariana Islands -- Guam; Northern Mariana Islands
+
+ Marion Island -- South Africa
+
+ Marmara, Sea of -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Marquesas Islands (Iles Marquises) -- French Polynesia
+
+ Marseille [US Consulate General] -- France
+
+ Martin Vaz, Ilhas -- Brazil
+
+ Mas a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe -- Chile Island)
+
+ Mascarene Islands -- Mauritius; Reunion
+
+ Maseru [US Embassy] -- Lesotho
+
+ Matamoros [US Consulate] -- Mexico
+
+ Mata-Utu -- Wallis and Futuna
+
+ Mazatlan -- Mexico
+
+ Mbabane [US Embassy] -- Swaziland
+
+ McDonald Islands -- Heard Island and McDonald Islands
+
+ Medan [US Consulate General] -- Indonesia
+
+ Mediterranean Sea -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Melbourne [US Consulate General] -- Australia
+
+ Melilla -- Spain
+
+ Merida [US Consulate] -- Mexico
+
+ Messina, Strait of -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Mexico [US Embassy] -- Mexico
+
+ Mexico, Gulf of -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Milan [US Consulate General] -- Italy
+
+ Minami-tori-shima -- Japan
+
+ Mindanao -- Philippines
+
+ Mindoro Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Minicoy Island -- India
+
+ Minsk [US Embassy] -- Belarus
+
+ Mogadishu -- Somalia
+
+ Moldavia -- Moldova
+
+ Mombasa -- Kenya
+
+ Mona Passage -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Monaco -- Monaco
+
+ Monrovia [US Embassy] -- Liberia
+
+ Montenegro -- Serbia and Montenegro
+
+ Monterrey [US Consulate General] -- Mexico
+
+ Montevideo [US Embassy] -- Uruguay
+
+ Montreal [US Consulate General, US -- Canada Mission to the
+ International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)]
+
+ Moravian Gate -- Czech Republic
+
+ Moroni -- Comoros
+
+ Mortlock Islands -- Micronesia, Federated States of
+
+ Moscow [US Embassy] -- Russia
+
+ Mozambique Channel -- Indian Ocean
+
+ Munich [US Consulate General] -- Germany
+
+ Musandam Peninsula -- Oman; United Arab Emirates
+
+ Muscat [US Embassy] -- Oman
+
+ Muscat and Oman -- Oman
+
+ Myanma, Myanmar -- Burma
+
+N
+
+     Nagoya [US Consulate] -- Japan
+
+     Naha [US Consulate General] -- Japan
+
+     Nairobi [US Embassy] -- Kenya
+
+     Nampo-shoto -- Japan
+
+     Naples [US Consulate General] -- Italy
+
+     Nassau [US Embassy] -- Bahamas, The
+
+     Natuna Besar Islands -- Indonesia
+
+     N'Djamena [US Embassy] -- Chad
+
+     Netherlands East Indies -- Indonesia
+
+     Netherlands Guiana -- Suriname
+
+     Nevis -- Saint Kitts and Nevis
+
+     New Delhi [US Embassy] -- India
+
+     Newfoundland -- Canada
+
+     New Guinea -- Indonesia; Papua New Guinea
+
+     New Hebrides -- Vanuatu
+
+     New Siberian Islands -- Russia
+
+     New Territories -- Hong Kong
+
+     New York, New York [US Mission to -- United States the United
+     Nations (USUN)]
+
+     Niamey [US Embassy] -- Niger
+
+     Nicobar Islands -- India
+
+     Nicosia [US Embassy] -- Cyprus
+
+     Nightingale Island -- Saint Helena
+
+     North Atlantic Ocean -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     North Channel -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Northeast Providence Channel -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Northern Epirus -- Albania; Greece
+
+     Northern Grenadines -- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
+
+     Northern Ireland -- United Kingdom
+
+     Northern Rhodesia -- Zambia
+
+     North Island -- New Zealand
+
+     North Korea -- Korea, North
+
+     North Pacific Ocean -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     North Sea -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     North Vietnam -- Vietnam
+
+     Northwest Passages -- Arctic Ocean
+
+     North Yemen (Yemen Arab Republic) -- Yemen
+
+     Norwegian Sea -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Nouakchott [US Embassy] -- Mauritania
+
+     Noumea -- New Caledonia
+
+     Novaya Zemlya -- Russia
+
+     Nuku'alofa -- Tonga
+
+     Nuevo Laredo [US Consulate] -- Mexico
+
+     Nuuk (Godthab) -- Greenland
+
+     Nyasaland -- Malawi
+
+O
+
+     Oahu -- United States
+
+     Ocean Island (Banaba) -- Kiribati
+
+     Ocean Island (Kure Island) -- United States
+
+     Ogaden -- Ethiopia; Somalia
+
+     Oil Islands (Chagos Archipelago) -- British Indian Ocean Territory
+
+     Okhotsk, Sea of -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Okinawa -- Japan
+
+     Oman, Gulf of -- Indian Ocean
+
+     Ombai Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Oran -- Algeria
+
+     Oranjestad -- Aruba
+
+     Oresund (The Sound) -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Orkney Islands -- United Kingdom
+
+     Osaka-Kobe [US Consulate General] -- Japan
+
+     Oslo [US Embassy] -- Norway
+
+     Otranto, Strait of -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Ottawa [US Embassy] -- Canada
+
+     Ouagadougou [US Embassy] -- Burkina
+
+     Outer Mongolia -- Mongolia
+
+P
+
+     Pacific Islands, Trust Territory -- Palau of the
+
+     Pagan -- Northern Mariana Islands
+
+     Pago Pago -- American Samoa
+
+     Palawan -- Philippines
+
+     Palermo -- Italy
+
+     Palk Strait -- Indian Ocean
+
+     Pamirs -- China; Tajikistan
+
+     Panama [US Embassy] -- Panama
+
+     Panama Canal -- Panama
+
+     Panama, Gulf of -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Papeete -- French Polynesia
+
+     Paramaribo [US Embassy] -- Suriname
+
+     Parece Vela -- Japan
+
+     Paris [US Embassy, US Mission to the Organization for Economic
+     Cooperation and Development (OECD), US Observer Mission at the UN
+     Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)] --
+     France
+
+     Pascua, Isla de (Easter Island) -- Chile
+
+     Passion, Ile de la -- Clipperton Island
+
+     Pashtunistan -- Afghanistan; Pakistan
+
+     Peking (Beijing) -- China
+
+     Peleliu -- Palau
+
+     Pemba Island -- Tanzania
+
+     Pentland Firth -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Perim -- Yemen
+
+     Perouse Strait, La -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Persian Gulf -- Indian Ocean
+
+     Perth [US Consulate General] -- Australia
+
+     Pescadores -- Taiwan
+
+     Peshawar [US Consulate] -- Pakistan
+
+     Peter I Island -- Antarctica
+
+     Philip Island -- Norfolk Island
+
+     Philippine Sea -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Phnom Penh [US Embassy] -- Cambodia
+
+     Phoenix Islands -- Kiribati
+
+     Pines, Isle of (Isla de la Juventud) -- Cuba
+
+     Pleasant Island -- Nauru
+
+     Plymouth -- Montserrat
+
+     Ponape (Pohnpei) -- Micronesia
+
+     Ponta Delgada [US Consulate] -- Portugal
+
+     Port-au-Prince [US Embassy] -- Haiti
+
+     Port Louis [US Embassy] -- Mauritius
+
+     Port Moresby [US Embassy] -- Papua New Guinea
+
+     Porto Alegre [US Consulate] -- Brazil
+
+     Port-of-Spain [US Embassy] -- Trinidad and Tobago
+
+     Porto-Novo -- Benin
+
+     Portuguese Guinea -- Guinea-Bissau
+
+     Portuguese Timor (East Timor) -- Indonesia
+
+     Port-Vila -- Vanuatu
+
+     Poznan [US Consulate General] -- Poland
+
+     Prague [US Embassy] -- Czech Republic
+
+     Praia [US Embassy] -- Cape Verde
+
+     Pretoria [US Embassy] -- South Africa
+
+     Pribilof Islands -- United States
+
+     Prince Edward Island -- Canada
+
+     Prince Edward Islands -- South Africa
+
+     Prince Patrick Island -- Canada
+
+     Principe -- Sao Tome and Principe
+
+     Pusan [US Consulate] -- Korea, South
+
+     P'yongyang -- Korea, North
+
+Q
+
+     Quebec [US Consulate General] -- Canada
+
+     Queen Charlotte Islands -- Canada
+
+     Queen Elizabeth Islands -- Canada
+
+     Queen Maud Land [claimed by Norway] -- Antarctica
+
+     Quito [US Embassy] -- Ecuador
+
+R
+
+     Rabat [US Embassy] -- Morocco
+
+     Ralik Chain -- Marshall Islands
+
+     Rangoon [US Embassy] -- Burma
+
+     Ratak Chain -- Marshall Islands
+
+     Recife [US Consulate] -- Brazil
+
+     Redonda -- Antigua and Barbuda
+
+     Red Sea -- Indian Ocean
+
+     Revillagigedo Island -- United States
+
+     Revillagigedo Islands -- Mexico
+
+     Reykjavik [US Embassy] -- Iceland
+
+     Rhodes -- Greece
+
+     Rhodesia -- Zimbabwe
+
+     Rhodesia, Northern -- Zambia
+
+     Rhodesia, Southern -- Zimbabwe
+
+     Riga [US Embassy] -- Latvia
+
+     Rio de Janeiro [US Consulate -- Brazil General]
+
+     Rio de Oro -- Western Sahara
+
+     Rio Muni -- Equatorial Guinea
+
+     Riyadh [US Embassy] -- Saudi Arabia
+
+     Road Town -- British Virgin Islands
+
+     Robinson Crusoe Island (Mas -- Chile a Tierra)
+
+     Rocas, Atol das -- Brazil
+
+     Rockall [disputed] -- United Kingdom
+
+     Rodrigues -- Mauritius
+
+     Rome [US Embassy, US Mission to the UN Agencies for Food and
+     Agriculture (FODAG)] -- Italy
+
+     Roncador Cay -- Colombia
+
+     Roosevelt Island -- Antarctica
+
+     Roseau -- Dominica
+
+     Ross Dependency [claimed by -- Antarctica New Zealand]
+
+     Ross Island -- Antarctica
+
+     Ross Sea -- Antarctica
+
+     Rota -- Northern Mariana Islands
+
+     Rotuma -- Fiji
+
+     Ryukyu Islands -- Japan
+
+S
+
+     Saba -- Netherlands Antilles
+
+     Sabah -- Malaysia
+
+     Sable Island -- Canada
+
+     Sahel -- Burkina, Cape Verde, Chad,
+
+ -- The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, -- Mauritania, Niger, Senegal
+
+ Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) -- Vietnam
+
+ Saint Brandon -- Mauritius
+
+ Saint Christopher and Nevis -- Saint Kitts and Nevis
+
+ Saint-Denis -- Reunion
+
+ Saint George's [US Embassy] -- Grenada
+
+ Saint George's Channel -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Saint Helier -- Jersey
+
+ Saint John's -- Antigua and Barbuda
+
+ Saint Lawrence, Gulf of -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Saint Lawrence Island -- United States
+
+ Saint Lawrence Seaway -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Saint Martin -- Guadeloupe
+
+ Saint Martin (Sint Maarten) -- Netherlands Antilles
+
+ Saint Paul Island -- Canada
+
+ Saint Paul Island -- United States
+
+ Saint Paul Island (Ile Saint-Paul) -- French Southern and Antarctic
+ Lands
+
+ Saint Peter and Saint Paul Rocks -- Brazil (Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao
+ Paulo)
+
+ Saint Peter Port -- Guernsey
+
+ Saint Petersburg [US Consulate -- Russia General]
+
+ Saint-Pierre -- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
+
+ Saint Vincent Passage -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Saipan -- Northern Mariana Islands
+
+ Sakhalin Island (Ostrov Sakhalin) -- Russia
+
+ Sala y Gomez, Isla -- Chile
+
+ Salisbury (Harare) -- Zimbabwe
+
+ Salvador de Bahia [US Consular -- Brazil Agency]
+
+ Salzburg -- Austria
+
+ Sanaa [US Embassy] -- Yemen
+
+ San Ambrosio -- Chile
+
+ San Andres y Providencia, -- Colombia Archipielago
+
+ San Bernardino Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ San Felix, Isla -- Chile
+
+ San Jose [US Embassy] -- Costa Rica
+
+ San Juan -- Puerto Rico
+
+ San Luis Potosi -- Mexico
+
+ San Marino -- San Marino
+
+ San Salvador [US Embassy] -- El Salvador
+
+ Santa Cruz -- Bolivia
+
+ Santa Cruz Islands -- Solomon Islands
+
+ Santiago [US Embassy] -- Chile
+
+ Santo Domingo [US Embassy] -- Dominican Republic
+
+ Sao Paulo [US Consulate General] -- Brazil
+
+ Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo, Penedos de -- Brazil
+
+ Sao Tome -- Sao Tome and Principe
+
+ Sapporo [US Consulate General] -- Japan
+
+ Sapudi Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Sarajevo [US Embassy] -- Bosnia and Herzegovina
+
+ Sarawak -- Malaysia
+
+ Sardinia -- Italy
+
+ Sargasso Sea -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Sark -- Guernsey
+
+ Scotia Sea -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Scotland -- United Kingdom
+
+ Scott Island -- Antarctica
+
+ Senyavin Islands -- Micronesia, Federated States of
+
+ Seoul [US Embassy] -- Korea, South
+
+ Serbia -- Serbia and Montenegro
+
+ Serrana Bank -- Colombia
+
+ Serranilla Bank -- Colombia
+
+ Settlement, The -- Christmas Island
+
+ Severnaya Zemlya (Northland) -- Russia
+
+ Shag Island -- Heard Island and McDonald Islands
+
+ Shag Rocks -- Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
+
+ Shanghai [US Consulate General] -- China
+
+ Shenyang [US Consulate General] -- China
+
+ Shetland Islands -- United Kingdom
+
+ Shikoku -- Japan
+
+ Shikotan (Shikotan-to) -- Japan
+
+ Siam -- Thailand
+
+ Sibutu Passage -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Sicily -- Italy
+
+ Sicily, Strait of -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Sikkim -- India
+
+ Sinai -- Egypt
+
+ Singapore [US Embassy] -- Singapore
+
+ Singapore Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Sinkiang (Xinjiang) -- China
+
+ Sint Eustatius -- Netherlands Antilles
+
+ Sint Maarten (Saint Martin) -- Netherlands Antilles
+
+ Skagerrak -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Skopje [US Liaison Office] -- Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav --
+ Republic of
+
+ Society Islands (Iles de la Societe) -- French Polynesia
+
+ Socotra -- Yemen
+
+ Sofia [US Embassy] -- Bulgaria
+
+ Solomon Islands, northern -- Papua New Guinea
+
+ Solomon Islands, southern -- Solomon Islands
+
+ Solomon Sea -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Songkhla [US Consulate] -- Thailand
+
+ Sound, The (Oresund) -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ South Atlantic Ocean -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ South China Sea -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Southern Grenadines -- Grenada
+
+ Southern Rhodesia -- Zimbabwe
+
+ South Georgia -- South Georgia and the South Sandwich -- Islands
+
+ South Island -- New Zealand
+
+ South Korea -- Korea, South
+
+ South Orkney Islands -- Antarctica
+
+ South Pacific Ocean -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ South Sandwich Islands -- South Georgia and the South Sandwich --
+ Islands
+
+ South Shetland Islands -- Antarctica
+
+ South Tyrol -- Italy
+
+ South Vietnam -- Vietnam
+
+ South-West Africa -- Namibia
+
+ South Yemen (People's Democratic -- Yemen Republic of Yemen)
+
+ Soviet Union [the former] -- Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, -- Estonia,
+ Georgia, Kazakhstan, -- Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, -- Moldova,
+ Russia, Tajikistan, -- Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
+
+ Spanish Guinea -- Equatorial Guinea
+
+ Spanish Sahara -- Western Sahara
+
+ Spitsbergen -- Svalbard
+
+ Stanley -- Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
+
+ Stockholm [US Embassy] -- Sweden
+
+ Strasbourg [US Consulate General] -- France
+
+ Stuttgart [US Consulate General] -- Germany
+
+ Sucre -- Bolivia
+
+ Suez, Gulf of -- Indian Ocean
+
+ Sulu Archipelago -- Philippines
+
+ Sulu Sea -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Sumatra -- Indonesia
+
+ Sumba -- Indonesia
+
+ Sunda Islands (Soenda Isles) -- Indonesia; Malaysia
+
+ Sunda Strait -- Indian Ocean
+
+ Surabaya [US Consulate General] -- Indonesia
+
+ Surigao Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ Surinam -- Suriname
+
+ Suva [US Embassy] -- Fiji
+
+ Swains Island -- American Samoa
+
+ Swan Islands -- Honduras
+
+ Sydney [US Consulate General] -- Australia
+
+T
+
+     Tahiti -- French Polynesia
+
+     Taipei -- Taiwan
+
+     Taiwan Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Tallinn [US Embassy] -- Estonia
+
+     Tanganyika -- Tanzania
+
+     Tangier -- Morocco
+
+     Tarawa -- Kiribati
+
+     Tartar Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Tashkent [US Embassy] -- Uzbekistan
+
+     Tasmania -- Australia
+
+     Tasman Sea -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Taymyr Peninsula (Poluostrov Taymyra) -- Russia
+
+     T'bilisi [US Embassy] -- Georgia
+
+     Tegucigalpa [US Embassy] -- Honduras
+
+     Tehran [US post not maintained; -- Iran representation by Swiss
+     Embassy]
+
+     Tel Aviv [US Embassy] -- Israel
+
+     Terre Adelie (Adelie Land) -- Antarctica [claimed by France]
+
+     Thailand, Gulf of -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Thessaloniki [US Consulate General] -- Greece
+
+     Thimphu -- Bhutan
+
+     Thurston Island -- Antarctica
+
+     Tibet (Xizang) -- China
+
+     Tibilisi (see T'bilisi) -- Georgia
+
+     Tierra del Fuego -- Argentina; Chile
+
+     Tijuana [US Consulate General] -- Mexico
+
+     Timor -- Indonesia
+
+     Timor Sea -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Tinian -- Northern Mariana Islands
+
+     Tiran, Strait of -- Indian Ocean
+
+     Tirane [US Embassy] -- Albania
+
+     Tobago -- Trinidad and Tobago
+
+     Tokyo [US Embassy] -- Japan
+
+     Tonkin, Gulf of -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Toronto [US Consulate General] -- Canada
+
+     Torres Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Torshavn -- Faroe Islands
+
+     Toshkent (Tashkent) -- Uzbekistan
+
+     Transjordan -- Jordan
+
+     Transkei -- South Africa
+
+     Transylvania -- Romania
+
+     Trindade, Ilha de -- Brazil
+
+     Tripoli [US post not maintained; -- Libya representation by
+     Belgian Embassy]
+
+     Tristan da Cunha Group -- Saint Helena
+
+     Trobriand Islands -- Papua New Guinea
+
+     Trucial States -- United Arab Emirates
+
+     Truk Islands -- Micronesia
+
+     Tsugaru Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Tuamotu Islands (Iles Tuamotu) -- French Polynesia
+
+     Tubuai Islands (Iles Tubuai) -- French Polynesia
+
+     Tunis [US Embassy] -- Tunisia
+
+     Turin -- Italy
+
+     Turkish Straits -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Turkmeniya -- Turkmenistan
+
+     Turks Island Passage -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Tyrol, South -- Italy
+
+     Tyrrhenian Sea -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+U
+
+     Udorn (Udon Thani) [US Consulate] -- Thailand
+
+     Ulaanbaatar [US Embassy] -- Mongolia
+
+     Ullung-do -- Korea, South
+
+     Unimak Pass [strait] -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
+     [the former USSR] -- Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
+
+ -- Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, -- Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, --
+ Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
+
+ United Arab Republic -- Egypt; Syria
+
+ Upper Volta -- Burkina
+
+ USSR [the former] -- Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, -- Estonia,
+ Georgia, Kazakhstan, -- Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, -- Moldova,
+ Russia, Tajikistan, -- Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
+
+V
+
+     Vaduz [US post not maintained; -- Liechtenstein representation
+     from Zurich, Switzerland]
+
+     Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor) -- Afghanistan
+
+     Valletta [US Embassy] -- Malta
+
+     Valley, The -- Anguilla
+
+     Vancouver [US Consulate General] -- Canada
+
+     Vancouver Island -- Canada
+
+     Van Diemen Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Vatican City [US Embassy] -- Holy See
+
+     Velez de la Gomera, Penon de -- Spain
+
+     Venda -- South Africa
+
+     Verde Island Passage -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Victoria -- Hong Kong
+
+     Victoria [US Embassy] -- Seychelles
+
+     Vienna [US Embassy, US Mission to -- Austria International
+     Organizations in Vienna (UNVIE)]
+
+     Vientiane [US Embassy] -- Laos
+
+     Vilnius [US Embassy] -- Lithuania
+
+     Vladivostok [US Consulate General] -- Russia
+
+     Volcano Islands -- Japan
+
+     Vostok Island -- Kiribati
+
+     Vrangelya, Ostrov (Wrangel Island) -- Russia
+
+W
+
+     Wakhan Corridor (now Vakhan) -- Afghanistan
+
+     Wales -- United Kingdom
+
+     Walvis Bay -- Namibia
+
+     Warsaw [US Embassy] -- Poland
+
+     Washington, DC [The Permanent Mission of the US to the
+     Organization of American States (OAS)] -- United States
+
+     Weddell Sea -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Wellington [US Embassy] -- New Zealand
+
+     Western Channel (West Korea Strait) -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     West Germany (Federal Republic of -- Germany Germany)
+
+     West Island -- Cocos (Keeling)
+
+ -- Islands
+
+ West Korea Strait (Western Channel) -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ West Pakistan -- Pakistan
+
+ Wetar Strait -- Pacific Ocean
+
+ White Sea -- Arctic Ocean
+
+ Willemstad -- Netherlands Antilles
+
+ Windhoek [US Embassy] -- Namibia
+
+ Windward Passage -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+ Wrangel Island (Ostrov Vrangelya) -- Russia [de facto]
+
+Y
+
+     Yamoussoukro -- Cote d'Ivoire
+
+     Yangon (Rangoon) -- Burma
+
+     Yaounde [US Embassy] -- Cameroon
+
+     Yap Islands -- Micronesia
+
+     Yaren -- Nauru
+
+     Yekaterinburg [US Consulate General] -- Russia
+
+     Yellow Sea -- Pacific Ocean
+
+     Yemen (Aden) [People's Democratic -- Yemen Republic of Yemen]
+
+     Yemen Arab Republic -- Yemen
+
+     Yemen, North [Yemen Arab Republic] -- Yemen
+
+     Yemen (Sanaa) [Yemen Arab Republic] -- Yemen
+
+     Yemen, People's Democratic -- Yemen Republic of
+
+     Yemen, South [People's Democratic -- Yemen Republic of Yemen]
+
+     Yerevan [US Embassy] -- Armenia
+
+     Youth, Isle of (Isla de la Juventud) Cuba
+
+     Yucatan Channel -- Atlantic Ocean
+
+     Yugoslavia [the former] -- Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; --
+     Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav
+
+ -- Republic of; Serbia and Montenegro; -- and Slovenia
+
+Z
+
+     Zagreb [US Embassy] -- Croatia
+
+     Zanzibar -- Tanzania
+
+     Zurich [US Consulate General] -- Switzerland
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 571 ***